Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Logo
  • Practices
  • People
  • Careers
  • News & Insights
  • Practices
  • People
  • Careers
  • News & Insights
  • Our Story
  • The Cravath System
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Pro Bono
  • Alumni Journal
  • 200.Cravath

Cravath’s London Office Moves to 100 Cheapside

Read More

News & Insights

Symetra’s $3.8 Billion Acquisition by Sumitomo Life

August 11, 2015

On August 11, 2015, Symetra Financial Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Sumitomo Life Insurance Company pursuant to which Sumitomo Life will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Symetra. Symetra shareholders will receive $32.00 per share in cash at closing, plus a previously announced special dividend of $0.50 per share in cash. The total combined transaction consideration of $32.50 per share is approximately $3.8 billion in aggregate and represents a 32% premium over Symetra’s average stock price of $24.64 for the 30 days ending August 5, 2015. Cravath represented Symetra in connection with this transaction.

The Cravath team was led by partners Erik R. Tavzel and Joseph D. Zavaglia and included associates Brendan R. Mahan, Paul L. Sandler and Lee M. Blum on M&A matters; partner Eric W. Hilfers, senior attorney Jarrett R. Hoffman and associate Daniel P. Herrmann on executive compensation and benefits matters; and partner Christopher K. Fargo, senior attorney Andrew Carlon and associate Tara L. Rhoades on tax matters. Summer associate Michele L. Aronson also worked on M&A matters.

Related Practices & Industries

  • Corporate
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Executive Compensation and Benefits
  • Tax
  • Financial Services and Insurance

People

Photo
Name
Joseph D. Zavaglia
Title
Corporate
Title
Partner
Email
jzavaglia@cravath.com
Phone
+1-212-474-1724
vCard
Download vCard

    Education

    • J.D., 2004, Brooklyn Law School
      Valedictorian, summa cum laude
    • B.B.A., 2001, College of Insurance
      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
    vCard
    Download vCard

      Education

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

      Admitted In

      • New York
      Photo
      Name
      Christopher K. Fargo
      Title
      Tax
      Title
      Partner
      Email
      cfargo@cravath.com
      Phone
      +1-212-474-1236
      vCard
      Download vCard

        Education

        • J.D., 2006, Columbia Law School
          Harlan Fiske Stone; Michael Lynne Scholar
        • B.A., 2003, Boston College
          Honors Program, cum laude

        Admitted In

        • New York

        Related News & Insights

        Deals & Cases

        May 15, 2025

        Greencore’s £1.2 Billion Recommended Acquisition of Bakkavor

        On May 15, 2025, the boards of Greencore Group plc (“Greencore”), a leading manufacturer of convenience foods in the UK, and Bakkavor Group Plc (“Bakkavor”), a leading provider of fresh prepared food in the UK, announced that they have agreed the terms of a recommended acquisition of Bakkavor by Greencore at a base consideration which values each Bakkavor share at 200 pence, which implies Bakkavor’s entire issued and to be issued share capital is valued at approximately £1.2 billion. Under the terms of the transaction, Bakkavor shareholders will be entitled to (for each Bakkavor share): 0.604 new Greencore shares, 85 pence in cash and one contingent value right. Cravath is representing Greencore as U.S. counsel in connection with the transaction.

        Deals & Cases

        May 09, 2025

        TaskUs’s Take‑Private Acquisition by its Co‑Founders and Blackstone

        On May 9, 2025, TaskUs, Inc. (“TaskUs”), a leading provider of outsourced digital services and next‑generation customer experience to companies, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to become a privately held company. Under the terms of the agreement, an affiliate of Blackstone, TaskUs Co‑Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bryce Maddock and TaskUs Co‑Founder and President Jaspar Weir (collectively the “Buyer Group”) will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock they do not already own for $16.50 per share in an all-cash transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company’s Class A common stock will no longer be listed on any public market. The TaskUs Board of Directors has approved the transaction upon the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”), which was formed on March 20, 2025, in response to interest expressed by the Buyer Group in exploring a possible transaction. Cravath is representing the Special Committee in connection with the transaction.

        Deals & Cases

        March 18, 2025

        Wiz’s $32 Billion Acquisition by Google

        On March 18, 2025, Wiz, Inc. (“Wiz”), a leading cloud security platform headquartered in New York, and Google LLC (“Google”) announced they have signed a definitive agreement for Google to acquire Wiz for $32 billion, subject to closing adjustments, in an all‑cash transaction. Once closed, Wiz will join Google Cloud. Cravath is representing Wiz as regulatory counsel in connection with the transaction.

        Deals & Cases

        March 17, 2025

        PepsiCo’s $1.95 Billion Acquisition of poppi

        On March 17, 2025, PepsiCo, Inc. (“PepsiCo”) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire poppi, a prebiotic soda brand, for $1.95 billion, including $300 million of anticipated cash tax benefits for a net purchase price of $1.65 billion. The transaction also includes an additional potential earnout consideration subject to the achievement of certain performance milestones within a specified period after closing of the transaction. Cravath is representing PepsiCo in connection with the transaction.

        Cravath Bicentennial

        Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.

        Explore

        Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Logo
        • CONTACT US
        • OUR STORY
        • ALUMNI PORTAL
        • DISCLAIMERS & NOTICES

        Attorney Advertising. ©2025 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.