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Cravath Publishes Winter 2026 Issue of Alumni Journal

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News & Insights

AXA’s $15.3 Billion Acquisition of XL Group

March 05, 2018

On March 5, 2018, AXA announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of XL Group Ltd, a leading global Property & Casualty commercial lines insurer and reinsurer, for a total consideration of $15.3 billion, to be fully paid in cash. Cravath is representing AXA in connection with the transaction.

The Cravath team is led by partners Richard Hall, George A. Stephanakis and Erik R. Tavzel and includes associates Andrew M. Wark, Erim E. Tuc, Said Bakir and James Ding on M&A matters; partner Eric W. Hilfers and associates Matthew Cantor and Alison E. Beskin on executive compensation and benefits matters; partner Stephen L. Gordon, foreign associate attorney Jean‑Baptiste Frantz on tax matters; partner David J. Kappos and associates Miling Y. Harrington and Jessica M. Goodman on intellectual property matters; partner Michael S. Goldman and senior attorney Sarah F. Rosen on financing matters; associate Megan Y. Lew on compliance matters; and senior attorney Jesse M. Weiss on antitrust matters.

Related Practices & Industries

  • Corporate
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Executive Compensation and Benefits
  • Tax
  • IP and Strategic Tech Transactions
  • London
  • Antitrust
  • Financial Services and Insurance

People

Photo
Name
Richard Hall
Title
Corporate
Title
Partner
Email
rhall@cravath.com
Phone
+1-212-474-1293
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    Education

    • LL.M., 1988, Harvard Law School
    • LL.B., 1986, University of Melbourne
      with Honors
    • B.Com., 1984, University of Melbourne
      with Honors

    Admitted In

    • New York
    Photo
    Name
    George A. Stephanakis
    Title
    Corporate
    Title
    Partner
    Email
    gstephanakis@cravath.com
    Phone
    +44-20-7453-1040
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      Education

      • LL.M., 1997, Harvard Law School
        Fulbright Scholar
      • LL.M., 1995, Cambridge University - Faculty of Law
      • LL.B., 1994, University of Athens School of Law
        summa cum laude

      Admitted In

      • New York
      Photo
      Name
      Eric W. Hilfers
      Title
      Executive Compensation and Benefits
      Title
      Partner
      Email
      ehilfers@cravath.com
      Phone
      +1-212-474-1352
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        Education

        • J.D., 1998, University of Chicago Law School
          with Honors
        • A.B., 1995, Princeton University

        Admitted In

        • New York
        Photo
        Name
        David J. Kappos
        Title
        Corporate
        Title
        Partner
        Email
        dkappos@cravath.com
        Phone
        +1-212-474-1168
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          Education

          • J.D., 1990, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
          • B.S., 1983, University of California, Davis
            summa cum laude

          Admitted In

          • New York
          • California
          • District of Columbia
          Name
          Sarah F. Rosen
          Title
          Corporate
          Title
          Partner
          Email
          srosen@cravath.com
          Phone
          +1-212-474-1750
          vCard
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            Education

            • J.D., 2005, Columbia Law School
              Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
            • B.A., 2002, New York University
              magna cum laude

            Admitted In

            • New York
            Photo
            Name
            Jesse M. Weiss
            Title
            Litigation
            Title
            Partner
            Email
            jweiss@cravath.com
            Phone
            +1-212-474-1421
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              Education

              • J.D., 2008, Georgetown University Law Center
                magna cum laude
              • B.A., 2003, University of Maryland

              Admitted In

              • New York
              Photo
              Name
              Stephen L. Gordon
              Title
              Tax
              Title
              Retired Partner
              Email
              gordon@cravath.com
              Phone
              +1-212-474-1999
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                Education

                • J.D., 1981, Harvard Law School
                  cum laude
                • A.B., 1978, Cornell University
                  cum laude
                Photo
                Name
                Michael S. Goldman
                Title
                Corporate
                Title
                Retired Partner
                Email
                mgoldman@cravath.com
                Phone
                +1-212-474-1999
                vCard
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                  Education

                  • J.D., 1987, Fordham University School of Law
                    cum laude
                  • B.A., 1984, University of Pennsylvania
                    cum laude

                  Related News & Insights

                  Deals & Cases

                  February 18, 2026

                  Tenax’s Merger with Air

                  On February 17, 2026, Tenax Aerospace Acquisition, LLC (“Tenax”) and Air Industries Group (“Air”) jointly announced that they have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger to combine Tenax’s special mission aviation business with Air’s precision aerospace manufacturing business. At the time of the merger, Air will issue shares of its common stock to holders of Tenax membership units. After the closing, Tenax shareholders are expected to own approximately 95% of Air’s outstanding shares while existing Air shareholders are expected to own approximately 5%, and the combined company expects to remain listed on the NYSE American under the symbol AIRI. Cravath is representing Tenax in connection with the transaction.

                  Deals & Cases

                  February 17, 2026

                  Kennedy Wilson’s Acquisition by Consortium Led by William McMorrow and Fairfax

                  On February 17, 2026, Kennedy‑Wilson Holdings, Inc. (“Kennedy Wilson”) and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”) jointly announced that Kennedy Wilson has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired, in an all cash‑transaction, by an entity affiliated with a consortium led by William McMorrow, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kennedy Wilson, and certain other senior executives of Kennedy Wilson (collectively, the “KW Management Group”), together with Fairfax (collectively, the “Consortium”).

                  Deals & Cases

                  February 17, 2026

                  MTN’s Proposed $6.2 Billion Acquisition of IHS

                  On February 17, 2026, MTN Group Limited (“MTN”), Africa’s largest mobile network operator, announced that it has entered into an agreement with IHS Holding Limited (“IHS”), one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world, to acquire the remaining shares of IHS not already owned by MTN in an all‑cash transaction at an offer price of $8.50 per IHS share, which implies an enterprise value of $6.2 billion. The structure of the transaction is intended such that, upon completion of IHS’ announced disposals of its Latin American businesses, MTN will acquire 100% of IHS’ African tower portfolio. Following the completion of the transaction, IHS will be de‑listed from the New York Stock Exchange. Cravath is representing MTN in connection with the transaction.

                  Deals & Cases

                  February 16, 2026

                  Hapag-Lloyd’s Over $4 Billion Acquisition of ZIM

                  On February 16, 2026, Hapag‑Lloyd signed an agreement with Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (“ZIM”), the world’s 10th largest container shipping line, under which Hapag‑Lloyd will acquire 100% of ZIM’s shares for a consideration of $35 per share in cash. The total transaction value amounts to over $4 billion. As part of the transaction, FIMI Opportunity Funds will take ownership of a carved‑out Israeli container liner business. Cravath is representing Hapag‑Lloyd in connection with the transaction.

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