---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-26-031768"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "KELYA"
cik: "0000055135"
company_name: "KELLY SERVICES INC"
filed_at: "2026-01-30T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T06:10:54.995187+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Hunt Equity acquires 92.2% voting control of Kelly Services for $106M, appoints new board

## Summary
- Hunt purchased 3,039,940 Class B shares from Trust K for $106M, becoming controlling stockholder with 92.2% voting power.
- Additional earn-out of up to $15.2M if Kelly's market cap reaches $1.2B within 48 months of closing.
- Five directors resigned; four Hunt designees appointed, including Chris Hunt as Chairman. CEO Layden remains on board.
- Rights plan amended to expire just before the transfer; credit agreements revised to avoid change-in-control triggers.
- Hunt receives demand and piggyback registration rights; Kelly may now use controlled company exemption under Nasdaq rules.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-26-031768
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: KELYA
- cik: 0000055135
- company_name: KELLY SERVICES INC
- filed_at: 2026-01-30T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 3.03, 2.03, 5.01, 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/55135/000119312526031768/0001193125-26-031768-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/55135/000119312526031768/d48966d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-031768
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-031768.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-031768.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: 341513d14320c4c88013d33ebe31094f22cb5115
  claim: KELLY SERVICES INC underwent a change of control involving Hunt Equity Opportunities, LLC for $106,000,000 (closed 2026-01-30).
  evidence_excerpt: Terence E. Adderley Revocable Trust K pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated January 9, 2026, as referenced in the Agreement. The aggregate purchase price paid by Hunt was $106,000,000. The Purchase Agreement also provides for an additional payment in cash equal to $15,199,700 if at any time within the 48-month period following the closing of the share sale,
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/55135/000119312526031768/0001193125-26-031768-index.htm
- claim_id: 38d474fff995db576204c3acb4614439097d2f3f
  claim: KELLY SERVICES INC entered into Letter Agreement with Hunt Equity Opportunities, LLC (effective 2026-01-30).
  evidence_excerpt: On January 30, 2026, Kelly Services, Inc. (the “ Company ”) entered into a letter agreement (the “ Agreement ”) with Hunt Equity Opportunities, LLC (“ Hunt ”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/55135/000119312526031768/0001193125-26-031768-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.