John Kicken
Image of John Kicken

John Kicken

Partner

Email

john.kicken@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 3088 3042

Offices

London

V-CARD
John is Head of High Yield and specializes in high yield bonds and leveraged finance transactions, including acquisition financings, recapitalizations and liability management.

He has extensive experience advising financial sponsors, corporate issuers, investment banks and private credit funds on capital markets transactions, high yield covenants and US securities law matters.

John is highly regarded in European high yield and leveraged finance (Chambers) and recognized as a Market Leader (IFLR1000) and a Leading Partner (Legal 500), with clients describing him as "a standout and among the best" in European high yield.

He has advised on high yield and leveraged finance transactions for portfolio companies of a broad range of private equity firms and financial sponsors, including Advent, Apollo, Ardian, Bain Capital, Brookfield, Carlyle, Cinven, CVC, HIG Capital, GIC, GSAM, ICG, Kharis Capital, KKR, KPS Capital Partners, Macquarie, Mubadala, PAI Partners, Parcom, Partners Group, SVP, TDR Capital, Triton and Zegona.

John led the team that won High Yield Team of the Year at the IFLR Europe Awards in 2022. His deals have been shortlisted for, and awarded, Deal of the Year on more than a dozen occasions, including Altice France, Amara Nzero, Asda, Boparan, Douglas, EG Group, Empark, Flora Food Group, Hunkemöller, IHO Holding, KCA Deutag, Modulaire, Multiversity, Titan and Vodafone Spain.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • Froneri, a joint venture between Nestlé and PAI Partners, on its EUR4.25 billion debut high yield bond and incremental loan financing, as well as its EUR500 million follow-on private placement. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR600 million debut high yield bond issuance of Bain Capital’s portfolio company Centrient. 
  • Brookfield on the EUR1.9 billion high yield bond and loan refinancing of its portfolio company Modulaire. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR850 million debut high yield bond issuance for TDR’s acquisition of Acqua & Sapone, as well as its EUR75 million follow-on private placement. 
  • PAI Partners on the EUR1.6 billion financing for its acquisition of an 80% stake in Motel One. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR3.4 billion debut high yield bond and loan financing for Zegona’s acquisition of Vodafone Spain, as well as its EUR150 million follow-on private placement. 
  • CVC on the EUR1.1 billion high yield bond financing for extending its investment in Multiversity. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR2.7 billion high yield bond and loan refinancing of Partners Group-owned Techem, as well as its EUR1.0 billion follow-on high yield bond issuance. 
  • Boels on its EUR400 million debut high yield bond issuance, as well as its EUR600 million follow-on high yield bond issuance to fund the acquisition of Riwal. 
  • The initial purchasers on EUR8.1 billion of high yield bond issuances, EUR3.0 billion of high yield bond exchanges and EUR6.9 billion of loan refinancings for Altice France. 
  • Apollo-managed funds on the USD2.1 billion high yield bond refinancing of EG Group.
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR320 million debut high yield bond and loan financing for Cinven’s acquisition of Amara Nzero.
  • Parcom, Opportunity Partners and other co-investors on the EUR390 million debut high yield bond and loan financing for the acquisition of Hunkemöller from Carlyle. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR2.4 billion debut high yield bond and loan refinancing for Partners Group-owned Emeria (formerly Foncia), as well as the EUR400 million follow-on high yield bond issuance. 
  • KCA Deutag on USD2.3 billion of high yield bond issuances and a USD2.0 billion high yield restructuring. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR1.8 billion debut high yield bond and loan financing for KPS Capital Partners' acquisition of Eviosys (formerly Titan) from Crown Holdings. 
  • IHO Holding on EUR4.4 billion of high yield bond issuances. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR540 million debut high yield bond and loan financing for Triton's acquisition of Renk from Volkswagen, as well as Renk's EUR200 million follow-on high yield bond issuance to fund its acquisition of a division of L3Harris. 
  • SIG plc on its EUR300 million debut high yield bond issuance. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR4.1 billion debut high yield bond and loan financing for KKR's acquisition of Upfield (formerly Flora Food Group) from Unilever.
  • Schaeffler on EUR1.5 billion of high yield bond issuances. 
  • The initial purchasers on the EUR2.0 billion debut high yield bond and loan financing for CVC's acquisition of Douglas from Advent. 

Recognition

“John is phenomenal and a brilliant high-yield lawyer.”
Legal500
“John is a trusted sounding board for all things high yield.”
Chambers

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted to the bar of the State of New York, 2008

Academic

Harvard Law School, LLM, 2007 
Fulbright Scholar

 

Leiden Law School, LLM, 2006 
Valedictorian

 

 

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Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.