Cravath’s New York Office Moves to Two Manhattan West
Stephen M. Kessing is Co-Head of the Banking and Credit Practice. He advises financial institutions, corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors on a broad range of finance transactions, including complex syndicated loan and direct lending transactions, capital markets transactions, restructurings and debtor‑in‑possession financing, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, ASOS, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, ASOS, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
International Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
Canterbury School
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers - New York
Deals & Cases
October 07, 2024
On October 4, 2024, Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”), the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with funds managed by Strategic Value Partners, LLC, and its affiliates (“SVP”), a global alternative investment firm with approximately $19 billion of assets under management, to sell Revelyst in an all‑cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion. In connection with the SVP Transaction, Vista Outdoor also entered into an amendment to the merger agreement with Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”) to acquire The Kinetic Group, increasing the purchase price for The Kinetic Group to $2.225 billion. Together, the CSG Transaction and the SVP Transaction represent an enterprise value of $3.35 billion for Vista Outdoor and will deliver an estimated $45 per share in cash to Vista Outdoor stockholders. Cravath is representing Vista Outdoor in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 26, 2024
On September 26, 2024, Citigroup Inc. (“Citi”) and Apollo announced they have entered into an exclusive agreement for a subsidiary of Citi and certain affiliates of Apollo to form a landmark $25 billion private credit, direct lending program initially in North America, with the potential to expand to additional geographies. The program will include participation from Mubadala Investment Company as Apollo’s strategic partner as well as Apollo’s subsidiary, Athene, both of which will have the opportunity to join commitments appropriate for their respective mandates. The firms anticipate the program will finance approximately $25 billion of debt opportunities over the next several years, encompassing both corporate and financial sponsor transactions, and maintain the flexibility to significantly expand the size of the program beyond the initial $25 billion. Cravath is representing Citi in connection with the agreement.
Deals & Cases
September 05, 2024
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.
Deals & Cases
April 02, 2024
On April 2, 2024, Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (“Endeavor”), a global sports and entertainment company, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing, in partnership with the Endeavor management team and additional anchor investors. Cravath is representing the independent Special Committee of Endeavor’s board of directors in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 06, 2024
On February 6, 2024, altafiber, provider of integrated communications solutions over its fiber‑optic network to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and TowerBrook Capital Partners (“TowerBrook”), the New York and London‑based international investment firm, announced that TowerBrook has agreed to acquire CBTS, a leading North American provider of IT solutions and services, from altafiber. Cravath is representing altafiber in connection with the transaction.
Stephen M. Kessing is Co-Head of the Banking and Credit Practice. He advises financial institutions, corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors on a broad range of finance transactions, including complex syndicated loan and direct lending transactions, capital markets transactions, restructurings and debtor‑in‑possession financing, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, ASOS, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, ASOS, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
International Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
Canterbury School
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers - New York
Deals & Cases
October 07, 2024
On October 4, 2024, Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”), the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with funds managed by Strategic Value Partners, LLC, and its affiliates (“SVP”), a global alternative investment firm with approximately $19 billion of assets under management, to sell Revelyst in an all‑cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion. In connection with the SVP Transaction, Vista Outdoor also entered into an amendment to the merger agreement with Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”) to acquire The Kinetic Group, increasing the purchase price for The Kinetic Group to $2.225 billion. Together, the CSG Transaction and the SVP Transaction represent an enterprise value of $3.35 billion for Vista Outdoor and will deliver an estimated $45 per share in cash to Vista Outdoor stockholders. Cravath is representing Vista Outdoor in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 26, 2024
On September 26, 2024, Citigroup Inc. (“Citi”) and Apollo announced they have entered into an exclusive agreement for a subsidiary of Citi and certain affiliates of Apollo to form a landmark $25 billion private credit, direct lending program initially in North America, with the potential to expand to additional geographies. The program will include participation from Mubadala Investment Company as Apollo’s strategic partner as well as Apollo’s subsidiary, Athene, both of which will have the opportunity to join commitments appropriate for their respective mandates. The firms anticipate the program will finance approximately $25 billion of debt opportunities over the next several years, encompassing both corporate and financial sponsor transactions, and maintain the flexibility to significantly expand the size of the program beyond the initial $25 billion. Cravath is representing Citi in connection with the agreement.
Deals & Cases
September 05, 2024
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.
Deals & Cases
April 02, 2024
On April 2, 2024, Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (“Endeavor”), a global sports and entertainment company, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing, in partnership with the Endeavor management team and additional anchor investors. Cravath is representing the independent Special Committee of Endeavor’s board of directors in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 06, 2024
On February 6, 2024, altafiber, provider of integrated communications solutions over its fiber‑optic network to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and TowerBrook Capital Partners (“TowerBrook”), the New York and London‑based international investment firm, announced that TowerBrook has agreed to acquire CBTS, a leading North American provider of IT solutions and services, from altafiber. Cravath is representing altafiber in connection with the transaction.
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