Leïla Yacoubi
Associate | Toronto
leila.yacoubi@blakes.com
Toronto: 416-863-2281

Leïla's practice focuses on domestic and cross-border debt financing transactions.

She represents both lenders and borrowers in the context of secured or unsecured, bilateral or syndicated loan structures. Leïla participates in the structuring and negotiation of syndicated facilities, asset-based loans, letter of credit facilities, and ancillary security documentation. In particular, she has experience in acquisition financings, including asset purchase transactions, sponsored cross-border share purchase transactions, and leveraged take over-bid financings for public companies.

Leïla works closely with public issuers and private companies across a wide range of industries and sectors, including financial services, investment management, telecommunications, mining, real estate, manufacturing, automobile, technology, biotech, retail, health care and agriculture.

Leïla also assists in certain areas of regulatory compliance in the financial services industry, advising Canadian and foreign banks on applicable federal and provincial legislation.

Leïla is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

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Recent representative transactions include advising:

  • Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in connection with senior secured credit facilities in favour of Stantec Inc. to finance its acquisition of MWH Global, Inc.

  • A leading Canadian manufacturer in connection with a C$2.9-billion leveraged financing from a syndicate of lenders to finance its acquisition of a Canadian manufacturer of harvesting equipment

  • HSBC Bank Canada in connection with a US$306-million senior secured credit facility in favour of a producer of sports nutrition products

  • ECN Capital Corp. and ECN (US) Holdings Corp. in connection with a US$2.5-billion senior secured credit facility established by a syndicate of lenders, with Bank of Montreal acting as administrative agent

  • Element Fleet Management Corp. and Element Fleet Management (US) Corp. in connection with a US$3.5-billion senior secured credit facility established by a syndicate of lenders, with Bank of Montreal acting as administrative agent

  • The Bank of Nova Scotia in connection with senior secured credit facilities in favour of Tahoe Resources Inc.

  • A syndicate of lenders led by National Bank of Canada in connection with senior secured credit facilities in favour of a Canadian publicly traded funeral, cremation and cemetery provider

  • A New York private investment firm in connection with a senior credit facility established to finance its acquisition of a leading Canadian supplier of automotive parts

  • A syndicate of lenders led by a US bank in connection with the financing of the acquisition by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan of Constellation Brands Canada for C$1.03-billion

  • Numerous large, mid-market and smaller syndicated and non-syndicated credit facilities led by Canadian banks ranging in size from C$2-million to C$1-billion