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Henry Schein Inc., a leading healthcare solutions provider, has secured a $250 million investment from private equity powerhouse KKR, making KKR the company's largest non-index fund shareholder, according to a Wednesday announcement.

KKR, advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, will acquire a 12% stake in Henry Schein, with the ability to expand its holdings through open market purchases to a total equity position of 14.9%. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP advised Henry Schein on the transaction.

Strategic Growth and Partnership with KKR

Henry Schein, which serves over 1 million dental and medical professionals globally, sees the investment as a strategic move to enhance its growth, capital allocation, and operational strategy.

"Our board and management have great respect for KKR, including its partnership-oriented approach and experience in supporting value creation across its investments," said Stanley Bergman, Chairman and CEO of Henry Schein. "This is a testament to the hard work of Team Schein to advance our leadership as a solutions-driven innovator for health care professionals."

KKR is making the investment through its North America Fund XIII, which closed in April 2022 with $19 billion in investor commitments.

Board Restructuring and New Appointments

As part of the agreement, KKR partner Max Lin and KKR executive adviser William Daniel will join Henry Schein’s board of directors as independent directors.

• Max Lin will serve as vice chair of the nominating and governance committee, helping oversee board composition and CEO succession planning. He will also serve on the strategic advisory committee, which guides the company’s long-term strategy.
• William Daniel will join the compensation and strategic advisory committees to support financial and operational oversight.

Additionally, Henry Schein’s board appointed Robert Hombach, former Executive Vice President, CFO, and COO of Baxalta Inc., further strengthening its leadership in finance, operations, and healthcare sectors.

With these appointments, Henry Schein’s board will temporarily expand to 16 directors before reducing to 14 members after its 2025 annual meeting.

Legal Advisors on the Deal

Henry Schein is represented by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, with a legal team led by:

• Paul Shim
• Kyle Harris
• Lillian Tsu

KKR is advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, with corporate partners including:

• Jennifer Perkins
• Josh Korff
• Shaun Mathew
• Dan Guerin
• Ed Lee
• Evan Johnson
• Dan Li

This strategic investment positions Henry Schein for long-term growth, reinforcing its market leadership while giving KKR a substantial stake in the company’s future.