E. Wells Peever, Q.C.

Experience

Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP
Partner, 1998 - present.

• Representation of corporations, banks and investors in various large and small commercial transactions involving acquisitions, divestitures, asset and business financings and restructurings
• Representation of private equity funds in structuring and documenting private equity investments
• Representation of corporations seeking private equity investment including negotiation and documentation of investments
• Representation of developers and financial institutions in joint venture arrangements, term and construction loan facilities, land assembly, subdivision, re-zoning, municipal and environmental approvals for residential and commercial developments
• Legal counsel to several large Winnipeg-based corporations, providing advice on corporate governance including advice at the board of directors level

Pitblado & Hoskin
Partner, 1981 - 1998. Associate, 1977 - 1981.

Atomic Energy of Canada, Pinawa, Manitoba
Research engineer at Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, 1973 - 1974.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical), University of Manitoba
• Bachelor of Laws, University of Manitoba

Call to the Bar

• Manitoba, 1977

Awards

• Order of St. John, 1980
• Queen's Counsel, 1999

Presentations

• Presenter at Association of Professional Engineers of Manitoba seminar on "Professional Liability for Engineers"
• Presenter at Manitoba Heavy Construction Association seminar on "Environmental Problems in Construction Industry"
• Presenter at a joint Continuing Legal Education Program of the Manitoba Bar Association and the Association of Professional Engineers on "The Role of the Professional Engineer in Environmental Audits"
• Presenter at annual convention of Canadian Public Works Association on "Financing Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Projects"
• Session moderator at annual convention of the Canadian Transport Institute
• Presenter at Law Society of Manitoba, Legal Studies Department "Securing Debt: Mortgages, Collateral Mortgages & Guarantees"

Legal Writing

• Manitoba Heavy Construction Journal - "Financing Public - Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Financing"

Legal Teaching

• Lecturer Bar Admission Course, Corporate and Commercial Law, 1979 - 1981
• Occasional guest lecturer on engineers and the law, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Manitoba, 1978 - 1983
• Lecturer at the professional practice course for engineers-in-training, on behalf of the Association of Professional Engineers and the Continuing Education Department of the University of Manitoba, 1995 - 2001

Representative Transactions

• Successful offering to accredited investors of $125 million of units in a private equity fund
• Successful offering to accredited investors of $85 million of units in private equity fund of funds
• Wind farm development for a major hydro-electric utility
• Private equity investment of $25 million in a coal bed methane project
• Private equity investment and subordinated debt investment of $110 million and senior bank loan facility of $35 million for a Manitoba based media company
• Overall due diligence and real estate responsibility for the acquisition of Winnipeg Hydro by Manitoba Hydro for approximately $500 million
• Sale of a Manitoba based inter-provincial oil pipeline system for $25 million
• Sale of a major Winnipeg hotel in exchange for units of a REIT including creation of airspace parcels
• Private equity investment of $20 million in a private oilfield services company
• Negotiation and documentation of numerous credit agreements for a major Canadian chartered bank for amounts between $25 million and $200 million
• Numerous secured debt facilities for amounts from $5 million to $100 million including construction facilities
• Member of the legal team for the privatization of Manitoba Telephone System
• Plan of arrangement reorganizing a Winnipeg based public corporation as an income trust, renegotiation of bond holder agreements and restructuring debt in excess of $360 million
• Primary Manitoba counsel for a chartered bank in dealing with the insolvency of a large national property development company including realization and sale of Winnipeg's second largest retail shopping mall
• Restructuring $60 million of term debt for a financially distressed multi-use real estate project
• Legal consultant to an engineering firm for preparation of "The Winnipeg Airport Area Plan", a land-use and development implementation study for a 24 hour air freight hub and international free trade zone for the Winnipeg Airport

Professional Associations

• Law Society of Manitoba (Barrister and Solicitor), member since 1977
• Manitoba Bar Association
• Canadian Bar Association
• Member of the Construction Law Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association

Miscellaneous Affiliations

• Inaugural Chair of the Planned Giving Committee for St. Paul's Jesuit High School, 2005 - present, resulting in commitments of $3.5 million
• Member of the Board of Directors of St. Paul's Jesuit High School, 2003 – present
• Member of the Board of Commissioners of the Gaming Control Commission of the Province of Manitoba, 1997 - 1999
• Member of the 3 person committee of practitioners appointed to review and advise the Government of Manitoba on changes to The Corporations Act, 1997
• Member of the board created to re-develop and renovate the Assiniboine Park Pavilion, 1996 - 1999
• Member of the Board of Governors of the Winnipeg Winter Club, 1990 - 1994
• Chair of the Ducks Unlimited Winnipeg Centre Dinner Committee, 1990 and 1991
• Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of St. John's Ambulance, 1977 - 1981