Item 1.01 |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Strategic Partnership Agreement
On January 29, 2025, Henry Schein, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement (the “Partnership Agreement”) with KKR Hawaii Aggregator L.P. (together with certain permitted transferees of the Shares (as defined below), the “Investor”).
Changes to the Board of Directors
Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the Company agreed, among other things, to appoint Max Lin and William K. “Dan” Daniel (Mr. Lin and Mr. Daniel, the “Investor Designees”) to the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”). Mr. Lin will be appointed to the Board following the satisfaction of certain regulatory conditions. Mr. Daniel will be appointed to the Board at such time as the Investor first acquires beneficial ownership and voting power over at least 11,978,510 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”). In connection with the appointment of each of Mr. Lin and Mr. Daniel, the Board will, in each case, expand the size of the Board by one, and the Company has further agreed that size of the Board shall be no greater than 14 members from the conclusion of the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) until the expiration of the Term (as defined below).
Each of the Investor Designees will also be nominated by the Board to stand for election at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting for a term expiring at the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2026 Annual Meeting”). The Partnership Agreement provides the Investor customary rights to designate replacement directors that are reasonably acceptable to the Board in the event either of the Investor Designees cease to serve as directors under certain circumstances. If the Investor ceases to beneficially own and have the right to vote at least 7.5% of the Company’s then-outstanding shares of Common Stock, one Investor Designee (or replacement thereof) shall immediately resign and the Investor’s designation and replacement rights with respect to such Investor Designee shall fall away. If the Investor ceases to beneficially own and have the right to vote at least 5% of the Company’s then-outstanding shares of Common Stock, each Investor Designee (or replacement thereof) shall immediately resign and the Investor’s designation and replacement rights shall fall away.
The Investor is entitled to make an election to extend, among other things, its director nomination rights under the Partnership Agreement for an additional year (an “Extension Election”). If the Investor makes an Extension Election, the Investor Designees will be nominated by the Board to stand for election at the 2026 Annual Meeting for a term expiring at the Company’s 2027 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2027 Annual Meeting”).
Following each of their appointments to the Board, Mr. Lin and Mr. Daniel will be appointed to the following committees of the Board: Mr. Lin will be appointed to the Nominating and Governance Committee as Vice Chair; Mr. Daniel will be appointed to the Compensation Committee; and each of Mr. Lin and Mr. Daniel will be appointed to the Strategic Advisory Committee.
Private Placement of Common Stock
In addition, pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell in a private placement to the Investor 3,285,152 shares (the “Shares”) of its Common Stock, for an aggregate purchase price of $250 million at a purchase price per Share of approximately $76.10 (the “Investment”). The Investment is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement, including, among other things, obtaining clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and any applicable foreign regulatory approvals.
The Investor has agreed to abide by certain customary standstill restrictions and voting commitments contained in the Partnership Agreement, which shall continue through the later of (i) the earlier of (x) 30 days prior to the opening of the director nomination window for the 2026 Annual Meeting or (y) February 20, 2026, or (ii) if the Investor makes an Extension Election, the earlier of (x) 30 days prior to the opening of the director nomination window for the 2027 Annual Meeting or (y) February 20, 2027 (the “Term”), except that the standstill commitments will continue for so long as any Investor Designee remains on the Board.
The Partnership Agreement contains representations and warranties by the Company and the Investor and certain covenants of the Company and the Investor, and other rights, obligations and restrictions, in each case for the sole benefit of the Company and the Investor, respectively, which the Company believes are customary for transactions of this type.
Registration Rights Agreement
On the closing date of the Investment, the Company and the Investor will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement” and, together with the Partnership Agreement, the “Agreements”), in the form attached as Exhibit 10.2, providing for certain customary registration rights with respect to the Shares. In addition, the Company will agree to certain customary indemnification provisions relating to indemnification for any material misstatements or omissions by the Company in connection with the registration of the Shares.