Eva Bellissimo is a partner in the firm’s Toronto office and Co-leader of McCarthy Tétrault’s Global Metals & Mining Group. Named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada (2021), Eva is deeply connected to the mining industry and is a strategic and entrepreneurial transactional lawyer with a strong reputation for getting the deal done. Eva has extensive expertise in cross-border M&A transactions and is experienced with addressing the unique issues presented by cross-border transactions.
With over 20 years of experience and having led hundreds of transactions, Eva’s practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance. In her M&A practice, Eva offers pragmatic advice and develops deal strategy for acquirors, target companies and special committees, assisting clients in developing and executing a variety of transactions including arrangements, reverse take-overs, going-private transactions, take-over bids and other business combinations. In her corporate finance practice, she advises issuers and investment banks on public equity offerings, convertible debt transactions and initial public offerings. Eva is also the lead advisor to a number of international clients seeking to undertake strategic investments in TSX-listed issuers. In addition, Eva has navigated issuers through proxy contests and advised with respect to activist shareholder actions.
M&A Representative Work:
- Vale on its base metals business consolidation and process for sale of minority stake in its base metals business
- Canadian counsel to Newcrest Mining on its A$29 billion all stock acquisition by Newmont
- Rio Tinto on its proposed US$2.7 billion all cash insider acquisition of TSX/NYSE-listed Turquoise Hill Resources which operated the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in Mongolia
- Newcrest Mining on its $3.5B acquisition of TSX/NYSE-listed Pretium Resources Inc. which operated the Brucejack gold mine in British Columbia
- ASX-listed Evolution Mining on its acquisition of TSX-listed Battle North Gold Corp.
- TSX and LSE-listed Endeavour Mining on its C$2.44 billion all-stock acquisition of Teranga Gold Corporation which operated the Sabodala-Massawa and Wahgnion gold mines in West Africa
- Stelco on its US$100 million option to acquire 25% interest in Minntac, the largest iron ore mine in the United States, and entry into long term extension pellet supply agreement with U.S Steel
- Newcrest Mining on its US$460 million acquisition of gold prepay and silver stream facilities and offtake on Lundin Gold's Fruta del Norte gold mine in Ecuador from Orion and Blackstone
- Endeavour Mining on its C$1 billion all-stock acquisition of TSX-listed SEMAFO which operated the Boungou and Mana gold mines in Burkina Faso
- Vale on its earn-in agreement for various copper properties in the United States
- Vale on its strategic alliance with Mundoro Capital with respect to copper deposits in western United States
- Calibre Mining on its acquisition of two operating mines from B2Gold and concurrent $100 million financing and TSX graduation.
- Osisko Gold Royalties on a C$537 million going private transaction of TSX-listed Dalradian Resources and continuing shareholder arrangements
- Kirkland Lake Gold in connection with its $1.2 billion business combination with Newmarket Gold
- Vox Royalty in connection with its subscription receipt offering and reverse take-over listing transaction
- Skeena Resources on its 100% acquisition of Eskay Creek gold and silver project from Barrick
Corporate Finance and Strategic Investment Representative Work:
- Anglo American on its strategic investment in TSX-V listed Canada Nickel and concurrent technology testing agreement and off-take term sheet
- Syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets and Haywood Securities in connection with an IPO of Arizona Sonoran Copper Company
- Rio Tinto on its Heads of Agreement with Turquoise Hill Resources for an updated US$2.3 billion funding plan (including project finance and equity) for the completion of the Oyu Tolgoi Underground Project in Mongolia
- Altius Renewable Royalties Corp. on is $100 million initial public offering and concurrent TSX listing via TSX Sandbox
- Endeavour Mining in connection with its US$2 billion shelf prospectus and subsequent US$200 million investment by La Mancha
- Anglo Asian Mining on its strategic investment in TSXV-listed Libero Copper and Gold
- Sumitomo Metals Mining on its strategic investment in TSXV-listed Kenorland Minerals
- Syndicate of agents led by Haywood Securities in connection with an initial public offering of Uranium Royalty Corp
- Syndicate of agents co-led by Scotia Capital, Canaccord, and National Bank in connection with an initial public offering of Titan Mining Corporation
- Syndicate of agents co-led by Scotia Capital and Haywood Securities in connection with a public offering of $65 million of common shares of Altius Minerals Corporation the proceeds of which were used to fund a portion of a $500 million royalty acquisition
- Franco-Nevada in connection with a $370 million public offering of units
In addition to her law practice, Eva remains actively involved with Western University. Eva was a regular lecturer on mining corporate finance at Western University Law School and is the Chair of the Advisory Council for the DAN Management Program at Western University. Eva is also the chair of the Corporate Governance Committee of i-80 Gold Corp.
Eva is a graduate of Western University, B.A. (ACS) (with Distinction), 1998, and Western University Law School, LL.B., 2001. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2002.
Awards & Rankings
Chambers Global
Leading Lawyer: Mining (International & Cross-Border) - Canada
Chambers Canada
Leading Lawyer: Energy & Natural Resources: Mining
Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada
Business
Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Leading Lawyer: Mining
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Leading Lawyer: Mining, Corporate Finance & Securities
Lexpert Special Edition – Mining
Leading Lawyer
Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A
Leading Lawyer