Mergers and Acquisitions

On December 6, 2025, Viatris Inc. (“Viatris”), a global healthcare company, announced it has entered into definitive agreements with Biocon Limited (“Biocon”) for the sale of Viatris’s equity stake in Bicon Biologics Limited. Under the definitive agreements, Biocon will acquire all of Viatris’s convertible preferred equity in Biocon Biologics Limited for a total consideration of $815 million, consisting of $400 million in cash and $415 million in newly issued equity shares of Biocon. Cravath is representing Viatris in connection with the transaction.

On November 25, 2025, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (“Robinhood”) announced it is extending its prediction markets offering through a new joint venture and partnership with Susquehanna International Group (“Susquehanna”) to operate a CFTC-licensed exchange and clearinghouse. Robinhood will serve as the controlling partner. The independent joint venture will serve Futures Commission Merchant platforms with futures and derivative products, including prediction markets. The venture will accelerate delivery of its services by acquiring MIAXdx, a CFTC-licensed Designated Contract Market, Derivatives Clearing Organization and Swap Execution Facility, and wholly-owned subsidiary of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (“MIAX”). MIAX will remain invested through a strategic 10% equity stake in the exchange. Cravath is representing Robinhood in connection with the transaction.

On November 18, 2025, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (“Axalta”) and Akzo Nobel N.V. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all‑stock merger of equals, creating a premier global coatings company with an enterprise value of approximately $25 billion. Cravath is representing Axalta in connection with the transaction.

On November 17, 2025, Johnson & Johnson announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Halda Therapeutics OpCo, Inc., a clinical‑stage biotechnology company with a proprietary Regulated Induced Proximity TArgeting Chimera (RIPTACTM) platform to develop oral, targeted therapies for multiple types of solid tumors, including prostate cancer, for $3.05 billion in cash. Cravath is representing Johnson & Johnson in connection with the transaction.

On November 17, 2025, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. (“MSI”), a leading Japanese insurance company and subsidiary of MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc., announced it has agreed to acquire an 18% equity interest in Barings LLC (“Barings”), an asset management company and wholly owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”), from MassMutual. MassMutual will receive approximately $1.44 billion as a result of the transaction. Barings will continue to operate as an independent subsidiary of MassMutual. Cravath is representing MSI in connection with the transaction.

On December 3, 2025, Cravath partner Daniel J. Cerqueira participated in the International Bar Association’s 10th Annual Corporate Governance Conference, which was held December 3‑4 in Frankfurt, Germany. Dan co‑chaired a session entitled “Shareholder Rights and Activism: What Were the Highlights of 2025 and What to Expect for 2026,” which included a review of the most notable activist campaigns from 2025, highlighting their impact on corporate strategies and shareholder value, regulatory developments which have the potential to influence the direction of activist campaigns and the trend of global activist campaigns including the increased role of U.S. activist investors in European markets.

On November 13, 2025, Cravath European counsel Nicoleta D. Lupea delivered a guest lecture at Sciences Po Law School in Paris as part of the course entitled “Cross‑border M&A Transactions,” which provided an overview of a deal cycle and explored the main themes that arise in international M&A transactions.

Cravath partners Alyssa K. Caples, Nicholas A. Dorsey and Daniel J. Cerqueira spoke at the International Bar Association’s 2025 Annual Conference, which was held November 2-7 in Toronto and convened legal professionals from across the globe.

On November 10, 2025, Cravath published the latest edition of its Quarterly Review, which provides insight into practical points, key takeaways and relevant developments across the M&A, activism, restructuring, regulatory and corporate governance landscape. This edition covers:

On October 28, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “Back to the Future: IRS and Treasury Reinstate pre‑2024 Guidelines for Spin‑Off Private Letter Rulings.” The memo examines the Internal Revenue Service’s recently released Rev. Proc. 2025‑30, which provides updated guidelines for taxpayers requesting private letter rulings from the IRS for tax‑free spin‑off and split‑off transactions under Section 355. Rev. Proc. 2025‑30 supersedes Rev. Proc. 2024‑24 and withdraws Notice 2024‑38 (together the “2024 Guidance”).