First Advantage Completes Acquisition of Sterling Check for $2.2 Billion
First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) has completed its $2.2 billion acquisition of Sterling Check Corp., creating a combined entity with pro forma revenue of approximately $1.5 billion. The transaction is expected to deliver $50-70 million in run-rate synergies and immediate double-digit EPS accretion. The merger strengthens First Advantage's global reach and enhances its background screening, identity, and verification technology solutions across various industries. The combined company will focus on AI-driven automation and digital identification technologies while diversifying revenue across customer segments, industries, and geographies.
First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) ha completato la sua acquisizione da 2,2 miliardi di dollari di Sterling Check Corp., creando un'entità combinata con ricavi pro forma di circa 1,5 miliardi di dollari. Si prevede che la transazione genererà sinergie annuali di 50-70 milioni di dollari e un’immediata accrescimento a doppia cifra dell'EPS. La fusione rafforza la portata globale di First Advantage e migliora le sue soluzioni di screening dei background, identità e tecnologie di verifica in vari settori. La compagnia combinata si concentrerà su automazione guidata dall'IA e tecnologie di identificazione digitale, diversificando al contempo i ricavi tra segmenti di clientela, settori e geografie.
First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) ha completado su adquisición de 2.2 mil millones de dólares de Sterling Check Corp., creando una entidad combinada con ingresos pro forma de aproximadamente 1.5 mil millones de dólares. Se espera que la transacción genere sinergias anuales de 50-70 millones de dólares y una inmediata acumulación de dos dígitos en el EPS. La fusión fortalece el alcance global de First Advantage y mejora sus soluciones de verificación de antecedentes, identidad y tecnología en diversos sectores. La empresa combinada se centrará en la automatización impulsada por IA y tecnologías de identificación digital, diversificando al mismo tiempo sus ingresos entre segmentos de clientes, industrias y geografías.
퍼스트 어드밴티지 (NASDAQ:FA)는 22억 달러 규모의 스털링 체크 주식회사 인수를 완료하여 약 15억 달러의 프로 포르마 수익을 가진 결합된 기업을 창출했습니다. 이번 거래는 5000만에서 7000만 달러의 연간 시너지 효과를 제공하고 즉각적인 두 자릿수 EPS 성장률을 기대하고 있습니다. 이번 합병은 퍼스트 어드밴티지의 글로벌 범위를 강화하고 다양한 산업에서의 배경 심사, 신원 및 검증 기술 솔루션을 향상시킵니다. 결합된 회사는 AI 기반 자동화 및 디지털 신원 확인 기술에 중점을 두고 고객 세그먼트, 산업 및 지역에 걸쳐 수익을 다양화할 것입니다.
First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) a finalisé son acquisition de 2,2 milliards de dollars de Sterling Check Corp., créant une entité combinée avec des revenus pro forma d'environ 1,5 milliard de dollars. On s'attend à ce que la transaction génère 50 à 70 millions de dollars de synergies annuelles et une augmentation immédiate à deux chiffres du BPA. La fusion renforce la portée mondiale de First Advantage et améliore ses solutions de vérification des antécédents, d'identité et de technologie de vérification à travers divers secteurs. L'entreprise combinée se concentrera sur l'automatisation pilotée par l'IA et les technologies d'identification numérique, tout en diversifiant les revenus à travers les segments de clients, les industries et les géographies.
First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) hat seine Übernahme von Sterling Check Corp. für 2,2 Milliarden Dollar abgeschlossen und eine kombinierte Einheit mit einem pro forma Umsatz von etwa 1,5 Milliarden Dollar geschaffen. Es wird erwartet, dass die Transaktion Synergien von 50 bis 70 Millionen Dollar jährlich liefern und eine sofortige zweistellige EPS-Steigerung bewirken wird. Die Fusion stärkt die globale Reichweite von First Advantage und verbessert seine Lösungen für Hintergrundüberprüfungen, Identität und Verifizierungstechnologien in verschiedenen Branchen. Das kombinierte Unternehmen wird sich auf KI-gesteuerte Automatisierung und digitale Identifikationstechnologien konzentrieren und gleichzeitig die Einnahmen über Kundensegmente, Branchen und geografische Regionen diversifizieren.
- Transaction expected to deliver $50-70 million in run-rate synergies
- Immediate double-digit EPS accretion expected
- Combined pro forma revenue of $1.5 billion
- Greater revenue diversification across segments, reducing seasonality
- Enhanced operational efficiency through combined resources
- Assumption of Sterling's outstanding debt as part of $2.2B deal
- Need for balance sheet de-leveraging post-acquisition
- Integration execution risks across corporate cultures
Insights
This
The merger creates substantial operational leverage through vertical integration and geographic expansion. Cost synergies will likely come from technology infrastructure consolidation, reduced overhead and improved procurement efficiency. The diversified revenue streams across multiple sectors should reduce cyclical exposure and improve cash flow stability.
The focus on AI and digital identification technologies positions the combined company well in the evolving employment verification market. The transaction's valuation implies confidence in achieving synergy targets and technology-driven growth opportunities.
The strategic emphasis on AI-driven automation and digital identification technologies marks a pivotal shift in the background screening industry. This consolidation will accelerate technological innovation through increased R&D investment capacity and combined intellectual property. The mobile-first, data-driven approach aligns with current market demands for faster, more accurate screening processes.
The technology integration between both platforms presents both opportunities and challenges. While the combined tech stack will offer enhanced capabilities, the integration process typically requires 18-24 months for full optimization. The focus on customer experience and applicant interface modernization suggests a clear path to maintaining market leadership in digital screening solutions.
- Strengthens First Advantage’s global reach
- Extends First Advantage’s high-quality and cost-effective background screening, identity, and verification technology solutions for the benefit of both companies’ customers across industry verticals and geographies
- Enables increased investment in Artificial Intelligence and next-generation Digital Identification technologies for enhanced customer and applicant experience
ATLANTA, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA), a leading global provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Sterling Check Corp. (the “transaction”). Valued at
“We are thrilled to welcome Sterling’s talented team to First Advantage as we bring together our businesses and shared cultural attributes to meet the needs of our customers and deliver value for our shareholders. With a common focus on exceptional customer service and a commitment to delivering high-quality, cost-effective solutions, we will be able to enhance our value proposition by helping customers hire smarter, onboard faster, and protect their most important assets: people,” said Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer of First Advantage.
Staples continued, “The acquisition of Sterling positions First Advantage for long-term value creation, unlocking efficiencies and opportunities for additional growth and investment in new technology solutions, including AI-driven automation, while further diversifying our business for increased resilience. Looking forward, we are committed to facilitating a seamless integration of our corporate cultures, continuing to provide world-class solutions to our customers, quickly and effectively executing our synergy plans, and de-leveraging our balance sheet. We look forward to sharing additional details about our go-forward organizational structure and strategy during our upcoming third quarter 2024 earnings call.”
Acquisition Highlights
First Advantage and Sterling offer complementary technology solutions that enable employers across healthcare, retail & e-commerce, transportation, manufacturing, financial services, and other industries to mitigate risk and hire the best talent. First Advantage is dedicated to delivering excellent service and exceptional customer and applicant experiences that are mobile-first, highly intuitive, and data-driven. Customers will benefit from accelerated investment in innovation and access to a broader suite of products and solutions to meet their needs, fueling the growth of the combined company.
Building on pro forma combined revenue of approximately
For additional information regarding the transaction, please visit https://fast.fadv.com.
Advisors
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as lead financial advisor to First Advantage. Barclays Bank PLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Jefferies Finance LLC, RBC Capital Markets, Citizens Capital Markets, HSBC, KKR Capital Markets LLC, Stifel, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC also served as financial advisors to First Advantage. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as First Advantage’s legal counsel in the transaction.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citi acted as financial advisors to Sterling. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP served as Sterling’s legal counsel in the transaction.
Conference Call Details
First Advantage will discuss the Sterling acquisition in further detail during the Company’s upcoming third quarter 2024 earnings conference call on November 12, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-445-7795 (domestic) or 785-424-1699 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage third quarter 2024 earnings call or provide the conference code FA3Q24. The call will also be webcast live on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.fadv.com under the “News & Events” and then “Events & Presentations” section, where related presentation materials will be posted prior to the conference call. The webcast may be accessed directly at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4698641/CBB927EE7939B018AE38DEBC57EF3185.
Following the conference call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s investor relations website, https://investors.fadv.com.
About First Advantage
First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a leading global provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions. Enabled by its proprietary technology, First Advantage delivers innovative services and insights that help customers mitigate risk and hire the best talent: employees, contractors, contingent workers, tenants, and drivers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories. For more information about how to hire smarter and onboard faster with First Advantage, visit the Company’s website at https://fadv.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release and any documents referred to in this release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and it is intended that all forward-looking statements that First Advantage makes will be subject to the safe harbor protections created thereby. Forward-looking statements can be identified by forward-looking terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “projection,” “seek,” “should,” “will” or “would,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular, statements that address First Advantage’s future performance, business strategy, future operations, estimates and projections of revenues, losses, costs, expenses, returns, cash flow, and financial position, anticipated benefits of strategic transactions (including acquisitions and divestitures), and plans and objectives of management (including plans for future cash flow from operations), contained in this release or any documents referred to herein are forward-looking statements. These statements also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expected benefits of the transaction to First Advantage and its stockholders. First Advantage has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond First Advantage’s control. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, including but not limited to: (i) the effect of the transaction on First Advantage’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally, (ii) risks that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations of First Advantage and potential difficulties in Sterling employee retention as a result of the transaction, (iii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from First Advantage’s ongoing business operations while focusing on integration, (iv) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction, and (v) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against First Advantage or against Sterling related to the transaction. These and other important factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in Sterling’s and First Advantage’s filings with the SEC, including their respective Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which First Advantage operates, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Any forward-looking statement made in this release speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, First Advantage does not undertake any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release.
Investors:
Stephanie Gorman
Vice President, Investor Relations
Investors@fadv.com
(888) 314-9761
Media:
Mariah Mellor
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Mariah.Mellor@fadv.com
(888) 314-9761
FAQ
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