Image of Nihaal Khanna

Nihaal Khanna

Senior Associate

Email

nihaal.khanna@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 3088 2266

Offices

London

V-CARD
Nihaal advises financial sponsors and their portfolio companies on complex cross-border leveraged financings across the capital structure and group restructurings. 

 

He has represented top-tier private equity sponsors and sovereign wealth funds including Ardian, Bridgepoint, Brookfield, Carlyle, PAI, Parcom, Waterland and 3i. Nihaal has spent 6 months on secondment with Bridgepoint, and he is regarded by clients as being highly pragmatic and commercially-minded.

Nihaal is a member of the LegalTech working group and has self-developed an AI-assisted Legal and FinTech platform which won the Innovate UK Smart Grant awarded by the UK Government. He has also worked in leading law firms in India and has been recognised as one of the '35 under 35' UK-India Young Leaders in fostering UK-Indo relations.

Experience

Representative matters

  • Ardian and its portfolio company Audiotonix, a state-of-the-art provider of professional audio mixing consoles, in relation to its acquisition facilities.
  • Bridgepoint on the following matters:
    - Joint venture with Porsche SE on the acquisition financing of a majority stake in PTV Group, a leading global software company for transport simulation, planning and solutions, and the subsequent acquisition financings of a majority stake in Econolite, a leading North American provider of intelligent traffic management solutions and Conundra B.V., a Belgian route planning software provider;
    - First lien and PIK financing of the acquisition of PharmaZell, a leading independent manufacturer of pharmaceutical ingredients from DPE Deutsche Private Equity and Maxburg Capital Partners, and on the financing of the bolt-on acquisition of Groupe Novasep from Silver Point Capital and Blackrock, creating a combined business in excess of EUR0.5 billion in revenue;
    - Financing for its acquisition of Laboratoires Vivacy, a global personal healthcare company;
    - Acquisition financing of Infinigate Group, a European value added distributor of enterprise cyber-security solutions, from H.I.G Capital, and its subsequent acquisitions financings of: Starlink Group, a cybersecurity software distributor headquartered in Dubai; Nuvias Group, a cyber security and secure networking business; and Vuzion Group, creating the first value added distributer combining cybersecurity and cloud services; and
    - PIK financing of its minority investment in ACT, the world’s leading provider of market-based sustainability solutions, valuing it at over USD1 billion. 
  • Brookfield on the EUR2.75 billion loan and high yield financing for its acquisition of Modulaire Group, a leading provider of modular leasing services and infrastructure in Europe and Asia-Pacific (High Yield Deal of the Year, IFLR Europe Awards, 2022).
  • PAI Partners on the financing for its acquisition of ECF Group, a leading business-to-business distributor of equipment and consumables for hospitality and care professionals.
  • Waterland Private Equity on its acquisition financing for a majority investment in Moore Kingston Smith, a leading multidisciplinary professional services firm, uniquely structured in a first-of-its-kind LLP acquisition financing, and the subsequent acquisition financing of leading Irish accountancy firm, Moore.

Pro bono

  • Served as the UK Director of Shanti Life, a global microfinance charity which alleviates poverty in slums and villages by providing access to low interest microfinance loans and training.
  • Served as a Professional Ambassador for Aspiring Solicitors.

Awards

  • 35 under 35 Young Leader issued by India Inc. in July 2018 (recognised as one of the UK-India Young Leaders in fostering UK-Indo relations)

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as a Solicitor (England and Wales), 2014

Master of Laws (LL.M.), Distinction, 2012

Legal Practice Course, Distinction, 2010

Academic

LL.B., Law, Warwick University, 2009

Languages

English, Hindi, Punjabi
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.