Executive Compensation and Benefits

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.

Cravath represented AdvanSix Inc. in connection with $425 million of credit facilities. AdvanSix Inc. is a leading integrated chemistry company that produces essential materials for diverse end markets. The facilities consisted of a $275 million revolving credit facility and a $150 million term loan facility. The transaction closed on August 14, 2026. 

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.

Cravath represented Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (“Martin Marietta”) in connection with its $5.5 billion registered senior notes offering. Martin Marietta is a leading supplier of aggregates and heavy building materials for the construction industry in the United States. Proceeds of the offering will be used to finance the acquisition of Lhoist North America, Inc. The transaction closed on August 14, 2026.

Cravath released the Summer 2026 issue of its Alumni Journal, which highlights the Firm’s global alumni community. This issue features the career journey of Colin Bennett, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Skims, as well as two recent conversations—one with Rebecca Rettig, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer of Jito Labs, and the other with the Honorable LaShann DeArcy Hall, a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York. This edition also includes photos from the Firm’s June 2026 Zoo Party, which brought together Cravath attorneys, summer associates and their families at the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan. 

On June 24, 2026, the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance published Cravath’s latest quarterly newsletter on M&A, activism and corporate governance. The newsletter provides insight into practical points, key takeaways and relevant developments across the M&A, activism, restructuring, regulatory and corporate governance landscape during the first quarter of 2026. Contributors to this edition include partners Margaret T. Segall, Evan A. Hill, Matthew L. Ploszek, Kimberley S. Drexler and Adam M. Sanchez.

Cravath named Aaron S. Cha and Joshua Kameel of counsels of the Firm, effective July 1, 2026. 

The 2026 edition of the Legal 500 United States ranked Cravath in the top tier nationally in 14 areas: Antitrust - Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense; Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Commercial Lending (Advice to Lenders); Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional; Environment: Transactional; Financial Services Litigation; International Tax; M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+); M&A Litigation: Defense; Securities Litigation: Defense; and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious. In addition, 71 Cravath attorneys were individually recognized by Legal 500 United States this year.

The 2026 edition of Chambers USA ranked Cravath in the top tier nationally in seven areas: Antitrust; Capital Markets (Investment Grade Debt – Issuer Counsel); Capital Markets (Investment Grade Debt – Manager Counsel); Corporate Crime & Investigations (Highly Regarded); Corporate/M&A (The Elite); Securities (Regulation – Advisory); and Tax (Corporate & Finance). In New York, the Firm was ranked in the top tier in eleven areas: Antitrust; Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Highly Regarded); Corporate/M&A (The Elite); Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation; Environment (Mainly Transactional); Intellectual Property (Patent: Transactional); Media & Entertainment (Corporate); Litigation (General Commercial: The Elite); Litigation (Securities); Tax; and White‑Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Highly Regarded). Fifty‑one Cravath lawyers were ranked across nineteen practice categories.