Corporate

On September 21, 2026, DRI Healthcare Trust (“DRI Healthcare”), a pioneer in global pharmaceutical royalty monetization, announced that it has entered into purchase agreements to acquire certain royalty participation rights in U.S. net sales of tavapadon, an investigational Parkinson’s disease drug candidate, from funds managed by Bain Capital and NovaQuest Capital Management. Under the terms of the purchase agreements, DRI Healthcare will pay an aggregate purchase price of $316 million at closing. Following closing, DRI Healthcare will be entitled to receive tiered royalty payments on annual U.S. net sales of tavapadon, at combined tiered, mid‑single digit to low‑double digit royalty rates. DRI Healthcare will also be entitled to receive certain sales milestone payments upon first reaching certain cumulative U.S. net sales thresholds and four annual fixed payments of $23.4 million on the first four anniversaries of FDA approval of tavapadon. Aggregate receipts are subject to a contractual hard cap of $437.5 million. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare in connection with the transaction.

Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $4 billion SEC‑registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on August 25, 2026.

Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $2.25 billion registered senior notes offering of MPLX LP, a master limited partnership formed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation. MPLX LP owns, operates, develops and acquires pipelines and other midstream assets related to the transportation and storage of crude oil, refined products and other hydrocarbon‑based products. The transaction closed on August 24, 2026.

Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners in connection with a $600 million revolving credit facility made available to Valvoline Inc., a leader in automotive preventive maintenance delivering convenient and trusted services in its retail stores throughout the United States and Canada. The transaction closed on August 24, 2026.

On September 4, 2026, Stanley Black & Decker, a worldwide leader in Tools and Outdoor, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Excel Industries (“Excel”) business to Bad Boy Mowers. Excel is a leading designer and manufacturer of premium commercial and residential turf‑care equipment under the distinct brand of Hustler Turf Equipment (“Hustler”). Cravath is representing Stanley Black & Decker in connection with the transaction.

On September 24, 2026, the Financial Times recognized Cravath for the second year in a row at the publication’s Innovative Lawyer Europe Awards 2026, which recognize the most innovative work and legal service lawyers have developed for their clients in Europe. Cravath was chosen as the winner in the “Private Capital” category in recognition of the Firm’s representation of the mandated lead arrangers and lenders in connection with the financing that supported the acquisition of Karo Healthcare by KKR. 

On September 16, 2026, Cravath partners Faiza J. Saeed, Gary A. Bornstein and Ting S. Chen were named to Forbes’s 2026 list of “America’s Top Lawyers. The list recognizes “the leading dealmakers, litigators, advisers and strategists—at firms of all sizes—who stand apart in an extraordinarily competitive field” and “those who are defining modern legal excellence.”

On September 15, 2026, Cravath partner David J. Kappos participated in The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys’ “Congress 2026: Durable Strategy, Enduring Value – Sustainable IP” in Manchester, United Kingdom. The conference explored the resilience of IP strategies and business practices, how IP can be developed to realize long‑term commercial value and how the IP sector can adapt to ensure it continues to add value. Dave spoke on a panel entitled “Long‑Arm Ambition: A Stretch Too Far?” which examined the impact of recent decisions on corporate domicile and global litigation strategy, including shifts in the balance between different venues and considered whether we are moving towards a harmonized European patent enforcement landscape or a patchwork of competing legal approaches.

Cravath partner David J. Kappos participated in Sisvel Connect 2026, which was hosted by Sisvel from September 15‑17, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. The event gathered decision makers, innovators and thought leaders in the FRAND/SEP/Patent‑Pool world to examine today’s challenges and anticipate tomorrow’s opportunities. Dave spoke on a panel entitled “Key Global Developments in Policy, Courts and Licensing Strategies Over the Last 12 Months,” which provided an overview of happenings at a regulatory level and in the courts during the past year, including in the wider range of venues now coming into play for enforcement.

On September 15, 2026, Cravath of counsel Scott B. Reents participated in Economist Enterprise’s 5th Annual General Counsel Summit US: Law in the Age of Systemic Risk in New York. The conference examined how the application of American law is losing some of its former predictability, reshaped by politics, technology and geopolitical strains and what this means for the role of the general counsel. Scott spoke at a workshop entitled “Turning AI Experimentation Into Practical Legal Capability,” which explored how lawyers identify effective AI use cases, balance the value of AI with confidence in its outputs and adapt the way they develop and apply their judgment.