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Robert Fonn
PartnerRobert Fonn’s practice is focused on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on corporate finance and mergers & acquisitions.
Robert has particular experience dealing with domestic and cross-border transactions (including friendly and contested take-over bids and proxy contests).
Robert represents financial institutions, investment dealers, private equity sponsors, venture capital funds and a broad range of public and private companies in diverse industries, including technology, financial services, cannabis, healthcare, life sciences, media, software, automotive, manufacturing, mineral resource and real estate.
Robert counsels corporations in all aspects of corporate and commercial activity, including listings on stock exchanges and dealings with provincial securities commissions. He also advises reporting issuers in connection with securities compliance and corporate governance matters.
Robert has been recognized by leading ranking guides including Best Lawyers in Canada, Chambers Canada, The Legal 500 Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory. For his expertise in Cannabis Law, Robert was listed as a Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyer by the Cannabis Law Report, 2020.
EXPERIENCE
CAPITAL MARKETS
- Represented Ascend Wellness Holdings (CSE: AAWH.U) in its US$92 million cross-border initial public offering.
- Represented High Street Capital Partners, LLC in connection with its USD$314.2 million subscription receipt financing, reverse take-over of Applied Inventions Management Corp. and the listing of the resulting issuer, Acreage Holdings, Inc. (CSE: ACRG.U), on the Canadian Securities Exchange.
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and ATB Capital Markets Inc. in the $149.5 million bought deal public offering of common shares of Columbia Care Inc. (NEO: CCHW) (CSE: CCHW) (OTCQX: CCHWF) (FSE: 3LP).
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. in the $86.4 million bought deal public offering of common shares of Converge Technology Solutions Corp. (TSXV: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF).
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. in the $316.9 million bought deal public offering of subordinate voting shares of Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF).
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Beacon Securities Limited in the $40.4 million overnight marketed offering of subordinate voting shares of Jushi Holdings Inc. (CSE: JUSH) (OTCMKTS: JUSHF).
- Represented Canaccord Genuity in the $40.8 offering of subordinate voting shares of Jushi Holdings Inc. (CSE: JUSH) (OTCMKTS: JUSHF).
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. in the private placement offering of Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) common shares for gross proceeds of $34.1 million.
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Desjardins Capital Markets, as lead underwriters on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters, in connection with a $21.1 million “bought deal” public offering for Converge Technology Solutions Corp. (TSXV: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF).
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp., as lead underwriter, in connection with a private placement for Canaccord Genuity Growth Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation, in connection with its acquisition of Columbia Care LLC.
- Represented Cowen and Company, LLC and Canaccord Genuity LLC as the lead underwriters in the US$102 million initial public offering of Greenlane Holdings (NASDAQ: GNLN).
- Represented Sarment Holding Limited (TSX-V:SAIS) in connection with its $19 million initial public offering and TSX Venture Exchange listing.
- Represented a syndicate of agents, co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and GMP Securities L.P. in connection with Maricann Group Inc.'s $37.4 million special warrant offering.
- Represented a syndicate of dealers co-led by Cormark Securities and Canaccord Genuity in connection with Growforce Holdings' $38 million subscription receipt offering.
- Represented a syndicate of agents led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. in connection with a $32.9 million best efforts offering of CannaRoyalty Corp. unsecured convertible debentures.
- Representing a syndicate of underwriters, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., in connection with Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s (TSX: ACB) $230 million bought deal offering of convertible debentures.
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., in connection with Medreleaf Corp.’s (TSX: LEAF) $132.5 million bought deal offering of units.
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters, co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Eight Capital, in connection with ABcann Global Corporation’s (TSXV: ABCN) $70 million bought deal offering of units and convertible debentures.
- Represented the investors in connection with a US$20 million bridge financing into iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (CSE: IAN).
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., in connection with a $15 million bought deal private placement for Golden Leaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: GLH).
- Represented Freshii Inc. (TSX: FRII) in connection with its $144 million initial public offering and TSX listing.
- Represented the largest selling shareholder in connection with Real Matters Inc.’s (TSX: REAL) $156.7 million initial public offering.
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. in connection with Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s (TSX: ACB) $115 million special warrant offering.
- Represented KES 7 Capital Inc. in connection with a US$20 million financing for MJar Holdings, LLC.
- Represented a syndicate of agents, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and PowerOne Capital Markets Limited and including Gravitas Securities Inc. in connection with a Sante Veritas Therapeutics Inc.’s $20 million offering.
- Represented a syndicate of agents, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., in iAnthus Capital Holding, Inc.’s (CSE: IAN) $12 million short form prospectus offering and concurrent $3.7 million private placement.
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters, led by GMP Securities LP and including Raymond James Ltd., Cormark Securities Inc., Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd., PI Financial Corp. and Paradigm Capital Inc., in Integra Resources Inc.’s (TSXV: ITR) $27.2 million subscription receipt financing in connection with its acquisition of the Delamar Project from Kinross Gold Inc.
- Representing a syndicate of underwriters, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and including Beacon Securities Limited, Cormark Securities Inc., Eight Capital, GMP Securities L.P. and PI Financial Corp., in connection with a $40.3 million bought deal private placement of Supreme Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s (TSXV: FIRE) convertible debentures.
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and including GMP Securities L.P., PI Financial Corp., Eight Capital, Industrial Alliance Securities Inc., Beacon Securities and Mackie Research Capital Corporation, in connection with Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s (TSX: ACB) $75 million bought deal and concurrent private placement.
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. in connection with Golden Leaf Holding Ltd.’s (CSE: GLH) $20.4 million secured convertible debenture offering.
- Represented a syndicate of agents, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and including Industrial Alliance Securities Inc., Mackie Research Capital Corp. and Sprott Capital Partners, in connection with Maricann Group Inc. (CSE: MARI) $31 million secured convertible debenture offering.
- Represented a syndicate of agents, including Canaccord Genuity Corp. and PI Financial Corp., in connection with ABcann Global Corporation’s (TSXV: ABCN) $15 million convertible debenture financing, reverse take-over and TSX Venture Exchange listing.
- Represented a syndicate of agents co-led by GMP Securities L.P. and Clarus Securities Inc., and including Primary Capital Inc., in connection with a $10 million private placement of White Gold Inc. (TSXV: WGO) flow-through shares.
- Represented a syndicate of agents led by Paradigm Capital Inc. and including PI Financial Corp. and Haywood Securities Inc., in connection with a $5.1 million private placement for Siyata Mobile Inc. (TSXV: SIM).
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. in connection with a $5.2 million bought deal for Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSXV: AQS) by way of prospectus supplement and accompanying short form base shelf prospectus.
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., and including Cormark Securities, Eight Capital, Mackie Research Capital and GMP Securities L.P., in connection with a $75 million bought deal private placement of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSXV: ACB).
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., and including Beacon Securities Limited, in connection with a $20 million bought deal private placement of iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (CSE: IAN).
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Raymond James Ltd. in connection with a $12.5 million cross-border MJDS prospectus offering of Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (TSX: HSM).
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., and including Clarus Securities Inc., Mackie Research Capital Corporation, Beacon Securities Limited, Sprott Private Wealth LP and PI Financial Corp., in connection with a $15 million bought deal for CannaRoyalty Corp. (CSE: CRZ).
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and including Dundee Securities Ltd., Beacon Securities Limited and Cormark Securities Inc., in connection with a $50 million bought deal private placement of Supreme Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSXV: FIRE).
- Represented a syndicate of agents led by Paradigm Capital Inc., and including GMP Securities L.P. and Pareto Securities Limited, in connection with a $23 million private placement for Corsa Coal Corp. (TSXV: CSO).
- Represented a syndicate of agents led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and including Cormark Securities Inc., Dundee Securities Ltd., Mackie Research Capital Corporation and Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., in connection with a $25 million private placement of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSXV: ACB) convertible debentures.
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. in connection with a $15 million private placement of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) convertible debentures.
- Represented a syndicate of underwriters led by Canaccord Genuity Corp., and including Beacon Securities Limited, in connection with a $20 million bought deal private placement of iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (CSE: IAN).
- Represented Canaccord Genuity Corp. in connection with a $23 million private placement of Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) subscription receipts in connection with the $37.5 million acquisition of CanvasRx Inc.
- Represented Paradigm Capital Inc. in connection with a $3.2 million private placement for Corsa Coal Corp. (TSXV: CSO).
- Represented a syndicate of agents, co-led by GMP Securities L.P. and Dundee Securities Ltd. and including Haywood Securities Inc., in connection with a prospectus offering of common shares by Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: NCU).
- Represented a syndicate of investment dealers, led by Haywood Securities Inc. and including Cormark Securities Inc. and Haywood Securities Inc. in connection with a $4.6 million bought deal for VersaPay Corp. (TSXV: VPY).
- Represented Delivra Inc. in a private placement in connection with its reverse take-over of Whiteknight Acquisitions III Inc. (now, Delivra Corp. (TSXV: DVA)).
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
- Represented Acreage Holdings, Inc. (CSE: ACRG) in its proposed amended arrangement agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC).
- Represented Seequent Limited, an Accel-KKR portfolio company, in connection with Seequent’s acquisition of GEOSLOPE International Ltd., a Canadian-based company that creates integrated, geotechnical analysis software.
- Advised ASX listed medicinal cannabis company, Althea Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: AGH), on its acquisition of Canadian extraction and contract manufacturing company Peak Processing Solutions, together with Althea's associated AUD30 million capital raising.
- Represented Acreage Holdings, Inc. (CSE: ACRG.U) in its USD$3.4 billion arrangement with Canopy Growth.
- Represented Difference Capital Financial Inc. (TSX: DCF) in its $110 Million business combination with Mogo Finance Technology Inc. (TSX: MOGO, NASDAQ: MOGO) by plan of arrangement.
- Represented Autopro Automation Consultants Ltd. in three-party acquisition transaction with Universal mCloud Corp. and Fulcrum Automation Technologies.
- Represented Coveris Americas as Canadian counsel on the $1.72 billion acquisition of its North American packaging business by Transcontinental Inc.
- Represented Hydrofarm LLC in connection with its acquisition of Eddi’s Wholesale Garden Supply and the distribution division of Greenstar Plant Products and related credit facility amendments.
- Represented Maxwell Technologies Inc. (NasdaqGS: MXWL) in its $33 million acquisition of the business of Nesscap Energy Inc. (TSXV: NCE) by plan of arrangement.
- Represented Urbanfund Corp. (TSXV: UFC) in various real estate and joint venture acquisitions and investments.
- Represented GMP Securities L.P., as financial advisor to Newmarket Gold Inc. (TSX: NMI), in connection with its $940 million acquisition of Kirkland Lake Gold (TSX: KL) by plan of arrangement.
- Represented GMP Securities L.P., as financial advisor to Eldorado Gold Corporation (TSX: ELD), in connection with its $517 million acquisition of Integra Gold Corp. (TSXV: ICG) by plan of arrangement.
- Represented GMP Securities L.P., as financial advisor to Sprott Resource Corp. (TSX: SRHI), in connection with its acquisition by Adriana Resources Inc. (TSXV: ADI) by plan of arrangement.
- Represented Burns & Wilcox Canada, ULC, a H.W. Kaufman Financial Group portfolio company, in its acquisition of the high-value homeowner’s practice from XN Financial.
- Represented OpenGate Capital, a US private equity firm, in its acquisition of Axiall Corporation’s Royal Building Products’ window & door division.
- Represented Fortive Corporation in its acquisition of Global Traffic Technologies, Inc.
- Represented Verdant Financial Partners Inc., a capital pool company, in connection with its Qualifying Transaction with Axis Auto Finance.
- Represented Canada-Reports, ULC, a H.W. Kaufman Financial Group portfolio company, in its acquisition of Technical Risk Services.
- Represented Delivra Inc. in connection with its reverse take-over of Whiteknight Acquisitions III Inc., a capital pool company, and listing on the TSX Venture Exchange.
EMERGING GROWTH & VENTURE CAPITAL
- Represented Pfizer Inc.’s corporate venture capital arm in connection with several Canadian investments.
- Represented Whitecap Venture Partners in a US$20 million Series B financing round for Qvella Corp., co-led by RA Capital Management, Whitecap Venture Partners, Hatteras Ventures, Sand Capital and including strategic investor, biomerieux.
- Represented G3 Capital in a controlling investment in UBIFNorth in connection with UBIFNorth’s proposed rollout of UBreakiFix stores across Canada.
- Represented Prinova Inc. in connection with a US$17 million growth equity investment by Volition Capital.
- Represented Elysian Park Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in a US$9 million series A financing round for Kinduct Technologies Inc., led by Intel Capital.
- Represented Whitecap Venture Partners in a US$20 million Series A financing round led by RA Capital Management.
- English
- L.L.B, University of Western Ontario, 2001
- B.Sc., (Hon. Science & Business), University of Waterloo, 1998
Awards
- Best Lawyers in Canada (Mergers and Acquisitions), 2021-2025; (Securities Law), 2021-2025
- Chambers Canada (Cannabis Law), 2020-2024
- Lexpert® ALM 500 Directory (Corporate Finance), 2024
- Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, Cannabis Law Report, 2020-2021
- Leading Individual, The Legal 500 Canada (Cannabis), 2024
- The Legal 500 Canada (Cannabis), 2020-2023, Next Generation Partner; (Corporate M&A), 2022-2024, Next Generation Partner
- The Legal 500 Canada (Cannabis), 2020-2023; (Corporate M&A), 2017, 2022-2023
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Corporate Finance & Securities), 2016, 2020-2024; (Corporate Mid-Market), 2018-2024; (Mining), 2018, 2021-2024
- Listed in Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A, 2024
- Listed in Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences, 2024
- Lexpert® Rising Stars: Leading Lawyer Under 40, 2015
Publications
- Co-author, Offering memorandum exemption coming soon to Ontario, December 2015
Seminars
- Speaker, “At-the-Market Offerings”, Law Society of Ontario The 12-Minute Securities Lawyer, November 2019.
- Speaker, "Corporate Finance Update", Law Society of Upper Canada Securities Law Update, November 2017.
- Speaker, "New Capital Raising Exemptions", The Law Society of Upper Canada Securities Update, November 2015.
- Panelist Moderator, "Going Public in Canada: How the Experience is Changing for Technology Companies", Cantech Investment Conference 2015, January 2015.
- Speaker, "Corporate Finance Update: IIROC Proposed Guidance Respecting Underwriting Due Diligence", Law Society of Upper Canada Securities Law Update, November 2014.
- Speaker, "Going Public: A Legal Primer", Tech IPOs in Canada? Really?, October 2014.
Community Involvement
- Past Adjunct Professor, Art of the Deal, Western University Faculty of Law
- Organizational Committee Member, Shaw Boxing Evening, Shaw Festival
- Past Guest Lecturer, Case Studies in Business Law Course, Western University Faculty of Law
Memberships And Affiliations
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Law Society of Ontario
- Member, Ontario Bar Association
- Member, The Association for Corporate Growth