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Cravath Publishes Summer 2026 Issue of Alumni Journal

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News & Insights

Consolidated Communications’ $3.1 Billion Acquisition by Searchlight and BCI

October 16, 2023

On October 16, 2023, Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (“Consolidated Communications”), a top 10 fiber provider in the United States, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (“Searchlight”) and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (“BCI”) in an all‑cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $3.1 billion, including the assumption of debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Searchlight and BCI will acquire all of the Consolidated common stock not already owned by Searchlight for $4.70 per share in cash. The proposed transaction has been unanimously approved by a special committee of independent and disinterested directors of Consolidated Communications’ Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”), advised by independent legal and financial advisors, formed to evaluate and consider the proposal and other potential strategic alternatives. The Board of Directors of Consolidated Communications, following recusals of directors affiliated with Searchlight and BCI, has approved the proposed transaction on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee. Cravath is representing the Special Committee in connection with the transaction.

The Cravath team is led by partners Robert I. Townsend III and Jin‑Kyu Baek and includes associates Edward O. Minturn, Alexander E. Greenberg and Christopher G. Doherty on M&A matters; partners Matthew G. Jones and Matthew M. Kelly on financing matters; partner J. Leonard Teti II and associate Sonia Katharani‑Khan on tax matters; partner Matthew J. Bobby, senior attorney Aaron S. Cha and associates Nicholas J. Celli and Celine Siqing Li on executive compensation and benefits matters; partner David J. Kappos and associates Christopher P. Davis and Joanne Dynak on intellectual property matters; partner Margaret T. Segall on antitrust matters; partner Matthew Morreale and associate Star S. Gulant on environmental matters; of counsel Megan Y. Lew on investigations matters; and senior attorney Joyce Law and practice area attorney Lauren Piechocki on real estate matters. Nigle B. Barrow III also worked on M&A matters.

Related Practices & Industries

  • Corporate
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Capital Markets
  • Banking and Credit
  • Tax
  • Executive Compensation and Benefits
  • IP and Strategic Tech Transactions
  • Antitrust
  • Environmental
  • Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement
  • Telecommunications
  • Technology

People

Photo
Name
Robert I. Townsend III
Title
Corporate
Title
Partner
Email
rtownsend@cravath.com
Phone
+1-212-474-1964
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    Education

    • J.D., 1990, Harvard Law School
      magna cum laude
    • A.B., 1987, Harvard College
      magna cum laude

    Admitted In

    • New York
    Photo
    Name
    Jin-Kyu Baek
    Title
    Corporate
    Title
    Partner
    Email
    jbaek@cravath.com
    Phone
    +1-212-474-1408
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      Education

      • J.D., 2015, Harvard Law School
      • A.B., 2008, Harvard College
        cum laude

      Admitted In

      • New York
      Photo
      Name
      Matthew G. Jones
      Title
      Corporate
      Title
      Partner
      Email
      mjones@cravath.com
      Phone
      +1-212-474-1298
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        Education

        • J.D., 2013, Columbia Law School
          Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; James Kent Scholar
        • B.A., 2010, Cornell University
          with distinction

        Admitted In

        • New York
        Photo
        Name
        Matthew M. Kelly
        Title
        Corporate
        Title
        Partner
        Email
        mkelly@cravath.com
        Phone
        +1-212-474-1318
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          Education

          • J.D., 2013, New York University School of Law
            John Norton Pomeroy Scholar; Benjamin Butler Scholar; Order of the Coif, magna cum laude
          • A.B., 2006, Dartmouth College
            cum laude

          Admitted In

          • New York
          Photo
          Name
          J. Leonard Teti II
          Title
          Tax
          Title
          Partner
          Email
          lteti@cravath.com
          Phone
          +1-212-474-1896
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            Education

            • J.D., 2005, University of Virginia School of Law
              Order of the Coif
            • A.B., 1999, Princeton University
              with Honors

            Admitted In

            • New York
            Photo
            Name
            Matthew J. Bobby
            Title
            Executive Compensation and Benefits
            Title
            Partner
            Email
            mbobby@cravath.com
            Phone
            +1-212-474-1128
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              Education

              • J.D., 2012, Harvard Law School
                magna cum laude
              • M.A., 2009, University of Pennsylvania
              • B.A., 2009, University of Pennsylvania
                Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude

              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
                Photo
                Name
                Margaret T. Segall
                Title
                Litigation
                Title
                Partner
                Email
                msegall@cravath.com
                Phone
                +1-212-474-1231
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                  Education

                  • J.D., 2008, Harvard Law School
                    cum laude
                  • A.B., 2003, Harvard College
                    magna cum laude

                  Admitted In

                  • New York
                  Photo
                  Name
                  Alexander E. Greenberg
                  Title
                  Corporate
                  Title
                  Partner
                  Email
                  agreenberg@cravath.com
                  Phone
                  +1-212-474-1206
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                    Education

                    • J.D., 2017, Harvard Law School
                    • B.A., 2012, Bates College

                    Admitted In

                    • New York
                    Photo
                    Name
                    Edward O. Minturn
                    Title
                    Corporate
                    Title
                    Partner
                    Email
                    eminturn@cravath.com
                    Phone
                    +1-212-474-1630
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                      Education

                      • J.D., 2016, New York University School of Law
                        cum laude
                      • B.A., 2013, Duke University
                        with Distinction

                      Admitted In

                      • New York
                      Photo
                      Name
                      Aaron S. Cha
                      Title
                      Executive Compensation and Benefits
                      Title
                      Of Counsel
                      Email
                      acha@cravath.com
                      Phone
                      +1-212-474-1944
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                        Education

                        • LL.M., 2013, New York University School of Law
                        • J.D., 2012, Loyola Law School Los Angeles
                        • B.S., 2004, University of California, San Diego

                        Admitted In

                        • New York
                        • California
                        Photo
                        Name
                        Joyce Law
                        Title
                        Corporate
                        Title
                        Of Counsel
                        Email
                        jlaw@cravath.com
                        Phone
                        +1-212-474-1066
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                          Education

                          • J.D., 1997, Boston University School of Law
                          • B.Comm., 1994, University of Alberta
                            Distinction

                          Admitted In

                          • New York
                          Name
                          Lauren Piechocki
                          Title
                          Corporate
                          Title
                          Practice Area Attorney
                          Email
                          lpiechocki@cravath.com
                          Phone
                          +1-212-474-1875
                          vCard
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                            Education

                            • J.D., 2012, Hofstra University School of Law
                            • B.A., 2005, Syracuse University
                              Dean's Scholar Maxwell Citizen Education Conference Scholar, cum laude

                            Admitted In

                            • New York
                            Photo
                            Name
                            Matthew Morreale
                            Title
                            Corporate
                            Title
                            Retired Partner
                            Email
                            mmorreale@cravath.com
                            Phone
                            +1-212-474-1534
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                              Education

                              • J.D., 1997, Columbia Law School
                                Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
                              • M.S., 1994, University of Pennsylvania
                              • B.A., 1990, University of Pennsylvania
                              • B.A.S., 1990, University of Pennsylvania

                              Related News & Insights

                              Deals & Cases

                              November 05, 2026

                              Liberty Media’s Acquisition of High‑Vote Series B Common Stock from John C. Malone‑Related Entities

                              On November 5, 2026, Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) announced that it has acquired all shares of Liberty Media’s high‑vote Series B common stock held by certain entities related to John C. Malone (the “Malone Holders”) in exchange for shares of Liberty Media’s low‑vote Series A common stock and shares of Liberty Media’s non‑voting Series C common stock. As a result of the transaction, the Malone Holders’ aggregate voting power in Liberty Media declined to approximately 3%, and no holder of Liberty Media common stock holds more than 9% of Liberty Media’s voting power, in each case, based on Liberty Media’s outstanding common stock as of October 30, 2026. The transaction was negotiated and approved by a special committee (the “Special Committee”) of Liberty Media’s board of directors consisting solely of disinterested and independent directors for purposes of Nevada law, advised by its own independent financial and legal advisors. Cravath is representing the Special Committee in connection with the transaction.

                              Deals & Cases

                              October 29, 2026

                              ADT’s $15.3 Billion Acquisition by Thrive Holdings

                              On October 29, 2026, ADT Inc. (“ADT”), a leading provider of security, interactive and smart home solutions serving residential and small business customers in the U.S., and Thrive Holdings, a permanent capital holding company focused on investing in established businesses and advancing their capabilities through technology, announced a definitive agreement under which Thrive Holdings will acquire ADT in an all‑cash transaction. The agreement values ADT at approximately $7.6 billion in equity value and $15.3 billion in enterprise value. Under the terms of the agreement, which ADT’s Board of Directors unanimously approved, ADT stockholders will receive $10.00 per share in cash upon completion. Following completion, ADT will become privately held and its common stock will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Cravath is representing ADT in connection with the transaction.

                              Deals & Cases

                              August 31, 2026

                              Aon’s $17 Billion Acquisition of USI

                              On August 31, 2026, Aon, a leading global professional services firm, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire USI, a leading provider of property & casualty, employee benefit, personal risk and retirement solutions for the middle market and the tenth largest U.S. insurance broker, from KKR and other shareholders for a total purchase price of $17 billion. Aon expects to fund the transaction, as well as related transaction expenses and other costs, with new debt raised across a range of maturities, subject to market conditions. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Aon and the Board of Directors of USI. Cravath is representing Aon in connection with the transaction.

                              Deals & Cases

                              March 31, 2026

                              Biogen’s $5.6 Billion Acquisition of Apellis

                              On March 31, 2026, Biogen Inc. and Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Biogen has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Apellis for $41.00 per share in cash at closing, or approximately $5.6 billion. Apellis stockholders will also receive a nontransferable CVR for each Apellis share held, entitling the holder to receive two payments of $2 per share each, contingent on certain annual global net sales thresholds being met for SYFOVRE®. Cravath is representing Biogen in connection with the transaction.

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