Four Decades for Justice
Stephen M. Kessing is Co-Head of the Banking and Credit Practice. He advises financial institutions, corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors on a broad range of finance transactions, including complex syndicated loan and direct lending transactions, capital markets transactions, restructurings and debtor‑in‑possession financing, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
International Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
Canterbury School
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers - New York
Deals & Cases
February 06, 2024
On February 6, 2024, altafiber, provider of integrated communications solutions over its fiber‑optic network to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and TowerBrook Capital Partners (“TowerBrook”), the New York and London‑based international investment firm, announced that TowerBrook has agreed to acquire CBTS, a leading North American provider of IT solutions and services, from altafiber. Cravath is representing altafiber in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
December 13, 2023
On December 10, 2023, Occidental Petroleum Corporation entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Occidental Petroleum Corporation will acquire CrownRock, L.P. Cravath represented Occidental Petroleum Corporation, as borrower, in connection with a $10 billion bridge facility to support the proposed acquisition. Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an international oil and gas exploration and production company.
Deals & Cases
October 19, 2023
Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner, in connection with $2.085 billion of credit facilities made available to NCR Atleos Corporation and $700 million of credit facilities made available to NCR Voyix Corporation (formerly known as NCR Corporation). The proceeds were used to partially finance the spin‑off of NCR Atleos Corporation, an industry‑leading financial technology company providing self‑directed banking solutions to a global customer base including financial institutions, retailers and consumers, from NCR Voyix Corporation, a leading global provider of digital commerce solutions for the retail, restaurant and digital banking industries. The credit facilities made available to NCR Atleos Corporation consisted of a $500 million revolving credit facility, a $750 million term loan “A” facility and a $835 million term loan “B” facility. The credit facilities made available to NCR Voyix Corporation consisted of a $500 million revolving credit facility and a $200 million term loan “A” facility. The facilities closed on October 16, 2023.
Deals & Cases
October 16, 2023
On October 16, 2023, Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”), the parent company of 41 renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products to consumers around the globe, announced a definitive agreement to sell its Sporting Products business to Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”), a leading industrial technology holding company, for an enterprise value of $1.91 billion in an all-cash transaction. This transaction represents the next step in Vista Outdoor’s plan to split the company into separate entities. Cravath is representing Vista Outdoor in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
August 04, 2023
On August 3, 2023, Hasbro, Inc., a leading toy and game company, announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its eOne film and TV business to Lionsgate for approximately $500 million, consisting of $375 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and the assumption by Lionsgate of production financing loans. Cravath is representing Hasbro in connection with the transaction.
Stephen M. Kessing is Co-Head of the Banking and Credit Practice. He advises financial institutions, corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors on a broad range of finance transactions, including complex syndicated loan and direct lending transactions, capital markets transactions, restructurings and debtor‑in‑possession financing, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
Mr. Kessing has extensive experience representing U.S. and international companies across such diverse industries as aerospace (AerCap, Alliant Techsystems, Atlas Air, SMBC Aviation Capital, Tenax Aerospace), consumer (Anheuser‑Busch InBev, British American Tobacco, Unilever, Vista Outdoor, Worldstrides), financial services (Element Financial, Lazard, White Mountains), healthcare (Akorn, AmerisourceBergen, HLS Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis), hospitality and leisure (Starwood Hotels, Universal Orlando), industrials (AdvanSix, Honeywell, J.M. Huber, Martin Marietta, Minerals Technologies, Olin, Stanley, Synthomer), information technology (Conduent, Genpact, Xerox), media and entertainment (Cox Enterprises, Graham Holdings, Hasbro, Reservoir Media Management, Univision), technology (D+H, FactSet, IBM, JD Power, Orbotech, Zotec Partners), telecommunications (altafiber, CyrusOne, Frontier) and utilities (PG&E).
Mr. Kessing has also represented J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Bank of America, Jefferies, Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs in syndicated loan, equity, high‑yield bond and leveraged acquisition transactions. The Legal 500 US reports Mr. Kessing is “a key name for sports financing” and he has advised on financings involving teams in each of the major sporting leagues. His private equity clients have included Eurazeo, NTC Group and Sound Point Capital.
Mr. Kessing has been repeatedly recognized as a leading lawyer in banking and finance by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. He is described as “incredibly savvy and very commercial.” Mr. Kessing is a repeat author on market trends in leveraged finance published by Lexis Practice Advisor and he serves as the Board Secretary of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Mr. Kessing also serves on the Board of Trustees of Canterbury School.
Mr. Kessing was born in Akron, Ohio. He received a B.S. from Miami University in 1995 and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California in 2001. Mr. Kessing received a J.D. magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 2005, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He was also awarded the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transactions and Bankruptcy.
Mr. Kessing joined Cravath in 2005 and was elected a partner in 2012.
International Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
Canterbury School
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers - New York
Deals & Cases
February 06, 2024
On February 6, 2024, altafiber, provider of integrated communications solutions over its fiber‑optic network to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and TowerBrook Capital Partners (“TowerBrook”), the New York and London‑based international investment firm, announced that TowerBrook has agreed to acquire CBTS, a leading North American provider of IT solutions and services, from altafiber. Cravath is representing altafiber in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
December 13, 2023
On December 10, 2023, Occidental Petroleum Corporation entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Occidental Petroleum Corporation will acquire CrownRock, L.P. Cravath represented Occidental Petroleum Corporation, as borrower, in connection with a $10 billion bridge facility to support the proposed acquisition. Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an international oil and gas exploration and production company.
Deals & Cases
October 19, 2023
Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner, in connection with $2.085 billion of credit facilities made available to NCR Atleos Corporation and $700 million of credit facilities made available to NCR Voyix Corporation (formerly known as NCR Corporation). The proceeds were used to partially finance the spin‑off of NCR Atleos Corporation, an industry‑leading financial technology company providing self‑directed banking solutions to a global customer base including financial institutions, retailers and consumers, from NCR Voyix Corporation, a leading global provider of digital commerce solutions for the retail, restaurant and digital banking industries. The credit facilities made available to NCR Atleos Corporation consisted of a $500 million revolving credit facility, a $750 million term loan “A” facility and a $835 million term loan “B” facility. The credit facilities made available to NCR Voyix Corporation consisted of a $500 million revolving credit facility and a $200 million term loan “A” facility. The facilities closed on October 16, 2023.
Deals & Cases
October 16, 2023
On October 16, 2023, Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”), the parent company of 41 renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products to consumers around the globe, announced a definitive agreement to sell its Sporting Products business to Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”), a leading industrial technology holding company, for an enterprise value of $1.91 billion in an all-cash transaction. This transaction represents the next step in Vista Outdoor’s plan to split the company into separate entities. Cravath is representing Vista Outdoor in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
August 04, 2023
On August 3, 2023, Hasbro, Inc., a leading toy and game company, announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its eOne film and TV business to Lionsgate for approximately $500 million, consisting of $375 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, and the assumption by Lionsgate of production financing loans. Cravath is representing Hasbro in connection with the transaction.
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