Niko is Head of Osler’s Montreal Corporate Group. He has represented public and private clients for over 20 years in a variety of Canadian, U.S. and international transactions, including negotiated and contested acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, auctions, take-over bids, carve-out transactions, strategic investments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, joint ventures and other corporate matters.
Prior to his return to Canada in 2004, Niko worked for one of the world’s leading law firms (Sullivan & Cromwell LLP) both in New York and in Australia for a number of years. He developed extensive experience in Canadian, U.S. and Australian M&A, contracts, commercial and securities law and related matters. He is known for problem solving, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
Niko’s clients span numerous industries and include public and private companies, pension funds, boards and independent committees, underwriters, venture capital funds, private equity funds and entrepreneurs. Niko has taught mergers and acquisitions law at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. His transactional resume shows the depth of his experience and connections with some of the most high profile corporate clients in Québec, Canada and internationally.
Areas of Expertise
Representative Work
- Rio Tinto and Evolys Québec Inc.
Joint venture between Rio Tinto and Aymium
- Béton Provincial
Béton Provincial in its acquisition of CRH Canada Group Inc.
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
CDPQ on the sale of Plusgrade Inc., alongside Novacap to General Atlantic for more than US$1 billion
- Metro Supply Group
Metro Supply Chain in its acquisition of SCI Group Inc.
- Marquis Imprimeur
Marquis Imprimeur in its sale to Lakeside Book Company
- Caisse de dépôt et Placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et Placement du Québec in its $150 million equity investment
- Safran
Safran in its acquisition of Orolia
- Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies in its acquisition of Matrox Imaging
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its US$1.9 billion sale of Barrette Outdoor Living with TorQuest Partners to CRH plc
- Nasdaq
Nasdaq in its acquisition of Metrio
- Imerys
Imerys in its sale of two graphite mines to Northern Graphite
- BBH Capital Partners
BBH Capital Partners in its $120 million investment in Synex Group insurance
- Deerfield Specialty Papers Inc.
Deerfield Specialty Papers in connection with the sale of Glassine Canada to Nordic Paper Holding.
- The sellers
Quatro Air Technologies in its acquisition by Absolent Air Care Group
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec on its acquisition, together with FFL Partners, of New Look
- Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. in its sale of TRU Simulation Inc + Training Inc., to CAE Inc. for US$40 million
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its majority investment in Barrette Outdoor Living
- Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb in its acquisition of Forbius
- Eurazeo
Eurazeo in its equity investment in Herschel Supply Co.
- Kersia
Kersia, a portfolio company of French institutional investor Ardian, in its acquisition of Choisy Laboratories
- Exclusive Networks
Exclusive Networks, a portfolio company of Permira, in its acquisition of Fine Tec Canada
- L Brands
L Brands with its sale of the La Senza business to Regent LP
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its $200 million investment in Plusgrade
- TRIGO Group
TRIGO Group in its acquisition of Lumbee Enterprises
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its $50 million investment in Pomerleau Inc.
- Nasdaq, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services Businesses to West Corporation for approximately US$335 million
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, in its equity investment in Atlantic Broadband, a subsidiary of Cogeco Communications Inc., in relation to the acquisition of the MetroCast cable systems
- Corbeil Électrique Inc., in connection with the sale of substantially all of its business and assets to AM-CAM Électroménagers Inc
- Luxury Retreats International Inc. in its acquisition by Airbnb Inc
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, in its equity financing in Hopper Inc
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, in its investment and take-control of the McInnis Cement Project
- Fiera Capital, in its acquisition of Apex Capital Management which more than doubles its presence on the U.S. institutional market
- Nasdaq, in its acquisition of Marketwired, which distributes news releases and economic data for investors and media companies, for an undisclosed amount
- Videotron, in its acquisition of Fibrenoire for CDN$125 million
- The TRIGO Group, in its acquisition of The PIC Group
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Investissement Québec, alongside existing investors, in its $80 million financing in Lightspeed to drive international growth
- TVA Group, a subsidiary of Quebecor Media, in its acquisition of Vision Globale’s assets for $118 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the sale of the English-language assets of its subsidiary Sun Media Corporation to Canadian press group Postmedia for $316 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the sale of Nurun, a global design and technology consultancy, for $125 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the sale of Sun Media Corporation’s 74 Québec weeklies to TC Media for $75 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the purchase of a significant portion of the CDPQ’s interest in Quebecor Media for a total consideration of approximately $1.5 billion
- Weather Investments, in its acquisition of all shares of La Mancha Resources Inc. for an overall price of approximately $502 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in its negotiation with the City of Québec over the management and operation of a new multifunctional amphitheatre to be built
- The special committee of Cossette Inc., in its sale to Mill Road Capital, L.P. for a consideration of $131.5 million
- Atrium Innovation Inc., in connection with its $75 million public offering of convertible debentures and its simultaneous $25 million private investment of convertible debentures in the Fonds de solidarité FTQ
- Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, in connection with its mergers with the Biovail Corporation
- Tekelec, in connection with its acquisition of Blueslice Networks Inc
- Hydro-Québec, in connection with its acquisition of a 60% interest in the hydro-electric facilities on the Manicouagan River
- Fonds de solidarité FTQ, in connection with its $30 million cash equity investment in Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc
- Fonds de solidarité FTQ, in connection with its $100 million investment in TransForce Inc
- Atrium Innovations Inc., in connection with the sale of its active ingredient and chemical specialty division to AXA Private Equity
- Société générale de financement du Québec, in connection with its $60 million investment in the debt instruments and equity securities of Axcan Pharma Inc
- Optimum Général Inc., in connection with its privatization by the merging of Optimum Général with a subsidiary of Optimum Group Inc
- The special committee of Groupe Optimum’s board of directors, in connection with a takeover offer by a group led by the president of one of its subsidiaries
- Quebecor Media Inc., in connection with its leveraged buyout of Osprey Media Income Fund
- National Bank Financial Inc. and Loewen, Ondaatje, McCutcheon Limited, in connection with the private placement of $15 million unsecured convertible debentures of Adaltis Inc
- Lazard Frères & Co. LLC and the initial purchasers, in connection with the private placement of common shares and common share purchase warrants worth a principal amount of $25 million of Adaltis Inc
- Bombardier Inc., in connection with its €1.9 billion distribution of debt securities and its debt tender offer in Europe
- Kruger Inc., in its acquisition of Maison des Futailles, a big Québec wine company that bottles and markets wines and spirits
- Arbec Forest Products Inc., in connection with its privatization through its majority shareholder, Jolina Capital Inc
- Metro Inc., in connection with its $600 million distribution of debt securities
- Metro Inc., in connection with its acquisition of The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company for a consideration of $1.7 billion
- Novelis Inc., in connection with its US$1.4 billion offering of senior notes
- Alcan Inc., in connection with the distribution to its shareholders of virtually all of its aluminium-laminated product business
- Province of Québec, in connection with its offering of up to $3 billion of debt securities.
- NSTAR, in connection with its US$500 million offering of debt securities
- Cablevision Systems Corporation, in connection with its acquisitions of partnership interests from subsidiaries of The News Corporation Limited
- Bear Stearns, in connection with total return swap transactions with Fleet National Bank
- ING Groep N.V., in connection with the sale of ING Barings LLC and its ancillary assets to ABN Amro Incorporated
- Foster’s Brewing Group Limited, in connection with its AU$500 million debt securities offering
- National Australia Bank Limited, in connection with its debt securities offering for a maximum capital of AU$15 billion
- Queensland Treasury Corporation, in connection with its AU$10 billion Global Bond Facility and its AU$500 million Medium Term Note Program
- BHP Steel Limited, as part of the split between BHP Steel and BHP Billiton, the listing of BHP Steel on the Australian Securities Exchange and the public offering of approximately 792 million BHP Steel shares
- The underwriters JPMorgan, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank, in a US$500 million offering of debt securities
- Enex Resources Limited, in connection with its proposed initial public offering
- BHP Billiton, in connection with its US$850 million debt securities offering
- UBS AG, in connection with its acquisition of Paine Webber Group Inc. for a consideration of US$12.2 billion
Joint venture between Rio Tinto and Aymium
Béton Provincial in its acquisition of CRH Canada Group Inc.
CDPQ on the sale of Plusgrade Inc., alongside Novacap to General Atlantic for more than US$1 billion
Metro Supply Chain in its acquisition of SCI Group Inc.
Marquis Imprimeur in its sale to Lakeside Book Company
- Caisse de dépôt et Placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et Placement du Québec in its $150 million equity investment
- Safran
Safran in its acquisition of Orolia
- Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies in its acquisition of Matrox Imaging
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its US$1.9 billion sale of Barrette Outdoor Living with TorQuest Partners to CRH plc
- Nasdaq
Nasdaq in its acquisition of Metrio
- Imerys
Imerys in its sale of two graphite mines to Northern Graphite
- BBH Capital Partners
BBH Capital Partners in its $120 million investment in Synex Group insurance
- Deerfield Specialty Papers Inc.
Deerfield Specialty Papers in connection with the sale of Glassine Canada to Nordic Paper Holding.
- The sellers
Quatro Air Technologies in its acquisition by Absolent Air Care Group
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec on its acquisition, together with FFL Partners, of New Look
- Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. in its sale of TRU Simulation Inc + Training Inc., to CAE Inc. for US$40 million
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its majority investment in Barrette Outdoor Living
- Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb in its acquisition of Forbius
- Eurazeo
Eurazeo in its equity investment in Herschel Supply Co.
- Kersia
Kersia, a portfolio company of French institutional investor Ardian, in its acquisition of Choisy Laboratories
- Exclusive Networks
Exclusive Networks, a portfolio company of Permira, in its acquisition of Fine Tec Canada
- L Brands
L Brands with its sale of the La Senza business to Regent LP
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its $200 million investment in Plusgrade
- TRIGO Group
TRIGO Group in its acquisition of Lumbee Enterprises
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its $50 million investment in Pomerleau Inc.
- Nasdaq, Inc. in connection with the sale of its Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services Businesses to West Corporation for approximately US$335 million
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, in its equity investment in Atlantic Broadband, a subsidiary of Cogeco Communications Inc., in relation to the acquisition of the MetroCast cable systems
- Corbeil Électrique Inc., in connection with the sale of substantially all of its business and assets to AM-CAM Électroménagers Inc
- Luxury Retreats International Inc. in its acquisition by Airbnb Inc
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, in its equity financing in Hopper Inc
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, in its investment and take-control of the McInnis Cement Project
- Fiera Capital, in its acquisition of Apex Capital Management which more than doubles its presence on the U.S. institutional market
- Nasdaq, in its acquisition of Marketwired, which distributes news releases and economic data for investors and media companies, for an undisclosed amount
- Videotron, in its acquisition of Fibrenoire for CDN$125 million
- The TRIGO Group, in its acquisition of The PIC Group
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Investissement Québec, alongside existing investors, in its $80 million financing in Lightspeed to drive international growth
- TVA Group, a subsidiary of Quebecor Media, in its acquisition of Vision Globale’s assets for $118 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the sale of the English-language assets of its subsidiary Sun Media Corporation to Canadian press group Postmedia for $316 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the sale of Nurun, a global design and technology consultancy, for $125 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the sale of Sun Media Corporation’s 74 Québec weeklies to TC Media for $75 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in the purchase of a significant portion of the CDPQ’s interest in Quebecor Media for a total consideration of approximately $1.5 billion
- Weather Investments, in its acquisition of all shares of La Mancha Resources Inc. for an overall price of approximately $502 million
- Quebecor Media Inc., in its negotiation with the City of Québec over the management and operation of a new multifunctional amphitheatre to be built
- The special committee of Cossette Inc., in its sale to Mill Road Capital, L.P. for a consideration of $131.5 million
- Atrium Innovation Inc., in connection with its $75 million public offering of convertible debentures and its simultaneous $25 million private investment of convertible debentures in the Fonds de solidarité FTQ
- Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, in connection with its mergers with the Biovail Corporation
- Tekelec, in connection with its acquisition of Blueslice Networks Inc
- Hydro-Québec, in connection with its acquisition of a 60% interest in the hydro-electric facilities on the Manicouagan River
- Fonds de solidarité FTQ, in connection with its $30 million cash equity investment in Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc
- Fonds de solidarité FTQ, in connection with its $100 million investment in TransForce Inc
- Atrium Innovations Inc., in connection with the sale of its active ingredient and chemical specialty division to AXA Private Equity
- Société générale de financement du Québec, in connection with its $60 million investment in the debt instruments and equity securities of Axcan Pharma Inc
- Optimum Général Inc., in connection with its privatization by the merging of Optimum Général with a subsidiary of Optimum Group Inc
- The special committee of Groupe Optimum’s board of directors, in connection with a takeover offer by a group led by the president of one of its subsidiaries
- Quebecor Media Inc., in connection with its leveraged buyout of Osprey Media Income Fund
- National Bank Financial Inc. and Loewen, Ondaatje, McCutcheon Limited, in connection with the private placement of $15 million unsecured convertible debentures of Adaltis Inc
- Lazard Frères & Co. LLC and the initial purchasers, in connection with the private placement of common shares and common share purchase warrants worth a principal amount of $25 million of Adaltis Inc
- Bombardier Inc., in connection with its €1.9 billion distribution of debt securities and its debt tender offer in Europe
- Kruger Inc., in its acquisition of Maison des Futailles, a big Québec wine company that bottles and markets wines and spirits
- Arbec Forest Products Inc., in connection with its privatization through its majority shareholder, Jolina Capital Inc
- Metro Inc., in connection with its $600 million distribution of debt securities
- Metro Inc., in connection with its acquisition of The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company for a consideration of $1.7 billion
- Novelis Inc., in connection with its US$1.4 billion offering of senior notes
- Alcan Inc., in connection with the distribution to its shareholders of virtually all of its aluminium-laminated product business
- Province of Québec, in connection with its offering of up to $3 billion of debt securities.
- NSTAR, in connection with its US$500 million offering of debt securities
- Cablevision Systems Corporation, in connection with its acquisitions of partnership interests from subsidiaries of The News Corporation Limited
- Bear Stearns, in connection with total return swap transactions with Fleet National Bank
- ING Groep N.V., in connection with the sale of ING Barings LLC and its ancillary assets to ABN Amro Incorporated
- Foster’s Brewing Group Limited, in connection with its AU$500 million debt securities offering
- National Australia Bank Limited, in connection with its debt securities offering for a maximum capital of AU$15 billion
- Queensland Treasury Corporation, in connection with its AU$10 billion Global Bond Facility and its AU$500 million Medium Term Note Program
- BHP Steel Limited, as part of the split between BHP Steel and BHP Billiton, the listing of BHP Steel on the Australian Securities Exchange and the public offering of approximately 792 million BHP Steel shares
- The underwriters JPMorgan, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank, in a US$500 million offering of debt securities
- Enex Resources Limited, in connection with its proposed initial public offering
- BHP Billiton, in connection with its US$850 million debt securities offering
- UBS AG, in connection with its acquisition of Paine Webber Group Inc. for a consideration of US$12.2 billion
Latest Insights
-
Osler Update Feb 28, 2017
Québec government announces strategy to keep head offices in Québec
Reacting to concerns expressed in Québec, many of the province’s flagship companies are being acquired by interests outside the province. The...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Corporate/Commercial (Quebec)
-
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Corporate Commercial Law; Corporate Mid-Market; Mergers & Acquisitions
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Corporate Law; Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities Law
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Legal 500: Ranked in The Legal 500 Canada: Corporate and Mergers & Acquisition
Media Mentions
-
Media Mentions Jan 23, 2024
The M&A champions in 2023! – Droit-inc
Despite global mergers and acquisitions activity last year being the slowest for deal-making since 2013, there were several sectors that saw...
Read more -
Osler News Oct 23, 2023
Nine Osler lawyers recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Mining 2023
Congratulations to nine Osler lawyers recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition: Mining 2023, highlighting leading lawyers in the sector.
Read more -
Osler News Apr 19, 2023
42 Osler lawyers recognized by Lexpert as leaders in Finance and M&A
Osler is proud to announce 42 of our lawyers have been recognized as leaders in the Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A 2023.
Read more -
Osler News May 4, 2022
Osler shortlisted for three ‘Deal of the Year’ M&A Awards 2022
Osler is proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for three “Deal of the Year” awards at the M&A Awards Gala 2022, reflecting our work...
Read more
Community Involvement
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Fondation du CHUM
Credentials
Education
- Harvard Business School, PLD
- McGill University, LL.B., B.C.L.
Languages
- English
- French
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association
- New York Bar Association
- Bar Association of the City of New York
- American Bar Association
