Alain works exclusively in the field of tax, and in particular with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, public and private financing and corporate reorganisations.
He is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF) as well as the International Fiscal Association. Alain is also a member of the Montreal Regional Activities Committee of the APFF and wrote on numerous topics relating to tax laws and is also a speaker at different conferences on tax matters.
Representative Work
- Difenda
Difenda in its acquisition by Quorum Cyber
- Amplitude Ventures
Amplitude Ventures in its closing of its $263 million venture capital fund
- Mapei SpA
Mapei in its acquisition of Diaplas
- Powerside
Powerside in its securing of strategic growth funding from Energy Growth Momentum LP.
- Luge Capital Inc.
Luge Capital in its closing of $71 million of its target $100 million fund
- Inversago Pharma
Inversago Pharma in its US$1.075 billion business combination with Novo Nordisk
- Photonis Group
Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. in its US$ 100 million sale to Ellimist Singapore Pte. Ltd.
- General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. in its US$650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Radical Ventures
Radical Ventures in its launch of a US$550 million fund
- IniXium
IniXium in its acquisition by NuChem
- Bailey International
Bailey International in connection with its acquisition of Hydrolico International
- CarbiCrete
CarbiCrete in its combined $23.5 million Series A financing round
- OSF Digital
OSF Digital in its US$100 million Series C financing round
- Amarillo Gold Corp.
Amarillo Gold Corp. in its acquisition by Hochschild Mining PLC
- iNovia Capital
iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
- Inkbox Ink
Inkbox Ink in its US$65 million acquisition by BIC
- Vigil Health Solutions Inc.
Vigil Health Solutions in its acquisition by ASSA ABLOY
- Deerfield Specialty Papers Inc.
Deerfield Specialty Papers in connection with the sale of Glassine Canada to Nordic Paper Holding.
- TELUS Health Solutions Inc.
TELUS Health Solutions Inc. in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- Roadmunk
Roadmunk in its acquisition by Tempo Software
- The sellers
Quatro Air Technologies in its acquisition by Absolent Air Care Group
- BrainBox AI
BrainBox AI in its US$24 million Series A financing round
- SkyHive
SkyHive in its US$40 million Series B financing round
- iNovia Capital
iNovia Capital in the launch of its $416 million venture capital fund
- General Motors Co. in its US$650 equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Osler has assisted SweetIQ Inc. in respect of its acquisition by ReachLocal, a USA TODAY NETWORK company and a part of Gannett Co., Inc. a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Persistence Capital Partners, in connection with the subscription of Class C Shares in the capital of Rx Drug Mart Inc., a company specializing in the business of acquiring, consolidating and operating pharmacies across Canada.
- Caprion Biosciences Inc., in its recapitalization and acquisition by GHO Capital Partners LLP
- TeraXion Inc., in its sale of its high-speed indium phosphide and silicium photonics technologies as well as its underlying intellectual property to Ciena Canada Inc. at a purchase price of US$32 million.
- Hopper Travel in its various financings totalling over $100 million, including by Atlas Ventures and Omers Ventures.
- Accedian Networks in its various financings, including the $25M financing by Summit Capital and Rho Capital
- Inocucor Technologies Inc., in connection with the first tranche closing of a Series B financing led by TPG ART.
- H.I.G. Capital (through an affiliate), as Canadian counsel to the purchaser in connection with the acquisition of ATX Networks Corporation.
- The minority shareholders of iBwave Solutions Inc., an industry leader in design software for in-building wireless solutions for a wide range of customers and integrators, in relation to its sale to Corning Incorporated, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of approximately $28 billion.
- Radialpoint SafeCare Inc., in relation to the sale of its Technical Security Services Business to AppDirect Canada Inc.
- TPG Capital LP in connection with its proposed acquisition of Cirque du Soleil, the most important private investment transaction completed in 2015
- DAVIDs TEA in its initial public offering for aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $64.9 million.
- Pharmascience Inc., in relation to the acquisition of Uman Pharma Inc. from CFR International S.p.A., an affiliate of Abbott Laboratories, and UPGI Pharma Inc.
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in connection with the sale of its Montreal East sulphur removal and compliance services business to Suncor Energy Products Inc. for $120 million.
- MEGA Brands in connection with its proposed US$460 million acquisition by Mattel.
- Canadian counsel to the initial purchasers in connection with the secondary private placement by CDP Capital d’Amérique Investissements Inc., a subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, of $305 million convertible unsecured subordinated debentures of Quebecor Inc.
- Turris Sites in its sale of a controlling interest to InSite Wireless of the United States.
- Fiera Capital Corporation (formerly Fiera Sceptre Inc.), in its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Natcan Investment Management Inc. from National Bank of Canada for $309.5 million, subject to reduction.
- CGE Resources Québec 2011 L.P., a flow-through fund investing in mining and resources issuers, in connection with its initial public offering.
- Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill Lynch, RBC Capital Markets and other initial purchasers in connection with an offering of US$5 billion principal amount of senior notes by CDP Financial Inc., the financing arm of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
- National Bank Financial, BMO Nesbitt Burns, RBC Capital Markets and the other dealers in connection with an offering of $2 billion principal amount of senior notes by CDP Financial Inc., the financing arm of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
- Oz Communications Inc. in its sale to Nokia Corporation.
- Genuity Capital Markets, BMO Nesbitt Burns and the rest of the underwriting syndicate in Miranda Tech.
Difenda in its acquisition by Quorum Cyber
Amplitude Ventures in its closing of its $263 million venture capital fund
Mapei in its acquisition of Diaplas
Powerside in its securing of strategic growth funding from Energy Growth Momentum LP.
Luge Capital in its closing of $71 million of its target $100 million fund
- Inversago Pharma
Inversago Pharma in its US$1.075 billion business combination with Novo Nordisk
- Photonis Group
Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. in its US$ 100 million sale to Ellimist Singapore Pte. Ltd.
- General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. in its US$650 million equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Radical Ventures
Radical Ventures in its launch of a US$550 million fund
- IniXium
IniXium in its acquisition by NuChem
- Bailey International
Bailey International in connection with its acquisition of Hydrolico International
- CarbiCrete
CarbiCrete in its combined $23.5 million Series A financing round
- OSF Digital
OSF Digital in its US$100 million Series C financing round
- Amarillo Gold Corp.
Amarillo Gold Corp. in its acquisition by Hochschild Mining PLC
- iNovia Capital
iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
- Inkbox Ink
Inkbox Ink in its US$65 million acquisition by BIC
- Vigil Health Solutions Inc.
Vigil Health Solutions in its acquisition by ASSA ABLOY
- Deerfield Specialty Papers Inc.
Deerfield Specialty Papers in connection with the sale of Glassine Canada to Nordic Paper Holding.
- TELUS Health Solutions Inc.
TELUS Health Solutions Inc. in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- Roadmunk
Roadmunk in its acquisition by Tempo Software
- The sellers
Quatro Air Technologies in its acquisition by Absolent Air Care Group
- BrainBox AI
BrainBox AI in its US$24 million Series A financing round
- SkyHive
SkyHive in its US$40 million Series B financing round
- iNovia Capital
iNovia Capital in the launch of its $416 million venture capital fund
- General Motors Co. in its US$650 equity investment in Lithium Americas Corp.
- Osler has assisted SweetIQ Inc. in respect of its acquisition by ReachLocal, a USA TODAY NETWORK company and a part of Gannett Co., Inc. a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Persistence Capital Partners, in connection with the subscription of Class C Shares in the capital of Rx Drug Mart Inc., a company specializing in the business of acquiring, consolidating and operating pharmacies across Canada.
- Caprion Biosciences Inc., in its recapitalization and acquisition by GHO Capital Partners LLP
- TeraXion Inc., in its sale of its high-speed indium phosphide and silicium photonics technologies as well as its underlying intellectual property to Ciena Canada Inc. at a purchase price of US$32 million.
- Hopper Travel in its various financings totalling over $100 million, including by Atlas Ventures and Omers Ventures.
- Accedian Networks in its various financings, including the $25M financing by Summit Capital and Rho Capital
- Inocucor Technologies Inc., in connection with the first tranche closing of a Series B financing led by TPG ART.
- H.I.G. Capital (through an affiliate), as Canadian counsel to the purchaser in connection with the acquisition of ATX Networks Corporation.
- The minority shareholders of iBwave Solutions Inc., an industry leader in design software for in-building wireless solutions for a wide range of customers and integrators, in relation to its sale to Corning Incorporated, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of approximately $28 billion.
- Radialpoint SafeCare Inc., in relation to the sale of its Technical Security Services Business to AppDirect Canada Inc.
- TPG Capital LP in connection with its proposed acquisition of Cirque du Soleil, the most important private investment transaction completed in 2015
- DAVIDs TEA in its initial public offering for aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $64.9 million.
- Pharmascience Inc., in relation to the acquisition of Uman Pharma Inc. from CFR International S.p.A., an affiliate of Abbott Laboratories, and UPGI Pharma Inc.
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund in connection with the sale of its Montreal East sulphur removal and compliance services business to Suncor Energy Products Inc. for $120 million.
- MEGA Brands in connection with its proposed US$460 million acquisition by Mattel.
- Canadian counsel to the initial purchasers in connection with the secondary private placement by CDP Capital d’Amérique Investissements Inc., a subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, of $305 million convertible unsecured subordinated debentures of Quebecor Inc.
- Turris Sites in its sale of a controlling interest to InSite Wireless of the United States.
- Fiera Capital Corporation (formerly Fiera Sceptre Inc.), in its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Natcan Investment Management Inc. from National Bank of Canada for $309.5 million, subject to reduction.
- CGE Resources Québec 2011 L.P., a flow-through fund investing in mining and resources issuers, in connection with its initial public offering.
- Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill Lynch, RBC Capital Markets and other initial purchasers in connection with an offering of US$5 billion principal amount of senior notes by CDP Financial Inc., the financing arm of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
- National Bank Financial, BMO Nesbitt Burns, RBC Capital Markets and the other dealers in connection with an offering of $2 billion principal amount of senior notes by CDP Financial Inc., the financing arm of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
- Oz Communications Inc. in its sale to Nokia Corporation.
- Genuity Capital Markets, BMO Nesbitt Burns and the rest of the underwriting syndicate in Miranda Tech.
Latest Insights
-
Report Feb 1, 2024
Guide to Doing Business in Québec
Québec is Canada’s largest province by geography and its second most populous province. Québec’s strategic location offers unique...
Read more
-
Osler Update Dec 20, 2019
Canadian government delays implementation of employee stock option proposals
On December 19, the Minister of Finance announced that, although the government intends to move forward with the employee stock option proposals from...
Read more
-
Osler Update Aug 26, 2019
Deadline to disclose nominee agreements to Revenue Québec has been extended
On August 22, 2019, the Québec Revenue Agency announced that the deadline for filing the information return to disclose the requested information...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
-
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Corporate Tax; Québec’s top corporate tax lawyers in 2021
-
Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Tax Law
Media Mentions
-
Osler News Apr 19, 2023
42 Osler lawyers recognized by Lexpert as leaders in Finance and M&A
Osler is proud to announce 42 of our lawyers have been recognized as leaders in the Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2023.
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Canadian Tax Law Insights: Key tax measures in Budget 2024 affecting Founders and Emerging Companies
Read more
APFF Symposium : Corporate reorganizations and commercial transactions
Speaker, Review of recent legislative changes at both the provincial and federal levels, March 12, 2020
APFF Annual Conference
Speaker, Pitfalls to avoid in corporate reorganization with Jean-Philippe Dionne, October, 2019
Published Work
- Notion de contrôle, un concept à maîtriser, Canadian Tax Foundation, July 2019.
- Impact of 2019 Federal Budget on equity compensation, Osler, April 2019.
- Droits sur les mutations immobilières : aspects pratiques pour les fiducies et les sociétés de personnes, APFF, September 2018.
- Revue des développements récents affectant la fiscalité québécoise, APFF, March 2018.
- Mise à jour sur le contrôle de fait et le contrôle de droit, APFF 2017 Annual Congress.
- Droits de mutation dans un contexte transactionnel, Colloque « Réorganisation d’entreprises et transactions commerciales », APFF 2017.
- Mise à jour sur les earn-out, APFF 2015 Congress.
- Consolidation des pertes et des attributs fiscaux dans un groupe corporatif, 2014 APFF Congress.
- “Mathieu v. The Queen: When a Reassessment Results in a Windfall for the Taxpayer”, 24(4) Taxation of Executive Compensation & Retirement, Federated Press, Vol. 24, No. 4, November 2014 (With David Wilson).
- Contrôle de jure et de facto : Concept et évolution, 2013 APFF Congress.
- Article 44.1 : Overview, technical interpretations and issues, Canadian Tax Foundation, 2013.
- Workshop on Section 85 rollover, Canadian Tax Foundation, 2012.
- Non-income tax considerations on the sale of a business, Canadian Tax Foundation, 2012.
- Paragraphs 110(1)(d) and 7(1)(e): a CRA policy shift?, Federated Press, Vol. 24, No 1, July/August 2012.
- Recent Case: Bozzer v. Her Majesty the Queen, Taxation and Corporate Organization and Reorganization, Federated Press, Vol. II, no. 91, 2011 (co-author Mark Brender).
- Les conventions de vente d’actifs et d’actions, Stratégies pour les vendeurs et acheteurs, L’Institut Canadien, 2010 (with Antoine Stébenne).
- Québec Releases Detailed Measures to Combat Aggressive Tax Planning Schemes, Corporate Structures and Groups, Federated Press, Vol. XI, no. 2, 2009 (co-author Mark Brender).
- When Corrections of Mistakes in the Implementations of a Corporate Reorganization Become Retroactive Tax Planning – Gestion Forêt Dale Inc. v. The Queen, Taxation of Corporate Organization and Reorganization, Federated Press, Vol. II, no. 78, 2009 (co-author Mark Brender).
- Utilisation de pertes dans un groupe corporatif, 2009 APFF Congress.
- Quoi faire avant la tempête, Colloque « entreprises en difficultés financières », APFF 2009 (with Elaine Marchand).
- The 2008 Quebec Budget and Employee Stock Option Benefits, 19(3) Taxation of Executive compensation & Retirement (Federated Press) 896-97 (with Dov Begun).
- Interprétations techniques récentes, 2006 APFF Congress.
Credentials
Education
- Université de Sherbrooke, Taxation Master Program, 2002
- Université Laval, LL.B., 2000
Languages
- English
- French
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association
- Canadian Tax Foundation
- Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF)
- International Fiscal Association
