Activist Ananym has a list of suggestions for Henry Schein. How the firm can help improve profits

Business: Henry Schein is a solutions company for health care. It operates through two segments: health care distribution, and technology and value-added services. The health care distribution segment distributes an array of offerings, including consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment and equipment repair services. The technology and value-added services segment provides software, technology and other services to health care practitioners. It offers dental practice management solutions for dental and medical practitioners. It also develops solutions for the orthopedic treatment of lower extremities (foot and ankle) and upper extremities (primarily hand and wrist).

Stock Market Value: $9.36B ($75.08 per share)

Ownership: n/a

Average Cost: n/a

Activist Commentary: Ananym Capital Management is a New York-based activist investment firm which launched on Sept. 3. It's run by Charlie Penner (former partner at Jana Partners and head of shareholder activism at Engine No. 1) and Alex Silver (former partner and investment committee member at P2 Capital Partners). Ananym looks for high quality but undervalued companies, regardless of industry. The firm would prefer to work amicably with its portfolio companies, but it's willing to resort to a proxy fight as a last resort. It holds approximately 10 positions in its portfolio and currently manages $250 million.

On Nov. 18, Reuters reported that Ananym is pushing Henry to refresh the board, cut costs, address succession planning and consider selling its medical distribution business.

Henry Schein is a leading global distributor of health-care products and services primarily to office-based dental and medical practitioners. The company operates through two