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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________
Form 8-K
____________________________
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
July 21, 2026
____________________________
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
____________________________
| Delaware |
0-33169 |
13-4066229 |
|
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
|
5201 Congress Avenue, Suite 160, Boca Raton,
FL 33487
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip
Code)
(561) 998-2232
(Registrant's telephone number, including area
code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report.)
____________________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.
of Form 8-K):
| ☐ |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| |
|
| ☐ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| |
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| ☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| |
|
| ☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant
to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share |
CCRN |
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Introduction
On
July 21, 2026, pursuant to the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as
of May 6, 2026, by and among Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), KL Criss Cross
Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), and KL Criss Cross Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company (the
“Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective
time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Company
Common Stock”) that was issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including the shares of Company Common
Stock subject to certain Company equity awards, as described in more detail below, but excluding (i) Company Common Stock held by the
Company as treasury shares or owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the Effective Time and
(ii) Company Common Stock with respect to which appraisal rights are properly demanded and not withdrawn or lost under Section 262 of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) was automatically converted into the right to receive $13.25 in cash, without interest
and subject to any applicable withholding taxes (the “Merger Consideration”).
Effective as of immediately prior to the Effective
Time, each Company restricted stock award that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was fully vested, canceled and
converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company
restricted stock award immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration.
Effective as of immediately prior to the Effective
Time, each Company performance stock award that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was vested with performance as
of immediately prior to the Effective Time deemed to be achieved at the greater of target performance and actual performance, and each
such vested Company performance stock award was canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (i) the number
of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such vested Company performance stock award immediately prior to the Effective Time (after
taking into account the performance in the manner set forth above) multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, does not purport to be complete, and is subject to and qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 2.1, to this Current Report
on Form 8-K.
| Item 1.02. | Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Concurrently with the closing of the Merger, the
Company discharged all obligations and terminated all credit commitments, security interests and other liens outstanding under the ABL
Credit Agreement, dated October 25, 2019, by and among the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative and collateral
agent, and the lenders party thereto.
| Item 2.01 |
Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
The information set forth in the Introduction and
Item 1.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.
| Item 3.01. |
Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
The information set forth in the Introduction of
this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.
In connection with the consummation of the Merger,
the Company requested that The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) (i) suspend trading of Company Common Stock on Nasdaq
and remove Company Common Stock from listing on Nasdaq, in each case, prior to the opening of the market on July 21, 2026; and (ii) file
a notification of removal from listing of Company Common Stock on Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
on July 21, 2026. As a result, trading of Company Common Shares on Nasdaq was suspended on July 21, 2026.
The Company intends to file Form 15 with the SEC
to terminate the registration of Company Common Stock under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), and suspend the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act following the effectiveness
of such Form 25.
| Item 3.03. |
Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth
in the Introduction, Item 1.02, Item 2.01, Item 3.01, Item 5.01, Item 5.02 and Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated
by reference into this Item 3.03.
At the Effective Time, each
holder of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time ceased to have any rights as a Company shareholder other than the
right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
| Item 5.01. |
Changes in Control of Registrant. |
The information set forth in the Introduction,
Item 1.02, Item 2.01, Item 3.01, Item 3.03, Item 5.02 and Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into
this Item 5.01.
At the Effective Time, a change in control of the
Company occurred, and the Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Parent obtained the funds necessary to fund the Merger through
a combination of cash on hand, including balance sheet cash of the Company, equity financing and debt financing.
| Item 5.02. |
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers. |
As of the Effective Time and as a result of the
completion of the Merger, the directors of Merger Sub became the sole directors of the Company. Accordingly, as of the Effective Time
and in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the following persons, constituting all the directors of the Company immediately prior to
the completion of the Merger, voluntarily resigned from the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) and the
committees of the Board on which they served, if any, immediately prior to the Effective Time: Kevin C. Clark, W. Larry Cash, Venkat Bhamidipati,
Dwayne Allen, Gale Fitzgerald and Janice Nevin. These resignations were in connection with the Merger and not a result of any disagreements
between the Company and the resigning directors on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
Additionally, as of the Effective
Time and as a result of the completion of the Merger, the officers of Merger Sub became the sole officers of the Company.
| Item 5.03. |
Amendment to Articles of Incorporation. |
The information set forth
in the Introduction, Item 1.02, Item 2.01, Item 3.03, Item 5.01 and Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference
into this Item 5.03.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, the articles
of incorporation of the Company were amended and restated and, upon the amendment and restatement, shall be the articles of incorporation
of the Company until further amended. A copy of the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation is attached as Exhibit
3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
On July 21, 2026, Parent and
the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Merger, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated
by reference into this Item 8.01.
(d) Exhibits.
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
| |
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|
| 2.1 |
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 6, 2026, by and among Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., KL Criss Cross Intermediate, LLC and KL Criss Cross Merger Sub, Inc. 8-K (File No. 000-33169) filed on May 7, 2026).* |
| |
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| 3.1 |
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Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., dated July 21, 2026. |
| |
|
|
| 99.1 |
|
Press Release, dated July 21, 2026. |
| |
|
|
| 104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document |
| * | Schedules and similar attachments have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted
schedule or similar attachment will be furnished to the SEC upon request. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC. |
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| Date: July 27, 2026 |
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By: |
/s/ Joel Tremblay |
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Name: |
Joel Tremblay |
| |
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
KNOX LANE COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CROSS COUNTRY
HEALTHCARE
Appoints Joel Tremblay as Chief Executive Officer
SAN FRANCISCO and BOCA RATON, Fla. — July 21, 2026 —
Knox Lane, a growth-oriented investment firm, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. ("Cross
Country Healthcare" or the "Company"), a leading technology-enabled healthcare workforce solutions company.
In conjunction with the closing of the transaction, Joel Tremblay
has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country Healthcare. Kevin C. Clark, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and
Chairman of the Board, will retire from his leadership roles and will support the Company and Mr. Tremblay to ensure a seamless transition.
Mr. Tremblay brings nearly two decades of leadership experience across
the healthcare workforce solutions industry. Most recently, he served as President of Medical Solutions, where he played a key role in
building and scaling one of the nation's largest clinical staffing organizations.
"I am honored to lead Cross Country Healthcare as it returns to
private ownership and enters its next phase of growth,” said Mr. Tremblay. “With its trusted brand, leading market presence,
and differentiated platform, the Company is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate workforce challenges and ensure access to quality
patient care. As a private company, we will have an enhanced ability to invest in innovation, strengthen our capabilities, and deliver
greater value to clients, healthcare professionals, and the communities we serve. I look forward to working alongside this talented team
to build upon the Company's strong foundation and drive long-term growth."
The completion of the transaction marks the beginning of a new era for
Cross Country Healthcare as a privately held, standalone company focused on advancing workforce solutions through continued investment
in technology, innovation, and operational excellence. As part of the transaction, Cross Country Healthcare's locums division has been
acquired by All Star Healthcare Solutions, a portfolio company of Knox Lane.
"Cross Country Healthcare occupies a distinctive position at the
intersection of healthcare workforce solutions and technology,” said John Bailey, Managing Partner at Knox Lane and Shamik Patel,
Partner at Knox Lane. “The Company has established a recognized market position, a trusted brand, and a differentiated platform
designed to address critical workforce challenges across the healthcare ecosystem. We’re thrilled to work with Joel again and look
forward to partnering with the entire Cross Country Healthcare team to accelerate innovation, expand capabilities, and create long-term
value for clients, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders.”
"I am incredibly proud of the Cross Country Healthcare team and
everything that we have accomplished. For more than four decades, Cross Country has been committed to helping healthcare organizations
address workforce challenges and ensure access to quality patient care,” said Mr. Clark. “This transaction marks an important
next step for the Company's future, and I am confident Knox Lane’s strategic partnership and Joel’s proven leadership will
support the Company’s growth and evolution. I look forward to seeing the organization build on its legacy of leadership while continuing
to serve clients and healthcare professionals with excellence."
Advisors
BofA Securities, Inc. served as exclusive financial advisor to Cross
Country Healthcare and delivered a fairness opinion to the Cross Country Healthcare Board of Directors. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
served as legal counsel to Cross Country Healthcare. MTS Health Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Knox Lane and Kirkland
& Ellis LLP served as its legal counsel.
About Cross Country Healthcare
Cross Country Healthcare is a technology-driven healthcare workforce
solutions company that helps healthcare organizations solve complex labor challenges. Through its staffing, advisory, and workforce technology
capabilities, Cross Country supports health systems across nursing, allied health, and nonclinical service lines.
Through Intellify, its workforce intelligence platform, Cross Country
helps healthcare leaders gain greater visibility across workforce spend, supplier performance, labor demand, and operational execution,
supporting faster decisions and stronger workforce outcomes. Learn more at www.CrossCountry.com and www.Intellify.com.
About Knox Lane
Knox Lane is a growth-oriented investment firm based in San Francisco,
comprised of a team of accomplished investors and operators with a strong track record of partnering with leading companies to accelerate
growth. Knox Lane employs an investor-operator mindset and provides support across human capital, brand management, AI and digital transformation,
sourcing, supply chain and logistics, strategic acquisitions, and business development. For more information, visit www.knoxlane.com.
Media Contacts
Knox Lane
Erik Carlson / Woomi Yun
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449
Cross Country/Intellify
Karen Varga-Sinka
kvargasinka@crosscountry.com