Fortrea to Add Erin L. Russell to Board of Directors
Fortrea (FTRE), a leading global contract research organization, has announced the appointment of Erin L. Russell to its Board of Directors through a cooperation agreement with Starboard Value LP, which owns 5.4% of Fortrea's outstanding common stock. Russell, a financial and healthcare executive, brings extensive experience from her roles including board positions at Modivcare (MODV), eHealth (EHTH), and Kadant (KAI), as well as 16 years as a principal at Vestar Capital Partners.
The agreement includes standard provisions such as a standstill and voting agreement with Starboard, which also retains the right to appoint a representative to the Board starting August 2025. Russell's appointment will be effective immediately prior to the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Fortrea (FTRE), un'importante organizzazione globale di ricerca clinica, ha annunciato la nomina di Erin L. Russell nel suo Consiglio di Amministrazione attraverso un accordo di cooperazione con Starboard Value LP, che detiene il 5,4% delle azioni ordinarie in circolazione di Fortrea. Russell, un'esperta nel settore finanziario e sanitario, porta con sé una vasta esperienza dai suoi ruoli, comprese le posizioni nel consiglio di amministrazione di Modivcare (MODV), eHealth (EHTH) e Kadant (KAI), oltre a 16 anni come principale presso Vestar Capital Partners.
L'accordo include disposizioni standard come un accordo di standstill e di voto con Starboard, che mantiene anche il diritto di nominare un rappresentante nel Consiglio a partire da agosto 2025. La nomina di Russell sarà effettiva immediatamente prima della prossima riunione regolarmente programmata del Consiglio.
Fortrea (FTRE), una organización global líder en investigación por contrato, ha anunciado el nombramiento de Erin L. Russell en su Junta Directiva a través de un acuerdo de cooperación con Starboard Value LP, que posee el 5.4% de las acciones ordinarias en circulación de Fortrea. Russell, una ejecutiva en finanzas y salud, aporta una amplia experiencia de sus roles, incluidas posiciones en la junta de Modivcare (MODV), eHealth (EHTH) y Kadant (KAI), además de 16 años como principal en Vestar Capital Partners.
El acuerdo incluye disposiciones estándar como un acuerdo de standstill y de votación con Starboard, que también retiene el derecho a nombrar un representante en la Junta a partir de agosto de 2025. La nominación de Russell será efectiva inmediatamente antes de la próxima reunión programada regularmente de la Junta.
Fortrea (FTRE)는 세계적인 계약 연구 기관으로, Erin L. Russell을 이사회에 임명했다고 발표했습니다. 이는 Fortrea의 발행된 보통주 5.4%를 소유한 Starboard Value LP와의 협력 계약을 통해 이루어졌습니다. Russell은 재무 및 의료 분야의 경영자로서 Modivcare (MODV), eHealth (EHTH), Kadant (KAI)에서의 이사회 역할을 포함하여 Vestar Capital Partners에서 16년 동안 주요 역할을 수행하며 쌓은 폭넓은 경험을 가지고 있습니다.
이 계약에는 Starboard와의 스탠드스틸 및 투표 계약과 같은 표준 조항이 포함되어 있으며, Starboard는 2025년 8월부터 이사회에 대표를 임명할 권리를 보유합니다. Russell의 임명은 다음 정기 이사회 회의 이전에 즉시 효력을 발휘합니다.
Fortrea (FTRE), une organisation mondiale de recherche contractuelle de premier plan, a annoncé la nomination de Erin L. Russell à son Conseil d'Administration par le biais d'un accord de coopération avec Starboard Value LP, qui détient 5,4 % des actions ordinaires en circulation de Fortrea. Russell, une dirigeante dans les secteurs financier et de la santé, apporte une vaste expérience de ses rôles, y compris des postes au conseil d'administration de Modivcare (MODV), eHealth (EHTH) et Kadant (KAI), ainsi que 16 ans en tant que partenaire chez Vestar Capital Partners.
L'accord comprend des dispositions standard telles qu'un accord de standstill et de vote avec Starboard, qui conserve également le droit de nommer un représentant au Conseil à partir d'août 2025. La nomination de Russell sera effective immédiatement avant la prochaine réunion régulière du Conseil.
Fortrea (FTRE), eine führende globale Auftragsforschungsorganisation, hat die Ernennung von Erin L. Russell in ihren Vorstand bekannt gegeben, basierend auf einer Kooperationsvereinbarung mit Starboard Value LP, die 5,4% der ausstehenden Stammaktien von Fortrea hält. Russell, eine Führungskraft im Finanz- und Gesundheitswesen, bringt umfangreiche Erfahrungen aus ihren Rollen, einschließlich Vorstandspositionen bei Modivcare (MODV), eHealth (EHTH) und Kadant (KAI), sowie 16 Jahre als Partnerin bei Vestar Capital Partners mit.
Die Vereinbarung umfasst Standardbestimmungen wie einen Stillhalte- und Abstimmungsvertrag mit Starboard, das auch das Recht behält, ab August 2025 einen Vertreter in den Vorstand zu berufen. Russells Ernennung wird unmittelbar vor der nächsten regulär angesetzten Vorstandssitzung wirksam.
- Strategic partnership with Starboard Value LP, a significant shareholder owning 5.4% of the company
- Addition of experienced board member with extensive healthcare and finance background
- Constructive agreement with activist investor showing collaborative approach to governance
- Potential for increased activist investor influence with Starboard's right to appoint additional board representative in August 2025
Fortrea and Starboard enter into Cooperation Agreement
DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE), a leading global contract research organization (CRO), today announced that it will appoint Erin L. Russell, a financial and healthcare executive, as a new independent member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) effective immediately prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. Ms. Russell is being appointed in connection with a cooperation agreement (the “Agreement”) between Fortrea and Starboard Value LP (together with its affiliates, “Starboard”), an investment firm that owns approximately
“We are pleased to have reached a constructive agreement with Starboard, and we appreciate its ongoing engagement and helpful input,” said Tom Pike, chairman and CEO, Fortrea. “We believe this agreement is in the best interests of Fortrea and all our stakeholders. Erin brings valuable experience to the Board, and we look forward to working with her.”
“We appreciate the collaborative and constructive dialogue we have had with the Board and management of Fortrea,” said Jeff Smith, CEO and chief investment officer, Starboard. “We believe Erin will bring her deep expertise and unique views in order to help Fortrea drive further financial improvements and maximize value for all shareholders.”
Ms. Russell brings extensive experience in finance and healthcare to the position, having served in executive and board roles. She was recently appointed to serve on the board of Modivcare (Nasdaq: MODV) and also serves on the boards of eHealth, Inc. (Nasdaq: EHTH) and Kadant Inc. (NYSE: KAI). Her previous board experience in the healthcare sector includes Tivity Health Inc. (formerly traded on Nasdaq: TVTY), DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC, DynaVox Inc. and 21st Century Oncology Inc. Ms. Russell spent 16 years as a principal of Vestar Capital Partners, L.P., a leading private equity firm. Ms. Russell holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Pursuant to the Agreement, Starboard has agreed to a customary standstill, voting agreement and other provisions. Starboard also has a right under the Agreement to appoint a Starboard representative to the Board in certain circumstances beginning in August 2025. Additional information will be filed in a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Barclays is serving as financial advisor. White & Case LLP and Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP are serving as legal counsel to Fortrea. Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP is serving as legal counsel to Starboard.
About Fortrea
Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) is a leading global provider of clinical development solutions to the life sciences industry. We partner with emerging and large biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic companies to drive healthcare innovation that accelerates life changing therapies to patients. Fortrea provides phase I-IV clinical trial management, clinical pharmacology and consulting services. Fortrea’s solutions leverage three decades of experience spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas, a passion for scientific rigor, exceptional insights and a strong investigator site network. Our talented and diverse team working in about 100 countries is scaled to deliver focused and agile solutions to customers globally. Learn more about how Fortrea is becoming a transformative force from pipeline to patient at Fortrea.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
About Starboard Value LP
Starboard Value LP is an investment adviser with a focused and fundamental approach to investing in publicly traded companies. Starboard seeks to invest in deeply undervalued companies and actively engage with management teams and boards of directors to identify and execute on opportunities to unlock value for the benefit of all shareholders.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “assume,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s ability to successfully implement the Company’s business strategies and execute the Company’s long-term value creation strategy; risks and expenses associated with the Company’s international operations and currency fluctuations; the Company’s customer or therapeutic area concentrations; any further deterioration in the macroeconomic environment, which could lead to defaults or cancellations by the Company’s customers; the risk that the Company’s backlog and net new business may not be indicative of the Company’s future revenues and that the Company might not realize all of the anticipated future revenue reflected in the Company’s backlog; the Company’s ability to generate sufficient net new business awards, or if net new business awards are delayed, terminated, reduced in scope, or fail to go to contract; if the Company underprices its contracts, overruns its cost estimates, or fails to receive approval for, or experiences delays in documentation of change orders; and other factors described from time to time in documents that the Company files with the SEC. For a further discussion of the risks relating to the Company’s business, see the “Risk Factors” Section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31. 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be amended or updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent periodic and other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.
Fortrea Contacts:
Hima Inguva (Investors) – 877-495-0816, hima.inguva@fortrea.com
Sue Zaranek (Media) – 919-943-5422, media@fortrea.com
Kate Dillon (Media) – 646-818-9115, kdillon@prosek.com
FAQ
Who is Erin L. Russell and what experience does she bring to Fortrea's board?
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