Endeavor’s $25 Billion Take‑Private Acquisition by Silver Lake

On October 3, 2024, DRI Healthcare Trust, a global leader in providing financing to advance innovation in the life sciences industry, announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries acquired a portion of Editas Medicine, Inc.'s payment rights under a non‑exclusive license of Editas' Cas9 gene‑editing technology for CASGEVY®, the only approved gene‑edited cell therapy for sickle cell disease and transfusion‑dependent beta thalassemia, for an upfront purchase price of $57 million. The transaction entitles DRI Healthcare to specific payments based on a sublicensing agreement between Editas and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. The payments include a share of the annual license fees that Vertex pays to Editas, which can range from $5 million to $40 million, including certain sales‑based annual license fee increases, and a portion of a $50 million contingent payment to which Editas is eligible under the Vertex sublicensing agreement. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare in connection with the transaction.

On September 5, 2024, Verizon Communications Inc. and Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (“Frontier”), the largest pure‑play fiber provider in the U.S., announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Verizon to acquire Frontier in an all‑cash transaction valued at $20 billion. Cravath is representing Frontier in connection with the transaction.

On May 7, 2024, Ashland Inc. (“Ashland”), a global additives and specialty ingredients company, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its nutraceuticals business to Turnspire Capital Partners LLC. Cravath is representing Ashland in connection with the transaction.

On January 31, 2024, Health Care Service Corporation (“HCSC”), the country’s largest customer‑owned health insurer, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with The Cigna Group (“Cigna”) to acquire its Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplemental Benefits, Medicare Part D and CareAllies businesses for a purchase price of $3.3 billion. Cigna’s Medicare plans currently serve 3.6 million Medicare members. Cravath is representing HCSC in connection with the transaction.