IAM Publishes Article by Dave Kappos on Risk of Jurisdictional Disputes for Patent Pools

On February 18, 2025, Light & Wonder, Inc. (“Light & Wonder”), the leading cross‑platform global games company, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the charitable gaming assets of Grover Gaming, Inc. and G2 Gaming, Inc. (together, “Grover Gaming”), a leading provider of electronic pull‑tabs for charitable gaming in the U.S., for total consideration of $850 million cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and a four‑year revenue based earn‑out of up to $200 million cash. Cravath is representing Light & Wonder in connection with the transaction.

On January 28, 2025, Paragon 28, Inc. (“Paragon 28”), a leading medical device company focused on the foot and ankle orthopedic segment, and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (“Zimmer Biomet”), a global medical technology leader, announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Zimmer Biomet to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Paragon 28 for an upfront payment of $13.00 per share in cash, corresponding to an equity value of approximately $1.1 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. Paragon 28 shareholders will also receive a non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR) entitling the holder to receive up to $1.00 per share in cash if certain revenue milestones are achieved. Cravath is representing Paragon 28 in connection with the transaction.

On January 27, 2025, the Aquarion Water Authority, a quasi-public corporation and political subdivision of the State of Connecticut and a standalone, newly created water authority alongside the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aquarion Water Company from Eversource Energy, an energy provider which transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Subject to certain closing adjustments, the aggregate enterprise value of the sale is approximately $2.4 billion, which includes approximately $1.6 billion in cash and $800 million of net debt that will be extinguished at closing. Cravath is representing the Aquarion Water Authority in connection with the transaction.

On January 22, 2025, CardWorks, Inc. (“CardWorks”), a leader in credit and payments, and Ally Financial Inc. (“Ally”), a financial services company with the nation’s largest all‑digital bank and an industry‑leading auto financing business, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for CardWorks, and its wholly‑owned bank subsidiary, Merrick Bank, to acquire Ally’s credit card business, including a portfolio of $2.3 billion in credit card receivables with 1.3 million active cardholders as of December 31, 2024. Cravath is representing CardWorks in connection with the transaction.