Industrials and Chemicals

Cravath represented the initial purchasers in connection with the $850 million 144A/Reg. S high‑yield senior guaranteed notes offering of Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc., a leading North America‑based steel producer. The transaction closed on February 6, 2025.

On January 29, 2025, Dowlais Group plc (“Dowlais”), a specialist engineering group focused on the automotive sector, and American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (“AAM”), a leading automotive and mobility supplier, announced that their boards have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash and share combination. Under the terms of the combination, each Dowlais shareholder will be entitled to receive 0.0863 new AAM shares, 42 pence in cash and up to 2.8 pence in the form of dividends to be paid prior to completion. Dowlais shareholders will own approximately 49% of AAM upon closing. The offer values Dowlais at approximately £1.16 billion.

Cravath represented AerCap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company and AerCap Global Aviation Trust in connection with their $1.5 billion registered senior notes offering. AerCap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company and AerCap Global Aviation Trust are wholly owned subsidiaries of AerCap Holdings N.V., the global leader in aircraft leasing. The notes were listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on January 13, 2025.

On December 20, 2024, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (“Bendix”), a North American subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse, announced the company finalized the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary, R.H. Sheppard Co., Inc. (“R.H. Sheppard”), to an affiliate of Balmoral Funds LLC (“Balmoral”), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm. The transaction encompasses the entire Sheppard business, including Sheppard’s branded products, production equipment, sales and service companies, and interests in joint ventures relating to sales and production. Cravath is representing Bendix in connection with the transaction.

Cravath represented the initial purchasers in connection with the (i) $850 million senior notes offering by Smurfit Westrock Financing DAC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Smurfit Westrock plc, one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of paper‑based packaging products, and (ii) the dual‑tranche €1.2 billion senior notes offering of Smurfit Kappa Treasury Unlimited Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Smurfit Westrock plc. The notes offerings closed on November 26 and 27, 2024, respectively.

On February 10, 2025, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Private Equity Practice Group of the Year.” The profile highlighted the Firm’s recent work advising on a number of significant mergers and acquisitions in the private equity space, including its representation of Amentum in its merger with Jacobs’ Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber and Intelligence businesses, as well as Brookfield Renewable in its and Cameco’s $7.875 billion acquisition of Westinghouse and its $2.8 billion acquisition of Duke Energy Renewables.

On January 28, 2025, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Tax Practice Group of the Year.” The article highlights the Tax Department’s work on a variety of complex transactions, including its role representing clients Amentum in its merger with Jacobs’s Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber and Intelligence businesses; Endeavor in its $25 billion take‑private acquisition by Silver Lake; Frontier in its $20 billion acquisition by Verizon; the Paramount Special Committee in its $28 billion merger agreement with Skydance; and Vista Outdoor in its $1.125 billion sale of Revelyst to SVP and $1.91 billion sale of its Sporting Products business to CSG.

On November 19, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “IRS and Treasury Publish Final Regulations for Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credits.” The memo examines the United States Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service’s recently issued final regulations for Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credits under Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code.

On November 13, 2024, Cravath partner David J. Perkins, co‑head of the Firm’s Private Equity Practice, was featured as a 2024 Private Equity MVP by Law360, which highlighted his role representing clients on private equity investments across multiple asset classes, including Amentum in its Reverse Morris Trust merger with Jacobs’ Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber and Intelligence businesses, as well as Brookfield Renewable Partners in its $8 billion acquisition of Westinghouse. In the profile, Dave discussed how much he enjoyed working with private equity clients and appreciated their approach to problem‑solving on particularly challenging transactions. Dave also spoke about Cravath’s longstanding commitment to training associates and younger partners as part of the Firm’s growing Private Equity Practice.

On August 14, 2024, Cravath partner Korey Fevzi was named to Financial News’ inaugural “Most Influential in European Finance” list, which recognizes “innovators shaping the industry.” The feature recognized Korey’s role in the establishment of Cravath’s “English law offering” and on advising “investment banks, private credit funds and on leveraged finance acquisitions.” The publication also highlighted his representation of the lead arrangers in connection with the senior financing package for the €1.1bn acquisition of Forno d’Asolo by Sammontana and Investindustrial and his representation of the debt providers in the financing for the public‑to‑private takeover of Applus+ by TDR Capital and I Squared Capital.