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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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): March 2, 2026
SELECT
MEDICAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant
as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | |
001-34465 | |
20-1764048 |
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation) | |
(Commission File Number) | |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
4714 Gettysburg Road, P.O. Box 2034
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(717) 972-1100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share |
SEM |
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
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:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the
Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| x | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | 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)) |
Indicate by check mark whether either 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 either 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. ¨
Item 1.01 - Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Agreement and Plan of Merger
On March 2, 2026, Select Medical Holdings Corporation (the “Company”
or “Select Medical”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with
Stallion Intermediate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Stallion MergerSub Corporation, a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”).
The Merger Agreement provides, among other things and on the terms
and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, that Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing
as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”).
At the effective time of the Merger (“Effective Time”),
each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Company Shares”), issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Rollover Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), Company Shares owned by Parent
or the Company (as treasury stock or otherwise) or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries as of immediately
prior to the Effective Time or Company Shares for which appraisal rights have been demanded properly in accordance with Section 262
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware), will be converted into the right to receive $16.50 per share in cash, without
interest (the “Merger Consideration”).
Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Company Share that is
subject to forfeiture conditions (each, a “Company Restricted Share”) will, except in the case of any Company Restricted
Shares that are Rollover Shares, vest in full and shall be treated the same as all other Company Shares.
A special committee (the “Special Committee”) of
the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), comprised of disinterested and independent members of the Board,
unanimously (a) determined that the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and the Company’s stockholders (other than
the Rollover Holders (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and their affiliates and Company stockholders that are affiliated with Parent)
(the “Unaffiliated Company Stockholders”) , and (b) recommended that the Board adopt resolutions declaring that
the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are advisable, fair to and in the best
interests of the Company and the Unaffiliated Company Stockholders, adopting and approving the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and recommending that the stockholders of the Company vote their shares in favor of
adopting the Merger Agreement at a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company.
Thereafter, the disinterested members of the Board, upon the unanimous
recommendation of the Special Committee, unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and the Company’s stockholders
(including the Unaffiliated Company Stockholders), (ii) adopted and approved the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (iii) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the Company’s stockholders
entitled to vote thereon for adoption thereby and resolved to recommend that such stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger.
Conditions to the Merger
The completion of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver
of certain customary mutual closing conditions, including (a) the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding Company Shares entitled to vote thereon, (b) the approval of the Merger Agreement by a majority of the votes cast
by the holders of Company Shares excluding any Company Shares beneficially owned by Parent, Merger Sub, the Rollover Holders (as defined
in the Merger Agreement) and their respective affiliates, “associates” or members of their respective “immediate family”
(as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act), (c) the absence of any order or other
action that is in effect (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) by a governmental authority restraining, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the consummation of the Merger or applicable law that is in effect that makes consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise
prohibited and (d) receipt of certain regulatory approvals, including certain healthcare regulatory approvals and the expiration
or termination of the applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended. The obligation of each party to consummate the Merger is also conditioned on the other party’s representations
and warranties being true and correct (subject to certain customary materiality exceptions) and the other party having performed in all
material respects its obligations under the Merger Agreement. In addition, Parent and Merger Sub’s obligation to consummate the
Merger is conditioned upon there not having occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
If the Merger is consummated, the Company Shares will be delisted from
The New York Stock Exchange and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Termination
The Merger Agreement contains termination rights for each of the Company
and Parent, including, among others, (a) if the closing of the Merger does not occur on or before December 1, 2026 (the
“Outside Date”) (subject to an automatic extension until March 1, 2027 under certain circumstances), (b) if
any order prohibiting the Merger has become final and non-appealable, (c) if the Requisite Company Stockholder Approvals (as defined
in the Merger Agreement) have not been obtained following the meeting of the Company’s stockholders for purposes of obtaining such
Requisite Company Stockholder Approvals, and (d) subject to certain conditions, (i) by Parent, prior to the Effective Time,
if (x) a Change of Company Recommendation (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall have occurred or (y) the Company has breached
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made under the Merger Agreement and such breach or condition is not curable, or, if
curable, is not cured within the earlier of thirty days after written notice thereof is given by Parent to the Company and one business
day before the Outside Date, or (ii) by the Company, prior to the Effective Time, if (x) subject to compliance with the terms
of the Merger Agreement, the Company determines to terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a
Company Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or (y) Parent or Merger Sub has breached any representation, warranty,
covenant, or agreement made under the Merger Agreement and such breach or condition is not curable, or if curable, is not cured within
the earlier of thirty days after written notice thereof is given by Parent to the Company and one business day before the Outside Date.
The Company and Parent may also terminate the Merger Agreement by mutual written consent.
The Company is required to pay Parent a termination fee of $66,504,813
in cash upon termination of the Merger Agreement in certain circumstances, including, among others, termination by the Company in the
event that the Board determines to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a Company Superior Proposal. Parent is required to
pay the Company a termination fee of $133,009,627 in cash upon termination of the Merger Agreement if Parent fails to timely close the
Merger after the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions and the Company stands ready to close the Merger. The Merger Agreement
also provides that, in certain circumstances, each party may seek to compel the other parties to specifically perform their obligations
under the Merger Agreement.
Equity Commitment Letter and Debt Commitment Letter
Parent and Merger Sub have secured committed financing, consisting
of a combination of equity financing to be provided by WCAS XIV, L.P. (in such capacity, the “Equity Investor”), on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an equity commitment letter provided by the Equity Investor, and debt financing to
be provided by certain lenders, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a debt commitment letter. The obligations of the
lenders to provide debt financing under the debt commitment letter are subject to a number of customary conditions. The Merger Agreement
does not contain any financing condition.
Limited Guaranty
The Equity Investor (in such capacity, the “Guarantor”)
has entered into a limited guaranty with the Company (the “Limited Guaranty”), pursuant to which the Guarantor has
guaranteed certain obligations of Parent and Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement, including payment of the Parent Termination Fee that
may be owed by Parent pursuant to the Merger Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and the
Limited Guaranty.
Other Terms of the Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties
of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, in each case generally subject to customary materiality qualifiers. Additionally, the Merger Agreement
provides for customary pre-closing covenants of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, including covenants relating to the Company conducting
its and its subsidiaries’ business in the ordinary course, preserving its business organizations substantially intact, and maintaining
existing business relationships and goodwill and refraining from taking certain actions without Parent’s consent, subject to certain
exceptions. The Company and Parent also agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to be consummated.
The Merger Agreement provides that, during the period from the date
of the Merger Agreement until the effective time of the Merger, the Company will be subject to certain restrictions on its ability to
solicit certain alternative acquisition proposals from third parties, provide non-public information to third parties and engage in discussions
or enter into agreements with third parties regarding certain alternative acquisition proposals, subject to customary exceptions.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement does not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1
and is incorporated by reference herein.
The Merger Agreement and the above description have been included to
provide investors with information regarding its terms. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company,
Parent and Merger Sub or their respective affiliates. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement
were made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement as of the specific dates therein, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the
Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures
made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters
as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors.
Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual
state of facts or condition of the parties thereto or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning
the subject matter of representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may
or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s or Parent’s public disclosures. Accordingly, the Merger Agreement should not
be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with the other information regarding the Company, Parent and Merger Sub and the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement that will be contained in or attached as annex to the proxy statement that the Company
will file in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, as well as in other filings that the Company makes
or will make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Annual Reports on Form 10-K
of the Company.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On March 2, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing
the execution of the Merger Agreement. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is
being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject
to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Additional Information and Where to Find
It
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect
of the proposed acquisition of Select Medical by Parent. In connection with the proposed transaction, Select Medical intends to file relevant
materials with the SEC, including Select Medical’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A in preliminary and definitive form for its special
meeting of stockholders to approve the proposed transaction, and may file or furnish other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed
transaction from time to time. In addition, Select Medical and certain affiliates of Select Medical intend to jointly file a transaction
statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the “Schedule 13E-3”). INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF SELECT MEDICAL ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT
DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING SELECT MEDICAL’S PROXY STATEMENT AND SCHEDULE 13E-3 (IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE)
BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The definitive proxy statement will be filed
with the SEC and mailed or otherwise made available to Select Medical’s stockholders. Investors and stockholders are or will be
able to obtain the documents (if and when available) filed with the SEC free of charge either from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov,
or from Select Medical’s Investor Relations webpage at https://www.selectmedical.com/investor-relations/.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release is not intended to and
shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote
or approval, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities
shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from,
or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.
Participants in the Solicitation
Select Medical and its directors, executive
officers and other members of management and employees, including the Rollover Holders, under SEC rules, will be deemed to be “participants”
in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Select Medical in favor of the proposed transaction. Information about Select Medical’s
directors and executive officers is set forth in Select Medical’s Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2026 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on February 20, 2026 (the “2026 Proxy Statement”). To the extent
holdings of the Select Medical’s securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in the
2026 Proxy Statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements
of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC.
Additional information concerning the interests
of Select Medical’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of Select Medical’s
stockholders generally, will be set forth in Select Medical’s proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction when it becomes
available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
use words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “outlook,” “intend,” “plan,” “confident,”
“believe,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “positioning,”
“proposed,” “planned,” “objective,” “likely,” “could,” “may,”
and words of similar meaning, as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances. Statements
that describe or relate to Holdings’ plans, goals, intentions, strategies, financial outlook, are examples of forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate, and involve
a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are out of Select Medical’s control. Forward-looking statements
are not guarantees of future performance and you should not place undue reliance on Select Medical’s forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Select Medical’s actual
results in future periods to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. The inclusion of
such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. There is no assurance
that the proposed Merger will be consummated, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results
to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (1) the inability
to consummate the proposed Merger within the anticipated time period, or at all, due to any reason, including the failure to obtain the
required stockholder approval to adopt the Merger Agreement, the failure to obtain any required regulatory approvals for the proposed
Merger, including the termination or expiration of any required waiting periods, or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to the
consummation of the proposed Merger; (2) the risk that the Merger may be terminated in circumstances requiring Select Medical to
pay a termination fee; (3) the risk that the proposed Merger disrupts Select Medical’s current plans and operations or diverts
management’s attention from its ongoing business; (4) the effect of the announcement of the proposed Merger on the ability
of Select Medical to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with those with whom it does business; (5) the effect
of the announcement or pendency of the proposed Merger on Select Medical’s operating results and business generally; (6) the
significant costs, fees and expenses related to the proposed Merger; (7) the risk that Select Medical’s stock price may decline
significantly if the proposed Merger is not consummated; (8) the nature, cost and outcome of any litigation and other legal proceedings,
including any such proceedings related to the proposed Merger and instituted against Select Medical and/or their respective directors,
executive officers or other related persons; (9) other risks that could affect Select Medical’s business, financial condition
or results of operations, including those set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent
filings; and (10) other risks to the consummation of the proposed Merger. Additional information concerning these and other factors
can be found in Select Medical’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Select
Medical’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made.
Select Medical does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Item 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
Exhibit
No. |
|
Description |
| 2.1 |
|
Agreement
and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 2 2026, by and among Select Medical Holdings Corporation, Parent and Merger Sub.* |
| 99.1 |
|
Press
Release of Select Medical Holdings Corporation issued on March 2, 2026. |
| 104 |
|
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
*All schedules to the Merger Agreement have been omitted pursuant to
Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon
request.
SIGNATURE
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, thereunto duly authorized.
| |
SELECT MEDICAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION |
| |
|
| Date: March 3, 2026 |
By: |
/s/ John F. Duggan |
| |
|
John F. Duggan |
| |
|
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
4714 Gettysburg
Road
Mechanicsburg,
PA 17055
NYSE Symbol:
SEM |
Select Medical
Holdings Corporation to be Acquired by
Consortium Led
by Robert A. Ortenzio, Martin F. Jackson and WCAS
MECHANICSBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA — March 2, 2026 — Select Medical Holdings Corporation (“Select Medical,” “we,”
“us,” or “our”) (NYSE: SEM) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the “Merger
Agreement”) pursuant to which an entity affiliated with a consortium led by Robert A. Ortenzio, Executive Chairman, Co-Founder
and Director of Select Medical, Martin F. Jackson, Senior Executive Vice President of Strategic Finance and Operations of Select Medical,
and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (“WCAS” and, together with Mr. Ortenzio and Mr. Jackson, the “Consortium”)
will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Select Medical not already owned by the Consortium for a price per share
of $16.50 in cash (the “Merger Consideration”), representing an enterprise value of $3.9 billion, on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (such transaction, the “Merger”). The Merger Agreement was unanimously
approved by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of Select Medical (the “Board”) upon the recommendation of
a special committee of disinterested and independent directors (the “Special Committee”), which negotiated the terms of the
transaction.
The
Merger Consideration represents a premium of approximately 18% over Select Medical’s unaffected share price as of November 24,
2025, the last trading day prior to a publicly disclosed proposal being submitted by Mr. Ortenzio to the Company’s Board of
Directors, and a premium of approximately 25% over Select Medical’s 90-day volume-weighted average closing share price for the
period ending on that date.
Mr. Ortenzio,
Mr. Jackson and certain of their affiliates have agreed to roll over their equity to the parent entity of the surviving corporation
in the Merger in lieu of receiving the cash Merger Consideration. The Consortium may invite other members of management and the Board
of Directors of Select Medical (other than members of the Special Committee) to roll over their outstanding equity as well (all participants
in such roll over, the “Rollover Participants”).
Select
Medical will continue to operate as usual during the pendency of the Merger, with the same commitment to its patients, employees and
partners. Select Medical’s current management is expected to remain in place following the completion of the Merger. As Mr. Ortenzio
and WCAS are “Permitted Holders” under certain of Select Medical’s existing debt documentation, Select Medical expects
its existing indebtedness to remain outstanding following completion of the Merger, facilitating the Consortium’s ability to finance
the transaction.
Special Committee
and Board Approval
The
Special Committee, consisting entirely of disinterested and independent members of the Board and advised by its own independent financial
and legal advisors, reviewed and evaluated the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. The Special Committee unanimously
determined that the Merger Agreement and the Merger are fair to, and in the best interests of, Select Medical’s stockholders that
are unaffiliated with the Consortium and recommended approval of the Merger Agreement to the Board. The disinterested members of the
Board, acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee, unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger and resolved
to recommend that Select Medical’s stockholders vote to adopt the Merger Agreement.
Transaction
Details and Conditions to Closing
The
Merger is expected to close mid 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including (a) approval by a majority of the votes
cast by holders of the shares of outstanding Select Medical common stock that are not held by any members of the Consortium, the Rollover
Participants or their affiliates, (b) the expiration or termination of any waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976 and (c) the receipt of certain other required regulatory approvals. The Merger is not subject to a financing
condition.
The
initial Rollover Participants, which collectively beneficially own approximately 11.8% of the outstanding shares of Select Medical common
stock, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement. Any future Rollover Participants will also agree
to vote their shares in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement.
Upon
completion of the Merger, Select Medical will become a privately held company, and its shares of common stock will be deregistered under
applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The
foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the full terms of the Merger Agreement, for which Select Medical will file a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Advisors
J.P.
Morgan and Wells Fargo are serving as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners in connection with the committed debt financing
of the Consortium. Goldman Sachs is serving as the exclusive financial advisor, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
is serving as legal counsel, to the Special Committee. Dechert LLP is serving as legal counsel to Select Medical. Wells Fargo and J.P.
Morgan are serving as financial advisors, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is serving as legal counsel to, the Consortium. Barclays
is serving as financial advisor, and Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal counsel, to WCAS. Paul Hastings LLP is
serving as legal counsel to the debt financing sources.
About Select
Medical
Select
Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient rehabilitation
clinics in the United States based on number of facilities. As of December 31, 2025, Select Medical operated 104 critical illness
recovery hospitals in 28 states, 38 rehabilitation hospitals in 15 states, and 1,917 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 39 states and
the District of Columbia. At December 31, 2025, Select Medical had operations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Information
about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com.
About WCAS
WCAS
is a leading U.S. private equity firm focused on two target industries: technology and healthcare. Since its founding in 1979, the firm’s
strategy has been to partner with outstanding management teams and build value for its investors through a combination of operational
improvements, growth initiatives, and strategic acquisitions. The firm has raised and managed funds totaling over $33 billion of committed
capital. For more information, please visit www.wcas.com.
Cautionary Statement
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements use words such as “expect,” “anticipate,”
“outlook,” “intend,” “plan,” “confident,” “believe,” “will,”
“should,” “would,” “potential,” “positioning,” “proposed,” “planned,”
“objective,” “likely,” “could,” “may,” and words of similar meaning, as well as other
words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances. Statements that describe or relate to Select Medical’s
plans, goals, intentions, strategies, financial outlook, are examples of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based
on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate, and involve a number of known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, many of which are out of Select Medical’s control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and you should not place undue reliance on Select Medical’s forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant
known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Select Medical’s actual results in future periods to differ materially
from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a
representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. There is no assurance that the proposed Merger will be consummated,
and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the results
contemplated by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (1) the inability to consummate the proposed Merger
within the anticipated time period, or at all, due to any reason, including the failure to obtain the required stockholder approval to
adopt the Merger Agreement, the failure to obtain any required regulatory approvals for the proposed Merger, including the termination
or expiration of any required waiting periods, or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to the consummation of the proposed Merger;
(2) the risk that the Merger may be terminated in circumstances requiring Select Medical to pay a termination fee; (3) the
risk that the proposed Merger disrupts Select Medical’s current plans and operations or diverts management’s attention from
its ongoing business; (4) the effect of the announcement of the proposed Merger on the ability of Select Medical to retain and hire
key personnel and maintain relationships with those with whom it does business; (5) the effect of the announcement or pendency of
the proposed Merger on Select Medical’s operating results and business generally; (6) the significant costs, fees and expenses
related to the proposed Merger; (7) the risk that Select Medical’s stock price may decline significantly if the proposed Merger
is not consummated; (8) the nature, cost and outcome of any litigation and other legal proceedings, including any such proceedings
related to the proposed Merger and instituted against Select Medical and/or their respective directors, executive officers or other related
persons; (9) other risks that could affect Select Medical’s business, financial condition or results of operations, including
those set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings; and (10) other risks
to the consummation of the proposed Merger. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Select Medical’s
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Select Medical’s most recent annual
report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Any forward-looking statements,
whether made in this press release or elsewhere, should be considered in the context of the various disclosures made by Select Medical
about its businesses including, without limitation, the risk factors discussed in Select Medical’s filings with the SEC. Select
Medical does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Additional Information
and Where to Find it
This
communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Select Medical by the Consortium. In
connection with the proposed transaction, Select Medical intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including Select Medical’s
proxy statement on Schedule 14A in preliminary and definitive form for its special meeting of stockholders to approve the proposed transaction,
and may file or furnish other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction from time to time. In addition, Select Medical
and certain affiliates of Select Medical intend to jointly file a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the “Schedule 13E-3”).
INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF SELECT MEDICAL ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING SELECT MEDICAL’S
PROXY STATEMENT AND SCHEDULE 13E-3 (IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE) BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The definitive proxy statement will be filed with the SEC and mailed or otherwise made available to Select
Medical’s stockholders. Investors and stockholders are or will be able to obtain the documents (if and when available) filed with
the SEC free of charge either from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or from Select Medical’s Investor Relations webpage at
https://www.selectmedical.com/investor-relations/.
Participants
in the Solicitation
Select
Medical and its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, including the Rollover Participants, under
SEC rules, will be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Select Medical in favor
of the proposed transaction. Information about Select Medical’s directors and executive officers is set forth in Select Medical’s
Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on February 20,
2026 (the “2026 Proxy Statement”). To the extent holdings of the Select Medical’s securities by its directors or executive
officers have changed since the amounts set forth in the 2026 Proxy Statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial
Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC.
Additional
information concerning the interests of Select Medical’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different
than those of Select Medical’s stockholders generally, will be set forth in Select Medical’s proxy statement relating to
the proposed transaction when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
No Offer or
Solicitation
This
press release is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any
securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction
in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.
Media inquiries:
Shelly Eckenroth
Senior Vice President,
Chief Communications Marketing & Branding Officer
717-920-4035
seckenroth@selectmedical.com
Investor inquiries:
Robert S. Kido
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
717-972-1100
ir@selectmedical.com
SOURCE: Select
Medical Holdings Corporation