KLC 8-K
KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (KLC)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On September 29, 2026, Michael Nuzzo resigned from the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (the “Company”). Mr. Nuzzo served as a Class II director. Mr. Nuzzo also resigned from the Audit Committee of the Board and the Compensation Committee of the Board. Mr. Nuzzo’s resignation from the Board was not due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter related to the Company’s operations, policies or practices, but instead Mr. Nuzzo resigned to devote time to his other professional and personal commitments.
On September 29, 2026, the Board appointed director David Barse to serve as a member of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Barse was also appointed as the chair of the Audit Committee. As previously disclosed, the Board has affirmatively determined that Mr. Barse is qualified as an “independent director” under the New York Stock Exchange Standards and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Board has also determined that Mr. Barse qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.
On September 29, 2026, the Board appointed Preston Grasty to serve fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Nuzzo. Mr. Grasty will serve as a Class II director of the Board until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until his earlier death, resignation or removal, subject to the Stockholders Agreement referred to below. The Board also appointed Mr. Grasty to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. Mr. Grasty previously served on the Board from September 2024 to June 2025.
Mr. Grasty, age 36, is a Senior Investment Leader at Partners Group, where he has been employed since 2018. Prior to joining Partners Group, Mr. Grasty served as an investment professional at Carnelian Energy Capital from 2015 to 2016 and as an investment banker at Credit Suisse from 2014 to 2015. Mr. Grasty holds a B.B.A. and a Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
The Board determined that Mr. Grasty is independent under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. As Mr. Grasty is affiliated with Partners Group, he will not be entitled to compensation under the Company’s director compensation policy. Mr. Grasty will enter into the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement. Mr. Grasty was selected as a director of the Company by the PG Stockholders under that certain Stockholders Agreement dated October 8, 2024 by and among the PG Stockholders, the other stockholders identified therein and the Company, and Mr. Grasty is a “PG Stockholders’ Designee” as defined therein. There are no family relationships between Mr. Grasty and any director or executive officer of the Company. Mr. Grasty does not have any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
On October 2, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the foregoing changes to the Board. A copy of this press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press release issued by KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. on October 2, 2026 | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |
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.
| KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. | ||||||
| Date: October 2, 2026 | By: | /s/ John T. Wyatt | ||||
| Name: | John T. Wyatt | |||||
| Title | Chief Executive Officer | |||||
Exhibit 99.1
KinderCare Announces Board of Directors Transitions
Mike Nuzzo steps down; David Barse to head Audit Committee; Preston Grasty to rejoin Board
LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., October 2, 2026 – KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (“KinderCare”) (NYSE: KLC), a leading provider of high-quality early childhood education and care, today announced that Mike Nuzzo has resigned from the company’s Board of Directors, effective September 29, due to other personal and professional time commitments.
David Barse, who joined KinderCare’s Board on Aug. 3, replaces Nuzzo as the Head of the Audit Committee. Preston Grasty, Senior Investment Leader at Partners Group, will also rejoin the Board, effective September 29.
“On behalf of the entire Board and KinderCare, I want to thank Mike for his years of dedicated service to our company,” said Tom Wyatt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KinderCare. “We are deeply grateful for his commitment to KinderCare and our mission to give children the very best start in life, and we wish him all the best. I’m excited to welcome Preston back to our board.”
About KinderCare Learning Companies™
KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (NYSE: KLC) is a leading private provider of early childhood and school-age education and care. KinderCare builds confidence for life in children and families from all backgrounds. KinderCare supports hardworking families in 42 states and the District of Columbia with differentiated flexible child care solutions through its portfolio of brands and services:
| • | KinderCare® Learning Centers: early learning programs for children six weeks to 12 years old; |
| • | The Crème School®: a premium early education experience using a variety of enrichment classrooms; |
| • | Champions®: before- and after-school programs in local schools, and |
| • | Customized child care benefits created in partnership with employers, including child care on or near the site where their parents work, as well as tuition benefits and backup care across all our programs. |
Headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 2,700 early learning centers and sites.
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