Alcan, Pechiney and Allusuisse Lonza

Alcan Aluminium Limited of Canada, Allusuisse Lonza Group AG of Switzerland and Pechiney of France have announced an agreement in principle for a proposed merger. This three way international merger will create the world’s largest aluminium company. The combined company, which is being referred to as Alcan-Pechiney-Algroup (APA) will be a Canadian corporation. APA has total combined 1998 sales and operating revenues of approximately U. S. $ 21. 6 bn. , making this the largest merger in Canadian corporate history.

Each of the three companies has retained counsel in various jurisdictions. In Canada, McMillan Binch is representing Alcan Aluminium; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt is representing Allusuisse; and Goodman Phillips & Vineberg is acting for Pechiney. The team at McMillan Binch is comprised of Robert K. McDermott, James D. Scarlett and associate Sean Farrell (corporate and securities); J. William Rowley, Q. C. ; John F. Clifford and associate Sandra Walker (competition); and A. Neil Campbell (Investment Canada). The Oslers team is being led by Donald Ross, who is being assisted by Richard Lococo, Christopher S. Murray, Mark Trachuk. J. Timothy Kennish and Peter Franklyn are handling competition law matters and David Tetreault is advising on tax. The team at GPV is comprised of Jonathan Lampe and Neil Sheehy (corporate); David Weinberger and Steven Cohen (due diligence); Robert Vaux and Daniel J. Gormley (competition); and Neil Harris, Mitchell J. Sherman and Carrie Smit (tax).