---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-24-054322"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001645070"
company_name: "Sterling Check Corp."
filed_at: "2024-03-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-05T05:36:14.921666+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Sterling Check to merge with First Advantage; $16.73 cash or 0.979 FA shares per share

## Summary
- Merger consideration: $16.73 per share cash or 0.979 shares of First Advantage common stock per Sterling share (prorated 72% cash/28% stock).
- Expected closing in Q3 2024; subject to regulatory approvals, HSR, foreign investment clearances, and other conditions.
- Stockholders holding ~52.8% of outstanding shares delivered written consent; no further stockholder vote required.
- Termination fees: Sterling pays $66.3M under certain circumstances; First Advantage pays $60M–$100M under specified conditions.
- Sterling CEO Josh Peirez to be offered a seat on First Advantage's board post-closing.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-24-054322
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001645070
- company_name: Sterling Check Corp.
- filed_at: 2024-03-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 5.07, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645070/000119312524054322/0001193125-24-054322-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645070/000119312524054322/d741706d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-054322
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-054322.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-054322.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  Sterling Check Corp. entered into Agreement and Plan of Merger with First Advantage Corporation valued at Merger consideration of $16.73 per share in cash or 0.979 shares of First Advantage common stock per (effective 2024-02-28).
  - Action: entry
  - Agreement: merger
  - Counterparty: First Advantage Corporation
  - Value: Merger consideration of $16.73 per share in cash or 0.979 shares of First Advantage common stock per
  - Effective: 2024-02-28
  source text: On February 28, 2024, Sterling Check Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Sterling”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with First Advantage Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“First Advantage”), and Starter Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of First Advantage (“Merger Sub”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645070/000119312524054322/0001193125-24-054322-index.htm

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