People
John Kicken
Biography
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, EQT, 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 and 2026. 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, Froneri, Hunkemöller, IHO Holding, KCA Deutag, Modulaire, Multiversity, Titan and Vodafone Spain.
Practice areas
- Capital markets
- Finance
- High yield
- Leveraged finance
- Private equity
- Leveraged finance and high yield
Sectors
- Private capital
- Private equity
Selected experience
- 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.
Education
- Harvard Law School, LLM, 2007 Fulbright Scholar
- Leiden Law School, LLM, 2006 Valedictorian
Admissions
- Admitted to the bar of the State of New York, 2008