John Macfarlane

John Macfarlane

Partner, Corporate

Contact Information

jmacfarlane@osler.com

tel: 416.862.4280

Office

Toronto

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Areas of Expertise

Bar Admission

Alberta, 1999

Ontario, 1991

Education

  • University of Toronto, LL.B.
  • McGill University, B.A. (Hons.)

Language(s)

English

John advises Canadian, U.S. and international clients on corporate finance transactions and acquisitions and dispositions of domestic and international businesses. He has considerable expertise in the area of infrastructure finance and capital markets platforms, having advised on debt capital market financings for the Maritime Link transmission project, Toronto Pearson International Airport, the leading operator of electricity transmission assets in Alberta and the Confederation Bridge linking P.E.I. and New Brunswick. In addition to transactional work, John advises senior management and boards of directors on corporate governance and public company matters and other strategic legal issues. John has served as Co-Chair of the firm’s Corporate Finance Practice Group and as Managing Partner of Osler’s Calgary office. John has also served as a member of the Securities Advisory Committee to the Ontario Securities Commission.

    • NOVA Chemicals Corporation in its 2024 offering of US$650 million 9.00% senior notes due 2030, its 2023 offering of US$400 million 8.500% senior secured first lien notes due 2028, its 2021 offering of US$575 million 4.250% senior notes due 2029, its 2017 offering of US$2.1 billion 4.875% senior notes due 2024 and 5.250% senior notes due 2027 in support of its acquisition of Williams Partners' ownership interest in a Geismar, Louisiana olefins plant
    • Emera Incorporated in its 2023 renewal of its $600 million At-the-Market (ATM) program and its offering of $500 million 4.838% Series 2023-1 notes due 2030, its 2021 offerings of $225 million Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series L and $200 million Cumulative Minimum Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series J, its 2018 offering of $300 million Cumulative Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series H, its 2017 offering of $700 million Common Shares, its 2016 offering of $345 million Common Shares, its 2014 offerings of $200 million Cumulative Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series F and $250 million Common Shares, its 2013 offering of $125 Million Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series E, its 2012 offerings of $200 million Common Shares and $250 million Cumulative Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series C, its 2011 offering of $200 million Common Shares, and its 2010 offering of $150 million Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series A
    • Enbridge Inc. (on behalf of the underwriters) in its 2023 offerings of US $750 million 5.900% senior notes due 2026, US $750 million 6.000% senior notes due 2028, US $750 million 6.200% senior notes due 2030, US $1.250 billion 6.700% senior notes due 2053, US$750 million 8.250% subordinated notes due 2084, US$1.25 billion 8.500% subordinated notes due 2084, US$2.3 billion 5.700% sustainability-linked senior notes due 2033 and US$700 million senior notes due 2026, its 2022 offerings of US$500 million 7.375% subordinated notes due 2083, US$600 million 7.625% subordinated notes due 2083, US$400 million 2.15% senior notes due 2024, US$500 million 2.5% senior notes due 2025 and US$600 million floating rate senior notes due 2024, its 2021 offerings of US$500 million senior notes due 2023, US$500 million senior notes due 2026, US$500 million senior notes due 2051 and US$500 million floating rate notes due 2023, its 2020 offerings of US$1 billion subordinated notes due 2080 and US$750 million floating rate notes due 2022, its 2019 offering of US$2 billion senior notes due 2025, 2029 and 2049, its 2018 offerings of US $600 million and US $850 million subordinated notes due 2078, its 2017 offering of US$1 billion subordinated notes due 2077 and its 2016 offering of US $750 million subordinated notes due 2077
    • AltaLink, L.P. (on behalf of the dealer syndicate) in its 2023 offering of $500 million 5.463% senior bonds due 2055, its 2022 offering of $275 million 4.692% senior bonds due 2032, its 2020 offering of $225 million 1.509% senior bonds due 2030, its 2016 offerings of $450 million 3.717% senior bonds due 2046 and $350 million 2.747% senior bonds due 2016, its 2015 offering of $350 million 4.09% senior bonds due 2045, its 2014 offerings of $295 million 4.054% senior bonds due 2044, $225 million 3.99% senior bonds due 2042, $350 million 3.399% senior bonds due 2024 and $130 million 4.274% senior bonds due 2064, its 2013 offerings of $500 million 3.668% senior bonds due 2023, $350 million 4.922% senior bonds due 2043, $125 million 3.621% senior bonds due 2020 and $250 million 4.446% senior bonds due 2053, its 2012 offerings of $275 million 2.978% senior bonds due 2022 and $300 million 3.99% senior bonds due 2042, its 2011 offering of $275 million 4.462% senior bonds due 2041, and its 2010 offerings of $125 million 5.381% senior bonds due 2040 and $150 million 4.872% senior bonds due 2040
    • Nova Scotia Power Inc. in its 2023 offerings of $300 million 4.951% Series 2023-1 notes due 2032 and $200 million 5.355% Series 2023-2 notes due 2053, its 2020 offering of $300 million 3.307% Series 2020-1 notes due 2050, its 2019 offering of $400 million 3.571% Series AB notes due 2049, its 2016 renewal of its commercial paper program and its 2015 offering of $175 million 3.612% Series AA notes due 2045
    • Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. in its 2022 acquisition of Salesforce solutions architect RafterOne
    • Greater Toronto Airports Authority in its 2021 offering of $400 million 3.15% notes due 2051, its 2020 offering of $500 million 1.54% notes due 2028, its 2019 offerings of $900 million 2.75% notes due 2039 and $500 million 2.73% notes due 2029, its 2018 offering of $500 million 3.26% notes due 2037, its 2017 launch of its first commercial paper program, its 2016 offering of $300 million 3.04% notes due 2022, its 2011 offerings of $400 million 4.53% notes due 2041 and $600 million 5.30% notes due 2041, and its 2010 offering of $400 million 5.63% notes due 2040
    • Greater Toronto Airports Authority in its successful 2021 and 2020 $6.9 billion bondholder consent solicitations
    • AltaLink Investments, L.P. (on behalf of the dealer syndicate) in its 2015 offering of $200 million 2.244% senior bonds due 2022, its 2013 offering of $200 million 3.265% senior bonds due 2020 and its 2012 offering of $200 million 3.674% senior bonds due 2019
    • Emera Incorporated and Maritime Link  Financing  Trust  in the 2014 offering of $1.3 billion 3.5% bonds due 2052, guaranteed by the Government of Canada. Proceeds of the offering were used to fund the construction of the Maritime Link Project, a 500MW HVdc transmission line linking Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Danaher Corporation in its acquisition of MDS Inc.’s Analytical Technologies business
    • NOVA Chemicals Corporation in its acquisition by International Petroleum Investment Company
    • Cadbury plc in the demerger of its Americas Beverages business to Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc.

  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Corporate Finance & Securities; Recognized in Lexpert’s Top 40 Under 40
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Securities Law
  • Legal 500: Recognized as a Recommended Lawyer, Capital Markets; Corporate and M&A
  • IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms: Recognized in Capital Markets: Debt; Capital Markets: Equity (Highly Regarded)

  • Concussion Legacy Foundation (Canada), Board Member and Senior Advisor
  • United Way Greater Toronto: Campaign and Major Individual Giving Cabinets, Member; Leadership Speaker; Osler United Way Committee, Leadership Chair
  • Canadian Opera Company, Board Member and Secretary
  • VHA Home Healthcare, former Chair

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Law Society of Ontario
  • Law Society of Alberta

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