# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001210677
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-076740
**Filing Date:** 2026-2
**Character Count:** 551332
**Document Hash:** a5232beaa417f9d10ec2b50731f1fba4
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-076740.hdr.sgml**: 20260226

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-076740

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 10-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 116

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251231

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260226

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260226

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001210677
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** SERVICES-COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION [7374]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 06 Technology
- **EIN:** 843884690
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 10-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-31666
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26688350

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1 CONCOURSE PARKWAY NE, SUITE 200
- **STREET 2:** ATTN: BRET T. JARDINE, ESQ.
- **CITY:** ATLANTA
- **STATE:** GA
- **ZIP:** 30328
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 678-868-4151

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1 CONCOURSE PARKWAY NE, SUITE 200
- **STREET 2:** ATTN: BRET T. JARDINE, ESQ.
- **CITY:** ATLANTA
- **STATE:** GA
- **ZIP:** 30328

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? 10-K

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

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**FORM** 10-K

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**(Mark One)**

☒ **ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934** 

**For the fiscal year ended** **December 31,** 2025

**OR** 

☐ **TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO** 

**Commission File Number** 001-31666

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First Advantage Corporation

**(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)**

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Delaware | 84-3884690 |
| **(State or other jurisdiction of**<br>**incorporation or organization)** | **(I.R.S. Employer**<br>**Identification No.)** |
| 1 Concourse Parkway NE**,** Suite 200<br>Atlanta**,** GA | 30328 |
| **(Address of principal executive offices)** | **(Zip Code)** |

---

**Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (**678**)** 868-4151

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share<br> FA | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: **None**

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ NO ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Large accelerated filer | ☒  | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐  | Smaller reporting company | ☐ |
| Emerging growth company | ☐ |  |  |

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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of June 30, 2025, the aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $1,331,899,011 based on the last reported sales price of the common stock as reported on Nasdaq. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 20, 2026 was 174,319,117.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant's definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 are incorporated herein by reference in Part III.

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**Table of Contents**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Page** |
| **PART I** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1. | [<u>Business</u>](#item_1_business) | 6 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1A. | [<u>Risk Factors</u>](#item_1a_risk_factors) | 17 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1B. | [<u>Unresolved Staff Comments</u>](#item_1b_unresolved_staff_comments) | 37 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1C. | [<u>Cybersecurity</u>](#item_1c_cybersecurity) | 38 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 2. | [<u>Properties</u>](#item_2_properties) | 39 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 3. | [<u>Legal Proceedings</u>](#item_3_legal_proceedings) | 39 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 4. | [<u>Mine Safety Disclosures</u>](#item_4_mine_safety_disclosures) | 39 |
| **PART II** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 5. | [<u>Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities</u>](#item_5_market_for_registrants_common) | 40 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 6. | [<u>\[Reserved\]</u>](#item_6_selected_financial_data) | 41 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 7. | [<u>Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations</u>](#item_7_managements_discussion) | 42 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 7A. | [<u>Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk</u>](#item_7a_quantitative_and_qualitative) | 62 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 8. | [<u>Financial Statements and Supplementary Data</u>](#item_8_financial_statements) | 63 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9. | [<u>Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure</u>](#item_9_changes_in_and_disagreements) | 63 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9A. | [<u>Controls and Procedures</u>](#item_9a_controls_and_procedures) | 63 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9B. | [<u>Other Information</u>](#item_9b_other_information) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;64 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9C. | [<u>Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections</u>](#item_9c_disclosure_regarding_foreign_jur) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;64 |
| **PART III** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 10. | [<u>Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance</u>](#item_10_directors_executive_officers) | 66 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 11. | [<u>Executive Compensation</u>](#item_11_executive_compensation) | 66 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 12. | [<u>Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters</u>](#item_12_security_ownership) | 66 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 13. | [<u>Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence</u>](#item_13_certain_relationships) | 66 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 14. | [<u>Principal Accountant Fees and Services</u>](#item_14_principal_accounting_fees) | 66 |
| **PART IV** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 15. | [<u>Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules</u>](#item_15_exhibits_financial_statement) | 67 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 16. | [<u>Form 10-K Summary</u>](#item_16_form_10_k_summary) | 70 |

---

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**Glossary of Selected Terminology** 

The following terms are used in this Annual Report, unless otherwise noted or indicated by the context:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"Americas" in regards to our business, means the United States, Canada, and Latin America;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"Enterprise customer" means a customer who contribute $500,000 or more to our revenues in a calendar year;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"First Advantage," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our" mean the business of First Advantage Corporation and its subsidiaries;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"gross retention rate" for the current year is a percentage, where the numerator is prior year revenues less the revenue impact of lost accounts; the denominator is prior year revenues. We calculate the revenue impact of lost accounts as the difference between the customer's current year and prior year revenues for the months after which they are identified as lost. Therefore, the attrition impact of customers lost in the current year may be partially captured in both the current and following years' retention rates depending on what point during the year they are lost. Our retention rate does not factor in revenue impact, whether growth or decline, attributable to existing customers or the incremental revenue impact of new customers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"International" in regards to our business, means all geographical regions outside of the United States, Canada, and Latin America;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"Legacy First Advantage" refers to First Advantage Corporation and its subsidiaries, prior to the Sterling acquisition, encompassing its core business operations, established workforce, existing processes, and the technology systems in place;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"Sterling" refers to Sterling Check Corp., which became an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of First Advantage on October 31, 2024, and now operates as a separate reportable segment;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"Revenues attributable to the Company's acquisitions" means revenues recognized in the first year following each acquisition; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•"Silver Lake" means Silver Lake Group, L.L.C., together with its affiliates, successors, and assignees.

Certain monetary amounts, percentages, and other figures included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Annual Report") have been subject to rounding adjustments. Percentage amounts included in this Annual Report have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts in this Annual Report may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. Certain other amounts that appear in this Annual Report may not sum due to rounding.

**Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements**

This Annual Report contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources and other financial and operating information. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "seek," "foreseeable," the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases.

These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this Annual Report. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on them. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, investments or other strategic transactions we may make.

For additional information on these and other factors that could cause First Advantage's actual results to differ materially from expected results, please see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A. in this Annual Report, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report speak only as of the date of this Annual Report, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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**Summary Risk Factors** 

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in this Annual Report. You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties when investing in our common stock. The principal risks and uncertainties affecting our business include the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Macroeconomic factors beyond our control, including the state of the economy, could impact demand and the fulfillment costs for our products and solutions.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We operate in a highly regulated industry and are subject to numerous and evolving laws and regulations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Continued scrutiny of collection, use, and processing of personal data and data security could lead to increased restrictions, loss of revenue opportunity, greater costs of compliance, and lost efficiency.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We may not be able to identify and successfully implement our growth strategies on a timely basis or at all.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Social, ethical, and legal issues relating to the use of new and evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, in our offerings may result in reputational harm and liability.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Any damage to our reputation or our brand could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•To the extent our customers reduce their operations, downsize their screening programs, or otherwise demand fewer of our products and solutions, our business could be adversely impacted.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We operate in a penetrated and competitive market.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We rely on third-party data and service providers. If they are unable to deliver or perform as expected, our ability to operate effectively may be impaired, and our business may be materially and adversely affected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Sales to government entities and higher-tier contractors to governmental customers involve unique competitive, procurement, budget, administrative and contractual risks, any of which could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Due to the sensitive and privacy-driven nature of our products and solutions, we could face liability and legal or regulatory proceedings, which could be costly and time-consuming to defend and may not be fully covered by insurance.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our business, brand, and reputation may be harmed as a result of security breaches, cyber-attacks, employee or other internal misconduct, computer viruses, or the mishandling of personal data.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our international business exposes us to a number of risks.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Real or perceived errors, failures, or bugs in our products could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and growth prospects.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Failure to realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of Sterling Check Corp. ("Sterling") could adversely affect our business and the value of our common stock.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We may not be able to identify attractive acquisition targets and strategic partnerships or successfully complete such transactions.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Failure to comply with anti-corruption, economic and trade sanctions, and anti-money laundering laws and regulations could have an adverse effect on our business.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Disruptions at our Operation Centers of Excellence and other operational sites could adversely impact our business.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We are not guaranteed exclusivity or volumes in all of our contracts with our customers and our customers may experience major business changes that impact our current or future revenue streams.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Disruptions with our technology and network infrastructure, including our data centers, servers, and third-party cloud and internet providers, and our migration to the cloud, could have an adverse impact on our business.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•If we fail to continue to integrate our platforms and solutions with that of human resource software providers or if our relationships with human resource software providers deteriorate, our business could be adversely affected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We are subject to risks relating to public opinion, which may be magnified by incidents or adverse publicity concerning our industry or operations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We rely on third-party vendors to carry out certain portions of our operations. If they cannot deliver or perform as expected or if our relationships with them are terminated or otherwise change, our business operations and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our continued success depends in large part on the service of our key executives and our ability to find and retain qualified employees.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•If we are unable to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary information, or if we infringe, misappropriate or violate the intellectual property rights of others, the value of our brands and other intangible assets may be diminished, and our business may be adversely affected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•If we are unable to maintain, protect and enforce the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The use of open-source software in our applications may expose us to additional risks and harm our intellectual property rights.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Seasonality may cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our failure to comply with the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness, including as a result of events beyond our control, could result in an event of default that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Silver Lake controls us and its interests may conflict with yours in the future.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our stock price may be highly volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid or at all, and you could lose all or part of your investment as a result.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The interpretation of tax laws may have a material adverse effect on our business.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our implementation cycles can be lengthy and variable, depend upon factors outside our control, and could cause us unexpected delays in generating revenues or result in lower than anticipated revenues.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and prevent us from meeting our obligations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We will require a significant amount of cash to service our debt, and our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control, and any failure to meet our debt service obligations could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Our debt instruments restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or take certain actions.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•First Advantage Corporation is a holding company with no operations of its own and, as such, it depends on its subsidiaries for cash to fund all of its operations and expenses, including future dividend payments, if any.

**Trademarks, Service Marks, and Trade names**

We own a number of registered and common law trademarks and pending applications for trademark registrations in the United States and other countries, including, for example: First Advantage, Profile Advantage, Enterprise Advantage, Insight Advantage, Verified!, RightID, RoadReady, Sterling, Corporate Screening, among others. Unless otherwise indicated, all trademarks, trade names, and service marks appearing in this Annual Report are proprietary to us, our affiliates, and/or licensors. This Annual Report also contains trademarks, trade names, and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, trade names, and service marks referred to in this Annual Report may appear without the® and TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, trade names, and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other parties' trademarks, trade names, or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.

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**PART I**

**Item 1. Business.**

**Our Company**

First Advantage Corporation ("First Advantage" or the "Company") is a global software and data company. We provide comprehensive, end-to-end identity solutions, criminal background screening, credential verifications, drug and health screening, and continuous risk monitoring. Combining AI-powered proprietary technology platforms with proprietary data, primary source data, and third-party data, we help organizations hire with confidence and manage risk across the entire employee lifecycle.

We transform screening data into actionable intelligence—with benchmarking, insights, and continuous monitoring that help organizations make smarter workforce decisions.

With over 80,000 customers worldwide—including approximately two-thirds of the Fortune 100—we deliver fast, comprehensive, and reliable identity verification, screening, and monitoring solutions for employers, their candidates, and their employees. We conduct more than 200 million screens annually across over 200 countries and territories, supported by decades of experience and proprietary databases containing over 1 billion records.

Identity, trust, and the way people work are shifting faster than ever. Organizations face unprecedented challenges: generative artificial intelligence ("AI") and deepfake enabled identity-fraud, increasing regulatory complexity, borderless, distributed workforces, gig-based employment models, high churn and rapid role-switching, hybrid hiring, and social media risks. In this environment, identity can no longer be verified once; it must be actively understood, verified at multiple points in the employee lifecycle, and intelligently managed. First Advantage is well positioned to be a leader in this transformation, advancing the industry from fragmented, point-in-time checks to continuous, identity and background intelligence across the full employee lifecycle.

Our expertise and resources position us to grow market share by focusing on strategic industries and companies, increasing our share with existing customers, upselling and cross-selling products and solutions, and winning new customers. We engage multiple stakeholders within customer organizations, including Executive Management, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Compliance, Risk, Legal, Safety, and Vendor Management, who rely on our products and solutions.

Our verticalized go-to-market strategy delivers highly relevant products and solutions for targeted industry sectors, enabling us to build a diversified customer portfolio and effectively serve many of the largest, most sophisticated, and fastest-growing companies in the world. We have built a powerful, efficient customer-centric sales model, fueled by frequent customer engagement and deep subject-matter expertise in industry-specific compliance and regulatory requirements, which enables us to create meaningful, scalable products and solutions and drive consistent new business, upsell and cross-sell opportunities.

The combination of our deep market expertise from our sales and support teams with the flexibility of our proprietary technology platforms enables us to deliver industry-relevant, highly specialized solutions to our customers in a scalable manner, driving growth and differentiating us from our competitors. This has allowed us to develop a highly trusted brand and long-standing relationships with our customers, as evidenced by our high customer satisfaction scores, average over 13-year tenure of our top 100 customers, and gross retention rate of approximately 96% as of December 31, 2025.

Our technology is highly configurable, scalable, and extensible, integrating with more than 100 third-party Human Capital Management ("HCM") software platforms and Applicant Tracking Systems ("ATS") to provide visibility and input into our customers' human resources processes. Our AI-powered platforms deliver automated process outputs including anomaly detection, analytical insights, and continuous monitoring reports, transforming screening data into actionable insights and benchmarking capabilities. We leverage our proprietary internal databases, which include over 1 billion US criminal, education, and work history records as of December 31, 2025, and an extensive, highly curated network of thousands of automated, integrated primary source and third-party data providers. With approximately 90% of U.S. criminal screens completed in one day, we deliver fast turnaround times without sacrificing quality and compliance.

We remain focused on leveraging our deep industry expertise with advanced technologies to deliver comprehensive identity solutions, while driving exceptional customer value through continuous product innovation. Our roadmap is defined by perpetual evolution: introducing frequent updates and new features that anticipate and respond to customer needs and industry trends. Recent advancements include digital biometric identity verification with liveness detection, synthetic identity and deepfake detection, continuous criminal monitoring, mobile-first AI-enabled candidate experiences, AI-powered credential verifications (SmartHub), continuous driver monitoring (RoadReady), and instant oral drug testing. We combine cutting-edge technology with deep human insight to help organizations navigate an increasingly complex landscape. We are defining the future of identity at work and delivering the data, technology, and innovation that enable organizations to hire with confidence and manage risk at scale.

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**Our Market Opportunity**

The importance of human capital and the associated risks to brand, reputation, safety, and compliance are ever-increasing in today's interconnected, fast-paced environment. Along with broader sustainability considerations, these issues have become priorities at the highest executive and oversight levels of our customers worldwide. Key stakeholders, including executive leadership, boards of directors, external auditors, business owners, property managers, educators, volunteer organizations, and franchisors, all face a heightened level of public scrutiny and accountability. Significant technological and societal trends, including fraud and cyber-attacks, sexual harassment, workplace violence, regulatory compliance, and the pervasive influence of social media, are amplifying reputational risk and driving demand for employment background screening, digital identity solutions, and verification services. Our products and solutions are critical tools that companies rely on to support human capital management programs and maintain compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

We believe several key trends are creating significant growth opportunities and increasing demand for our products and solutions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Rise in Identity Fraud***: Employers are facing a rapid increase in identity-related fraud, including synthetic identities, altered credentials, and impersonation attempts throughout the hiring and onboarding process. The growth of remote hiring, easy access to forged digital documents, and increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes elevate the risk to employers. These dynamics are driving organizations to adopt more advanced identity verification, biometric authentication, and fraud-detection technologies. Providers like First Advantage, with scaled identity solutions and integrated verification workflows, are well positioned to help companies mitigate fraud risk, enhance trust in workforce decisions, and safeguard compliance across global hiring environments.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Heightened Regulatory and Compliance Scrutiny***: Businesses today operate under heightened scrutiny and must comply with an expanding and increasingly complex set of global, regional, and industry-specific regulations that vary by geography and use case. Examples include the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"), the United Kingdom Bribery Act, as well as a growing number of US state privacy laws. These evolving requirements governing the collection, delivery, and use of background checks are driving companies to implement more comprehensive screening processes and seek partners with the scale, technology, and compliance expertise to meet their needs. Our products and solutions embed compliance into workflows, support global privacy standards, and strengthen corporate governance by enhancing risk management practices.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Executive-Level Focus on Safety, Compliance and Reputation***: Screening, verifications, and compliance have evolved into mission-critical priorities for boards and executive leadership teams as companies seek to mitigate brand, legal, and operational risks associated with workforce decisions. High-profile incidents involving workplace misconduct, fraud, regulatory breaches have resulted in significant reputational harm, litigation, and negative media exposure. These events reinforce the essential role of our solutions in helping companies safeguard their brand, protect stakeholders, and maintain compliance. Increasingly, companies are investing in comprehensive screening, monitoring, and verification programs that address safety and social responsibility concerns while reinforcing trust and accountability across their operations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Elevated workforce mobility and voluntary employee churn****:* Generational and structural shifts have led to voluntary turnover, particularly among younger workers seeking better compensation, career advancement, and cultural alignment. Millennials and Gen-Z now represent a large share of the workforce and tend to exhibit greater job-switching behavior. The continued adoption of remote and hybrid work models reduces geographic constraints, expanding talent pools for employers and lowering switching costs for employees. These dynamics increase the need for fast, global, and efficient screening and identity verification services that providers of scale, like First Advantage, are well positioned to deliver.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Growth of Contingent and Flexible Workforces****:* Organizations are increasingly leveraging contingent labor—including freelancers, contractors, and gig workers—to address talent shortages and enhance workforce flexibility. As these individuals often access sensitive data or interact directly with customers, employers face heightened responsibility to rigorously screen, verify, and monitor contingent personnel. Demand for comprehensive solutions continues to rise as companies seek to maintain compliance, mitigate operational and reputational risk, and manage workforce complexity across diverse labor categories. Our integrated capabilities position us to help customers effectively manage and safeguard their contingent and flexible workforces, with solutions designed to meet evolving needs while maintaining compliance and mitigating risk across diverse workforce models.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Development of International Markets***: Background screening penetration remains low in many international geographies, with a significant portion of screens conducted by local providers. At the same time, global workforce trends, including increased cross-border hiring, remote work models, and heightened regulatory requirements, are driving multinational organizations to standardize and elevate human resources policies and compliance practices worldwide. Demand for technology-enabled, high-quality, and fully compliant screening solutions is accelerating as companies seek providers with the scale, expertise, and global reach to deliver consistent results across jurisdictions. These dynamics position First Advantage to capture significant growth opportunities in international markets.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Advances in Analytics to Increase Value of Data:*** The rapid growth of accessible, high-quality datasets, combined with advancements in AI and machine learning, is transforming the background screening industry. Companies increasingly seek integrated solutions that deliver insights and actionable analytics to improve hiring decisions and compliance outcomes. Many customers lack the internal resources to develop analytical and visualization tools, increasing the need for providers like First Advantage that offer cutting-edge integrated data analytics capabilities embedded with scalable technology.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Investment in Enterprise Software:*** As companies increasingly invest in enterprise software solutions, including next-generation software-as-a-service for HCM, we anticipate a rise in demand for screening, verification, and compliance solutions that can interface with these systems in an automated fashion. Our product suite is designed to provide a seamless applicant and user experience, delivering valuable insights through data analytics.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Growth in Post-Onboarding Solutions:*** Companies are expanding their screening programs beyond the traditional "one-and-done" pre-onboarding measures. Our investments in post-onboarding products and solutions, position us to capture share in this growing market, allowing organizations to mitigate ongoing risk effectively.

**Our Growth Strategy**

We intend to continue to grow our business profitably by pursuing the following strategies:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Continue to Win New Customers:*** We are focused on acquiring new customers across diverse industry verticals, particularly those with strong long-term growth prospects, such as e-commerce, essential retail, healthcare, transportation, and home delivery. In addition, we are expanding our reach into financial services and regulated industries that require deeper, more frequent checks, and advanced compliance standards. Our emphasis on Enterprise customers, those with complex global operations and durable growth profiles, continues to drive the highest demand for our solutions. We believe our integrated technology platforms, high-performing Sales and Customer Success teams, operational excellence, and industry-leading reputation, position us to successfully expand our customer base and market share.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Growth within Our Existing Customer Base through Upselling and Cross-selling:*** Our customers often begin their relationship with us by implementing a few core products and subsequently expand their usage of our solutions platform over time to build a more comprehensive approach to screening and risk management. We drive growth through upselling as customers extend our products and solutions to new divisions and geographies, increase screening depth, and adopt complementary pre- and post-onboarding offerings, such as continuous monitoring, social media screening, and advanced identity verification solutions. We also cross-sell risk mitigation and compliance solutions, such as hiring tax credits and fleet solutions. Our verticalized Customer Success teams work closely with our customers to develop robust compliance and risk management programs. We believe that the revenue opportunity within our existing customer base remains significant, supported by strong upsell and cross-sell momentum. We will continue to prioritize sales and marketing efforts aimed at increasing product penetration and expanding solution adoption across our existing customer base.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Continue to Innovate Our Product Offerings:*** We continue expanding our data-driven solutions and adjacent product capabilities, including investments in criminal and verification data products and identity solutions. Building on these capabilities, we are enhancing our identity product suite to provide verification at every stage of the employee lifecycle— from applicant screening to ongoing workforce monitoring. We are developing automation enabled solutions that extend our capabilities in biometric verification, fraud mitigation, and advanced data analytics, and we will continue to invest significantly in technology to sustain and advance our product leadership.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Grow Internationally:*** We are well-positioned to expand our global presence as multinational corporations increasingly seek to standardize and strengthen human resources policies and screening practices globally, while navigating a growing set of local requirements. Most enterprise customers do not currently utilize a single global provider and are actively evaluating opportunities to consolidate screening programs for consistency and efficiency. Our strategy focuses on capturing these opportunities by investing in localized compliance capabilities, multilingual platforms, and regional data partnerships to meet varying regulatory standards. These initiatives, combined with our scalable technology and global expertise, position us to accelerate adoption in international markets and deliver comprehensive risk management solutions worldwide.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Leverage Proprietary Data:*** With extensive industry experience, we have developed deep expertise in sourcing data from trusted providers, maintaining extensive historical datasets, and transforming information into actionable insights. We plan to continue investing in the development, enhancement, and acquisition of proprietary data assets to strengthen our core business and create new opportunities. These initiatives enable us to improve the speed and accuracy of our services, drive cost efficiencies, and create differentiated products that deliver greater value to our customers.

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**Our Product Suite**

First Advantage's comprehensive product suite enables our customers across industries to perform pre-onboarding screening and post-onboarding monitoring of employees, contractors, contingent workers, and drivers. We generally classify our products and solutions into three categories: pre-onboarding, post-onboarding, and adjacent products, each of which is enabled by our technology, proprietary internal databases, and data analytics capabilities.

***Pre-Onboarding***

We offer an extensive array of products and solutions that strengthen the applicant evaluation process, support compliance from initial data submission through onboarding, and promote workplace safety. Our technology is flexibly tailored to each customer's requirements, which could include a wide array of search categories such as Social Security number verification, education and employment verification, federal criminal checks, statewide criminal checks, country criminal checks, sex offender registry checks, and global sanctions checks. Our pre-onboarding products include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Criminal Background Checks:*** Utilizes our proprietary National Criminal Records File database, along with court and other public records, to help identify relevant matching and reportable criminal record histories.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Drug / Health Screening:*** Offers various drug screening products, including saliva, urine, hair, and blood testing options, physical exams, and instant oral drug screening products performed by mouth swab collection.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Identity Checks and Biometric Fraud Mitigation Tools:*** Includes government ID validation, liveness detection techniques, digital fingerprint collection, and identity and fraud mitigation tools. This suite includes telecom and device verification, identification document verification, facial recognition with biometric matching, Social Security number verification, and live video chat identification proofing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Extended Workforce Screening:*** Enables our customers to efficiently screen large numbers of contingent, contract, and temporary workers across various search types.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Education / Work History Verification:*** Verifies work history and education of applicants, leveraging our proprietary Verified! Database and SmartHub technology enabled by AI, internal fulfillment, and relationships with other data providers.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Driver Records and Compliance:*** Collection and storage of driver qualification files, as well as drug screening and background checks to assist with compliance with the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT"), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA"), Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"), International Fuel Tax Agreement ("IFTA"), and other regulatory agencies across the entire U.S.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Healthcare Credentials:*** Through our extensive Healthcare Exclusions Actions and Licensures ("HEAL") product, verifies and documents the educational background, training, experience, and other credentials of healthcare employees, contractors, volunteers, and vendors, including identifying exclusions and sanctions by medical boards, Medicaid and Medicare, the Office of Inspector General, and the General Services Administration.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***FBI Channeling***: As an approved Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") channeler, handles submissions of fingerprints to the FBI National Criminal Records database and returns Criminal Record Information from the FBI to authorized recipients, including through a secure connection to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and the Nationwide Multi-state Licensing System ("NMLS").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Executive Screening:*** Provides in-depth investigative reports to confirm various aspects of credentials not typically covered by most background checks, such as civil litigation and bankruptcies, negative media searches, controversies and inconsistencies in business dealings, corporate and regulatory history, and potential conflicts of interest.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Others:*** Includes screening products such as global sanctions, professional licenses and credentials verification, and social media checks.

***Post-Onboarding***

Companies face a heightened responsibility to ensure safety and comply with laws, regulations, and licensing requirements after the initial screening and onboarding of an applicant. To assist with those needs, we provide our customers with continuous monitoring and re-screening solutions that are important tools to help keep their end customers, workforces, and other stakeholders safe, productive, and compliant. Continuous monitoring solutions allow customers to be proactively alerted as soon as relevant information, which may require immediate attention and action, becomes available. Our post-onboarding solutions include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Criminal Records Monitoring:*** Provides background screening reports on an ongoing basis post-onboarding of any reportable criminal records of their employees, contractors, contingent workers, and drivers.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Motor Vehicle Records***: Provides customers with a streamlined process to establish an initial driver file and enroll drivers into the continuous monitoring program, which reports any driver records changes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***I-9 Verification:*** Enables our customers to simplify and manage the process of onboarding new hires by streamlining employment eligibility verification through the convenience of digital workflows.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Healthcare Sanctions:*** Our HEAL product provides ongoing healthcare-related compliance monitoring, which helps our customers comply with their obligations as employers of doctors, nurses, other employees, and vendors, reporting any changes in the status of required licenses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Global Sanctions and Licenses:*** Continuously monitors more than 2,500 source lists and searches a broad range of individual watchlists and key sanctions sources.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Social Media:*** Offers ongoing post-onboarding social media background screening reports tailored to a customer's specific criteria.

***Adjacent Products***

We also offer adjacent products that complement our pre-onboarding and post-onboarding products and solutions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Fleet and Vehicle Compliance:*** Comprehensive solutions for fleet managers to support compliance with various state and federal requirements, including licenses, titles, registrations, and gas taxes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Hiring Tax Credits and Incentives:*** Identifies and processes U.S. employment tax credits and economic incentive programs, including the Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit ("WOTC") program and other federal, state, and local incentives. Uses data collected from applicants during their background screen to increase quality and efficiency.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Investigative Research:*** Provides in-depth investigative reports, similar to our Executive Screening products, used in performing due diligence of investment managers and senior executives before a major investment commitment or M&A transaction.

Our suite of products is available individually or through packaged solutions configured and tailored according to our customers' needs. For example, through our RoadReady solution, we provide comprehensive driver and fleet solutions to assist with compliance and asset management. Our driver compliance products include pre-onboarding background checks, MVR checks, drug tests, driver file maintenance, and post-onboarding monitoring. Our asset management products related to vehicle compliance include title, registration, fuel and gas tax, permits, and transponder management, as well as ongoing data analytics.

**Our Differentiated Technology** 

Background screening involves complex workflows, disparate internal and external data sources, and numerous integrations with third-party software providers. We believe our differentiated technology provides a strong competitive advantage by delivering a seamless, unified experience for applicants and customers across our platforms. Our front-end technology, including our powerful UI/UX design, creates a superior applicant and customer experience, leveraging AI and machine learning to optimize workflows and minimize applicant data capture errors and missing information. Our back-end technology and processing engines seamlessly integrate interactions with customer HCM platforms and other software, government, and third-party data sources, as well as internal Operations and Customer Care teams. We have been, and will continue to be, pioneers in using automation and intelligent routing technologies to optimize turnaround times, quality, and touchless end-to-end screening. Our compliance functionality governs all aspects of our technology and is designed to meet ever-changing global regulatory and compliance requirements.

Our customers and their applicants access our technology through intuitive, easy-to-use user interfaces – Profile Advantage, Enterprise Advantage, Insight Advantage, Candidate Hub, Client Hub, and Analytics Hub.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Profile Advantage and Candidate Hub:*** Our applicant facing mobile-first, intuitive platforms that deliver a streamlined, frictionless applicant experience across the entire screening process, creating strong first impressions that drive higher job acceptance, satisfaction, and productivity. Accessible across desktop, tablet, and smartphone devices, in multiple languages and fully compliant with WCAG 2.1 standards, they enable applicants to easily submit information, upload secure documents, and complete e-signatures while tracking progress through integrated status updates, text notifications, and chatbot assistance. Their intelligent design customizes requested information based on the services ordered to eliminate unnecessary steps, while embedded AI and machine learning optimize workflows, reduce data entry errors, and prompt for missing information in real time, generating significant time savings for both applicants and customers. Recent enhancements such as biometric identity verification and InstantID with liveness detection strengthen fraud prevention and regulatory compliance, and automated workflows support jurisdiction-specific requirements and adverse action processes. Together, the platforms provide a modern, branded, and efficient experience that enhances engagement, accelerates time-to-hire, and reinforces employer identity during one of the earliest and most critical applicant touchpoints.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Enterprise Advantage and Screening Direct:*** Our core, proprietary global ordering and processing technologies—Enterprise Advantage and Screening Direct—centralize applicant orders and related data into a single, streamlined workflow that allows customers to place orders, manage tasks, monitor statuses, and review consumer reports with ease. Intuitive displays and collapsible search details support fast, clear interpretation of results, while the platforms' flexible, scalable designs deliver 99.9% uptime and support configurable permissions, role-based access, invitation and task workflows, package management, and adjudication rules. Both solutions integrate seamlessly with customers' business processes, third-party HCM and ATS systems, and external data sources, enabling users to create customized screening packages, manage screening criteria, and administer adverse action letters. Single sign-on functionality strengthens security, and the modular architecture allows new services and updates to be added seamlessly to maintain compliance with evolving regulatory standards. Together, Enterprise Advantage and Screening Direct provide a unified, secure, and highly scalable environment for managing complex global screening programs with efficiency and precision.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Insight Advantage and Analytics Hub:*** Our innovative, dynamic data visualization tools provide customers with advanced analytics, interactive dashboards, and near real-time reporting to understand the drivers of their screening programs and make informed, data-driven decisions. Insight Advantage and Analytics Hub deliver configurable analytics platforms that offer comprehensive, near real-time views of program performance through suites of intuitive, interactive dashboards. By leveraging each customer's unique applicant and screening data, the platforms generate actionable insights that help manage, streamline, and optimize screening workflows. With one-click access to program metrics, drill-down capabilities, and visibility into underlying data, customers can monitor key trends, enhance operational efficiency, and uncover program drivers with clarity. Both solutions also offer flexible customization, enabling users to tailor dashboards, conduct scenario analyses, and benchmark against peer-group metrics to identify leading practices and achieve better outcomes. Together, Insight Advantage and Analytics Hub empower customers to continuously refine and maximize the performance of their screening programs with accuracy, transparency, and precision.

We have designed our technology architecture for extensibility. We receive data directly from the applicant through Profile Advantage and from our customers through their third-party HCM and ATS software platforms. This data is supplemented by our proprietary internal databases and external data sources as we perform screenings and verifications. Our proprietary internal databases of over 1 billion records include our National Criminal Records File, which includes well over 900 million criminal records, and Verified!, our repository of approximately 135 million records, primarily consisting of prior employment and education verification records. These proprietary internal databases allow us to complete our processes quickly and cost-effectively, which accelerates the onboarding process for our customers and improves the applicant experience. We also obtain data directly from federal, state, and local government entities, laboratories and collection sites, credit bureaus, and education and work history verification providers, as well as from third-party, independent compilers of public records. Our API integrations, either through our Standard API or our REST API, allow for real-time, bidirectional, and secure data flows between us and our customers' software platforms and external data sources, creating a seamless and integrated screening process.

Background screening and verification requirements vary from customer to customer, depending on the size and geographic footprint of the business as well as the industry vertical in which the customer operates. For example, customers in the transportation, logistics, and home delivery industry may have screening requirements relating to transportation regulatory bodies, including the DOT, FMCSA, FAA, and IFTA, that customers in other industries do not require. In addition, the laws and regulations on the use of certain information vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are constantly evolving. We have designed our technology to be highly configurable, allowing us to provide our customers with tailored solutions that meet their specific needs.

Our flexible, scalable, and highly integrated technology, enhanced by our investments in automation and AI, has driven significant operational efficiencies and enabled us to achieve one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings among our competitors for quality, accuracy, and turnaround times. We will continue to innovate using agile software development methodologies, focusing on user-centered design, to bring leading products and solutions to the market.

**Our Customers**

We serve a diversified customer base with over 80,000 customers globally in 2025. Our customer base varies in size and industry, encompassing healthcare, transportation and logistics, retail and e-commerce, financial services, manufacturing and industrials, general staffing, technology, media and entertainment, hospitality, business and professional services, and gig economy. We have executed a concerted go-to-market strategy to target customers with large, complex workforces and have built a leading customer portfolio in this area as a result. Our customers operate in different industries across almost all facets of the global economy, with particular strength in sectors experiencing favorable secular trends such as e-commerce, retail, transportation, warehousing, and healthcare.

We have maintained a gross retention rate of approximately 96% in 2025 and achieved an average tenure of over 13 years among our top 100 customers. Our customer relationships are contractual in nature and typically have multiple-year terms. Certain contracts include exclusivity or primary provider terms and exclude termination for convenience clauses.

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For the year ended December 31, 2025, no customer accounted for 10% or more of our total revenues for that period. As of December 31, 2025, we performed screens across over 200 countries and territories, with a major presence in the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. Approximately 86% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025 was generated in the U.S., while the remaining 14% was generated abroad.

**Sales and Marketing**

We believe our integrated sales and marketing approach gives us a competitive advantage and enhances our ability to capture additional market share. Our unified go-to-market team is organized by industry verticals and global regions, allowing us to effectively target new accounts and identify additional opportunities within existing accounts. This structure helps to ensure our sales professionals are deeply knowledgeable about industry-specific screening requirements, and can deliver value-added, tailored solutions to both existing and prospective customers.

Our sales representatives are trained to adopt a consultative approach throughout the entire sales process, which includes discovery, demonstration, negotiation, and closing. By understanding the unique challenges faced by customers in diverse industries, they design pursuit strategies and propose solutions that meet our customers' specific needs. This customer-centric focus drives satisfaction, loyalty, and long-term retention.

The integration of our Customer Success professionals into the go-to-market team further strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional service. Organized by verticals and regions, these teams foster deep relationships with customers and build local expertise in compliance and screening standards. They maintain ongoing interactions with key customer users and program owners, conducting regular formal account reviews to help ensure high performance, satisfaction, and retention. Additionally, they organize customer advisory boards and events to gather product insights, drive innovation, and share best practices, which contributes to our industry-leading customer satisfaction scores and high retention rates.

Our relationships with HCM software providers remain a critical aspect of our sales and marketing strategy. Our technology is tightly integrated with major HCM and ATS platforms, offering greater speed and efficiency while enhancing the value of our solutions to our customers. Maintaining strong relationships with these third-party software providers is essential for generating new sales leads and providing market validation for our offerings.

We also employ a variety of marketing strategies to promote our products and solutions through both direct and indirect channels. Our marketing activities include traditional and online initiatives designed to generate sales leads, increase market awareness, and enhance the perception of our brand. We leverage referral partners, channel partnerships, digital advertising, search engine optimization, webinars, social media, thought leadership, and event-based marketing. Our participation in industry conferences and frequent publications in the industry press further bolster our visibility. Additionally, our annual customer conference, Collaborate, features presentations by subject matter experts and our customers on a wide range of industry topics, facilitating discussions and serving as a valuable resource on industry best practices. We believe we are able to capitalize on the network effects as we build goodwill through customer reviews and testimonials, word-of-mouth referrals, and references from other industry participants.

**Competition**

The global background screening and identity verification industry is highly fragmented and competitive, even as consolidation among larger firms increases. There are numerous local and single-country providers, but a limited number of multinational firms operating with the scale and reach necessary to serve diverse customer needs effectively. Our competitors vary based on customer size, industry vertical, geography, and product focus.

We compete with large players that offer broad capabilities and comprehensive product suites, as well as vertical-focused specialist firms targeting customers in select industries. Additionally, we face competition from mid-sized players and companies that serve small and medium-sized business ("SMB") customers. Some competitors are focused on specific pre- and post-onboarding product categories, including drug and health screening and executive screening services. In addition, we face competition from providers offering adjacent solutions such as fleet and vehicle compliance, hiring tax credits and incentives, employment eligibility verification, and investigative research.

The market for our products and solutions is subject to constant change, with numerous sources of competition and new entrants frequently emerging.

The principal competitive factors affecting our markets include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Reliability of Screening Results:*** The accuracy and dependability of the information we provide are critical to our customers' decision-making processes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Turnaround Time of Screening Results:*** Speed is essential in the hiring process, and our ability to deliver timely results is a key differentiator.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Product, Package, and Solution Pricing:*** Competitive pricing structures are vital for attracting and retaining customers.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Applicant and Enterprise User Experience:*** The ease of use, level of functionality, scalability, and efficiency of our solutions significantly impact customer satisfaction.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Breadth and Depth of Screening Solutions:*** A comprehensive suite of offerings allows us to meet diverse customer needs effectively.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Geographical Reach:*** Our ability to operate in multiple countries and territories enhances our value proposition to multinational customers.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Sales and Marketing Relationship History:*** Strong relationships with key decision-makers can influence purchasing decisions.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Compliance and Regulation:*** Our expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments is a competitive advantage.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Industry Vertical Support:*** Tailoring our solutions to meet the specific requirements of various industries enhances our appeal.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Technical and Systems Performance:*** The ability to integrate seamlessly with customer and third-party systems and applications is crucial for operational efficiency.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Data Protection:*** As data security becomes increasingly important, our commitment to protecting customer information is a significant competitive factor.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Analytics and Insights***: The ability to deliver actionable data for risk management is critical to our customers' decision making processes.

We believe we compete favorably based on these factors. However, our ability to remain competitive will depend on our continued performance in these areas. For additional information, see "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—We operate in a penetrated and competitive market."

**Government Regulations**

Due to the nature of our business, we are subject to significant and extensive U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations. These laws and regulations include national, international, state, and local cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, health, taxation, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, antitrust, enterprise credit reporting agencies and environmental, health and safety protection. Compliance with these laws and regulations is critical to our business, and we take commercially reasonable steps to meet legal and regulatory requirements and monitor changes globally.

Regulators worldwide continue to adopt or propose national, international, state, and local laws that regulate consumer protection, cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, and/or business credit reporting. These laws impact, among other things, the collection, use, disclosure, sale, transfer, receipt, storage, transmission, destruction, and other processing of personal data (collectively, "Processing"). The principal laws and regulations affecting our business include, but are not limited to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•FCRA, which regulates the use of consumer report information and governs the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of such information;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank Act"), which prohibits unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices with respect to consumer financial services practices;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which regulates the use of non-public personal financial information held by financial institutions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which restricts the public disclosure of patient information and applies indirectly to companies that provide services to healthcare-related businesses;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Drivers' Privacy Protection Act, which restricts the public disclosure, use, and resale of personal data contained in state department of motor vehicle records;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•U.K. Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework, which provides for a set of rules and standards for digital identity products;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Various U.S. federal, state, and local data protection and consumer reporting agency laws at the state level, state data breach laws, and state privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (as amended, the "CCPA") and the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•International data protection, data localization, and similar laws and regulations impacting our services and data suppliers, such as the U.K. and EU GDPR;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Oversight by regulatory authorities for engaging in consumer reporting, including the FTC and CFPB in the United States;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•SEC Cybersecurity Disclosure Rules, requiring public companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents and governance practices; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Emerging AI Governance Frameworks, addressing ethical use, transparency, and bias mitigation in AI-driven decision-making.

These laws and regulations, which are generally designed to protect individuals' privacy and prevent the misuse of personal data or unauthorized access to data, are complex, subject to ongoing changes in regulations and amendments, and inconsistent between jurisdictions. We proactively manage compliance with laws and regulations through the use of a number of resources, including our in-house legal and compliance department, external law firms, trade associations, and local suppliers and partners to understand the legal and regulatory requirements and practices that may impact the delivery of our products and solutions as well as our customers' use of the same in light of employment, privacy and other laws and regulations. Our Chief Legal Officer leads our legal and compliance functions. The compliance team consists of regional compliance officers operating globally, with local compliance officers reporting through that hierarchy. Through the legal and compliance functions, we train our team members with respect to compliance with laws and regulations as well as our policies and procedures, monitor changes to relevant material laws and regulations, and meet with regulators and legislators, as necessary and appropriate, to establish transparency of our operations and build trust.

Public concern over the processing of personal data, including Social Security numbers, financial information, and health data, remains high. Additional legislative or regulatory efforts in the United States and internationally could further regulate how we process personal data in the conduct of our business. For additional information, see the section titled "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—If regulatory regimes continue to heighten their scrutiny over personal data and data security, it could lead to increased restrictions, loss of revenue opportunity, greater costs of compliance, and lost efficiency" and "— Any damage to our reputation or our brand could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations."

**Intellectual Property**

Our success depends, in part, on developing, maintaining, protecting and enforcing our proprietary technology and intellectual property rights. We own and control various intellectual property rights, such as confidential information, trade secrets, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, and U.S. and foreign registrations and applications in the foregoing. We are licensed to use certain technology and other intellectual property rights owned and controlled by others, and certain third parties are licensed to use certain technology and other intellectual property rights owned and controlled by us.

Obtaining, maintaining, protecting and enforcing our intellectual property and proprietary rights is an important aspect of our business. We rely on a combination of statutory (e.g., copyright, trademark, trade secret, patent), contract, and liability safeguards (e.g., confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and contractors and nondisclosure agreements with our vendors) to protect our intellectual property in the United States, and other jurisdictions. We currently have patent and trademark applications pending in several jurisdictions. Filing these applications does not guarantee patents will be issued or that our trademark applications will proceed to registration without challenge, but may provide us with legal defense and allow us to pursue the protection of our intellectual property to the extent we believe it would be beneficial and cost-effective.

While we believe that our intellectual property, in the aggregate, is generally important to our business and operations, we do not regard any aspect of our business as being dependent upon any single patent, group of patents or other intellectual property right. However, the First Advantage name and related trade names, marks, and logos are of material importance to our business, and their loss could have a significant negative impact on us.

See the section titled "Risk Factors" for a more comprehensive description of risks related to our intellectual property and proprietary rights.

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**Seasonality**

We experience seasonality with respect to certain industries due to fluctuations in hiring volumes and other economic activity. For example, pre-onboarding revenues generated from our customers in the retail and transportation industries are historically highest during the months of October and November, leading up to the U.S. holiday season and lowest in December and at the beginning of the new year, following the U.S. holiday hiring season. Certain customers across various industries also historically increase their hiring throughout the second quarter of the year as winter concludes, and the school year ends, giving rise to student and graduate hiring, and increased commercial activity tied to outdoor activities. We expect that changes in consumer behavior, labor market conditions, technological innovation, and broader macroeconomic factors may impact future seasonality, but we are unable to predict these potential shifts and their impact to our business.

**Human Capital**

Attracting, developing, and retaining the best talent globally with the right skills is fundamental to our long-term success. As our business and strategy evolve, we continue to advance the capabilities of our workforce. Key elements of our human capital management strategy are outlined below, with additional information provided in our most recent Sustainability Impact Report available on our website (which is not incorporated by reference herein).

As of December 31, 2025, we had over 9,500 employees across 19 countries. We also engage third-party contractors where appropriate to support operational flexibility. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements, and no work stoppages have been experienced. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

***Global Code of Conduct and Ethics***

The quality of our products and operations affects our reputation, productivity, profitability, and market position. Our objective is to create a work environment that allows and encourages all employees to perform their duties in an efficient, effective manner. We have established a Global Code of Conduct and Ethics ("Code"). Compliance with the provisions of the Code is a condition of employment at First Advantage and reinforced through regular training.

***Equal Employment***

We strive for all of our employees to work in an environment where we are treated with dignity and respect. We are an equal opportunity employment employer and are committed to providing a workplace that is free of discrimination of all types from abusive, offensive, or harassing behavior. We are committed to creating such an environment because it brings out the full potential in each of our employees, which, in turn, contributes directly to our business success.

***Talent, Culture, and Inclusion***

Our people are central to our ability to execute our strategy and deliver value to customers and shareholders. Our talent approach centers on maintaining workforce capability, operational readiness, and leadership continuity. We invest in structured onboarding, role-based training, leadership development, and continuous learning initiatives that support employee effectiveness and adaptability at every level of the organization.

We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that values each individual and promotes equal opportunities for all employees. We continue to invest in our active Talent, Culture, and Inclusion programs through Employee Impact Groups, which offer employees opportunities to collaborate and expand their impact across multiple lines of business, supporting their professional growth. Additional initiatives include talent attraction strategies, mentoring and engagement opportunities, as well as a variety of development programs designed to identify and retain top talent.

We maintain open communication and transparency across the organization and utilize employee feedback mechanisms, including engagement surveys and listening sessions to inform enhancements to both the employee experience and organizational effectiveness. Our approach emphasizes fair talent practices, leadership awareness, and programs that support engagement and collaboration across the global workforce.

Inclusion efforts are integrated into our broader talent and leadership strategies, and we continue to prioritize alignment of our People and Culture processes with our organizational mission and values. These approaches align with our sustainability objectives, as engaged employees are crucial for driving innovation and fostering a collaborative culture.

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**Additional Information**

First Advantage Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in November 2019. We completed our initial public offering ("IPO") of our common stock in June 2021.

We use our websites (https://fadv.com/ and https://investors.fadv.com/) to distribute company information. We make available free of charge a variety of information for investors, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file that material with or furnish it to the SEC. The information we post on our websites may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor our websites, in addition to following our press releases, filings with the SEC, and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may opt in to automatically receive email alerts and other information about First Advantage when you enroll your email address by visiting the "Request Email Alerts" section of our investor website at https://investors.fadv.com/. The contents of our websites and social media channels are not, however, a part of this Annual Report.

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**Item 1A. Risk Factors.**

*You should carefully consider the following risk factors and all of the information contained in this Annual Report. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. The following risk factors have been organized by category for ease of use; however, many of the risks may have impacts in more than one category.*

**Risks Related to Our Business**

***Macroeconomic factors beyond our control, including the state of the economy, could impact demand and the fulfillment costs for our products and solutions.***

Macroeconomic developments such as the global or regional economic effects resulting from inflation and related economic curtailment initiatives, interest rate volatility, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, geopolitical unrest, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, global trade disputes, or the occurrence of similar events in other countries that lead to uncertainty or instability in economic, political, or market conditions could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and outlook.

International, regional, or domestic political unrest, terrorism, and other hostilities, as well as public health crises, and climate-related natural disasters, continue to create a climate of economic and political uncertainty that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, including our revenue growth and profitability.

Global credit and capital markets have experienced continued volatility and disruption due to the above factors. A substantial majority of our revenues are derived from pre-onboarding screening products, which is heavily influenced by hiring volumes. The businesses of some of our largest customers and their decision to hire depend in part on favorable macroeconomic conditions, including consumer spending, the general availability of credit, the level and volatility of interest rates, and inflation levels. To the extent these macroeconomic factors are at suboptimal levels, our existing and potential customers could delay or defer onboarding new or replacement workers, reduce the size of their workforce, or seek to decrease spending on their screening programs. As a result, our products could face reduced demand and our business, results of operations, and financial condition could slow or decline.

***We operate in a highly regulated industry and are subject to numerous and evolving laws and regulations.***

As a provider of technology-enabled screening and verifications solutions, we are subject to extensive and evolving international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including, without limitation, those governing consumer protection, privacy, and data protection. See "Business—Government Regulations" and "Continued scrutiny of collection, use, and processing of personal data and data security could lead to increased restrictions, loss of revenue opportunity, greater costs of compliance, and lost efficiency." We expect that these laws and regulations will continue to evolve, change, and expand and, in most instances, become more stringent and complex with time.

Compliance with these laws and regulations requires significant expense and resources, which could increase significantly as these laws and regulations evolve. Further, regulations are often the product of administrative interpretation and judicial construction, which could result in inconsistent implementation across jurisdictions. We must reconcile the many potential differences between the laws and regulations among the various domestic and international jurisdictions that may be involved in the provision of our solutions. Failure to identify, comply, and reconcile the many laws and regulations we are subject to could result in the imposition of penalties and fines, restrictions on our operations, breach of contract or indemnification claims against us, loss of revenues, reputational harm, and could otherwise adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Further, we acquired a company in 2013 that was subject to multiple FTC consent decrees that had been imposed on it in the years prior to our acquisition and to which we now remain subject. The consent decrees require us to comply with the FCRA and to maintain a comprehensive information security program to be audited biennially. Under these circumstances, failure to comply with the decrees and/or relevant law or regulations may subject us to increased risk.

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Changes in laws, regulations, and the interpretation of such laws and regulations on both the state and federal level could also affect certain of our businesses and result in restrictions on our ability to offer certain products and solutions. For example, several states and smaller local jurisdictions have implemented "fair chance" hiring laws or ordinances that limit or restrict employers from inquiring or using an applicant's criminal history to make employment decisions. In addition, under the FCRA in the United States, both our customers and we are required to comply with many requirements under the FCRA as well as state-level laws regarding the use and delivery of consumer reports. The enactment of new restrictive legislation and the requirements, restrictions, and limitations imposed by changing interpretations and court decisions on such laws and regulations could prevent our customers from using the full functionality of our products, which may reduce demand for our products and solutions. We could also be required to adapt our products to meet these evolving and complex requirements, such as adding or changing disclosures, authorizations, or forms provided to applicants. In addition, we believe it is critical for us to keep abreast of evolving laws and interpretations in applicable jurisdictions and inform our customers of changes to their ability to use our products and solutions and their and our obligations. These efforts require time, expense, and resources, and in some instances, reliance on third parties such as law firms and trade associations.

***Continued scrutiny of collection, use, and processing of personal data and data security could lead to increased restrictions, loss of revenue opportunity, greater costs of compliance, and lost efficiency.***

Our products and solutions are subject to various complex laws and regulations governing cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection on the federal, state, and local levels, and in foreign jurisdictions. The regulatory framework for privacy issues is rapidly evolving and is likely to remain uncertain and inconsistently enforced for the foreseeable future. Many federal, state, and foreign governmental bodies and agencies have adopted or are considering adopting laws and regulations regarding collecting, processing, handling, maintenance, storage, use, disclosure, sale, and transmission of personal and other sensitive information, including mandatory consumer notification should the unauthorized access of consumer information occur, and further expansion of requirements is possible. It is possible that these restrictions could limit our current or future service offerings, reduce our profitability, or otherwise materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct our business or to do so economically. Further, if our practices or products are perceived to violate applicable laws or regulations, we may be subject to increased scrutiny and public criticism, litigation, investigation, fines, and reputational harm, which could disrupt our business and expose us to liability. Given the nature of our business and the volume of data processed in the ordinary course of our operations, it is possible for breaches to occur, whether intentionally from hackers or other third parties, or unintentionally, for example, if we inadvertently send or otherwise make available information to an unauthorized recipient.

In the United States, we are subject to numerous federal and state laws governing the collection, processing, use, transmission, disclosure, and sale of personal data (which may also be referred to as personal information, personally identifiable information, and/or non-public personal information). For example, the California Consumer Privacy Rights Act ("CPRA"), which amended and expanded the CCPA, provides for enhanced consumer protections, a private right of action for certain data breaches, and imposes statutory damages and "reasonable" cybersecurity requirements. Other states also have or are in the process of imposing similar privacy obligations. In addition, laws such as the Biometric Information Privacy Act in Illinois have also restricted the collection and use of biometric information. These and other laws and regulations require us to continuously review our data processing practices and policies, may cause us to incur substantial costs with respect to compliance, and could require us to adapt our products and solutions, which may reduce their utility to our customers.

Outside of the United States, we are subject to foreign rules and regulations. For example, we are subject to enhanced compliance and operational requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), which expanded the scope of data protection in the European Union ("EU") to foreign companies who process the personal data of EU residents, imposed a strict data protection compliance regime with stringent penalties for noncompliance and included new rights for data subjects such as the "portability" of personal data. In particular, under the GDPR, fines of up to 20 million euros, or up to 4% of the annual global revenue of the noncompliant company, whichever is greater, could be imposed for violations of certain of the GDPR's requirements. If we were found to be in breach of the GDPR, or the UK's version of the GDPR, the potential penalties we might face could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Compliance with the GDPR requires time and expense and may require us to make changes to our business operations.

The effects of U.S. state, U.S. federal, local, and international laws and regulations that are currently in effect or that may go into effect in the future are significant and may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies, cease offering certain products and solutions, and incur substantial costs and potential liability in an effort to comply with such laws and regulations. Any actual or perceived failure to comply with these and other cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection laws and regulations could result in regulatory scrutiny or investigation and increased exposure to the risk of litigation or the imposition of consent orders, resolution agreements, requirements to take particular actions with respect to training, policies or other activities, and civil and criminal penalties, including fines, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Moreover, allegations of non-compliance, whether or not true, could be costly, time-consuming, and distracting to management and cause reputational harm.

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***We may not be able to identify and successfully implement our growth strategies on a timely basis or at all.***

We cannot guarantee that we will succeed in appropriately identifying and successfully executing our strategic plans to grow our businesses, and our inability to do so may be the result of external factors beyond our control. Our ability to grow our business will depend, in large part, on our ability to further penetrate existing markets, attract new customers, increase engagement by existing

customers, expand internationally, and invest effectively in faster-growing industry verticals. The success of new or enhanced products or solutions depends on several factors, including the timely completion, introduction, and market acceptance of enhanced or new products and solutions, adaptation to new industry standards and technological changes, the ability to maintain and to develop relationships with third parties, and the ability to attract, retain, and effectively train sales and marketing personnel. Our growth could be limited if we fail to innovate or adapt to market trends, emerging technologies, customer expectations, and product innovations adequately. Any new products and solutions we develop or acquire may not be introduced in a timely or cost-effective manner and may not achieve the market acceptance necessary to generate significant revenues, and any new markets in which we attempt to sell our products and solutions, including new countries or regions, may not be receptive or implementation may be delayed. Our future growth will be adversely affected if we do not identify and invest in faster-growing industry verticals. In addition, any expansion into new markets will require an investment in the continuous monitoring of local laws and regulations, which increases our costs and the risk of the products or service failing to comply with such local laws or regulations. We may also incur costs associated with such plans that are above anticipated amounts.

To manage growth effectively, we will also need to maintain appropriate staffing levels and update our operating, financial and other systems, procedures, and controls accordingly. Our efforts to grow our business and execute our business strategy may place significant demands on and strain our personnel and organizational structure, including our management, staff, and information systems. If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

***Social, ethical, and legal issues relating to the use of new and evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, in our offerings may result in reputational harm and liability.*** 

We are increasingly building artificial intelligence and machine learning into many of our offerings and utilize data gathered from various sources in our services to train our machine-learning models. Regulatory and policy focus on AI has intensified globally, with emerging frameworks in the U.S., EU, and U.K. addressing transparency, bias mitigation, and ethical use of algorithms. Compliance with these frameworks may require additional investment in research and development, governance controls, and auditing processes, diverting resources from other initiatives. As with many cutting-edge innovations, artificial intelligence and machine learning present new risks and challenges, and existing laws and regulations may apply to us in new ways, the nature and extent of which are difficult to predict. The continuous development, maintenance and operation of our machine-learning models is expensive and complex, and may involve unforeseen difficulties including material performance problems, and undetected defects or errors with new machine-learning or other artificial intelligence capabilities. Some of those difficulties could arise from undetected or uncorrected inaccuracies or unrepresentative tendencies in the data. We may encounter technical obstacles, and it is possible that we may discover additional problems that prevent our machine-learning models from operating properly. If our AI-driven solutions fail to function as intended, we may experience incorrect background check results, extended processing times, or service disruptions, leading to customer dissatisfaction and potential liability. Furthermore, competitors or other third parties may adopt and integrate AI into their products and operations more rapidly or effectively than we do, potentially diminishing our competitive position and negatively impacting our operating results.

Additionally, public confidence in AI remains sensitive to ethical concerns. Growing scrutiny over algorithmic fairness, privacy, and transparency could slow adoption of AI-based solutions and require us to implement additional safeguards, disclosures, and compliance measures. Failure to adequately address these ethical, social, and legal issues that may arise with such use cases could negatively affect the adoption of our solutions and subject us to reputational harm, regulatory action, or legal liability, which may harm our financial condition and operating results.

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***Any damage to our reputation or our brand could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.***

Developing, protecting, and maintaining our strong reputation among customers, applicants, and third-party partners and vendors is critical to our success. The importance of our brand may increase if competitors offer more products similar to ours or if more competitors enter the market. Our brand may suffer if our service quality declines or if our customer initiatives are not successful. Additionally, the successful protection and maintenance of our brand will depend on our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, and enforce trademarks and other intellectual property protection for our brand. If we fail to successfully promote, protect, and maintain our brand, we may lose our existing customers to our competitors or be unable to attract new customers.

The expansion of our technology platforms through recent acquisitions has increased the visibility and complexity of our brand portfolio. Protecting and maintaining these brands requires effective intellectual property management, including securing and enforcing trademark rights globally. Failure to do so could result in loss of brand identity, market confusion, and diminished competitive positioning.

The value of our intellectual property and other proprietary rights associated with our brand could diminish if others assert rights in or ownership of trademarks or service marks that are similar to our trademarks or service marks. Our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. Opposition or cancellation proceedings may be filed against our trademarks, which may not survive such proceedings. We may be unable to prevent competitors or other third parties from acquiring or using trademarks or service marks that are similar to, infringe upon, misappropriate, dilute, or otherwise violate or diminish the value of our trademarks and service marks, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to market confusion. Damage to our reputation or our brand or loss of confidence in our products and solutions could result in decreased demand for our products and solutions, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

***To the extent our customers reduce their operations, downsize their screening programs, or otherwise demand fewer of our products and solutions, our business could be adversely impacted.***

Demand for our products and solutions is subject to our customers' continual evaluation of their need for our products and solutions and is impacted by several factors, including their hiring volumes, workforce strategies, changing regulatory landscape, and budget priorities. Demand for our offerings is also dependent on the size of our customers' operations. Our customers could reduce their operations for a variety of reasons, including economic uncertainty, cost-containment measures, workforce automation and adoption of AI-driven hiring tools, divestitures and spin-offs, business model disruption, or poor financial performance. Demand for drug screenings may decline as a result of evolving U.S. drug laws. For example, the legalization of cannabis in several U.S. states has led to a decrease in orders for marijuana screenings. Our revenues may be significantly reduced should our customers decide to downsize their screening programs or take such programs in-house.

***We operate in a penetrated and competitive market.***

The global market for our screening, verifications, and adjacent products remains fragmented and competitive, even as consolidation among larger firms increases. Our competitors vary based on their targeted customer size, industry vertical, geography, and product focus. We compete with large players with broad capabilities and product suites, vertical-focused specialist firms that target customers operating in select industries, mid-size players, and competitors that serve SMB customers. Some competitors are focused on specific pre- and post-onboarding product categories, including drug and health screening and executive screening services. In addition, we face competition from providers offering adjacent solutions such as fleet and vehicle compliance, hiring tax credits and incentives, employment eligibility verification, and investigative research.

New entrants to the market have in the past emerged, both as start-ups as well as participants in adjacent sectors such as applicant tracking systems and payroll processing companies that seek to integrate background screening into their onboarding products and solutions, and may emerge in the future, which would further increase competition. Additionally, our customers may also decide to insource work that has been traditionally outsourced to us.

In our competitive market environment, we primarily compete on the basis of brand reputation and awareness, accuracy, compliance expertise, turnaround time, user experience, and price. We must continue to innovate and ensure market acceptance of our products and solutions in order to maintain and grow our business and market share. We are continually subject to the risk that our competitors may develop products and technologies that are superior to ours or achieve greater market acceptance than ours. Continuing strong competition could result in increased pricing pressure, increased sales and marketing expenses, loss of customers, and greater investments in research and development, each of which could negatively impact our results of operations. The revenues of our competitors and the resources they have available vary depending on size, specialty, and geographic footprint. Some competitors may be able to allocate resources more efficiently than we can or anticipate and respond to existing and emerging market trends, customer preferences, and technologies due to their size and resources. If we fail to compete successfully, our business, financial position, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

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***We rely on third-party data and service providers. If they are unable to deliver or perform as expected, our ability to operate effectively may be impaired, and our business may be materially and adversely affected.***

We rely extensively on data, information, and services provided by or derived from a variety of external sources, including our suppliers, customers, strategic partners, public filings, credit bureaus, publicly available information, and government authorities. Our suppliers could at any point decline to continue providing data or provide untimely or inaccurate data. These data sources have in the past increased the costs for their services, and we expect they will continue to do so from time to time. It may not be possible for us to recover any or all of the costs of any increases in fees by passing such costs along to our customers. If we try to do so, it could have a negative impact on customer relationships. In addition, the increase in such costs could cause our customers to choose to forgo certain services, thereby reducing demand for our products and solutions. Our suppliers could also request or require us to enter into minimum order contracts with clawback enforcement provisions. Some suppliers, such as certain criminal data suppliers and drug testing laboratories and collection sites we use, are also owned or may in the future be acquired by one or more of our competitors, which could make us especially vulnerable to unforeseen price increases or outright declinations to continue our relationships. Because our agreements with third-party data providers are generally non-exclusive, we are subject to the risk they may choose to enter into an exclusive arrangement with one of our competitors or maintain an exclusive proprietary database that is not shared with us. These risks could be exacerbated if our customers request we engage with a particular provider for their orders. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to identify and engage replacement providers on acceptable terms or obtain data from alternative sources in the event our suppliers are no longer able or are unwilling to provide us with certain data or services. If we were to lose access to external data or if our access or use were restricted or were to become less economical or desirable, our ability to timely complete requested services and products at a level of quality acceptable to our customers could be negatively impacted, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Data collection and verification by screening providers is dependent on access to databases run by government and law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, state, and federal courthouses, and records systems. If we were to lose or face diminished access to one or more of these data sources, or if government personnel were unable or unwilling to access these data sources on our behalf, our operations could be negatively impacted, and our sales could suffer. Such interruptions could result from government shutdowns or slowdowns, changing laws and regulations, or natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods. The inability to access or a delay in accessing essential information could result in lengthened and unsatisfactory turnaround times or our inability to offer certain of our products and solutions.

***Sales to government entities and higher-tier contractors to governmental customers involve unique competitive, procurement, budget, administrative and contractual risks, any of which could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.***

We derive a portion of our revenues from sales to U.S. federal, state and local governmental and education customers and higher-tier contractors to governmental customers. Doing business with government entities and their higher-tier contractors presents a variety of risks in addition to those involved in sales to other customers. The procurement process for governments and their agencies is highly competitive, can be time-consuming, requires us to incur significant up-front time and expense, and subjects us to additional compliance risks and costs, without any assurance that we will win a contract. In certain jurisdictions, our ability to win business may be constrained by political and other factors unrelated to our competitive position in the market. Demand for our products and services may be affected by public sector budgetary cycles and changes in funding, including reduced, delayed, or unavailable funding or changed spending priorities in any given fiscal cycle, and extended federal government shutdowns, any of which could materially adversely affect demand for our products and services and could impact our ongoing government contracts if government funding for such projects is reduced or eliminated.

We must comply with laws and regulations relating to government contracts, which affect how we do business with our customers and may result in additional costs to our business. Any failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including as a result of misconduct by employees, subcontractors, agents, suppliers, business partners and others working on our behalf, could result in contract termination, damage to our reputation, price or fee reductions or suspension or debarment from contracting with the government, each of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Significant laws and regulations that affect sales to government entities and higher-tier contractors to governmental customers include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the formation, administration and performance of government contracts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the federal Civil False Claims Act (and similar state and local false claims acts), which provides for substantial civil penalties for violations, including for submission of or causing the submission of a false or fraudulent claim to the U.S. government for payment or approval; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding procurement integrity, including gratuity, bribery and anti-corruption requirements, as well as limitations on political contributions and lobbying.

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Further, entities providing services to governments are required to comply with a variety of complex laws, regulations and contractual provisions relating to the formation, administration, or performance of government contracts that give public sector customers substantial rights and remedies, many of which are not typically found in commercial contracts. These may include rights with respect to price protection, the accuracy of information provided to the government, contractor compliance with supplier equal opportunity, socioeconomic and affirmative action policies and reporting requirements and other terms that are particular to government contracts. Federal, state and local governments routinely investigate and audit contractors for compliance with these requirements, and the qui tam provisions of the federal Civil False Claims Act (and similar state and local false claims acts) authorize a private person to file civil actions on behalf of the federal and state governments and retain a share of any recovery, which can include treble damages and civil penalties. If it is determined that we have failed to comply with these requirements, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, costs associated with the triggering of price reduction clauses, fines and suspension or debarment from future government business, and we may suffer reputational damage. Further, the negative publicity that could arise from any such penalties, sanctions or findings could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and reduce our ability to compete for new contracts with both government and commercial customers.

In addition, governmental customers and higher-tier contractors may have contractual, statutory or regulatory rights to modify without our consent or terminate current contracts with us for convenience (for any reason or no reason) or due to a default. If a contract is terminated for convenience, we may only be able to collect fees for products or services delivered prior to termination and settlement expenses. If a contract is terminated due to a default, we may be liable for excess costs incurred by the customer for procuring alternative products or services or be precluded from doing further business with government entities. Governmental customers and higher-tier contractors may also have broad intellectual property rights in products and data developed under our contracts. Compliance with complex regulations and contracting provisions in a variety of jurisdictions can be expensive and consume significant management resources. In addition, government entities may revise existing contract rules and regulations or adopt new contract rules and regulations at any time. Any of these changes could impair our ability to obtain new contracts or renew contracts under which we currently perform when those contracts are eligible for re-competition.

***Due to the sensitive and privacy-driven nature of our products and solutions, we could face liability and legal or regulatory proceedings, which could be costly and time-consuming to defend and may not be fully covered by insurance.***

The nature of the products and solutions we provide and the information and data collected, processed, transmitted, disclosed, used, and reported by us (including personal information, confidential information, and other sensitive and/or regulated information) subjects us to potential liability from customers, consumers, data subjects, third parties, and government authorities relating to claims of legal or regulatory non-compliance, defamation, invasion of privacy, false light, negligence, intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or other violation and/or other related causes of action.

Such liability may depend on actions or events beyond our control, such as how our customers use the information we provide or the veracity of the data we are provided by third parties. For example, we may from time to time be subject to legal claims by applicants for allegedly failing to comply with the FCRA in relation to issues regarding the accuracy of our reports. Likewise, our customers may seek indemnification for losses allegedly caused by negligent hiring or retention by asserting our reports failed to disclose information that would have resulted in an adverse employment decision had it been reported or if we improperly interpret a customer's custom processing instructions. Such lawsuits and other proceedings could divert resources from our management and potentially subject us to equitable remedies. In addition, punitive damages are available as a remedy under the FCRA, which we are subject to and are generally not covered by insurance. We may also face adverse publicity in connection with such incidents, which could have a negative effect on our reputation and business.

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***Our business, brand, and reputation may be harmed as a result of security breaches, cyber-attacks, employee or other internal misconduct, computer viruses, or the mishandling of personal data.***

Our products entail the collection, use, processing, disclosure, storage, and transmission of personal information, confidential information, and other sensitive and/or regulated information of individuals, including personal data.

In general, we utilize encryption and other technologies designed to provide system security for the transmission of confidential or personal data. There is no assurance that our use of applications and other technologies designed for data security, or that of our third-party vendors and service providers, will effectively counter security risks from hackers, computer viruses, and/or other intrusions or incidents. If one of more of our or our vendors' facilities, computer networks, or databases were to experience a security breach, we could face a risk of loss of, or unauthorized access to and use of, personal data, confidential information, and other sensitive and/or regulated data, which could harm our business and reputation and result in a loss of customers or the imposition of fines or other penalties by governmental agencies, in addition to potential legal claims by our customers and their applicants and employees. Although we have put in place a number of controls and automated redundancies, our protocols and processes can also be violated due to human error, including as a result of phishing and other attempts by others to fraudulently induce the improper disclosure of sensitive information.

The techniques utilized and planned by hackers, bad actors, and other unauthorized entrants are varied and constantly evolving and may not be detected until a breach has occurred. As a result, despite our efforts, it may be difficult or impossible for us to implement measures that fully prevent such attacks or react in a timely manner. Unauthorized parties may in the future attempt to gain access to our systems or facilities through various means, including, among others, hacking into our or our customers' or their applicants' systems or facilities, or attempting to fraudulently induce our employees, consumers or others into disclosing usernames, passwords, or other sensitive information, which may, in turn, be used to access our information technology systems and gain access to our data or other confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information. Such efforts may be state-sponsored and supported by significant financial and technological resources, making them even more difficult to detect and prevent.

Further, certain of our employees have access to sensitive information about the applicants whom we perform background screenings and verifications on. In addition, certain of our third-party service providers and vendors have access to limited portions of our IT systems and may also be subject to such attempts, which then can be used to attempt to infiltrate our systems. Because we cannot control our vendors or the processing of data by our vendors, other than through our contractual relationships, our ability to monitor our vendors' data security may be very limited such that we cannot ensure the integrity or security of measures they take to protect and prevent the loss of our or our consumers' data. As a result, we are subject to the risk that cyber-attacks on, or other security incidents affecting, our vendors may adversely affect our business even if an attack or breach does not directly impact our systems. It is also possible that security breaches sustained by, or other security incidents affecting, our competitors could result in negative publicity for our entire industry that indirectly harms our reputation and diminishes demand for our products and solutions.

Furthermore, international, federal and state regulators and many international, federal and state laws and regulations require notice of certain data security breaches that involve personal information, which, if applicable, could lead to widespread negative publicity, which may cause our customers to lose confidence in the effectiveness of our data security measures. In addition, we may incur significant costs and operational consequences in connection with investigating, mitigating, remediating, eliminating, and putting in place additional measures designed to prevent future actual or perceived security incidents, as well as in connection with complying with any notification or other obligations resulting from any security incidents.

Our insurance policies may not be adequate to reimburse us for losses caused by security breaches, and we may not be able to collect fully, if at all, under these insurance policies. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed available insurance coverage, or the occurrence of changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could adversely affect our business. Furthermore, we cannot be certain that insurance coverage will continue to be available on acceptable terms or at all, or that the insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim.

If we are unable to fully protect the security and privacy of our data and electronic transactions, or if we or our third-party service providers are unable to prevent any data security breach, incident, unauthorized access, and/or misuse of our information by our customers, employees, vendors, or hackers, it could result in significant liability (including litigation and regulatory actions and fines), lasting harm to our brand and reputation, and loss of existing customers and new business opportunities.

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***Our international business exposes us to a number of risks.***

We perform screenings and verifications internationally, including helping businesses screen their applicants with backgrounds that include international jurisdictions outside of the business' domestic base of operations. In 2025, we performed screens across over 200 countries and territories, and we seek to continue to expand our international operations. The laws and regulations governing our international operations are numerous, varied, and evolving. It may be difficult to correctly identify, interpret, and support compliance with these laws and regulations, and we cannot be certain we will avoid liability for noncompliance or improper compliance with such laws and regulations. Any such cost or liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. See "—We operate in a highly regulated industry and are subject to numerous and evolving laws and regulations" and "—If regulatory regimes continue to heighten their scrutiny over personal data and data security, it could lead to increased restrictions, loss of revenue opportunity, greater costs of compliance, and lost efficiency."

Because we generate a portion of our revenues and operating income outside of the United States, we are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates that could impact our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows. Such fluctuations could have a negative or positive impact on our revenues and results of operations in any given period, which may make it difficult to compare our operating results across different periods. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations may also adversely impact third-party vendors we rely on for services, which may be passed along to us in the form of price increases.

In addition, as a result of our international footprint, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be subject to factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•our ability to oversee and staff our international operations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•foreign exchange controls that might prevent us from repatriating cash to the United States;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•fluctuations in currency exchange rates and related impacts on customer demand and our operating results;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•unfavorable foreign tax rules;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•language and cultural differences;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•trade relations, political and economic instability, and international conflicts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•non-compliance with applicable currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations, or other similar regulations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•violations of the FCPA or similar anti-corruption laws by acts of agents and other intermediaries whom we have limited or no ability to control; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•sanction laws and regulations such as those by the U.S. Department of The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, that restrict our dealings with certain sanctioned countries, territories, individuals and entities; these laws and regulations are complex, frequently changing, and increasing in number, and may impose additional prohibitions or compliance obligations on our dealings in certain countries and territories, including sanctions imposed on Russia and certain Ukraine territories.

***Real or perceived errors, failures, or bugs in our products could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and growth prospects.***

Our products are complex, and therefore undetected errors, failures, bugs, or defects may be present in our products or occur in the future in our products, our technology, our software, or technology or software we license from third parties, including open-source software, especially when updates or new products are released. Such software and technology are used in IT environments with different operating systems, system management software, devices, databases, servers, storage, middleware, custom, and third-party applications and equipment and networking configurations, which may cause errors, failures, bugs, or defects in the IT environment into which such software and technology are deployed. This diversity increases the likelihood of errors, failures, bugs, or defects in those IT environments. Despite testing by us, real or perceived errors, failures, bugs, or defects may not be found until our customers use our products. Real or perceived errors, failures, bugs or defects in our products could result in negative publicity, loss of or delay in market acceptance of our products and harm to our brand, weakening of our competitive position, claims by customers for losses sustained by them or failure to meet the stated service level commitments in our customer agreements. In such an event, we may be required, or may choose, for customer relations or other reasons, to expend significant additional resources in order to help correct the problem. Any real or perceived errors, failures, bugs, or defects in our products could also impair our ability to attract new customers, retain existing customers or expand their use of our products, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

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Additionally, if customers fail to adequately deploy protection measures or updates to our products, customers and the public may incorrectly perceive that our products are especially susceptible to cyber-attacks. Real or perceived security breaches against our products could cause disruption or damage to our customers' networks or other negative consequences and could result in negative publicity to us, damage to our reputation, lead to other customer relations issues and adversely affect our revenue and results of operations. We may also be subject to liability claims for damages related to real or perceived errors, failures, bugs, or defects in our products. A material liability claim or other occurrence that harms our reputation or decreases market acceptance of our products may harm our business and results of operations. Finally, since some of our customers use our products for compliance reasons, any errors, failures, bugs, defects, disruptions in service, or other performance problems with our products may damage our customers' business and could hurt our reputation.

***Failure to realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of Sterling could adversely affect our business and the value of our common stock.***

Although we expect significant benefits to result from the acquisition of Sterling, there can be no assurance that we will realize any of them, or realize them within the anticipated timeframe. Achieving these benefits will depend, in part, on our ability to integrate Sterling's business successfully and efficiently. The integration process remains complex and time-consuming and involves challenges such as:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•preserving customer and other important relationships of Sterling and attracting new business and operational relationships;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•integrating financial forecasting and controls, procedures and reporting cycles;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•consolidating and integrating corporate, information technology, finance and administrative infrastructures;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•coordinating sales and marketing efforts to effectively position our capabilities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•coordinating and integrating operations in countries in which we have not previously operated; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•integrating employees and related human resource systems and benefits, maintaining employee morale and retaining key employees.

If we do not successfully manage these risks and the other challenges inherent in integrating an acquired business, then we may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Sterling in our anticipated timeframe or at all and our revenue, expenses, operating results, financial condition and stock price could be materially adversely affected. The successful integration of the Sterling business is requiring significant management attention and may divert it from our business and operational issues.

***We may not be able to identify attractive acquisition targets and strategic partnerships or successfully complete such transactions.***

Part of our strategy is to selectively pursue complementary acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Opportunities to grow our business through acquisitions, joint ventures, and other alliances may not be available to us in the future. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to identify attractive targets that are a strategic fit with our business or that we will be able to agree upon acceptable terms. Our ability to successfully identify and complete future acquisitions with reasonable valuations may also be affected by factors out of our control, including general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets, and other macroeconomic and geopolitical risks. Furthermore, a number of our competitors expand and diversify through acquisitions, and we likely will experience competition in our effort to execute our acquisition strategy. As a result, we may be unable to continue to make acquisitions or may be forced to pay more for the companies we are able to acquire.

We may not be able to integrate or manage acquired businesses, including Sterling, and strategic partnerships so as to produce returns that justify the investment. Integrating acquisitions or other business relationships, including the acquisition of Sterling, may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, disrupt our ongoing business, divert our resources, and require significant management attention that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development of our business. In particular, it may prove difficult to integrate the personnel, operations, intellectual property, and/or technology systems of any acquired organizations, and to maintain uniform standards, policies, and procedures across multiple platforms and locations, including for those located outside of the United States. This may result in a greater than anticipated increase in the transaction, remediation, and integration costs and could discourage us from pursuing acquisitions where the potential for such costs outweigh the perceived benefit. Further, although we conduct due diligence with respect to the business and operations of each of the companies we acquire, we may not identify all material facts concerning these acquired companies, including Sterling, which could result in unanticipated events or liabilities. We cannot guarantee that any acquisitions we pursue will be carried out on favorable terms or that the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, investment, or business relationship, including the acquisition of Sterling, will materialize as intended or that no unanticipated liabilities will arise.

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***Failure to comply with anti-corruption, economic and trade sanctions, and anti-money laundering laws and regulations could have an adverse effect on our business.***

We are subject to evolving anti-corruption laws, economic and trade sanctions, and anti-money laundering rules in several jurisdictions in which we operate, including the U.S. FCPA and the U.K. Bribery Act, and similar laws globally. The evolution of this regulatory regime has generally brought about more aggressive investigations and enforcement, which, if targeted towards us, could materially adversely impact our business. We have policies and procedures in place to assist us with monitoring the evolution of these laws and ensuring our ongoing compliance. We are continuously in the process of reviewing, upgrading, and enhancing these protocols. However, we cannot guarantee that our employees, consultants, or agents will not take actions that amount to a violation of these laws and regulations for which we may be ultimately responsible or that our policies and procedures will be adequate in protecting us from liability. Further, our services agreements with several customers contain contractual provisions mandating our ongoing compliance with applicable anti-corruption, economic, and trade sanctions or anti-money laundering laws or regulations. If we are deemed to be in violation of any such rules, our business activities could be restricted or terminated. In addition, we could face civil and criminal penalties, including fines, which could damage our reputation and customer relationships and materially impact our results of operations or financial condition.

***Disruptions at our Operation Centers of Excellence and other operational sites could adversely impact our business.***

Our Operation Centers of Excellence in Manila, Philippines, and in Bangalore and Mumbai, India provide critical support for our operations by processing screening requests, performing manual review of records and verifications work, handling certain customer calls and interactions, and completing certain internal shared service support functions. We also have other important operational sites, including Fishers, Indiana and Atlanta, Georgia. If our operations at our Operation Centers of Excellence or such other sites are disrupted, even for a brief period of time, whether due to malevolent acts, defects, computer viruses, climate change, natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires, hurricanes or floods, power or telecommunications failures, or other external events beyond our control, it could result in interruptions in service to our customers, damage to our reputation, harm to our customer relationships, and reduced revenues and profitability. In addition, strikes, wars, terrorism, and other geopolitical unrest could cause disruptions in our business and lead to interruptions, delays, or loss of critical data. We may not have sufficient protection or recovery plans in certain circumstances, such as a significant natural disaster, and our business interruption insurance may be insufficient to compensate us for losses that occur. In the case of such an event, customers could elect to terminate our relationship, delay or withhold payment to us, or even make claims against us.

***We are not guaranteed exclusivity or volumes in all of our contracts with our customers and our customers may experience major business changes that impact our current or future revenue streams.***

We maintain long-standing relationships with many of our customers; however, many of our customer contracts and services agreements do not typically require our customers to use our products exclusively or commit to minimum engagement or order volumes. As a result, we rely on our customers' continuing demand for our products and solutions, our technology, our value proposition, and our brand and reputation to compete. Our customers can stop doing business with us for any reason at any time with minimal notice and without penalty, and may leverage this flexibility to renegotiate arrangements on terms less favorable to us. The loss of a significant customer or any reduced demand for our products and solutions by our customers, particularly from large customers, would negatively impact our business. For the year ended December 31, 2025, no customer accounted for 10% or more of our revenues. We cannot guarantee that we will maintain relationships with any of our customers on acceptable terms or at all or retain, renew or expand upon our existing agreements. The failure to do so could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

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***Disruptions with our technology and network infrastructure, including our data centers, servers, and third-party cloud and internet providers, and our migration to the cloud, could have an adverse impact on our business.***

Our operating model depends on the efficient and unimpeded operation of our global technology and data processing systems. We currently operate data centers and servers around the world and rely on our third-party cloud providers to host certain of our websites, databases, and web-based services. Our property and business interruption insurance coverage may not be adequate to fully compensate us for losses that may occur. Severe impairment or total destruction of our data centers could occur, and recovery could be difficult and may not be possible at all. In the event of an accessibility outage or other incident at our data centers or with respect to our third-party cloud providers, our operations could be disrupted, data could be lost, and our systems or the quality of our products and solutions could be compromised. Such events could result in financial loss, reputation damage, potential liability, or customer loss, any of which could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Such outages may be impossible to predict, plan for, or avoid.

Because we rely on such third-party cloud providers, we are subject to risks that we can neither control nor mitigate, including their vulnerability to damage from climate change, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, acts of terrorism, power loss, telecommunications and other service failures, break-ins, human error, and similar events. Our current or future third-party cloud providers could decide to close their facilities without adequate notice or otherwise cease doing business with us. We cannot guarantee that our current or future third-party cloud providers will keep up with our increasing capacity needs or customer demand. In addition, our users depend on internet service providers, online service providers, and other website operators for access to our systems. These providers could experience outages, delays, and other difficulties due to system failures unrelated to our systems, events which are beyond our control, or mitigation. Any changes in service levels by our current or future third-party cloud providers could result in loss or damage to our stored information and result in operational delays. Any of these events could seriously harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

We are currently integrating certain of our software and our systems as a result of the Sterling Acquisition. This integration is complex and will require significant changes to our platforms. Scaling and adapting our technology will require a significant lead time and investment in financial and human capital. We cannot guarantee that this transition will be without operational interruptions or other forms of disruption, including loss of information, delayed turnaround times, and deficiencies in our design, implementation, or maintenance of the system. If we experience outages or interruptions in the products and solutions we provide for extended periods of time, our customers could face accessibility issues which would have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

***If we fail to continue to integrate our platforms and solutions with that of human resource software providers or if our relationships with human resource software providers deteriorate, our business could be adversely affected.***

We engage and integrate with many third-party human resource software providers, including applicant tracking systems and human capital management systems, to deliver an integrated solution that enables customers to easily perform both human resource functions and screenings and verifications through a core platform. This depends on our ability to seamlessly integrate our platforms and systems with those of the human resource software providers. If our engagement or arrangements with such providers are terminated for any reason, we risk losing the opportunity for continued integration with the software applications of these companies, which could jeopardize our ability to provide a seamless interface for our customers, result in service disruptions, errors, or delays, increase costs and reduce the quality of our products, and ultimately put us at a competitive disadvantage in retaining and acquiring customers. Further, if a provider updates its products without providing sufficient notice to us, there could be disruptions to the integration, which could result in errors, delays, interruptions, operational inefficiencies, and customer dissatisfaction.

In addition, these third-party human resource software providers are often sources of positive references when a customer is looking to make a purchase or contract renewal decision and may also be a source of new business referrals. If our relationships with these third parties were to deteriorate or if our arrangements with them were to expire, our business and our ability to win new customers and retain existing customers may be adversely affected.

***We are subject to risks relating to public opinion, which may be magnified by incidents or adverse publicity concerning our industry or operations.***

We operate in an industry that is highly sensitive to public perception, especially regarding cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection, and adverse developments with respect to our industry may also, by association, negatively impact our reputation. For example, when information services companies are involved in high-profile events involving data theft, these events could result in increased legal and regulatory scrutiny, adverse publicity, and potential litigation concerning the commercial use of such information for our industry in general. If there is a perception that the practices of our business or our industry constitute an invasion of privacy, our business and results of operations may be negatively impacted. There have been and may continue to be perception issues, social stigmas, and negative media attention regarding the collection, use, accuracy, correction, and sharing of personal data, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

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***We rely on third-party vendors to carry out certain portions of our operations. If they cannot deliver or perform as expected or if our relationships with them are terminated or otherwise change, our business operations and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.***

Our ability to deliver products and services to our customers effectively requires us to work with certain third-party vendors and service providers. For example, we engage third-party vendors to maintain and upgrade portions of our software and technology. In addition, from time to time and in certain geographic locations, we engage third-party support service providers depending on demand requirements on our operations and customer service call centers. Our business, therefore, depends on such third parties meeting our expectations and the expectations of our customers in timeliness, quality, and volume. We cannot guarantee our third-party providers will be able to do so on a cost-effective basis or at all due to a number of factors. Some of the third-party vendors that we rely on conduct operations outside of the United States, which subjects us to the risk that economic, political, and military events in foreign jurisdictions might cause an interruption to our operations. We may not be able to ensure that our third-party vendors perform in accordance with agreed-upon, regulated, and expected standards. We could be held accountable for their failure to do so, which may subject us to fines or other sanctions. If our third-party vendors do not meet our expectations and those of our customers, it could negatively affect our reputation, harm our relationships with existing customers, and hamper our ability to win new customers.

While we have entered into agreements with some of these third-party service providers, they have no obligation to renew their agreements with us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If any one of our third-party service provider's ability to perform their obligations is impaired, we may not be able to find an alternative supplier in a timely manner or on acceptable financial terms, which could result in operational interruptions and increased costs.

In addition, any shift in business strategy, corporate reorganization, or financial difficulties, such as bankruptcy faced by our third-party providers, may have negative effects on our ability to execute our business strategy.

Any termination of our agreements with, or disruption in the performance of, one or more of these third-party providers could result in operational disruptions and delayed turnaround times. This could adversely impact our relationships with our existing customers, reduce our ability to attract new customers, impact our ability to innovate and introduce new products and solutions, and result in an inability to meet our obligations or require us to seek alternative service providers on less favorable terms, any of which can adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

***Our continued success depends in large part on the service of our key executives and our ability to find and retain qualified employees.***

We depend to a large degree on the personal efforts, abilities, and performance of the members of our senior leadership team and other key personnel. Over the past several years, our management team has driven strategic and transformational initiatives across operations, product, engineering, and sales to accelerate growth and product development. Although we maintain employment contracts with certain of our officers, the possibility remains they may terminate their employment relationship with us at any time. If any of our key personnel were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, it may be difficult to replace them, and their departure could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our ability to grow our business and provide our customers with the products and solutions they have grown to expect from us is also dependent on our ability to attract and retain highly motivated and qualified people. Competition for skilled employees in our industry is intense and, if we are unable to attract and retain an able workforce, our business, results of operations, and financial condition may suffer. Any unplanned turnover or sustained labor shortage, or failure to attract, develop, and maintain a highly skilled and diverse workforce, including key capabilities such as product development, sales, customer success, and operations, can deplete our institutional knowledge base, erode our competitive advantage or result in increased costs due to increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover or increased employee benefit costs.

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***If we are unable to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary information, or if we infringe, misappropriate or violate the intellectual property rights of others, the value of our brands and other intangible assets may be diminished, and our business may be adversely affected.***

Our intellectual property rights and other proprietary rights are important to our business, and our ability to compete and our success depend, in part, on obtaining, maintaining, protecting, and enforcing such rights. In particular, the technology solutions we have created to deliver screening solutions, automate and integrate our platforms with third-party human capital management and applicant tracking systems, and gather and process information from various data sources and suppliers are critical to the success of our business. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws, as well as licensing agreements, intellectual property assignment agreements, third-party nondisclosure agreements, and other confidentiality agreements with our employees, customers, vendors, partners, and others to protect our intellectual property rights. These protections may not be adequate to prevent our competitors from copying our products and solutions or otherwise infringing on, misappropriating, or violating our intellectual property rights, and we may need to devote significant additional resources and time to ensure our intellectual property rights are adequately protected, including by bringing litigation against third parties to enforce our intellectual property rights. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in prevailing in any such matters, regardless of our expenditures and efforts. Our efforts to enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims, and countersuits attacking the validity and enforceability of our intellectual property and other proprietary rights, and if such defenses, counterclaims, or countersuits are successful, it could diminish or we could otherwise lose valuable intellectual property and other proprietary rights. In addition, some of the laws in foreign markets in which we operate do not protect intellectual property and other proprietary rights to the same level of protection as do the laws of the United States, and the mechanisms for enforcement of intellectual property and other proprietary rights in such countries may be inadequate.

In addition, our competitors and other third parties may also design around or independently develop similar technology or otherwise duplicate or mimic our products such that we would not be able to successfully assert our intellectual property or other proprietary rights against them. We cannot assure that any future patent, trademark, or service mark registrations will be issued for our pending or future applications or that any of our current or future patents, copyrights, trademarks, or service marks (whether registered or unregistered) will be valid, enforceable, sufficiently broad in scope, provide adequate protection of our intellectual property or other proprietary rights, or provide us with any competitive advantage.

Furthermore, we may also be subject to claims of intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, or violation by third parties, including our competitors. Even if we are unaware of such rights, we may be found by courts to be infringing upon, misappropriating, or violating them. If such claims are successfully asserted against us or if we decide to settle such matters, we could be required to pay substantial damages or ongoing royalty payments, obtain licenses, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, modify our products and solutions (including our applications), or discontinue certain products. We may also be obligated to indemnify applicants, customers, vendors, or partners in connection with any such claim or litigation. Even if we prevail in a dispute, any litigation regarding intellectual property could be costly, time-consuming, and require the deployment of significant resources, and could result in lasting harm being done to our brand and reputation, results of operations or financial condition, or have other adverse consequences.

***If we are unable to maintain, protect and enforce the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.***

In order to safeguard our innovations and maintain competitive advantages, we partially rely on trade secrets. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in maintaining, protecting, or enforcing the confidentiality of our trade secrets or that our non-disclosure agreements will provide sufficient protection of our trade secrets, know-how, or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation, or other disclosure. Although we have implemented measures to protect our trade secrets, including entering into confidentiality agreements with third parties and confidential information and inventions agreements with employees, consultants, and advisors, we cannot provide any assurances that any of these parties may not breach the agreements and disclose our proprietary information, including our trade secrets. For example, if a party to one of our non-disclosure agreements were to breach said agreement, we cannot guarantee that adequate remedies will be available to rectify any subsequent damages or losses of confidential and proprietary information. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, some courts inside and outside of the United States are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets. It is also possible that our trade secrets will become known by some other mechanism or independently developed by our competitors, and we would have no right to prevent them from using that technology or information to compete with us. For example, a significant portion of our proprietary databases is assembled from publicly available information sources, and third parties, including our competitors, could compile similar or competing databases by accessing the same publicly available information sources.

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***The use of open-source software in our applications may expose us to additional risks and harm our intellectual property rights.***

We have in the past incorporated, and may in the future continue to incorporate, certain "open-source" software into our codebase and our products and solutions. Open-source software is generally licensed by its authors or other third parties under open-source licenses, which typically do not provide any representations, warranties, or indemnity coverage by the licensor. Some of these licenses provide that combinations of open-source software with a licensee's proprietary software are subject to the open-source license and require that the combination be made available to third parties in source code form, at no cost, or subject to other unfavorable conditions. Some open-source licenses may also require the licensee to grant licenses under certain of its own intellectual property to third parties. From time to time, there have been claims challenging the ownership of open-source software against companies that incorporate such software into their products or applications. The terms of various open-source licenses have not been interpreted by courts, and there is a risk that such licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our use of open-source software or our proprietary rights. In addition, if we were to combine our applications with open-source software in a certain manner, we could, under certain of the open-source licenses, be required to publicly release or license, at no cost, our products that incorporate the open-source software or the affected portions of our source code, which could allow our competitors or other third parties to create similar products and solutions with lower development effort, time, and costs, and could ultimately result in a loss of transaction volume for us. If we inappropriately use open-source software, we may be required to redesign our applications, seek licenses from third parties in order to continue offering our products, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, discontinue the sale of our products or solutions, or take other remedial actions, each of which could reduce or eliminate the value of our technologies and could adversely impact our business, operating results, or financial condition.

We cannot ensure that we have not incorporated open-source software in our software in a manner that is inconsistent with the terms of the applicable license or our current policies, and we may inadvertently use open source in a manner that we do not intend, or that could expose us to claims for breach of contract or intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, or other violation. If we fail to comply, or are alleged to have failed to comply, with the terms and conditions of our open-source licenses, we could be required to incur significant legal expenses defending such allegations, be subject to significant damages, be enjoined from the sale of our products and solutions, and be required to comply with onerous conditions or restrictions on our products and solutions, any of which could be materially disruptive to our business. Litigation could be costly for us to defend, have a negative effect on our operating results and financial condition, or require us to devote additional development resources to change our applications.

***Seasonality may cause our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter.***

We experience seasonality with respect to certain industries we service due to fluctuations in hiring volumes and other economic activity. For example, pre-onboarding revenues generated from our customers in the retail and transportation industries are historically highest during the months of October and November leading up to the U.S. holiday season and lowest in December and at the beginning of the new year, following the U.S. holiday hiring season. Certain customers across various industries also historically increase their hiring throughout the second quarter of the year as winter concludes, and the school year ends, giving rise to student and graduate hiring, and increased commercial activity tied to outdoor activities.

In addition, customers may elect to complete post-onboarding screening such as workforce re-screens and other products at different periods and intervals during any given year. It is not always possible to accurately forecast the timing and magnitude of these programs.

Further, changes in consumer behavior, labor market conditions, technological innovation, and broader macroeconomic factors can impact seasonality trends, making it difficult for us to predict how our seasonality may evolve in the future. As a result, it may be difficult to forecast our results of operations accurately, and there can be no assurance that the results of any particular quarter or other period will serve as an indication of our future performance.

***Our implementation cycles can be lengthy and variable, depend upon factors outside our control, and could cause us unexpected delays in generating revenues or result in lower than anticipated revenues.***

Unexpected delays and difficulties can occur as customers implement and test our products and solutions. Implementation typically involves integration with our customers' and third-party systems and internal processes, as well as adding customer and third-party data to our platforms. This can be complex and time-consuming for our customers and can result in delays. We provide our customers with upfront estimates regarding the duration and resources associated with the implementation of our products and solutions. However, delays may occur due to discoveries made during the implementation process, such as unique or unusual customer requirements or our internal limitations. If we are unable to resolve these issues and we fail to meet the upfront estimates and the expectations of our customers, it could result in customer dissatisfaction, loss of customers, delays in generating revenues, or negative brand perception about us and our products and solutions. Our implementation cycles could also be disrupted by factors outside of our control, such as deficiencies in the platform of our customers or third-party ATS or HCM systems, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

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***The interpretation of tax laws may have a material adverse effect on our business.***

Tax laws and related interpretations with respect to income taxation are frequently reviewed and amended by governmental authorities in the U.S. and other jurisdictions in which we operate. In 2023, we fully utilized our remaining U.S. federal income tax net operating loss carryforwards, other than those subject to significant limitation under IRC Section 382. As a result, beginning in 2024, income tax became a material use of funds. Our provision for income taxes and liquidity may be adversely affected by increases in statutory tax rates, implementation of global minimum tax rules under the OECD Pillar Two framework, evolving state and local tax regimes, and heightened enforcement activity. These changes, along with new state-level taxes and digital services tax proposals in certain foreign jurisdictions, may increase our effective tax rate and cash tax obligations. Additionally, changes to our operating model, shifts in the mix of income and expenses across countries with differing tax rates, foreign currency fluctuations, and changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities could materially affect our tax position. The timing and scope of future tax law changes remain uncertain, and any enacted changes could require us to modify our tax strategies, increase compliance costs, or result in higher tax liabilities. It is not possible to predict whether or when tax laws, regulations, and rulings may be enacted, issued, or amended, or the impact such changes may have on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

***Evolving expectations regarding sustainability matters may increase our operational and compliance burdens, expose us to reputational risk, and adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.***

Customers, employees, investors, regulators, community organizations, industry groups, and other stakeholders increasingly expect companies to adopt, disclose, and execute on a broad set of sustainability priorities. These expectations encompass sustainability practices, climate-related initiatives, human capital management, diversity, equity and inclusion, ethical business conduct, supply-chain responsibility, and increased transparency in public reporting. Stakeholder expectations in these areas continue to evolve rapidly and are often inconsistent or conflicting across stakeholder groups.

As we develop, communicate, and implement our sustainability-related initiatives, we may face challenges balancing these disparate priorities. For example, certain customers or investors may expect sustainability commitments or climate-related disclosure, while others may oppose such actions or express different priorities regarding workforce practices, social impact, or governance. Meeting the expectations of one group may create tension with another or require additional investments, operational changes, or modifications to our internal processes.

In addition, emerging and evolving regulatory frameworks—such as climate related reporting rules, state level emissions disclosure mandates, human capital transparency requirements, and supply chain diligence obligations—may require us to devote significant management attention and resources to compliance. These requirements differ by jurisdiction and may impose increased reporting burdens, new assurance or verification requirements, or expanded governance and oversight obligations.

Our sustainability related statements, goals, disclosures, and performance metrics also expose us to scrutiny, including allegations of "greenwashing" or "social washing," if such statements are viewed as incomplete, inaccurate, not sufficiently supported by data, or not aligned with stakeholder expectations. This scrutiny could result in reputational harm, media attention, customer dissatisfaction, employee engagement challenges, investor concern, or litigation and regulatory inquiry.

Furthermore, our ability to achieve sustainability related objectives may depend on factors outside of our control, including the performance of third party vendors, data availability, evolving industry standards, and changes in regulatory guidance. If we are unable to effectively navigate differing sustainability expectations, manage compliance obligations, communicate our strategies and progress transparently and consistently, meet stated goals, implement initiatives as planned, our reputation, competitive position, relationships with customers, employees, and other stakeholders, and ability to attract and retain customers, talent, and investors may be adversely affected. These factors, individually or in the aggregate, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

***Climate change may have a long-term impact on our business.***

While we seek to partner with organizations that mitigate their business risks associated with climate change, we recognize that there are inherent risks wherever business is conducted. Access to clean water and reliable energy in the communities where we conduct our business, whether for our offices or for our vendors, is a priority. Our major sites in the United States, India, and the Philippines are vulnerable to climate change effects. In addition, certain third-party vendors and cloud service providers that support our operations may also be located in regions susceptible to climate-related disruptions, increasing our indirect exposure. Climate-related events, including the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and their impact on the United States, India, the Philippines and other major regions' critical infrastructure, have the potential to disrupt our business, our third-party suppliers and/or the business of our customers, and may cause us to experience higher attrition, losses, and additional costs to maintain or resume operations. Further, emerging climate-related regulations and disclosure requirements may increase compliance costs and require additional investment in sustainability initiatives.

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**Risks Related to Our Indebtedness**

***Our failure to comply with the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness, including as a result of events beyond our control, could result in an event of default that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.***

If there were an event of default under any of the agreements relating to our outstanding debt, the holders of the defaulted debt could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and payable immediately. Our assets or cash flow may not be sufficient to fully repay borrowing under our outstanding debt instruments if accelerated upon an event of default. Further, if we are unable to repay, refinance or restructure our secured debt, the holders of such debt could proceed against the collateral securing such debt. In addition, any event of default or declaration of acceleration under one debt instrument could also result in an event of default under one or more of our other debt instruments. As a result, any default by us on our debt could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

***Our indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and prevent us from meeting our obligations.***

We have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2025, we had $2,114.5 million of total debt outstanding.

Our indebtedness increases the risk that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay amounts due in respect of our indebtedness. Our indebtedness could have other important consequences to us, including:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•increase our vulnerability to adverse changes in the general economy, industry, and competitive conditions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•require us to repatriate cash from our foreign subsidiaries to accommodate debt service payments;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•expose us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings, including borrowings under our term loan facility, are at variable rates, and we may not be able to enter into interest rate swaps, and any swaps we enter into may not fully mitigate our interest rate risk;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•restrict us from capitalizing on business opportunities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•make it more difficult to satisfy our financial obligations, including payments on our indebtedness;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•limit our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy, or other general corporate purposes.

In addition, the credit agreement governing our term loan facility and revolving credit facility contains, and the agreements governing future indebtedness may contain, restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness.

We receive debt ratings from major credit rating agencies in the U.S. Factors that may impact our credit ratings include debt levels, planned asset purchases or sales. Liquidity, asset quality, cost structure and pricing levels could also be considered by the rating agencies. Any downgrade in our credit ratings or the ratings of our indebtedness, or adverse conditions in the debt capital markets, could:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•adversely affect the trading price of, or market for, our debt securities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•increase interest expense under our term facilities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•increase the cost of, and adversely affect our ability to refinance, our existing debt; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•adversely affect our ability to raise additional debt.

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We may incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. Although the credit agreement governing our term loan facility and revolving credit facility contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness by us, such restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and the indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Also, these restrictions do not prohibit us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness as defined therein. To the extent that we incur additional indebtedness or such other obligations, the risk associated with our indebtedness described above will increase. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Long-Term Debt."

***We will require a significant amount of cash to service our debt, and our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control, and any failure to meet our debt service obligations could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.***

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness and to fund working capital needs and planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, business, legislative, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond our control.

If our business does not generate sufficient cash flow from operations or if future borrowings are not available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before the maturity thereof, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments or seek to raise additional capital, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we may not be able to effect any of these actions, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our ability to restructure or refinance our indebtedness will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. The terms of existing or future debt instruments, including the credit agreement governing our term loan facility and revolving credit facility, may limit or prevent us from taking any of these actions. In addition, any failure to make scheduled payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt service obligations, or to refinance or restructure our obligations on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would have an adverse effect, which could be material, on our business, results of operations, and financial condition, as well as on our ability to satisfy our obligations in respect of our term loan facility and revolving credit facility.

***Our debt instruments restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or take certain actions.***

The credit agreement governing our term loan facility and revolving credit facility impose significant operating and financial restrictions and limit our ability to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•pay dividends or make other distributions in respect of, or repurchase or redeem, capital stock;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•make acquisitions, investments, loans, and advances;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•incur liens;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•enter into transactions with affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•engage in certain fundamental changes, including changes in the nature of our business.

In addition, the credit agreement includes financial covenants requiring us to maintain specified leverage ratios and other financial condition tests, which may become more restrictive if macroeconomic conditions deteriorate or if our operating performance declines. As a result of these covenants and restrictions, we are and will be limited in how we conduct our business, and we may be unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities. In addition, we are required to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. The terms of any future indebtedness we may incur could include more restrictive covenants. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to maintain compliance with these covenants in the future and, if we fail to do so, that we will be able to obtain waivers from the lenders and/or amend the covenants.

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Our failure to comply with the restrictive covenants described above as well as others contained in our future debt instruments from time to time could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in our being required to repay these borrowings before their due date. If we are forced to refinance these borrowings on less favorable terms, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

**Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock**

***Silver Lake controls us and its interests may conflict with yours in the future.***

Silver Lake beneficially owned 51.4% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2025. As a result, Silver Lake is able to control the election and removal of our directors and thereby determine our corporate and management policies, including potential mergers or acquisitions, payment of dividends, asset sales, amendment of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws and other significant corporate transactions for so long as Silver Lake and its affiliates retain significant ownership of us. This concentration of our ownership may delay or deter possible changes in control of the Company, which may reduce the value of an investment in our common stock. So long as Silver Lake continues to own a significant amount of our combined voting power, even if such amount is less than 50%, Silver Lake will continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions and, so long as Silver Lake and its affiliates collectively own at least 5% of all outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, Silver Lake will be able to nominate individuals to our Board of Directors under our stockholders' agreement. In addition, the stockholders' agreement grants to Silver Lake and its affiliates and certain of their transferees certain governance rights for as long as Silver Lake and its affiliates and certain of their transferees maintain ownership of at least 25% of our outstanding common stock, including rights of approval over the entry into joint ventures or similar business alliances having a fair market value of more than $100 million, incurrence of debt for borrowed money in excess of $100 million, the increase or reduction in the size of our Board of Directors, initiation of any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding, the appointment or termination of our Chief Executive Officer, or any material change in the nature of our business. The interests of Silver Lake may not coincide with the interests of other holders of our common stock.

In the ordinary course of their business activities, Silver Lake and its affiliates may engage in activities where their interests conflict with our interests or those of our stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation provides that Silver Lake, any of its affiliates or any director who is not employed by us (including any non-employee director who serves as one of our officers in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her affiliates will not have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities or similar business activities or lines of business in which we operate. Silver Lake also may pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. In addition, Silver Lake may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance its investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to you.

In addition, Silver Lake and its affiliates are able to determine the outcome of all matters requiring stockholder approval and are able to cause or prevent a change of control of the Company or a change in the composition of our Board of Directors and could preclude any acquisition of the Company. Further, under the stockholders' agreement, so long as Silver Lake and its affiliates and certain of their transferees maintain ownership of at least 25% of our outstanding common stock, they will have approval rights of any change of control transaction, which could preclude any unsolicited acquisition of our shares. This concentration of voting control could deprive you of an opportunity to receive a premium for your shares of common stock as part of a sale of the Company and ultimately might affect the market price of our common stock.

***Our stock price may be highly volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid or at all, and you could lose all or part of your investment as a result.***

The trading price of our common stock may be highly volatile and may be adversely affected due to a number of factors, most of which we cannot control, including those listed elsewhere under this "Risk Factors" section, and the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•results of operations that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•results of operations that vary from those of our competitors;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates and investment recommendations by securities analysts and investors;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in economic conditions for companies in our industry;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in market valuations of, or earnings and other announcements by, companies in our industry;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•declines in the market prices of stocks generally;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•additions or departures of key management personnel;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•strategic actions by us or our competitors;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•announcements by us, our competitors, our suppliers or our distributors of significant contracts, price reductions, new products or technologies, acquisitions, dispositions, joint marketing relationships, joint ventures, other strategic relationships or capital commitments;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in preference of our customers and our market share;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in general economic or market conditions or trends in our industry or the economy as a whole;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in business or regulatory conditions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•future sales of our common stock or other securities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with our common stock relative to other investment alternatives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the public's response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations or differing interpretations or enforcement thereof affecting our business;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•announcements relating to litigation or governmental investigations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in this guidance or our failure to meet this guidance;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our stock;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in accounting principles; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•other events or factors, including those resulting from informational technology system failures and disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, geopolitical instability, natural disasters, war, acts of terrorism or responses to these events.

Furthermore, the stock market may experience extreme volatility that, in some cases, may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of our common stock is low.

In the past, following periods of market volatility, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation. If we were to become involved in securities litigation, it could have a substantial cost and divert resources and the attention of executive management from our business regardless of the outcome of such litigation.

***We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.***

We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business and we do not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company's payment of a one-time special cash dividend of $1.50 per share in August 2023 should not be regarded as any indication of an intention to pay dividends in the future. The declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, and will depend on, among other things, general and economic conditions, our results of operations and financial condition, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions and implications on the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries to us, including restrictions under our credit agreement and other indebtedness we may incur, and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant. See "Dividend Policy."

As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our common stock unless you sell our common stock for a price greater than your purchase price.

***First Advantage Corporation is a holding company with no operations of its own and, as such, it depends on its subsidiaries for cash to fund all of its operations and expenses, including future dividend payments, if any.***

Our operations are conducted entirely through our subsidiaries and our ability to generate cash to meet our debt service obligations or to make future dividend payments, if any, is highly dependent on the earnings and the receipt of funds from our subsidiaries via dividends or intercompany loans. We currently do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock; however, to the extent that we determine in the future to pay dividends on our common stock, the agreements governing our indebtedness may restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise transfer assets to us. In addition, Delaware law may impose requirements that may restrict our ability to pay dividends to holders of our common stock.

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***We qualify as a "controlled company" within the meaning of Nasdaq rules and the rules of the SEC and, as a result, qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.***

Silver Lake controls a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. As a result, we qualify as a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group, or another company is a "controlled company" and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirement that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a majority of our Board of Directors consist of "independent directors" as defined under the Nasdaq rules;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•our director nominees be selected, or recommended for our Board of Directors' selection by a nominating/governance committee comprised solely of independent directors; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the compensation of our executive officers be determined, or recommended to our Board of Directors for determination, by a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors.

Although we are not relying on the exemptions from these corporate governance requirements, if we do rely on such exemptions in the future, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.

***You may be diluted by the future issuance of additional common stock in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise.***

As of December 31, 2025, we had approximately 825,809,539 shares of authorized but unissued common stock. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue these shares of common stock and securities relating to common stock for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our Board of Directors in its sole discretion, whether in connection with acquisitions or otherwise. We have reserved shares for issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan and the ESPP. Any common stock that we issue, including under the 2021 Equity Plan or the ESPP or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future, would dilute the percentage ownership held by the investors who purchase common stock. In the future, we may also issue our securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The amount of shares of our common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our common stock. Any issuance of additional securities in connection with investments or acquisitions may result in additional dilution to you.

***Future sales, or the perception of future sales, of our common stock, by us or our existing stockholders in the public market could cause the market price for our common stock to decline.*** 

The sale of substantial amounts of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, including sales by Silver Lake, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

Shares held by Silver Lake and certain of our directors, officers and employees are eligible for resale, subject to volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rule 144, and subject to transfer restrictions applicable to certain members of our management and Silver Lake who are party to our stockholders' agreement. In addition, pursuant to our stockholders' agreement, Silver Lake has the right, subject to certain conditions, to require us to register the sale of their shares of our common stock under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the "Securities Act"). Certain of our stockholders will also have "piggyback" registration rights with respect to future registered offerings of our common stock.

If such registration rights are exercised, the market price of our shares of common stock could drop significantly. This could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our shares of common stock or other securities.

***Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change of control.***

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt, or other change of control transaction that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders.

These provisions provide for, among other things:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a classified board of directors, as a result of which our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving for staggered three-year terms;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the ability of our Board of Directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•advance notice requirements for nominations of directors by stockholders and for stockholders to include matters to be considered at our annual meetings;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•certain limitations on convening special stockholder meetings;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66<sup>2/3</sup>% of the shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors if Silver Lake and its affiliates cease to beneficially own at least 50% of shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•that certain provisions may be amended only by the affirmative vote of at least 66<sup>2/3</sup>% of shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors if Silver Lake and its affiliates cease to beneficially own at least 50% of shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

These anti-takeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if the third party's offer may be considered beneficial by many of our stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares.

***Our Board of Directors is authorized to issue and designate shares of our preferred stock in additional series without stockholder approval.***

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors, without the approval of our stockholders, to issue 250,000,000 shares of our preferred stock, subject to limitations prescribed by applicable law, rules and regulations and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as shares of preferred stock in series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers, preferences and rights of these additional series of preferred stock may be senior to or on parity with our common stock, which may reduce its value.

***Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, subject to limited exceptions, that state and federal courts (as appropriate) located within the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.***

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, subject to limited exceptions, that unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the state or federal courts (as appropriate) located within the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee or stockholder of our company to the Company or our stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The choice of forum provision described in the preceding sentence does not apply to claims brought under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the "Exchange Act"), meaning that nothing in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated by-laws will preclude stockholders that assert claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law. Our exclusive forum provision shall not relieve the Company of its duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations. Further, stockholders may not waive their rights under the Exchange Act, including their right to bring suit.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.

**Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.**

None.

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**Item 1C. Cybersecurity.**

**Risk Management and Strategy**

We have processes in place for assessing, identifying, and managing material risks from potential unauthorized occurrences on or through our electronic information systems that could adversely affect the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information systems or the information residing on those systems. These include a wide variety of mechanisms, controls, technologies, methods, systems, and other processes that are designed to prevent, detect, mitigate or remediate data loss, theft, misuse, unauthorized access, or other security incidents or vulnerabilities affecting the data. The data includes confidential, proprietary, and business and personal information that we collect, process, store, and transmit as part of our business, including on behalf of third parties. We also use systems and processes designed to reduce the impact of a security incident impacting our data at a third-party vendor or customer. Contracts with third-party vendors, who have access to our network or who hold or store personal information on our behalf, contain provisions requiring such vendors to maintain a program that meets our information security standards. We periodically assess risk of vendor compliance with our information security program requirements, including the obligation that our vendors must notify First Advantage within a designated time period upon identifying certain cybersecurity events. Additionally, we use processes to oversee and identify material risks from cybersecurity threats associated with our use of third-party technology and systems, including: technology and systems we use for encryption and authentication; employee email; content delivery to customers; back-office support; and other functions.

Our cybersecurity team is led by our Chief Information Security Officer ("CISO"), who directs a unified cross-functional team that is responsible for implementing and maintaining centralized cybersecurity and data protection practices at First Advantage. Our CISO has numerous years of experience managing security infrastructure, providing a variety of security services, and overseeing incident response and management, escalation of security events, vulnerability scanning, and security defect management. Collectively, our CISO and our cybersecurity team act in close coordination with senior leadership and other teams across First Advantage. In addition to our extensive in-house cybersecurity capabilities, we engage assessors, consultants, auditors, or other third parties to help assess, identify, and manage cybersecurity risks.

Our cybersecurity risk management process forms a critical component of our overall risk management and business strategy. As part of our risk management process, we conduct application security assessments, vulnerability management, penetration testing, security audits, and ongoing risk assessments. Additionally, we utilize data encryption and access control, single sign-on and multi-factor authentication, and malware protection within our control environment. We also maintain a variety of incident response plans that are utilized when incidents are detected. These plans are designed to be flexible so that they may be adapted to an array of potential scenarios and provide for the creation of cross-functional cybersecurity incident response teams in the event of a cybersecurity incident. We regularly review our incident response plans and conduct multiple incident response exercises each year, including sessions with management, to test and assess our preparedness to respond to a cybersecurity incident. Additionally, we require employees with access to our information systems, including all corporate employees, to undertake data protection and cybersecurity training and compliance programs annually.

As part of our incident detection and response processes, we have established internal teams to investigate and escalate notification of cybersecurity incidents. Pursuant to this process, cybersecurity incidents are reported to appropriate personnel within First Advantage (including the CISO, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Legal Officer) and to the Audit Committee and Board of Directors based on incident materiality. We track incidents through resolution, conduct post-incident analysis and update our processes and procedures if areas for improvement are identified. On a monthly basis, a summary of prior period cybersecurity investigation escalations is reviewed by management, including our head of Internal Audit, our CISO, and our Chief Legal Officer. We maintain cybersecurity insurance, which provides coverage for certain costs related to cybersecurity incidents; however, coverage may not be adequate to fully offset financial losses associated with a significant event.

**Governance**

Our cybersecurity risks and associated mitigations are evaluated by senior leadership, including as part of our enterprise risk assessments that are reviewed by the Audit Committee and our Board of Directors. Such risks and related mitigation activities are also subject to oversight by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. The Audit Committee, which is comprised of independent directors, oversees our policies and procedures for protecting our cybersecurity infrastructure and for compliance with applicable data protection and security regulations, and related risks, including management's response to any significant cybersecurity incidents. The Audit Committee receives regular reports, from our CISO and Chief Product and Technology Officer, regarding the cybersecurity control environment, including remediation updates, control posture analyses and other recurring items, and reports to the Board of Directors at least quarterly.

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Our business strategy, results of operations and financial condition have not been materially affected by risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of previously identified cybersecurity incidents, but we cannot provide assurance that they will not be materially affected in the future by such risks or any future material incidents. We have implemented enhanced monitoring and reporting processes to ensure timely compliance with SEC requirements for disclosure of material cybersecurity incidents. Additional information about cybersecurity risks we face is discussed in Item 1A of Part I, "Risk Factors," under the heading "Our business, brand, and reputation may be harmed as a result of security breaches, cyber-attacks, employee or other internal misconduct, computer viruses, or the mishandling of personal data" and should be read in conjunction with the information above.

**Item 2. Properties.**

Our corporate office is located at 1 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30328 under a lease agreement that expires on January 31, 2030, with one five-year renewal option. This property also houses our executive offices. We also lease office space in Manila, Philippines and in Bangalore and Mumbai, India, where our Operations Centers of Excellence are located. Additionally, we lease office space in Fishers, Indiana, for certain significant operational and support functions. We believe that our executive and other offices are adequate for our immediate needs and that we will obtain additional or substitute space, as needed, on commercially reasonable terms.

In addition to leveraging public cloud vendors, we maintain data centers across the globe. Our public cloud vendors and data centers are equipped with redundant power, cooling, and fire suppression. We also ensure that our data centers maintain connectivity to major internet service providers and are protected and surveilled by our Global Network Operations Center. In the event of a disaster or emergency, each data center can rely on a backup located outside of the primary site's region where all critical data is replicated. In the event of a service failure, critical customer-facing solutions are set to resume service at the designated backup location.

**Item 3. Legal Proceedings.**

The information required under this Item 3 is set forth in Note 13 within "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by this reference.

**Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.**

Not applicable.

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**PART II**

**Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.**

**Market Information for Common Stock** 

On June 23, 2021, our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol "FA." Prior to that time, there was no public market for our common stock.

**Holders of Record**

As of February 20, 2026, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq was $9.85 per share and we had 16 holders of record of our common stock. The actual number of stockholders is greater than this number of record holders, and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees.

**Dividend Policy**

On August 8, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors declared a one-time special cash dividend of $1.50 per share to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2023. The cash dividend was paid on August 31, 2023. Any further determination to pay dividends on our capital stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions, and other factors that our Board of Directors considers relevant.

**Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities**

On August 2, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of the Company's common stock over the 12-month period ending August 2, 2023. On November 8, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors increased the total available amount under the Repurchase Program to $150.0 million and extended the program through December 31, 2023. On February 28, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors further increased the authorization to $200.0 million. On September 14, 2023, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a one-year extension of the $200.0 million share repurchase authorization through December 31, 2024.

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company suspended purchases under the Repurchase Program on February 28, 2024. The Repurchase Program expired on December 31, 2024.

From August 2, 2022 and through December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased approximately $119.5 million of shares under the Repurchase Program. There were no share repurchases during the year ended December 31, 2025, and there are no other programs under which the Company repurchases shares.

The following information relates to the Company's purchase of its common stock during the year ended December 31, 2025:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Period** | **Total Number of Shares Purchased** | **Average Price <br>Paid Per Share** | **Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs** | **Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs** <sup>(1)</sup> |
| January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 |  | $— |  | $— |

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<sup>(1)</sup> The Company's share repurchase program expired on December 31, 2024. No new share repurchase program was authorized or in effect during the year ended December 31, 2025.

On February 25, 2026, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of the Company's common stock (the "2026 Repurchase Program") with no expiration date. Stock repurchases may be effected through open market repurchases at prevailing market prices, including through the use of block trades and trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, privately-negotiated transactions, through other transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws, or a combination of these methods on such terms and in such amounts as the Company deems appropriate. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares, and the timing, manner, value, and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company's stock price and liquidity requirements, other business considerations and general market and economic conditions. No shares will be purchased from SLP Fastball Aggregator, L.P. and its affiliates. The Company may discontinue or modify purchases without notice at any time. The Company plans to use its existing cash to fund repurchases made under the 2026 Repurchase Program.

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**Performance Graph**

*The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.*

The following graph depicts the total cumulative stockholder return on our common stock from the closing price on June 23, 2021, the first day of trading of our common stock on the Nasdaq, through December 31, 2025, relative to the performance of the Russell 2000 and S&P 500 Index. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100.00 at the close of trading on June 23, 2021 and that all dividends paid by the Company and the companies included in these indices have been reinvested. The performance shown in the graph below is not intended to forecast or be indicative of future stock price performance.

![img74846853_0.jpg](img74846853_0.jpg)

**Item 6. [Reserved]**

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**Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.**

The following discussion and analysis is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of First Advantage Corporation and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The discussion contains forward-looking statements involving risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our results to differ materially from expectations. See "Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." Factors that might cause such differences include those described in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Numerical figures included in this Annual Report have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in various tables may not be arithmetic aggregations of the figures that precede them.

**Overview** 

First Advantage is a global software and data company. We provide comprehensive, end-to-end identity solutions, criminal background screening, credential verifications, drug and health screening, and continuous risk monitoring. Combining AI-powered proprietary technology platforms with proprietary data, primary source data, and third-party data, we help organizations hire with confidence and manage risk across the entire employee lifecycle.

On October 31, 2024, we completed our acquisition of Sterling, a global provider of technology-enabled background and identity verification services. This strategic acquisition enhanced our capabilities and expanded our service offerings, allowing us to deliver a comprehensive hiring and risk management solution that begins with identity verification and extends through criminal background screening, credential verification, drug and health screening, and ongoing risk monitoring.

We derive a substantial majority of our revenues from pre-onboarding screening and perform screens across over 200 countries and territories, enabling us to serve as a one-stop-shop provider to both multinational companies and growth companies. Our over 80,000 customers are global enterprises, mid-sized companies, and small companies, and our products and solutions are used by personnel in Executive Management, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Compliance, Risk, Legal, Safety, and Vendor Management.

Our platforms offer flexibility for customers to specify which products to include in their screening package, such as Social Security numbers, criminal records, education and work verifications, sex offender registry, and global sanctions. Generally, our customers order a background screening package or selected combination of screens related to a single individual before they onboard that individual. The type and mix of products and solutions we sell to a customer vary by customer size, their screening requirements, and industry vertical. Therefore, order volumes are not comparable across customers or periods. Package pricing can also vary considerably by customer depending on the product mix in their screening packages, order volumes, screening requirements and preferences, pass-through and third-party out-of-pocket costs, and bundling of products.

We enter into contracts with our customers that are typically three years in length. These contracts set forth the general terms and pricing of our products and solutions but generally do not include minimum order volumes or committed order volumes. Additionally, a majority of Sterling's enterprise customer contracts are exclusive to Sterling or require Sterling to be used as the primary provider. Due to our contract terms and the nature of the background screening industry, we determined our contract terms for ASC 606 purposes to be three years or less. We typically bill our customers at the end of each month and recognize revenues as completed orders are reported or otherwise made available to our customers. Approximately 90% of the criminal searches performed in the U.S. are completed the same day they are submitted.

We generated revenues of $1,574.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, which represents an increase of 83.0% as compared to $860.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Approximately 86% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025 was generated in the U.S., while the remaining 14% was generated abroad. Other than the U.S., no single country accounted for 10% or more of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025.

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**Segments**

We manage our business and report our financial results in three reportable segments, First Advantage Americas, First Advantage International, and Sterling:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***First Advantage Americas.*** This segment pertains to our Legacy First Advantage business and performs a variety of background check and compliance services across all phases of the workforce lifecycle from pre-onboarding services to post-onboarding and ongoing monitoring services, covering employees, contractors, contingent workers, and drivers. We generally classify our service offerings into three categories: pre-onboarding, post-onboarding, and adjacent products. We deliver our solutions across multiple industry verticals in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***First Advantage International.*** The First Advantage International segment pertains to our Legacy First Advantage business and provides services similar to our Americas segment in regions outside of the Americas. We primarily deliver our solutions across multiple industry verticals in the Europe, India, and Asia Pacific.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Sterling.*** This segment is comprised of the acquired entity, Sterling Check Corp., which was acquired on October 31, 2024. The Sterling segment provides similar services as compared to First Advantage's Americas and International segments on a global basis.

**Factors Affecting Operating Results**

We believe that the future growth and profitability of our business depend on numerous factors, including the following:

***Macroeconomic and Job Environment***

Our results continue to be influenced by our customers' underlying business performance, hiring patterns, and workforce strategies, all of which drive demand for our background screening and adjacent solutions. Customer demand is affected by a variety of macroeconomic and labor-market factors, including hiring velocity, turnover rates, sector-specific employment trends, and broader economic conditions. We are also exposed to macroeconomic cyclicality, as companies often reduce hiring, delay onboarding, and scale back contingent workforce usage during an economic slowdown, which can negatively impact demand for our solutions. Current macroeconomic conditions—including elevated interest rates, persistent inflation, and fluctuations in job openings and hiring activity—continue to affect portions of the global economy and create a more cautious posture across many employers.

Additionally, global economic volatility—driven by geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, evolving trade and tariff policies, monetary-policy uncertainty, and instability in certain international markets—has contributed to heightened variability in customer hiring plans. These factors have also contributed to supply chain disruptions, higher operating costs for some customers, and increased scrutiny over workforce expansion plans. Emerging and ongoing trade disputes between major global economies have further pressured confidence and slowed decision-making in sectors reliant on global operations.

If the economic uncertainty is sustained or increases, we may experience a negative impact on new business generation, customer renewals and overall demand levels, sales and marketing efforts, revenues growth rates, customer deployments, customer collections, product development, or other financial metrics. Any of these factors could harm our business, financial condition, and operating results. Our ability to grow our business will also depend on the long-term strength, diversity, and durability of the verticals that we focus on and rely upon to drive our revenues.

Additionally, on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the "OBBBA") was enacted into law in the United States, introducing substantial changes to the U.S. Corporate tax regime. Key provisions of the OBBBA include the reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation, restoration of immediate expensing for domestic research or experimental ("R&E") expenditures, an elective acceleration of deduction for unamortized domestic R&E expenditures, revised limitations on the deductibility of business interest expense, and modifications to the Global Intangible Low-Tax Income ("GILTI") and Foreign-Derived Intangible Income ("FDII") regimes. The OBBBA includes multiple effective dates, with certain provisions effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024 and others phased in through 2027. In accordance with ASC 740, *Income Taxes*, the Company has reflected the impacts of OBBBA into the Company's income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2025, including adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities where applicable. The Company continues to evaluate the broader implications of the OBBBA, including potential impacts on future taxable income, the estimated annual effective tax rate, and potential effects of future regulatory guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service or other relevant tax authorities. Additional impacts, if any, will be recognized in subsequent periods as appropriate.

Despite these macroeconomic changes, we are confident in the overall long-term health of our business, the strength of our product offerings, and our ability to continue to execute on our strategy and help our customers hire with confidence and manage risk across the entire employee lifecycle. Our continued focus on delivering innovative solutions that enhance workplace safety and address evolving compliance requirements as well as our diversified customer base have contributed to the stability of our business and long-term financial performance.

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For additional information, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Macroeconomic factors beyond our control, including the state of the economy, could impact demand and the fulfillment costs for our products and solutions."

***M&A***

We selectively evaluate acquisitions as a means to expand our business and to enter new markets. Over the last three years, we have completed the following acquisitions, including those that impact the comparability of our results between periods:

In September 2023, the Company acquired 100% of the equity interest of a U.S.-based digital identity and biometrics solutions company. The acquired company operates under the trade name Infinite ID. Results of operations have been included in our First Advantage Americas segment from the date of the acquisition.

As discussed above, on October 31, 2024, the Company completed its acquisition of Sterling. Results of operations have been included in our Sterling segment from the date of the acquisition.

***Acquiring New Customers***

We remain focused on expanding our customer base, with particular emphasis on strategic Enterprise customers in attractive industry verticals. In 2025, we performed over 200 million screens on behalf of over 80,000 customers, spanning the globe and all major industry verticals. Our customer acquisition strategy relies on our ability to continue delivering innovative, comprehensive, and cost effective products and solutions; executing our verticalized go-to-market strategy; and maintaining the strength of our brand and reputation. New customers typically begin generating revenues within a number of months of executing a contract and increase order volumes over the subsequent three-to-five-month period. We believe significant opportunity remains to grow our domestic and international market share by expanding our global customer base and increasing adoption of our screening and verification products and solutions.

***Expanding Wallet Share with Existing Customers***

Our revenue growth depends in part on our ability to increase sales of products and solutions to existing customers. We typically expand revenue with customers over time as their underlying screening volumes grow and as they deploy our products and solutions across additional divisions or geographies, increase our share of wallet in multi-provider programs, perform more extensive screens, or adopt additional offerings such as identity solutions, continuous screening, hiring tax credits, employment eligibility, and fleet solutions. Our Customer Success teams work closely with customers to enhance their screening, compliance, and risk management programs and, in doing so, frequently identify opportunities to broaden their use of First Advantage solutions. Revenue growth from existing customers also depends on our ability to retain those customers. In 2025, we achieved a gross retention rate of approximately 96%.

***Developing New Products to Expand Our Revenue Opportunity with Existing Customers***

We continue to prioritize innovation to expand our data solutions and adjacent sources of revenues. For example, we accelerated investments in advanced criminal and verification data products, identity services, and compliance solutions. Building on the integration of Sterling's identity verification capabilities and our strategic partnership with ID.me, we launched enhanced digital identity offerings designed to help mitigate fraud and improve candidate authentication. Our product roadmap includes next-generation solutions leveraging automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to improve speed, consistency, and efficiency. Key areas of development include biometric verification, synthetic identity fraud prevention, and liveness detection technologies, as well as expanded offerings in driver and vehicle compliance and remote drug and occupational health testing. These innovations are aimed at improving onboarding speed, reducing risk, and supporting regulated industries globally.

***Profitably Managing our Growth***

Our ability to grow profitably depends on our ability to manage our cost structure. Our costs are affected by third-party costs including government fees and data vendors, as these third parties have discretion to adjust pricing, although these third-party fees are typically invoiced to our customers as pass-through costs. Continued pricing increases in third-party fees may lead our existing and potential customers to reduce the scope of their spending.

Our historical margin expansion has been largely driven by increased automation and deployment of RPA and AI technologies in the background screening process, which has increased our speed, efficiency, quality, and operating leverage. Additionally, we have gained operating leverage from efficiencies and managing general and administrative costs. In order to grow profitably, we make strategic investments that generate incremental revenues and enable us to deliver our products and solutions and support our customers in a cost-effective manner. Our ability to innovate and drive future reductions of operating costs through automation and digitization does require up-front investment.

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**Recently Issued Accounting Standards**

See Note 2 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for disclosure of the impact that recent accounting pronouncements may have on the consolidated financial statements.

**Components of our Results of Operations** 

***Revenues*** 

The Company derives revenues from a variety of background screening and adjacent products performed across all phases of the workforce lifecycle from pre-onboarding screening services to post-onboarding and ongoing monitoring services, covering employees, contractors, contingent workers, and drivers. We generally classify our products and solutions into three major categories: pre-onboarding, post-onboarding, and adjacent products, each of which is enabled by our technologies, proprietary internal databases, and data analytics capabilities. Pre-onboarding products, which comprise the substantial majority of our revenues, span an extensive array of products that customers typically utilize to enhance their applicant evaluation process and support compliance with their workforce onboarding criteria from the time an application is submitted to an applicant's successful onboarding. Post-onboarding products are comprised of continuous monitoring, re-screening, and other solutions to help our customers keep their end customers, workforces, and other stakeholders safer, more productive, and more compliant. Adjacent products include products that complement our pre-onboarding and post-onboarding solutions such as fleet and vehicle compliance, hiring tax credits and incentives, employment eligibility, and investigative research.

Our suite of products is available individually or through packaged solutions that can be configured and tailored according to our customers' needs. We typically bill our customers at the end of each month and recognize revenues after completed orders are reported or otherwise made available to our customers, with a substantial majority of our customers' orders completed the same day they are submitted. We recognize revenues for other products over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the products and solutions delivered.

***Operating Expenses*** 

We incur the following expenses related to our cost of revenues and operating expenses:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Cost of Services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below)*: Consists of amounts paid to third parties for access to government records, other third-party data and services, and our internal processing fulfillment and customer care functions. In addition, cost of services includes expenses from our drug screening lab and collection site network as well as our court runner network. Third-party cost of services are largely variable in nature and are typically invoiced to our customers as direct pass-through costs. Cost of services also includes our salaries and benefits expense for personnel involved in the processing and fulfillment of our screening products and solutions, as well as our customer care organization and robotics process automation implementation team. Other costs included in cost of services relate to allocations of certain overhead costs for our revenue-generating products and solutions, primarily consisting of certain facility costs and administrative services allocated by headcount or another related metric. We do not allocate depreciation and amortization to cost of services.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Product and Technology Expense*: Consists of salaries and benefits of personnel involved in the maintenance of our technology and its integrations and APIs, product marketing, management of our network and infrastructure capabilities, and maintenance of our information security and business continuity functions. A portion of the personnel costs are related to the development of new products and features that are primarily developed through agile methodologies. Certain of these costs are capitalized, and therefore, are partially reflected as amortization expense within the depreciation and amortization cost line item. Product and technology expense also includes third-party costs related to our cloud computing services, software licensing and maintenance, telecommunications, and other data processing functions. We do not allocate depreciation and amortization to product and technology expense.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Selling, General, and Administrative Expense*: Consists of sales, customer success, marketing, and general and administrative expenses. Sales, customer success, and marketing expenses consist primarily of employee compensation such as salaries, bonuses, sales commissions, share-based compensation, and other employee benefits for our verticalized sales and customer success teams. General and administrative expenses include travel expenses and various corporate functions including finance, human resources, legal, and other administrative roles, in addition to certain professional service fees and expenses incurred in connection with acquisitions. We do not allocate depreciation and amortization to selling, general, and administrative expenses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Depreciation and Amortizatio*n: Property and equipment consisting mainly of capitalized software costs, furniture, hardware, and leasehold improvements are depreciated or amortized and reflected as operating expenses. We also amortize the capitalized costs of finite-life intangible assets acquired in connection with business combinations.

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We have a flexible cost structure that allows our business to adjust quickly to the impacts of macroeconomic events and scale to meet the needs of large customers. Operating expenses are influenced by revenue levels, customer and product mix, and the progress of acquisition-related integration activities. As revenues grow, we would generally expect cost of services to grow proportionally, although the rate of growth may vary based on automation, productivity initiatives, efficiency gains, shifts in mix, and third-party pass-through costs. We regularly review expenses and investments in the context of revenue trends and observed changes in the business to ensure alignment with our financial objectives. While we expect operating expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we support continued growth, we believe that, over the long term, operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues will gradually decline as we scale the business and advance our operating efficiency and automation initiatives.

***Other Expense, Net***

Our other expense, net consists of the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Interest expense, net*: Relates primarily to our debt service costs, the interest-related unrealized gains and losses of our interest rate derivative instruments and, to a lesser extent, the interest on our finance lease obligations and the amortization of deferred financing costs. Additionally, interest expense, net includes interest income earnings on our cash and cash equivalent balances held in interest-bearing accounts.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Loss on Extinguishment of Debt*: Represents non-operating expense incurred when we repay or refinance debt prior to maturity. This includes the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and early repayment penalties, if any.

***Provision for Income Taxes*** 

Provision for income taxes consists of U.S. domestic and foreign corporate income taxes related to earnings, with applicable statutory tax rates varying by jurisdiction. Our effective tax rate may be affected by many factors including changes in tax laws, regulations, or statutory rates, regulatory guidance, or new administrative interpretations of judicial decisions, and shifts in proportion of income earned in jurisdictions with differing statutory tax rates. As our business continues to expand globally, the distribution of pretax income across domestic and foreign jurisdictions may fluctuate, resulting in volatility in our effective tax rate. Additionally, the effective tax rate may also be affected by the availability of tax credits and incentives, nondeductible expenses, changes in valuation allowances, and the resolution of uncertain tax positions. These factors, individually or collectively, may cause our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate to differ materially from period to period.

**Results of Operations** 

***Comparison of Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2025 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2023***

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except percentages)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| **Revenues** | $1574389 | $860205 | $763761 |
| Operating Expenses: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) | 855306 | 448911 | 386777 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Product and technology expense | 101853 | 63817 | 49263 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selling, general, and administrative expense | 236179 | 263942 | 116732 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Depreciation and amortization | 248583 | 145919 | 129473 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total operating expenses | 1441921 | 922589 | 682245 |
| **Income (loss) from operations** | 132468 | (62384) | 81516 |
| Other Expense, Net: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Interest expense, net | 168667 | 51848 | 33040 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loss on extinguishment of debt | 1052 | 383 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total other expense, net | 169719 | 52231 | 33040 |
| (Loss) income before provision for income taxes | (37251) | (114615) | 48476 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Benefit) provision for income taxes | (2427) | (4342) | 11183 |
| **Net (loss) income** | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| Net (loss) income margin | (2.2)% | (12.8)% | 4.9% |

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*Revenues* 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Revenues |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage Americas | $701634 | $658758 | $673075 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage International | 104868 | 96854 | 96832 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sterling | 777194 | 113068 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Eliminations | (9307) | (8475) | (6146) |
| Total revenues | $1574389 | $860205 | $763761 |

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Revenues were $1,574.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $860.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $714.2 million, or 83.0%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

The increase in revenues is due to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•revenues of $659.5 million, or 76.7%, attributable to Sterling as a result of the Sterling Acquisition completed on October 31, 2024;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•revenues of $30.2 million, or 3.5%, from new customers, primarily attributable to our First Advantage Americas segment; and,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•revenues of $24.5 million, or 2.8% from existing customers, primarily driven by continued strength from upselling and cross-selling initiatives. These increases were partially offset by declines in existing customer revenues across several verticals, largely due to macroeconomic pressures that contributed to reduced demand and the impact of lost customers.

Pricing remained relatively stable across all periods.

Revenues were $860.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $763.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $96.4 million, or 12.6%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

The increase in revenues is due to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•revenues of $121.5 million, or 15.9%, from acquisitions, primarily attributable to the $113.1 million, or 13.1%, of revenue recognized as a result of the acquisition of Sterling on October 31, 2024, and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•revenues of $28.0 million, or 3.7%, from new customers, primarily attributable to our First Advantage Americas segment.

The increase in revenues was offset by a net decrease of $53.1 million, or 7.0%, in existing customer revenues, primarily driven by the impact of macroeconomic factors affecting the hiring industry which have resulted in reduced demand from our customers and the impact of lost accounts. These consolidated decreases were partially offset by ongoing strength in upselling and cross-selling to existing customers, contributing $40.8 million, or 5.3%, of additional revenues, and increased revenues from certain existing customers that were impacted by macroeconomic conditions to a lesser extent, as compared to other existing customers.

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*Cost of Services* 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except percentages)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Cost of services | $855306 | $448911 | $386777 |
| Revenues | 1574389 | 860205 | 763761 |
| Cost of services as a % of revenue | 54.3% | 52.2% | 50.6% |

---

Cost of services was $855.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $448.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $406.4 million, or 90.5%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

The increase in cost of services is due to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• $373.3 million of Sterling costs of services recognized after the Sterling Acquisition; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $38.4 million increase from variable third-party data expenses of Legacy First Advantage as a result of increased revenue volumes and variation in customer ordering mix.

Cost of services as a percentage of revenues was 54.3% for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 52.2% for the year ended December 31, 2024. Cost of services as a percentage of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025 was impacted by Sterling's higher relative cost of services, driven by the segment's product and customer mix, along with variations in customer ordering mix across our other segments.

Cost of services was $448.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $386.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of services for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $62.1 million, or 16.1%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

The increase in cost of services was primarily due to $68.2 million of Sterling costs of services recognized after the Sterling acquisition.

The increase in cost of services was offset by:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $5.4 million decrease in variable third-party data expenses of Legacy First Advantage as a result of decreased revenue volumes, variation in customer ordering mix, and increased automation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $0.8 million decrease in personnel expenses in the operations and customer care functions of Legacy First Advantage as a result of productivity efficiencies from the implementation of additional automation programs.

Cost of services as a percentage of revenues was 52.2% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 50.6% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The cost of services percentage of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 was impacted by Sterling's higher relative cost of services and variation in customer ordering mix.

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*Product and Technology Expense* 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Product and technology expense | $101853 | $63817 | $49263 |

---

Product and technology expense was $101.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $63.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Product and technology expense for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $38.0 million, or 59.6%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

The increase in product and technology expense was primarily due to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•$27.6 million of Sterling expenses recognized after the Sterling Acquisition; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•$11.8 million increase in Legacy First Advantage personnel expenses as a result of additional investments made to enhance our products, solutions, and technology platforms.

Product and technology expense was $63.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $49.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Product and technology expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $14.6 million, or 29.5%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

The increase in product and technology expense was primarily due to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•$10.8 million of Sterling expenses recognized after the Sterling acquisition, of which approximately $2.1 million related to increases in cash compensation expense due to the conversion of Sterling equity awards to cash awards as part of the transaction and $1.8 million related to post-combination restructuring costs;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $4.5 million increase in Legacy First Advantage personnel expenses as a result of increased share-based compensation expense and additional investments made to enhance our product, solutions, and technology platform; and,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $1.6 million increase in professional service fees.

The increase was partially offset by a $1.8 million decrease in Legacy Fist Advantage software license fees.

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*Selling, General, and Administrative Expense* 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Selling, general, and administrative expense | $236179 | $263942 | $116732 |

---

Selling, general, and administrative expense was $236.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $263.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Selling, general, and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $27.8 million, or 10.5%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

The decrease in selling, general, and administrative expense was primarily due to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•an $86.3 million decrease in transaction costs attributable to the Sterling Acquisition, of which $29.0 million related to professional service, legal, and other fees, $33.4 million related to cash compensation expense due to the conversion of Sterling equity awards to cash awards as part of the transaction, $16.5 million related to debt refinancing costs, $5.0 million of post-combination restructuring costs, and $2.4 million in transaction related bonuses; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•an $11.8 million decrease in Legacy First Advantage share-based compensation expense as the prior year included the impact of modifications to the equity award agreements for the Company's former Chief Financial Officer and former President, Americas, made in connection with each executive's retirement agreement.

The decrease in selling, general, and administrative expense was partially offset by $77.8 million of Sterling expenses recognized after the Sterling acquisition.

Selling, general, and administrative expense was $263.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $116.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Selling, general, and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $147.2 million, or 126.1%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

Selling, general, and administrative expense increased primarily due to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $112.9 million increase in additional costs attributable to the Sterling acquisition, of which $55.1 million related to professional service, legal, and other fees, $38.9 million related to increases in cash compensation expense due to the conversion of Sterling equity awards to cash awards as part of the transaction, $16.5 million related to debt refinancing costs, and $2.4 million in transaction related bonuses;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•$26.4 million of Sterling expenses recognized after the Sterling acquisition, of which $8.8 million relates to post-combination restructuring costs;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $11.1 million increase in Legacy First Advantage share-based compensation expense primarily as a result of a modification to the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based equity awards in May 2023 and incremental awards granted and modifications made to the equity award agreements for the Company's former Chief Financial Officer and former President, Americas, as part of each executive's retirement agreement; and,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $1.6 million increase in expenses related to litigation in the ordinary course of business.

The increase in selling, general, and administrative expense was partially offset by:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $3.5 million decrease in Legacy First Advantage personnel expenses due to certain cost savings actions taken by the Company primarily in the second half of 2023 and the nonrecurring separation costs related to these savings not recurring in 2024; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a $1.6 million decrease in expenses related to the impairment of certain operating lease assets resulting from office space exited in 2023 that did not reoccur in 2024.

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*Depreciation and Amortization* 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Depreciation and amortization | $248583 | $145919 | $129473 |

---

Depreciation and amortization was $248.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $145.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Depreciation and amortization for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $102.7 million, or 70.4% compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

Depreciation and amortization was $145.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $129.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Depreciation and amortization for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $16.4 million, or 12.7% compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

The increase for the year ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was primarily due to the impact of the step up in fair value of property and equipment and intangible assets as a result of the application of purchase accounting related to the Sterling Acquisition.

*Interest Expense, Net*

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Interest expense, net | $168667 | $51848 | $33040 |

---

Interest expense, net was $168.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $51.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $116.8 million, or 225.3%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

Interest expense, net was $51.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $33.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $18.8 million, or 56.9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

The increase for the year ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was primarily driven by higher borrowings under the term loan facility, which included an incremental principal amount of $1,620.3 million and an expanded revolver commitment of $150.0 million, in connection with the Sterling Acquisition. Interest expense, net was further impacted by unrealized gains and losses on the Company's interest rate swaps.

*Loss on Extinguishment of Debt* 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | $1052 | $383 | $— |

---

Loss on extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2025, relates to the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs as a result of voluntary principal repayments of $65.0 million on the Company's outstanding term loan facility.

Loss on extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2024, relates to expenses stemming from the write-off of debt issuance costs associated with the October 2024 refinancing of the First Lien Credit Agreement in connection with the Sterling Acquisition.

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*Provision for Income Taxes*

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| (Benefit) provision for income taxes | $(2427) | $(4342) | $11183 |

---

Our benefit for income taxes was $(2.4) million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $(4.3) million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Our benefit for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $1.9 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

The decrease in our benefit for income taxes was primarily due to the decrease of net book loss before income taxes, jurisdictional mix of earnings, higher income taxes in the jurisdictions outside of the U.S., and U.S. state income taxes, during the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

Our (benefit) provision for income taxes was $(4.3) million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $11.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $15.5 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

The decrease in our provision for income taxes was primarily due to the loss before income taxes during the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to income before income taxes during the year ended December 31, 2023, and the increase of the nondeductible share-based compensation and transaction costs incurred in connection with the Sterling acquisition.

*Net (Loss) Income and Net (Loss) Income Margin* 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except percentages)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Net (loss) income | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| Net (loss) income margin | (2.2)% | (12.8)% | 4.9% |

---

Net loss was $(34.8) million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $(110.3) million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $75.4 million, or 68.4%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.

Net loss margin was (2.2)% for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to (12.8)% the year ended December 31, 2024. The improvement in our net loss margin was primarily driven by a reduction in transaction costs associated with the Sterling Acquisition, our continued ability to leverage operational efficiencies to manage overall expenses, and increased customer demand for our products and services, which contributed to higher profitability. These improvements were offset by increases in depreciation and amortization and interest costs, primarily as a result of the Sterling Acquisition.

Net (loss) income was $(110.3) million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $147.6 million, or 395.7%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023.

Net (loss) income margin was (12.8)% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 4.9% the year ended December 31, 2023, as increases in selling, general, and administrative expenses, primarily as a result of the Company's acquisition of Sterling and reduced demand from customers more impacted by macroeconomic events, contributed to lower profitability.

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**Non-GAAP Financial Measures**

In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, we believe certain measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation, and to compare our performance against that of peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone.

The presentations of these measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentations of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company. A reconciliation is provided below for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP.

***Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin*** 

Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a strong indicator of our overall operating performance and is useful to management and investors as a measure of comparative operating performance from period to period. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net (loss) income before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, and as further adjusted for loss on extinguishment of debt, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges. We exclude the impact of share-based compensation because it is a non-cash expense and we believe that excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding performance and ongoing cash generation potential. We exclude loss on extinguishment of debt, transaction and acquisition related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other charges because such expenses are episodic in nature and have no direct correlation to the cost of operating our business on an ongoing basis.

Adjusted EBITDA was $441.4 million, $249.3 million, and $237.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. This represented an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 28.0%, 29.0%, and 31.1% for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $192.1 million, or 77.1%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to the Sterling Acquisition and related synergies. Adjusted EBITDA for Legacy First Advantage for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $0.8 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, driven by higher revenues from existing and new customers, including ongoing strength in upselling and cross-selling, operational efficiencies, and certain other cost savings actions taken by the Company.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $11.7 million, or 4.9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to the Sterling Acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA for Legacy First Advantage for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $9.4 million or 3.9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, as macroeconomic events impacted our revenues attributed to existing customers. These decreases were partially offset by increased revenues from certain existing and new customers, including ongoing strength in upselling and cross-selling, cost structure benefits due to increased automation, operational efficiencies, and certain other cost savings actions taken by the Company.

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The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Net (loss) income | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| Interest expense, net | 168667 | 51848 | 33040 |
| (Benefit) provision for income taxes | (2427) | (4342) | 11183 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 248583 | 145919 | 129473 |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 1052 | 383 |  |
| Share-based compensation<sup>(a)</sup> | 24456 | 31762 | 15265 |
| Transaction and acquisition-related charges<sup>(b)</sup> | 8741 | 128234 | 4364 |
| Integration, restructuring, and other charges<sup>(c)</sup> | 27147 | 5771 | 6938 |
| **Adjusted EBITDA** | $**441395** | $**249302** | $**237556** |

---

(a)Share-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 includes approximately $7.1 million, $13.1 million, and $6.6 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards. Share-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2024, also includes approximately $4.2 million of incrementally recognized expense associated with the retirements of the Company's former Chief Financial Officer and President, Americas. See Note 10 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for further information.

(b)Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $8.0 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $7.7 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2024 include approximately $125.7 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $41.2 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards, of which $38.9 million related to accelerated vesting for employees terminated after the acquisition, $45.8 million of legal, regulatory, integration, and diligence professional service fees, $16.5 million in debt refinancing costs, $10.7 million in post-combination restructuring expenses, $9.5 million in success-based banking fees, and $2.0 million of other one-time transaction charges. The years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 also include insurance costs related to the Company's initial public offering.

(c)Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, impairment of capitalized software, (gains) losses on the sale of assets, and other non-recurring items. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $18.1 million of expense associated with the integration of Sterling, $1.5 million of expenses related to debt refinancing activities, as well as capitalized software impairment charges of approximately $1.2 million.

We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. The following table presents the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the periods presented.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except percentages)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $441395 | $249302 | $237556 |
| Revenues | 1574389 | 860205 | 763761 |
| **Adjusted EBITDA Margin** | **28.0%** | **29.0%** | **31.1%** |

---

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The following table presents a calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin by segment for the periods presented. Refer to Note 17 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented by segment.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except percentages)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Adjusted EBITDA <sup>(1)</sup> |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage Americas | $211560 | $210990 | $221645 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage International | 17434 | 17194 | 15911 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sterling | 212401 | 21118 |  |
| **Adjusted EBITDA** | $441395 | $249302 | $237556 |
| Revenues |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage Americas | $701634 | $658758 | $673075 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage International | 104868 | 96854 | 96832 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sterling | 777194 | 113068 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Less: intersegment eliminations | (9307) | (8475) | (6146) |
| Total revenues | $1574389 | $860205 | $763761 |
| Adjusted EBITDA Margin |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage Americas | 30.2% | 32.0% | 32.9% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;First Advantage International | 16.6% | 17.8% | 16.4% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sterling | 27.3% | 18.7% | n/a |
| **Adjusted EBITDA Margin** | **28.0%** | **29.0%** | **31.1%** |

---

(1)See the reconciliation of net (loss) income to Adjusted EBITDA above. Segment Adjusted EBITDA margins are calculated using segment gross revenues and segment Adjusted EBITDA. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated using consolidated revenues and consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

***Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share***

Similar to Adjusted EBITDA, management believes that Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are strong indicators of our overall operating performance and are useful to our management and investors as measures of comparative operating performance from period to period. We define Adjusted Net Income for a particular period as net (loss) income before taxes adjusted for debt-related costs, acquisition-related depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges, to which we then apply the related effective tax rate. We define Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share as Adjusted Net Income divided by adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted.

Adjusted Net Income was $181.7 million, $123.7 million, and $145.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share was $1.04, $0.82, and $1.00 for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

Adjusted Net Income for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $58.0 million, or 46.9%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $0.22, or 26.8%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share increased during the year ended December 31, 2025, primarily due to the Sterling Acquisition. This increase was offset by fluctuations in interest expense resulting from changes in our capital structure and the dilutive impact of the new shares issued for the Sterling Acquisition.

Adjusted Net Income for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $22.1 million, or 15.1%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased by $0.18, or 18.0%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share declined during the year ended December 31, 2024, as reduced demand from customers more impacted by macroeconomic events contributed to lower revenues and profitability. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share were further impacted by changes in acquisition-related depreciation and amortization and our capital structure that are captured in interest expense.

Gains or losses and actual cash payments and receipts on the Company's interest rate swaps impact the comparability of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share across historical periods. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share is further impacted by the acquisition of Sterling and shares repurchased previously under the Company's Repurchase Program.

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The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income for the periods presented.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Net (loss) income | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| (Benefit) provision for income taxes | (2427) | (4342) | 11183 |
| (Loss) income before provision for income taxes | (37251) | (114615) | 48476 |
| Debt-related charges<sup>(a)</sup> | 16718 | 549 | 12845 |
| Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization<sup>(b)</sup> | 204678 | 112966 | 102659 |
| Share-based compensation<sup>(c)</sup> | 24456 | 31762 | 15265 |
| Transaction and acquisition-related charges<sup>(d)</sup> | 8741 | 128234 | 4364 |
| Integration, restructuring, and other charges<sup>(e)</sup> | 27147 | 5771 | 6938 |
| Adjusted Net Income before income tax effect | 244489 | 164667 | 190547 |
| Less: Adjusted income taxes<sup>(f)</sup> | 62809 | 40953 | 44759 |
| **Adjusted Net Income** | $**181680** | $**123714** | $**145788** |

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The following table presents the calculation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the periods presented.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Diluted net (loss) income per share (GAAP) | $(0.20) | $(0.74) | $0.26 |
| *Adjusted Net Income adjustments per share* |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;(Benefit) provision for income taxes | (0.01) | (0.03) | 0.08 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Debt-related charges<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.09 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization<sup>(b)</sup> | 1.17 | 0.75 | 0.70 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Share-based compensation<sup>(c)</sup> | 0.14 | 0.21 | 0.10 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Transaction and acquisition-related charges<sup>(d)</sup> | 0.05 | 0.85 | 0.03 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Integration, restructuring, and other charges<sup>(e)</sup> | 0.16 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Adjusted income taxes<sup>(f)</sup> | (0.36) | (0.27) | (0.31) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP)** | $1.04 | $0.82 | $1.00 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (GAAP) | 173199004 | 148582226 | 146226096 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Options and restricted stock not included in weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (GAAP) (using treasury stock method) | 1956781 | 2606405 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (Non-GAAP) | 175155785 | 151188631 | 146226096 |

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(a)Represents the loss on extinguishment and non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of debt issuance costs for the 2021 February and 2024 October refinancing of the Company's First Lien Credit Facility. This adjustment also includes the impact of the change in fair value of interest rate swaps, which represents the difference between the fair value gains or losses and actual cash payments and receipts on the interest rate swaps.

(b)Represents the depreciation and amortization expense related to incremental intangible and developed technology assets recorded due to the application of ASC 805, *Business Combinations*. As a result, the purchase accounting related depreciation and amortization expense will recur in future periods until the related assets are fully depreciated or amortized, and the related purchase accounting assets may contribute to revenue generation.

(c)Share-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 includes approximately $7.1 million, $13.1 million, and $6.6 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards. Share-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2024, also includes approximately $4.2 million of incrementally recognized expense associated with the retirements of the Company's former Chief Financial Officer and President, Americas. See Note 10 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for further information.

(d)Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $8.0 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $7.7 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2024 include approximately $125.7 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $41.2 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards, of which $38.9 million related to accelerated vesting for employees terminated after the acquisition, $45.8 million of legal, regulatory, integration, and diligence professional service fees, $16.5 million in debt refinancing costs, $10.7 million in post-combination restructuring expenses, $9.5 million in success-based banking fees, and $2.0 million of other one-time transaction charges. The years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 also include insurance costs related to the Company's initial public offering.

(e)Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, impairment of capitalized software, (gains) losses on the sale of assets, and other non-recurring items. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $18.1 million of expense associated with the integration of Sterling, $1.5 million of expenses related to debt refinancing activities, as well as capitalized software impairment charges of approximately $1.2 million.

(f)Effective tax rates of approximately 25.7%, 24.9% and 23.5% have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, we had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $15.1 million for federal income tax purposes available to reduce future income subject to income taxes. The federal net operating loss carryforward is subject to annual limitation under IRC Section 382, which affects the timing of when these attributes can be used. As a result, the amount of actual cash taxes we may pay for federal income taxes differs significantly from the effective income tax rate computed in accordance with GAAP and from the normalized rate shown above.

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**Liquidity and Capital Resources** 

***Liquidity*** 

The Company's primary liquidity requirements are for working capital, debt service, ongoing investments in software development and other capital expenditures, as well as other strategic initiatives such as the integration of Sterling. In addition, income taxes represent, and are expected to continue to represent, a significant use of cash depending on future profitability and applicable tax rates. The Company's liquidity needs are met primarily through existing balance sheet cash, cash flows from operations, as well as funds available under our revolving credit facility and proceeds from our term loan borrowings, including incremental term loan borrowings incurred to fund the Sterling Acquisition. Our cash flows from operations include cash received from customers, less cash costs to provide services to our customers, which includes general and administrative costs and interest payments.

As of December 31, 2025, we had $240.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and $249.3 million available under our revolving credit facility. As of December 31, 2025, we had $2,114.5 million of total debt outstanding. We believe our cash on hand, together with amounts available under our revolving credit facility and cash provided by operating activities are and will continue to be adequate to meet our operational and business needs in the next 12 months. To the extent additional funds are necessary to meet our long-term liquidity needs as we continue to execute our business strategy, we anticipate that they will be obtained through the incurrence of additional indebtedness, additional equity financings or a combination of these potential sources of funds. In the event that we need access to additional cash, we may not be able to access the credit markets on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Our ability to fund future operating expenses and capital expenditures and our ability to meet future debt service obligations or refinance our indebtedness will depend on our future operating performance, which will be affected by general economic, financial, and other factors that may be beyond our control, including those described under "Risk Factors."

***Dividend*** 

On August 8, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors declared a one-time special cash dividend of $1.50 per share to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2023. Since August 31, 2023 through December 31, 2025, the Company has paid an aggregate cash dividend of $218.1 million with cash from the balance sheet. Any further determination to pay dividends on our capital stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions, and other factors that our Board of Directors considers relevant.

***Credit Agreement*** 

First Advantage Holdings, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was a party to a First Lien Credit Agreement (as amended, "First Lien Credit Agreement"), which provided for a term loan of $766.6 million due January 31, 2027, carrying an interest rate prior to the effectiveness of the 2024 First Lien Credit Agreement of 2.75% to 3.00%, based on the first lien ratio, plus the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York ("SOFR") (subsequent to an amendment in June 2023 to transition the reference rate from LIBOR (the London Interbank Offer Rate)), and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility due July 31, 2026.

In connection with the Sterling Acquisition, on October 31, 2024, the Company refinanced its existing First Lien Credit Agreement and all related Sterling debt (the "2024 First Lien Credit Agreement"). The 2024 First Lien Credit Agreement provided for a term loan of $2.185 billion due October 31, 2031, carrying an interest rate of 3.00% to 3.25%, based on the first lien ratio, plus SOFR and a $250.0 million revolving credit facility due October 31, 2029.

On July 30, 2025, the Company amended its 2024 First Lien Credit Agreement ("2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement") to reduce the interest rate on its term loan facility to a range of 2.50% to 2.75%, based on the first lien ratio, plus SOFR ("First Lien Credit Facility"). The amendment also reduced the interest rate on its revolving credit facility to a range of 2.25% to 2.75%, based on the first lien ratio, plus SOFR ("Amended Revolver").

Borrowings under the 2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to an applicable margin plus, at our option, either (a) a base rate or (b) SOFR, which is subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum. The applicable margins under the agreement are subject to stepdowns based on our first lien net leverage ratio. In addition, the borrower, First Advantage Holdings, LLC is required to pay a commitment fee on any unutilized commitments under the revolving credit facility. The commitment fee rate ranges between 0.25% and 0.50% per annum based on our first lien net leverage ratio. The borrower is also required to pay customary letter of credit fees. The First Lien Credit Facility amortizes in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the principal amount. The Amended Revolver has no amortization.

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The 2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement requires the borrower to prepay outstanding term loans, subject to certain exceptions, with certain proceeds from non-ordinary course asset sales, issuance of debt not permitted by the credit agreement to be incurred and annual excess cash flows. Voluntary prepayments made in connection with certain repricing transactions on or before January 30, 2026, were subject to a 1.00% prepayment premium. Otherwise, the borrower may voluntarily prepay outstanding loans without premium or penalty, other than customary "breakage" costs. Voluntary prepayments reduce the remaining scheduled principal repayment obligations under the term loan.

The 2025 First Lien Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default (including upon a change of control). The 2025 First Lien Credit Agreement also includes a "springing" first lien net leverage ratio test, applicable only to the Amended Revolver, that requires such ratio to be no greater than 7.75:1.00 on the last day of any fiscal quarter if more than 40.0% of the Amended Revolver is utilized on such date.

**Share Repurchase Program**

On February 25, 2026, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of the Company's common stock (the "2026 Repurchase Program") with no expiration date. Stock repurchases may be effected through open market repurchases at prevailing market prices, including through the use of block trades and trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, privately-negotiated transactions, through other transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws, or a combination of these methods on such terms and in such amounts as the Company deems appropriate. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares, and the timing, manner, value, and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company's stock price and liquidity requirements, other business considerations and general market and economic conditions. No shares will be purchased from SLP Fastball Aggregator, L.P. and its affiliates. The Company may discontinue or modify purchases without notice at any time. The Company plans to use its existing cash to fund repurchases made under the 2026 Repurchase Program.

**Cash Flow Analysis** 

***Comparison of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2025 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2023***

The following table is a summary of our cash flow activity for the periods presented:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $195126 | $28196 | $162820 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (54130) | (1651988) | (66847) |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (70757) | 1581065 | (273556) |

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*Cash Flows from Operating Activities* 

For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, net cash provided by operating activities was $195.1 million, $28.2 million, and $162.8 million, respectively.

Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 were positively impacted by revenue growth from existing customers, new customer go-lives, and contributions from the Sterling Acquisition. These benefits were partially offset by interest payments on the Company's term loan and revolving credit facility totaling approximately $160.8 million and the timing of professional service and legal fee payments related to the acquisition and integration of Sterling.

Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 were impacted by the timing of payments of legal, regulatory, professional service, banking, and other one-time fees related to Sterling Acquisition, as well as the cash payout of Sterling converted cash awards. Cash flows from operating activities were further impacted by the continuation of more modest hiring activity from our customers resulting from changes in the hiring environment.

Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 were impacted by the continuation of more modest hiring activity from our customers in the First Advantage Americas segment and softness internationally, resulting from the ongoing uncertainty from the economic environment that began to impact hiring demand in late 2022. Additionally, cash flows from operating activities in 2023 were impacted by a $9.7 million outflow due to working capital.

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*Cash Flows from Investing Activities* 

For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, net cash used in investing activities was $54.1 million, $1,652.0 million, and $66.8 million, respectively.

Cash flows used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 were driven primarily by capitalized software development costs and purchases of property and equipment as the Company continued to make incremental investments in its technology platform.

The cash flows used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 were primarily impacted by the Sterling Acquisition, of which $1,687.2 million was in the form of cash. The remaining investing cash flows were driven primarily by capitalized software development costs and purchases of property and equipment as the Company continued to make incremental investments in its technology platform.

The cash flows used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 were primarily impacted by the $41.1 million Infinite ID acquisition, net of cash acquired and other transaction adjustments. The remaining investing cash flows were driven primarily by capitalized software development costs and purchases of property and equipment as the Company continued to make incremental investments in its technology platform.

*Cash Flows from Financing Activities* 

For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, net cash (used in) provided by financing activities was $(70.8) million, $1,581.1 million, and $(273.6) million, respectively.

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 was primarily driven by $70.5 million of principal repayments on the Company's term loan.

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was driven by the Company's October 2024 refinancing of the First Lien Credit Agreement in connection with the Sterling Acquisition. Cash inflows related to this refinancing were $1,679.1 million, partially offset by cash outflows of $59.2 million. As part of the refinancing, the Company paid $38.2 million related to new debt issuance costs. The remaining outflows primarily consisted of payments on a deferred purchase of a software platform and dividends paid on vested RSUs as a result of the Company's August 2023 one-time special dividend. These outflows were offset partially by cash inflows related to share-based compensation activity.

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 were impacted by the Company's one-time special cash dividend of $1.50 per share and shares repurchased under the Company's Repurchase Program. An aggregate cash dividend of $217.7 million was paid on August 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 4.4 million shares for a total cost of $59.0 million. These outflows were offset partially by cash inflows related to share-based compensation activity.

**Contractual Obligations, Commitments, and Other Contingencies** 

Contractual obligations, commitments, and other contingencies for the Company are comprised of debt, leases, purchase obligations, uncertain tax positions, and other commitments. The following sections provide details of material cash requirements from known contractual and other obligations as of December 31, 2025.

*Debt*

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $2,114.5 million outstanding under its 2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement due October 31, 2031. No principal payments are due within the next 12 months, as detailed further in Note 6 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. Future interest payments associated with the 2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement total $788.7 million, with $137.3 million payable within the next twelve months. Estimated future interest payments are based on the actual interest rates on individual debt and swap agreements outstanding at December 31, 2025. Actual interest rates on our variable rate debt and interest rate swap agreements, and the actual amount of our variable indebtedness could vary from the amounts used to compute the amounts.

As of December 31, 2025, we had no borrowings outstanding under our Revolver.

*Leases*

As of December 31, 2025, total contractual obligations for operating leases were $10.2 million. This excludes operating leases with original maturities of less than one year, which are not recorded in our consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2025, nominal outstanding amounts were due under finance lease agreements.

For further information, see Note 14 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

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*Purchase Obligations*

The Company has entered into a twelve month contract with a third-party service provider which contains a minimum volume commitment. The Company expects to exceed the stipulated minimum volume of purchases required in 2026 through the ordinary course of business.

*Uncertain Tax Positions* 

The Company has accrued approximately $5.2 million for uncertain tax positions and accrued interest and penalties of $1.5 million related to the uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2025. See Note 8 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for further information.

*Other Commitments*

At December 31, 2025, the Company had accrued $8.7 million relating to legal proceedings in which the Company believes a loss is both probable and estimable. See Note 13 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for further information.

**Recent Accounting Pronouncements**

See Note 2 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements.

**Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates**

Our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of consolidated financial statements also requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ significantly from our estimates. To the extent that there are differences between our estimates and actual results, our future financial statement presentation, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will be affected.

We believe that the accounting policies described below involve a significant degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, we believe these are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. For further information, see Note 2 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

***Revenue Recognition***

The Company's primary source of revenues is derived from pre-onboarding background screening and related products provided to our customers on a transactional basis, in which a background screening package or selection of products is ordered by a customer related to a single applicant. Substantially all of the Company's customers are employers, staffing companies, and other businesses or organizations. The Company's revenues are mostly comprised of a significant volume of low-dollar services fulfilled by multiple highly automated, proprietary systems and applications. The processing of transactions and recording of revenue is based on contractual terms with the Company's customers. The Company satisfies its performance obligations and recognizes revenues for its products as the orders are completed and the completed results or reports are transmitted, or otherwise made available. The Company's remaining products, substantially consisting of post-onboarding monitoring, tax consulting, fleet management, and driver qualification services, are delivered over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the products and solutions delivered. To measure the Company's performance over time, the output method is utilized to measure the value to the customer based on the transfer to date of the services promised, with no rights of return once consumed. In these cases, revenues on transactional contracts with a defined price but an undefined quantity is recognized utilizing the right to invoice expedient resulting in revenues being recognized when the service is provided and becomes billable. Additionally, under this practical expedient, the Company is not required to estimate the transaction price. The Company records third-party pass- through fees incurred as part of screening related products on a gross revenue basis, with the related expense recorded as a cost of service expense, as the Company has control over the transaction and is therefore considered to be acting as a principal. The Company records motor vehicle registration and other tax payments paid on behalf of the Company's fleet management customers on a net revenue basis as the Company does not have control over the transaction and therefore is considered to be acting as an agent of the customer. Amounts received from fleet management customers are recorded in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as the funds are not legally restricted.

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***Business Combinations***

We record business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, *Business Combinations*. Under the acquisition method of accounting, identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their acquisition-date fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value is recorded as goodwill. Changes in the estimated fair values of net assets recorded for acquisitions prior to the finalization of more detailed analysis, but not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition, will adjust the amount of the purchase price allocable to goodwill. Measurement period adjustments are recorded in the period in which they occur.

***Long-Lived Assets***

We review long-lived assets held and used by us—including property and equipment primarily consisting of capitalized internal use software, and finite-lived intangible assets—for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be fully recoverable. If an impairment is determined to exist, we calculate any related impairment loss based on the difference between the fair value and carrying values of the respective assets or asset groups.

Internal use software development costs are capitalized during the application development stage of initial development or during development of new features and enhancements. The Company amortizes these costs using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, generally three years. Software costs not meeting the criteria for capitalization are expensed as incurred.

***Goodwill***

We assess goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in business circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. In performing these assessments, management relies on various factors, including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and other market data. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and judgment is required in applying them to the goodwill impairment test. Our annual goodwill impairment test is performed on October 31. We perform additional tests throughout the year when required.

For quantitative goodwill impairment tests, the fair value for each reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow method. Key assumptions for computing fair value include discount rate, long term growth rate, foreign currency exchange rate, and cash flow projections for each reporting unit. No goodwill impairment was recognized for 2025. See Note 2 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for more information on our goodwill impairment testing.

***Income Taxes***

In determining taxable income for our consolidated financial statements, we must make certain estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments affect the calculation of certain tax liabilities and the determination of the recoverability of certain deferred tax assets, which arise from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of revenues and expenses.

In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets, we consider all available positive and negative evidence including our past operating results, the existence of cumulative losses in the most recent years and our forecast of future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income, we develop assumptions including the amount of future pre-tax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates we are using to manage our underlying businesses.

ASC 740 requires a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred income tax assets recorded if, based on the weight of the evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The Company evaluates all of the positive and negative evidence quarterly to determine the need for a valuation allowance. After consideration of all of the evidence, the Company has determined that a valuation allowance of $5.9 million and $5.6 million is necessary at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Changes in tax laws and rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future. We record the effect of a tax rate or law change on our deferred tax assets and liabilities in the period of enactment. Future tax rate or law changes could have a material effect on our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

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In addition, the calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations in the United States and elsewhere. We recognize potential liabilities and record tax liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues in the U.S. and other tax jurisdictions based on estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due in accordance with the authoritative guidance regarding the accounting for uncertain tax positions. These tax liabilities are reflected net of related tax loss carryforwards. We adjust these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances; however, due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the tax liabilities. If our estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, an additional charge to expense would result. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be less than the recorded amounts, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when we determine the liabilities are no longer necessary. The Company classifies interest and penalties associated with its unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense (see Note 8 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report).

**Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.**

As a global company, we are exposed to a variety of market risks, including the effects of changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We monitor and manage these financial exposures as an integral part of our overall risk management program. We use derivative financial instruments for hedging purposes only. We do not use derivatives for speculation purposes.

*Interest Rate Risk*

We had cash and cash equivalents of $240.0 million and $168.7 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Our cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of bank demand deposits. We hold cash and cash equivalents for working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes.

We do not have material exposure to market risk with respect to our cash and cash equivalents as these consist primarily of highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of twelve months or less at December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Our debt includes variable-rate debt and a revolving credit facility that bear interest based on SOFR. As a result, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates on our long-term debt. The carrying value of our long-term debt, excluding finance lease and other long-term obligations, was $2,080.0 million as of December 31, 2025. The carrying value of the Company's term loan approximates its fair value as of December 31, 2025 as the underlying interest rate is tied to SOFR. As of December 31, 2025, a hypothetical 100 basis point change in the interest rate would increase or decrease the interest expense on the First Lien Credit Facility for the next 12 months by approximately $21.1 million. See Note 6 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for more information on our debt offerings and any outstanding debt.

To help manage borrowing costs, we may from time to time enter into interest rate derivative transactions with financial institutions acting as principal counterparties. In 2020, the Company entered into an interest rate collar agreement with a notional amount of $405.0 million through February 2022 that was reduced to $300.0 million from March 2022 through February 2024, with a maturity date of February 29, 2024. In the agreement, we and the counterparty bank agreed to a one-month LIBOR floor of 0.48% and cap of 1.50% on a portion of our term loan facility. In June 2023, the Company transitioned the reference rate from one-month LIBOR to one-month SOFR and reduced the cap to 1.47%.

In February 2023, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $100.0 million that matures on February 28, 2026. The interest rate swap hedged our floating LIBOR rate outstanding debt with a fixed rate of 4.36%. In June 2023, the Company transitioned the reference rate from one-month LIBOR to one-month SOFR and reduced the fixed rate to 4.32%.

In December 2023, the Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements, each with a notional amount of $150.0 million. Effective December 29, 2023, the first interest rate swap agreement hedged our floating SOFR rate outstanding debt with a fixed rate of 3.86%. Effective March 1, 2024, the second interest rate swap agreement hedged our floating SOFR rate outstanding debt with a fixed rate of 3.76%. The interest rate swaps effective December 29, 2023 and March 1, 2024 each mature on December 31, 2026.

In August 2024, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $160.0 million that matures on December 31, 2026. The interest rate swap hedged our floating SOFR rate outstanding debt with a fixed rate of 3.72%.

In November 2024, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $275.0 million that matures on October 31, 2027. The interest rate swap hedged our floating SOFR rate outstanding debt with a fixed rate of 3.94%.

In April 2025, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $250.0 million that matures on April 30, 2028. The interest rate swap hedged our floating SOFR rate outstanding debt with a fixed rate of 3.56%.

Refer to Note 7 to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for more information about our interest rate collar and swap agreements.

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*Foreign Currency Exchange Risk*

We have exposure to the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations due to our global operations. The functional currency of all of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the applicable local currency. Principal foreign currency exposures relate primarily to the British Pound Sterling, Australian Dollar, and Canadian Dollar, and to a lesser extent the Indian Rupee, Singapore Dollar, and Chinese Renminbi.

Balance sheet adjustments resulting from the translation of foreign currency-denominated subsidiary financial statements are accumulated in a separate component of equity. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, except for gains or losses relating to intercompany transactions of a long-term investment nature, which are presented in a separate component of equity as accumulated other comprehensive loss.

We historically have not hedged our investments in foreign subsidiaries or our exposure to transaction gains or losses resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Currency translation income (loss) included in other comprehensive (loss) income were approximately $17.0 million, $(16.2) million, and $1.2 million, for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

*Impact of Inflation*

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Nonetheless, if our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs. Our inability or failure to do so could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

**Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.**

The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this report. An index of those financial statements is found in Item 15 of Part IV of this Annual Report.

**Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.**

None.

**Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.**

**Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures**

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. The term "disclosure controls and procedures" as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosures.

Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving their desired control objectives. Based on the evaluation of management's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, the disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level.

**Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting**

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in management's evaluation pursuant to Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2025 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

------

**Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting**

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), and effected by our Board of Directors, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of our assets;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in *Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013)*. Based on this assessment using those criteria, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2025, the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors. The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which appears in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Form 10-K.

**Item 9B. Other Information.**

*Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements*

During the three months ended December 31, 2025, none of our directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) adopted, terminated, or modified a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K), except as described in the table below.

---

| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  |  | **Trading Arrangement** | **Trading Arrangement** |  |  |
| **Director/Officer Name** | **Title** | **Date of Adoption/Termination** | Rule 10b5-1<sup>(1)</sup> | **Non-Rule 10b5-1** | **Scheduled Expiration Date of Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan**<sup>(2)</sup> | **Aggregate Number of Securities to Be Purchased or Sold** |
| Joelle Smith | President | Adopted December 9, 2025 | X |  | December 2, 2026 | Sale of up to 23,334 shares of common stock in one transaction |

---

(1)Intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c).

(2)A trading plan may also expire on such earlier date that all transactions under the trading plan are completed.

------

*New Equity Awards*

On February 25, 2026, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Company's Board of Directors approved equity awards for the Company's executive officers as part of its review of annual compensation. The equity awards consist of Restricted Stock Units and Nonqualified Stock Options, as each such term is defined in the First Advantage 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, to be granted on March 2, 2026 (the "Grant Date"), as set forth below. The number of Restricted Stock Units to be granted will equal the amount set forth in the table below, divided by the average closing price of First Advantage Common Stock on the twenty days preceding the Grant Date (rounded up to the nearest whole unit), pursuant to the form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 10.8 to this report (Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Agreement), The number of Nonqualified Stock Options to be granted will equal the amount set forth in the table below divided by the fair market value of one Nonqualified Stock Option on the Grant Date determined using a Black-Scholes valuation (rounded up to the nearest whole option) and a per share exercise price equal to the closing price, as reported on NASDAQ, of a share of First Advantage Common Stock on the Grant Date, pursuant to a form of Option Agreement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 10.5 to this report (Form of Standard Option Award Grant Notice and Agreement). Each of the foregoing awards shall vest 25% per year in equal installments, on each of the first four anniversaries of the Vesting Reference Date (shown in the table below), subject to each executive officer's continued employment through each applicable vesting date.

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Officer Name** | **Title** | **Value of <br>Restricted Stock Units** | **Value of <br>Nonqualified Stock Options** | **Vesting <br>Reference Date** |
| Scott Staples | Chief Executive Officer | $2000000 | $3000000 | 3/2/2026 |
| Steven Marks | Chief Financial Officer | 800000 | 1200000 | 3/2/2026 |
| Douglas Nairne | Global Chief Operating Officer | 800000 | 1200000 | 3/2/2026 |
| Joelle M. Smith | President | 1200000 | 1800000 | 3/2/2026 |
| Bret T. Jardine | Chief Legal Officer | 200000 | 300000 | 3/2/2026 |

---

**Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.**

Not Applicable.

------

**PART III**

**Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance.**

We are committed to promoting high standards of ethical business conduct and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. As part of this commitment, we have adopted a written Global Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers, and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Our Global Code of Conduct and Ethics is posted under the "Governance" section on our website, https://investors.fadv.com/. Our Global Code of Conduct and Ethics contains our "code of ethics," as defined in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. We will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of our code of ethics on our website.

The remaining information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after December 31, 2025.

**Item 11. Executive Compensation.**

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after December 31, 2025.

**Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.**

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after December 31, 2025.

**Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.**

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after December 31, 2025.

**Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.**

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after December 31, 2025.

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**PART IV**

**Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.**

**(a)(1) Financial Statements**

Our consolidated financial statements are included in this Annual Report beginning on page F-1.

**(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules**

All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not material or because the information required is already included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

**(a)(3) Exhibits**

The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this Annual Report or are incorporated herein by reference, in each case as indicated below.

------

**Exhibit Index**

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit**<br>**Number** | **Description** |
| 2.1 | [<u>Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 28, 2024, by and among First Advantage Corporation, Sterling Check Corp. and Starter Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of First Advantage's Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024023541/fa-ex2_1.htm) |
| 2.2 | [<u>Waiver of Brazil Antitrust Filing Obligation and Closing Condition, dated as of March 25, 2024, related to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 28, 2024, by and among First Advantage Corporation, Sterling Check Corp. and Starter Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of First Advantage's Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024056995/fa-ex2_2.htm) |
| 3.1 | [<u>Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of First Advantage Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of First Advantage's Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521200542/d12470dex31.htm) |
| 3.2 | [<u>Amended and Restated Bylaws of First Advantage Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of First Advantage's Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521200542/d12470dex32.htm) |
| 4.1 | [<u>Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to First Advantage's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 23, 2022).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017022004413/fa-ex4_1.htm) |
| 10.1 † | [<u>First Advantage Corporation 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of First Advantage's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521200542/d12470dex103.htm) |
| 10.2 † | [<u>First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 12, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017021001382/fa-20210630ex10_2.htm) |
| 10.3 † | [<u>First Amendment to First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2023).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017023040616/fa-ex10_1.htm) |
| 10.4 † | [<u>Form of Standard Option Award Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Program (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on June 25, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521199389/d154811dex45.htm) |
| 10.5 † | [<u>Form of Standard Option Award Grant Notice and Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2022).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017022014791/fa-ex10_3.htm) |
| 10.6 † | [<u>Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Initial Award Grant Notice and Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2022).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017022014791/fa-ex10_1.htm) |
| 10.7 † | [<u>Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Annual Award Grant Notice and Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2022).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017022014791/fa-ex10_2.htm) |
| 10.8 † | [<u>Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2022).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017022014791/fa-ex10_4.htm) |
| 10.9 † | [<u>Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 12, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017021001382/fa-20210630ex10_6.htm) |
| 10.10 † | [<u>Form of Top-Up Option Award Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 12, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017021001382/fa-20210630ex10_7.htm) |
| 10.11 † | [<u>Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement under the First Advantage Corporation 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 14, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521189386/d147929dex107.htm) |
| 10.12 † | [<u>Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement for Named Executive Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2023).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017023020564/fa-ex10_3.htm) |
| 10.13 † | [<u>Form of Option Conversion Notice (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on June 25, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521199389/d154811dex412.htm) |

---

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit**<br>**Number** | <br>**Description** |
| 10.14 † | [<u>Form of Notice re Amendment to Performance Award Vesting for previously issued grants, dated May 10, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2023).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017023040616/fa-ex10_2.htm) |
| 10.15 † | [<u>Employment Offer Letter, dated March 1, 2017, between First Advantage Corporation and Scott Staples (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex103.htm) |
| 10.16 † | [<u>Employment Offer Letter, dated August 14, 2015, between First Advantage Corporation and Joseph Jaeger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex104.htm) |
| 10.17 † | [<u>Amendment to Employment Offer Letter, dated May 19, 2016, between First Advantage Corporation and Joseph Jaeger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex105.htm) |
| 10.18 † | [<u>Employment Offer Letter, dated December 17, 2015, between First Advantage Corporation and David L. Gamsey (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex106.htm) |
| 10.19 † | [<u>Employment Offer Letter, dated March 30, 2011, between STG-Fairway Holdings, Inc. (a predecessor to First Advantage Corporation) and Bret Jardine (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2023).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017023020564/fa-ex10_1.htm) |
| 10.20 † | [<u>Employment Offer Letter, dated May 31, 2017, between First Advantage Corporation and Joelle Smith (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2023).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017023020564/fa-ex10_2.htm) |
| 10.21 † | [<u>Class C LP Unit Grant Agreement, dated February 9, 2020, between Fastball Holdco, L.P. and Scott Staples (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex107.htm) |
| 10.22 † | [<u>Class C LP Unit Grant Agreement, dated February 9, 2020, between Fastball Holdco, L.P. and Joseph Jaeger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex108.htm) |
| 10.23 † | [<u>Class C LP Unit Grant Agreement, dated February 9, 2020, between Fastball Holdco, L.P. and David L. Gamsey (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex109.htm) |
| 10.24 † | [<u>Option Grant Agreement (Class B LP Units), dated February 9, 2020, among Fastball Holdco, L.P., Bret Jardine and First Advantage Background Services Corp (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on June 14, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521189386/d147929dex1016.htm) |
| 10.25† | [<u>Retirement Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2024, between David L. Gamsey and First Advantage Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of First Advantage's Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024093275/fa-ex10_1.htm) |
| 10.26† | [<u>Retirement Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2024, between Joseph Jaeger and First Advantage Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of First Advantage's Form 8-K filed on September 3, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024102822/fa-ex10_1.htm) |
| 10.27†<br>| [<u>Letter Agreement, dated August 6, 2025, between First Advantage Corporation and Steven Marks (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of First Advantage Corporation's Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2025).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312525175442/fa-ex10_1.htm) |
| 10.28†<br>| [<u>First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 6, 2025, between First Advantage Limited, First Advantage Corporation and Douglas Nairne (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of First Advantage Corporation's Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2025).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312525175442/fa-ex10_2.htm) |
| 10.29†<br>| [<u>First Advantage Corporation Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, as amended on August 6, 2025 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of First Advantage Corporation's Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2025).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312525175442/fa-ex10_3.htm) |
| 10.30 | [<u>First Lien Credit Agreement, dated January 31, 2020, among Fastball Parent, Inc., Fastball MergerSub, LLC the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex1010.htm) |
| 10.31 | [<u>Amendment No. 1 to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated February 1, 2021, among Fastball Parent, Inc., First Advantage Holdings, LLC, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex1011.htm) |

---

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit**<br>**Number** | <br>**Description** |
| 10.32<br>| [<u>Amendment No. 2 to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated May 28, 2021, among Fastball Parent, Inc., First Advantage Holdings, LLC, the lenders form time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 filed to First Advantage's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 28, 2021).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000119312521177004/d147929dex1012.htm) |
| 10.33<br>| [<u>Amendment No. 3 to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2023, among First Advantage Holdings, LLC, the revolving lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to First Advantage's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2023).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017023040616/fa-ex10_3.htm) |
| 10.34 | [<u>Amendment No. 4 to the First Lien Credit Agreement, among Fastball Parent, Inc., First Advantage Holdings, LLC, each lender from time to time party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and the Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, dated October 31, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to First Advantage's Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024119269/fa-ex10_2.htm) |
| 10.35 | [<u>Amendment No. 5 to the First Lien Credit Agreement, among Fastball Parent, Inc., First Advantage Holdings, LLC, each lender from time to time party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and the issuing banks party thereto from time to time, dated July 30, 2025 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of First Advantage Corporation's Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2025).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017025102016/fa-ex10_1.htm) |
| 10.36 | [<u>Form of Indemnification Agreement (for directors) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to First Advantage's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 29, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024023094/fa-ex10_34.htm) |
| 10.37 | [<u>Amended and Restated Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2024, by and among First Advantage Corporation, SLP Fastball Aggregator, L.P. and certain stockholders of First Advantage Corporation party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of First Advantage's Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024023541/fa-ex10_3.htm) |
| 19.1 | [<u>First Advantage Corporation Securities Trading Policy.</u>](fa-ex19_1.htm) |
| 21.1 | [<u>Subsidiaries of the Registrant.</u>](fa-ex21_1.htm) |
| 23.1 | [<u>Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.</u>](fa-ex23_1.htm) |
| 31.1 | [<u>Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</u>](fa-ex31_1.htm) |
| 31.2 | [<u>Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</u>](fa-ex31_2.htm) |
| 32.1 | [<u>Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</u>](fa-ex32_1.htm) |
| 32.2 | [<u>Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.</u>](fa-ex32_2.htm) |
| 97.1 | [<u>First Advantage Corporation Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to First Advantage's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 29, 2024).</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1210677/000095017024023094/fa-ex97_1.htm) |
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbase Documents. |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |

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† Compensatory arrangements for director(s) and/or executive officer(s).

The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure

other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that

purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within

the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were

made or at any other time.

**Item 16. Form 10-K Summary**

None.

------

**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized**.**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | FIRST ADVANTAGE CORPORATION | FIRST ADVANTAGE CORPORATION |
| Date: February 26, 2026 | By: | /s/ Steven Marks |
|  |  | **Steven Marks** |
|  |  | **Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer**<br>**(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)** |

---

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name** | **Title** | **Date** |
| /s/ Scott Staples | Chief Executive Officer and Director | February 26, 2026 |
| **Scott Staples** | (principal executive officer) |  |
| /s/ Steven Marks | Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer | February 26, 2026 |
| **Steven Marks** | (principal financial and accounting officer) |  |
| /s/ Joseph Osnoss | Director | February 26, 2026 |
| **Joseph Osnoss** |  |  |
| /s/ Susan R. Bell | Director | February 26, 2026 |
| **Susan R. Bell** |  |  |
| /s/ James L. Clark | Director | February 26, 2026 |
| **James L. Clark** |  |  |
| /s/ Bridgett R. Price | Director | February 26, 2026 |
| **Bridgett R. Price** |  |  |
| /s/ John Rudella | Director | February 26, 2026 |
| **John Rudella** |  |  |
| /s/ Judith Sim | Director | February 26, 2026 |
| **Judith Sim** |  |  |

---

------

**INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| [<u>Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</u>](#report_of_independent_registered_public)(PCAOB ID: 34)  | F-2 |
| [<u>Consolidated Balance Sheets</u>](#balance_sheet_consolidated) | F-5 |
| [<u>Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income</u>](#consolidated_statements_of_operations) | F-6 |
| [<u>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</u>](#consolidated_statements_of_cash_flows) | F-7 |
| [<u>Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity</u>](#statement_of_changes_in_stockholders_eq) | F-8 |
| [<u>Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements</u>](#notes_to_consolidated_financial_statemen) | F-9 |

---

------

**Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of First Advantage Corporation

**Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting**

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of First Advantage Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in *Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)* issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in *Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)* issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025, of the Company and our report dated February 26, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

**Basis for Opinion**

The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

**Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting**

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 26, 2026

------

**Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of First Advantage Corporation

**Opinion on the Financial Statements**

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of First Advantage Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in stockholders' equity, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in *Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)* issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 26, 2026, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

**Basis for Opinion**

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

**Critical Audit Matter**

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

**Revenue – *Refer to Notes 2 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements***

*Critical Audit Matter Description*

A substantial majority of the Company's revenues are derived from pre-onboarding background screening and related services provided to the Company's customers on a transactional basis, in which an individual background screening package or selection of services is ordered by a customer related to a single individual. The Company's revenues are mostly comprised of a significant volume of low-dollar services fulfilled by multiple highly automated, proprietary systems and applications. The processing of transactions and recording of revenue is based on contractual terms with the Company's customers.

We identified revenue as a critical audit matter because the Company's systems to process and record revenue are highly automated. This required an increased extent of effort including the need for us to involve professionals with expertise in information technology ("IT") to identify, test, and evaluate the Company's systems, software applications, and automated controls.

------

*How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit*

Our primary audit procedures related to the Company's systems to process revenue transactions included the following, among others:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•With the assistance of our IT specialists, we:

oIdentified the relevant systems used to process revenue transactions and tested the general IT controls over each of these systems, including testing of user access controls, change management controls, and IT operations controls.

oPerformed testing of monitoring controls, system interface controls, automated controls, and data monitoring controls within the relevant revenue streams.

oTested internal controls within the relevant revenue business processes, including those in place to reconcile the information from various systems to the Company's general ledger.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•We developed expectations of revenue and compared them to the recorded balance.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•For a selection of revenue transactions, we agreed the recorded amounts to source documents and tested the mathematical accuracy of the recorded revenue.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 26, 2026

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.

------

**First Advantage Corporation**

**Consolidated Balance Sheets**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)* | **2025** | **2024** |
| **ASSETS** |  |  |
| CURRENT ASSETS |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cash and cash equivalents | $239998 | $168688 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Restricted cash | 86 | 795 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,084 and $3,832 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively) | 297281 | 266800 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 15323 | 31041 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Income tax receivable | 9010 | 8669 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total current assets | 561698 | 475993 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Property and equipment, net | 250865 | 307539 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Goodwill | 2143604 | 2124528 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Intangible assets, net | 857111 | 987948 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred tax asset, net | 4183 | 5682 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other assets | 16341 | 21203 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $3833802 | $3922893 |
| **LIABILITIES AND EQUITY** |  |  |
| CURRENT LIABILITIES |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accounts payable | $109888 | $120872 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued compensation | 60537 | 52805 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued liabilities | 49140 | 44700 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Current portion of long-term debt |  | 21850 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Current portion of operating lease liability | 3568 | 4245 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Income tax payable | 2298 | 1942 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred revenues | 5028 | 4274 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total current liabilities | 230459 | 250688 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Long-term debt (net of deferred financing costs of $34,498 and $41,861 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively) | 2080039 | 2121289 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred tax liability, net | 190255 | 222738 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating lease liability, less current portion | 5525 | 9149 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other liabilities | 13972 | 11990 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total liabilities | 2520250 | 2615854 |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 13) |  |  |
| **EQUITY** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Common stock - $0.001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 174,190,461 and 173,171,145 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively | 174 | 173 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional paid-in-capital | 1528315 | 1504007 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accumulated deficit | (194632) | (159808) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (20305) | (37333) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total equity | 1313552 | 1307039 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $3833802 | $3922893 |

---

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

------

**First Advantage Corporation**

**Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income**

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| **REVENUES** | $1574389 | $860205 | $763761 |
| OPERATING EXPENSES: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) | 855306 | 448911 | 386777 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Product and technology expense | 101853 | 63817 | 49263 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selling, general, and administrative expense | 236179 | 263942 | 116732 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Depreciation and amortization | 248583 | 145919 | 129473 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total operating expenses | 1441921 | 922589 | 682245 |
| **INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS** | 132468 | (62384) | 81516 |
| OTHER EXPENSE, NET: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Interest expense, net | 168667 | 51848 | 33040 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loss on extinguishment of debt | 1052 | 383 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total other expense, net | 169719 | 52231 | 33040 |
| (LOSS) INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES | (37251) | (114615) | 48476 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Benefit) provision for income taxes | (2427) | (4342) | 11183 |
| **NET (LOSS) INCOME** | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| Foreign currency translation income (loss) | 17028 | (16176) | 1174 |
| **COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME** | $(17796) | $(126449) | $38467 |
| **NET (LOSS) INCOME** | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| Basic net (loss) income per share | $(0.20) | $(0.74) | $0.26 |
| Diluted net (loss) income per share | $(0.20) | $(0.74) | $0.26 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic | 173199004 | 148582226 | 144083808 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted | 173199004 | 148582226 | 146226096 |

---

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

------

**First Advantage Corporation**

**Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows**

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| **CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES** |  |  |  |
| Net (loss) income | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Depreciation and amortization | 248583 | 145919 | 129473 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loss on extinguishment of debt | 1052 | 383 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amortization of deferred financing costs | 6311 | 2619 | 1807 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bad debt expense (recovery) | 705 | 158 | (56) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred taxes | (31011) | (31418) | (19497) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Share-based compensation | 24456 | 31762 | 15265 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loss on foreign currency exchange rates |  |  | 8 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loss (gain) on disposal and impairment of long-lived assets | 2155 | (275) | 1608 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Change in fair value of interest rate swaps | 4842 | (10511) | 116 |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accounts receivable | (29672) | 20775 | 2339 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Prepaid expenses and other assets | 12396 | (1908) | 13440 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accounts payable | (16020) | (25450) | (8503) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued compensation and accrued liabilities | 6380 | 7176 | (9301) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred revenues | 735 | 762 | 788 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating lease liabilities | (35) | (883) | (1378) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other liabilities | (1265) | (961) | 347 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Income taxes receivable and payable, net | 338 | 321 | (929) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net cash provided by operating activities | 195126 | 28196 | 162820 |
| **CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Capitalized software development costs | (47619) | (30545) | (25614) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Purchases of property and equipment | (6633) | (1720) | (2085) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  | (1619812) | (41122) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other investing activities | 122 | 89 | 1974 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net cash used in investing activities | (54130) | (1651988) | (66847) |
| **CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Repayments of First Lien Credit Facility | (70463) | (59200) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans | 3751 | 14653 | 4565 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net settlement of share-based compensation plan awards | (3912) | (14305) | (350) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cash dividends paid | (133) | (255) | (217739) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Borrowings from First Lien Credit Facility |  | 1679093 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Payments of debt issuance costs |  | (38212) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Payments on deferred purchase agreements |  | (703) | (938) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Payments on finance lease obligations |  | (6) | (104) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Share repurchases |  |  | (58990) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (70757) | 1581065 | (273556) |
| Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 362 | (1702) | (301) |
| Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 70601 | (44429) | (177884) |
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period | 169483 | 213912 | 391796 |
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period | $240084 | $169483 | $213912 |
| **SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:** |  |  |  |
| Cash paid for interest | $161803 | $65767 | $45697 |
| **NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:** |  |  |  |
| Property and equipment acquired on account | $3094 | $539 | $118 |
| Non-cash property and equipment additions | $— | $540 | $— |
| Excise taxes on share repurchases incurred but not paid | $— | $— | $490 |
| Dividends declared but not paid | $— | $— | $614 |

---

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

------

**First Advantage Corporation**

**Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity**

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| *(in thousands)* | **Common Stock** | **Additional<br>Paid-In-Capital** | **Accumulated<br>Deficit** | **Accumulated Other<br>Comprehensive Loss** | **Total Stockholders'<br>Equity** |
| **BALANCE – December 31, 2022** | $149 | $1176163 | $(27363) | $(22331) | $1126618 |
| Share-based compensation |  | 15265 |  |  | 15265 |
| Repurchases of common stock | (5) |  | (59475) |  | (59480) |
| Cash dividends declared, $1.50 per share |  | (218353) |  |  | (218353) |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans | 1 | 4565 |  |  | 4566 |
| Common stock withheld for tax obligations on restricted stock unit and option settlement | (0) | (350) |  |  | (350) |
| Foreign currency translation |  |  |  | 1174 | 1174 |
| Net income |  |  | 37293 |  | 37293 |
| **BALANCE – December 31, 2023** | $145 | $977290 | $(49545) | $(21157) | $906733 |
| Share-based compensation |  | 31762 |  |  | 31762 |
| Issuance of common stock upon the acquisition of Sterling Check Corp. | 27 | 490072 |  |  | 490099 |
| Fair value of assumed Sterling equity awards to receive equity awards attributable to pre-combination service |  | 4487 |  |  | 4487 |
| Forfeitures of previously declared cash dividends |  | 48 |  |  | 48 |
| Excise tax on repurchase of common stock |  |  | 10 |  | 10 |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans | 2 | 14653 |  |  | 14655 |
| Net settlement of restricted stock units and option awards | (1) | (14305) |  |  | (14306) |
| Foreign currency translation |  |  |  | (16176) | (16176) |
| Net loss |  |  | (110273) |  | (110273) |
| **BALANCE – December 31, 2024** | $173 | $1504007 | $(159808) | $(37333) | $1307039 |
| Share-based compensation |  | 24456 |  |  | 24456 |
| Forfeitures of previously declared cash dividends |  | 14 |  |  | 14 |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans | 2 | 3749 |  |  | 3751 |
| Common stock withheld for tax obligations on restricted stock unit and option settlement | (1) | (3911) |  |  | (3912) |
| Foreign currency translation |  |  |  | 17028 | 17028 |
| Net loss |  |  | (34824) |  | (34824) |
| **BALANCE – December 31, 2025** | $174 | $1528315 | $(194632) | $(20305) | $1313552 |

---

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

------

**First Advantage Corporation**

**Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements**

**Note 1. Organization, Nature of Business, and Basis of Presentation**

First Advantage Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was formed on November 15, 2019. Hereafter, First Advantage Corporation and its subsidiaries will collectively be referred to as the "Company."

The Company derives its revenues from a variety of background check, identity, and compliance services performed across all phases of the employee lifecycle from pre-onboarding services to post-onboarding and ongoing monitoring services, covering employees, contractors, contingent workers, and drivers. We generally classify our service offerings into three categories: pre-onboarding, post-onboarding, and adjacent products.

Pre-onboarding services are comprised of an extensive array of products and solutions that customers typically utilize to enhance their evaluation process and support compliance from the time a job or other application is submitted to a successful applicant's onboarding date. This includes searches such as criminal background checks, drug / health screenings, extended workforce screening, biometrics and identity checks, education / workforce verification, driver records and compliance, healthcare credentials, and executive screening.

Post-onboarding services are comprised of continuous monitoring and re-screening solutions, which are important tools to help our customers keep their end customers, workforces, and other stakeholders safer, more productive, and more compliant. Our post-monitoring solutions include criminal records, healthcare sanctions, motor vehicle records, social media, and global sanctions screening continuously or at regular intervals selected by our customers.

Adjacent products include products that complement our pre-onboarding and post-onboarding products and solutions. This includes fleet and vehicle compliance, hiring tax credits and incentives, employment eligibility, and investigative research.

**Basis of Presentation** — The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company includes the results of operations of acquired companies prospectively from the date of acquisition.

The Company has historically experienced seasonality with respect to certain customer industries as a result of fluctuations in hiring volumes and other economic activities. Generally, the Company's highest revenues have historically occurred between October and November of each year, driven by many customers' pre-holiday season hiring initiatives. Certain customers across various industries also historically increase their hiring throughout the second quarter of the year as winter concludes, and the school year ends, giving rise to student and graduate hiring, and increased commercial activity tied to outdoor activities.

**Segments** — Operating segments are businesses for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by our chief operating decision maker ("CODM") in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's CODM is determined to be the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO").

The Company's three reportable segments include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***First Advantage Americas.*** This segment pertains to our Legacy First Advantage business and performs a variety of background check and compliance services across all phases of the workforce lifecycle from pre-onboarding services to post-onboarding and ongoing monitoring services, covering employees, contractors, contingent workers, and drivers. We generally classify our service offerings into three categories: pre-onboarding, post-onboarding, and adjacent products. We deliver our solutions across multiple industry verticals in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***First Advantage International.*** The First Advantage International segment pertains to our Legacy First Advantage business and provides services similar to our Americas segment in regions outside of the Americas. We primarily deliver our solutions across multiple industry verticals in the Europe, India, and Asia Pacific.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•***Sterling.*** This segment is comprised of the acquired entity, Sterling Check Corp., which was acquired on October 31, 2024. The Sterling segment provides similar services as compared to First Advantage's Americas and International segments on a global basis.

------

The Company's segment disclosure provides the users of its consolidated financial statements with a view of the business that is consistent with the view of the CODM of the Company. Details of segment results are discussed in Note 17, "Reportable Segments."

**Use of Estimates** — The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Changes in these estimates and assumptions may have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.

Significant estimates, judgments, and assumptions, include, but are not limited to, the determination of the fair value and useful lives of assets acquired and liabilities assumed through business combinations, goodwill impairment, impairment of long-lived assets, revenue recognition, capitalized software, assumptions used for purposes of determining share-based compensation, and income tax liabilities and assets. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

**Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies**

**Fair Value of Financial Instruments** — Certain financial assets and liabilities are reported at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820, *Fair Value Measurement*. ASC 820 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques required by ASC 820 are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect internal market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

*Level 1* — Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

*Level 2* — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

*Level 3* — Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable (supported by little or no market activities). These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that reflect the Company's best estimate of fair value from a market participant.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these financial instruments (Level 1). The fair values and carrying values of the Company's debt are disclosed in Note 6, "Debt".

The following table presents information about the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and their assigned levels within the valuation hierarchy as of December 31, 2025 (in thousands):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Level 1** | **Level 2** | **Level 3** |
| Liabilities |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Interest rate swaps | $— | $6492 | $— |

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*Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis*

Other intangible assets are subject to nonrecurring fair value measurement as the result of business acquisitions. The fair values of these assets were estimated using the present value of expected future cash flows through unobservable inputs (Level 3).

**Cash and Cash Equivalents** — The Company considers cash equivalents to be cash and all short-term investments that have an original maturity of ninety days or less. Interest income earned on short-term investments and interest bearing accounts is included in interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. The Company recorded $3.7 million, $9.6 million, and $13.4 million of interest income for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit are classified as current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit.

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**Accounts Receivable** — Accounts receivable are due from customers in a broad range of industries located throughout the United States and internationally. Credit is extended based on evaluation of the customer's financial condition, and generally, collateral is not required.

The allowance for uncollectible receivables is determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of multiple factors, including historical collection experience, cash payment patterns, specific customer issues, write-off trends, general economic conditions, and other relevant considerations. Management reviews these factors on an ongoing basis to estimate the portion of accounts receivable that is not expected to be collected. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations, the Company records a specific allowance for doubtful accounts against amounts due in order to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount it reasonably believes will be collected. The Company believes that the allowance for doubtful accounts at December 31, 2025 and 2024 is reasonably stated.

**Property and Equipment** — Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Property and equipment include computer software for internal uses either developed internally, acquired by business combination or otherwise purchased. Software development costs, including internal personnel and third-party professional services, are capitalized during the application development stage of initial development or during development of new features and enhancements. Amortization commences when the software is placed into service and is computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the underlying software of three to five years. This is based on the historical observed pace of change in the Company's delivery, technology, and product offerings as well as market competition. The Company amortizes purchased software using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of three to five years and incremental software acquired by business combination on an accelerated basis over its expected useful life of five years. Software development costs not meeting the criteria for capitalization are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation on leasehold improvements is computed on the straight-line method over the shorter of the life of the asset, or the lease term, ranging from one to fifteen years. Depreciation on data processing equipment and furniture and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three to ten years.

**Business Combinations** — The Company records business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, *Business Combinations*. Under the acquisition method of accounting, identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their acquisition-date fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value is recorded as goodwill. Changes in the estimated fair values of net assets recorded for acquisitions prior to the finalization of more detailed analysis, but not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition, will adjust the amount of the purchase price allocable to goodwill. Measurement period adjustments are reflected in the period in which they occur.

In valuing trade names, customer lists, software developed for internal use, and other intangible assets, the Company utilizes variations of the income approach, which relies on historical financial and qualitative information, as well as assumptions and estimates for projected financial information. The Company considers the income approach the most appropriate valuation technique because the inherent value of these assets is their ability to generate current and future income. Projected financial information is subject to risk if estimates are incorrect. The most significant estimate relates to projected revenues and profitability. If the projected revenues and profitability used in the valuation calculations are not met, then the asset could be impaired.

**Goodwill, Trade Names, Customer Lists, and Other Intangible Assets** — The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually as of October 31 or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset below its carrying value. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level using a fair value approach. At October 31, 2025, the Company had three reporting units comprised of First Advantage Americas, First Advantage International, and Sterling. When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company may first perform an optional qualitative assessment. If the Company determines it is not more likely than not the reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value, then no further analysis is necessary. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the quantitative impairment test will be performed. Under the quantitative impairment test, if the carrying amount of the Company's reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to that excess but limited to the total amount of goodwill. No impairment charges have been required.

The Company's trade names are amortized on an accelerated basis over their expected useful lives ranging from five to twenty years. The Company recorded $19.5 million, $9.3 million, and $7.3 million of amortization expense related to trade names for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

Customer lists are amortized on an accelerated basis based upon their estimated useful lives, ranging from thirteen to fourteen years.

The Company recorded $116.7 million, $58.9 million, and $54.6 million of amortization expense related to customer lists for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

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The Company's other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line or accelerated basis over their expected useful life of five years. The Company recorded $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million of amortization expense related to other intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 respectively.

The Company regularly evaluates the amortization period assigned to each intangible asset to determine whether there have been any events or circumstances that warrant revised estimates of useful lives. No impairment charges have been required.

**Income Taxes** — The Company is a U.S. domiciled corporation for tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company has followed ASC 740, *Income Taxes*, which provides for income taxes using the liability method, which requires an asset and liability based approach in accounting for income taxes for all periods presented. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect on future years of temporary differences in the carrying amount of assets and liabilities between financial statements and income tax purposes. Valuation allowances are established when the Company determines that it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company evaluates its effective tax rates regularly and adjusts them when appropriate based on currently available information relative to statutory rates, apportionment factors and the applicable taxable income in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, among other factors.

The Company calculates additional tax provisions, where applicable, related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, which prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. The Company adjusts its estimates of uncertain tax positions periodically because of ongoing examinations by, and settlements with, various taxing authorities, as well as changes in tax laws, regulations, and interpretations. The Company classifies interest and penalties associated with its unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense (see Note 8. "Income Taxes").

**Impairment of Long-Lived Assets** — The Company regularly evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the carrying amount of property and equipment, right of use ("ROU") assets, capitalized software, and finite-life intangible assets may not be recoverable. Conditions that could indicate an impairment assessment is needed include a significant decline in the observable market value of an asset or asset group, a significant change in the extent or manner in which an asset or asset group is used, or a significant adverse change that would indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group is not recoverable. When factors indicate that these long-lived assets or asset groups should be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company assesses the potential impairment by determining whether the carrying value of such long-lived assets or asset groups will be recovered through the future undiscounted cash flows expected from use of the asset or asset group and its eventual disposition. If the carrying amount of the asset or asset group is determined not to be recoverable, an impairment charge is recorded based on the excess, if any, of the carrying amount over fair value. Fair values are determined based on quoted market values or discounted cash flows analyses as applicable. The Company regularly evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the useful lives of property and equipment, ROU assets, capitalized software, and finite-life intangible assets may warrant revision. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recognized impairment losses of $1.2 million, related to retiring legacy acquired platforms. There were no other material impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.

**Leases —** The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC 842, *Leases*. The Company measures ROU assets and liabilities based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. Minimum lease payments include the fixed lease and non-lease components of the agreement, as well as any variable rent payments that depend on an index, initially measured using the index at the lease commencement date. ROU assets are adjusted for any initial direct costs incurred less any lease incentives received, in addition to payments made on or before the commencement date of the lease. The Company recognizes lease expense for leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

As the implicit rate is not readily determinable for most of the Company's lease agreements, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate to determine the initial present value of lease payments. The Company determines if a contract is or contains a lease at inception. The Company has operating and finance leases for office space, data centers, and equipment. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company enters into lease contracts ranging from 1 to 6 years. Some leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from 1 to 5 years or more. The exercise of these lease renewal options is at the Company's sole discretion and typically are not reasonably certain to renew at inception. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term.

**Advertising Costs** — Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. Advertising costs were $4.8 million, $2.9 million, and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

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**Derivative Instruments** — The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations and mitigates interest rate risk through the use of derivative instruments. Interest rate swaps have been entered into to manage a portion of the interest rate risk associated with the Company's variable-rate borrowings.

In accordance with ASC 815, *Derivatives and Hedging*, the derivative instruments are recognized and subsequently measured on the balance sheet at fair value. The Company reviewed its interest rate swaps and determined they do not meet the definition of cash flow hedges. Therefore, the guidance requires that the change in fair value of the interest rate swaps be recognized as a component of income or expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income (see Note 7. "Derivatives").

**Concentrations of Credit Risk** — Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Cash is deposited with major financial institutions and, at times, such balances with each financial institution may be in excess of insured limits. The Company has not experienced, and does not anticipate, any losses with respect to its cash deposits. Accounts receivable represent credit granted to customers for services provided. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally does not require collateral on accounts receivable.

The Company had one customer which represented approximately 12% of its consolidated revenues for both years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, in its First Advantage Americas segment. No other customer represented 10% or more of its revenue for any period presented. No customers represented 10% or more of its consolidated accounts receivable, net for any period presented.

The Company has entered into interest rate derivative agreements with a counterparty bank to reduce its exposure to interest rate volatility. The Company has determined the counterparty bank to be a high credit quality institution. The Company does not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

**Revenue Recognition** — Revenues are recognized when control of the Company's services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services. In accordance with ASC 606, *Revenue from Contracts with Customers* revenues are recognized based on the following steps:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a)Identify the contract with a customer

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b)Identify the performance obligations in the contract

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c)Determine the transaction price

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d)Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e)Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation

A substantial majority of the Company's revenues are derived from pre-onboarding and related services to our customers on a transactional basis, in which an individual background screening package or selection of services is ordered by a customer related to a single individual. Substantially all of the Company's customers are employers, staffing companies, and other businesses or organizations. The Company's revenues are mostly comprised of a significant volume of low-dollar services fulfilled by multiple highly automated, proprietary systems and applications. The processing of transactions and recording of revenue is based on contractual terms with the Company's customers. The Company satisfies its performance obligations and recognizes revenues for services rendered as the orders are completed and the completed reports are transmitted, or otherwise made available. The Company's remaining services, substantially consisting of tax consulting, fleet management, and driver qualification services, are delivered over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the services delivered. To measure the Company's performance over time, the output method is utilized to measure the value to the customer based on the transfer to date of the services promised, with no rights of return once consumed. In these cases, revenues on transactional contracts with a defined price but an undefined quantity are recognized utilizing the right to invoice expedient resulting in revenues being recognized when the service is provided and becomes billable. Additionally, under this practical expedient, the Company is not required to estimate the transaction price.

For revenue arrangements containing multiple services, the Company accounts for the individual service as separate performance obligations if they are distinct, the service is separately identifiable from other terms in the contract, and if a customer can benefit from it on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer. If these criteria are not met, the promised services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation. The Company allocates the contract price to each performance obligation based on the standalone selling prices of each distinct product or service in the contract.

The Company considers negotiated and anticipated incentives and estimated adjustments, including historical collections experience, when recording revenues.

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The Company's contracts with customers generally include standard commercial payment terms acceptable in each region, and do not include any financing components. The Company does not have any significant obligations for refunds, warranties, or similar obligations. The Company records revenues net of sales taxes. Due to the Company's contract terms and the nature of the background screening industry, the Company determined its contract terms for ASC 606 purposes are generally one year or less, but can extend up to three years in limited circumstances. Incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer are recognized as an asset if the benefit of such costs is expected to be longer than one year. Beginning in 2024, incremental costs primarily consist of sales commissions and are amortized over three years, for certain contracts, as management estimates that this corresponds to the period over which a customer benefits from the contract. Deferred commissions as of December 31, 2025 were $2.6 million, of which $1.4 million was included in prepaid expenses and other current assets, and $1.2 million was included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Deferred commissions as of December 31, 2024 were immaterial.

The Company records third-party pass-through fees incurred as part of screening related services on a gross revenue basis, with the related expense recorded as a cost of services expense, as the Company has control over the transaction and is therefore considered to be acting as a principal. The Company records motor vehicle registration and other tax payments paid on behalf of the Company's fleet management customers on a net revenue basis as the Company does not have control over the transaction and therefore, is considered to be acting as an agent of the customer. Amounts received from fleet management customers are recorded in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as the funds are not legally restricted.

Contract balances are generated when the revenues recognized in a given period varies from billing. A contract asset is created when the Company performs a service for a customer and recognizes more revenues than what has been billed. The Company recognizes these contract assets as accounts receivable, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, when a conditional right to consideration exists and transfer of control has occurred. A contract liability is created when the Company transfers a good or service to a customer and recognizes less than what has been billed. The Company recognizes these contract liabilities as deferred revenues, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, when the Company has an obligation to perform services for a customer in the future and has already received consideration from the customer.

**Foreign Currency** — The functional currency of all of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the applicable local currency. The translation of the applicable foreign currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenues and expense accounts using average exchange rates prevailing during the fiscal year. Adjustments resulting from the translation of foreign currency financial statements are accumulated net of tax in a separate component of equity. Foreign currency translation income (loss) included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income were approximately $17.0 million, $(16.2) million, and $1.2 million, for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, except for those relating to intercompany transactions of a long-term investment nature, which are captured in a separate component of equity as accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. Foreign currency transaction income (loss) included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income was approximately $1.0 million, $0.4 million, and $(0.1) million, for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

**Share-based Compensation** — Prior to the Company's 2021 Initial Public Offering ("IPO"), all share-based awards were issued by a parent of the Company under individual grant agreements and the partnership agreement (collectively the "2020 Equity Plan"). Following the IPO, share-based awards are issued to employees and non-employee directors under the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of May 10, 2023, the "2021 Equity Plan"). Both plans were designed with the intention of promoting the long-term success of the Company by attracting, motivating, and retaining key employees of the Company. Additionally, as part of the Sterling Acquisition, certain outstanding equity awards held by Sterling employees were converted into equity awards of the Company ("Sterling Acquisition Awards").

The Company accounts for awards issued in accordance with ASC 718, *Compensation — Stock Compensation*. Management expects to allow its employees granted awards under all plans to bear the risks and rewards normally associated with equity ownership for a reasonable period of time when all requisite vesting requirements have been rendered. No outstanding awards are callable, and therefore, the related share-based awards are classified as equity.

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The calculation of share-based employee compensation expense involves estimates that require management's judgment. These estimates include the fair value of each of the share-based awards granted, which is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. There are four inputs into the Black-Scholes option-pricing model: expected volatility, risk-free interest rates, expected term, and estimated fair value of the underlying unit. The Company estimates expected volatility based on an analysis of guidelines of publicly traded peer companies' historical volatility. The risk-free interest rate is based on the treasury constant maturities rate based on data published by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The expected term of share-based awards granted is derived from historical exercise experience under the Company's share-based plans and represents the period of time that awards granted are expected to be outstanding. Because of the limitations on the sale or transfer of our equity as a privately held company and a lack of historical option exercises as a public company, the Company does not believe our historical exercise pattern is indicative of the pattern we will experience in future periods. The Company has consequently used the simplified method to calculate the expected term, which is the average of the contractual term and vesting period, and plans to continue to use the simplified method until we have sufficient exercise and pricing history. Finally, prior to the IPO, the estimated fair value of the underlying equity was determined using either a transaction valuation or a blend of income and market approaches. After the IPO, the estimated fair value of the underlying equity was based on the observable market price of the Company's equity.

The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based payment awards represent management's best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management's judgment. As a result, if factors change and the Company uses different assumptions, share-based compensation expenses could be materially different in the future. In addition, for awards with a service condition, the Company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur. Therefore, the Company will reverse compensation costs previously recognized when an unvested award is forfeited. For awards with a performance condition, the Company is required to estimate the expected forfeiture rate, and only recognize expenses for those shares expected to vest. The Company estimates the expected forfeiture rate based on the Company's historical data, grant terms, and anticipated plan participant turnover. If the Company's actual forfeiture rate is materially different from its estimate, the share-based compensation expense could be significantly different from what the Company has recorded in the current period.

**Comprehensive Income** — Comprehensive income includes gains and losses from foreign currency translation adjustments, net.

**Net Income Per Share** — Basic net income per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Basic weighted-average shares outstanding excludes nonvested restricted stock. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period after adjusting for the impact of securities that would have a dilutive effect on net income per share. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding is similar to basic weighted-average shares outstanding, except that the weighted-average number of shares is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive common share had been issued, including the dilutive impact of nonvested restricted stock. The Company uses the treasury stock method to incorporate potentially dilutive securities in diluted net income per share.

The potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, had an anti-dilutive effect and were therefore not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the period. The potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2023 had a dilutive effect and were included in the calculation of diluted net income per share for the period.

**Recent Accounting Pronouncements** — In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, *Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (Subtopic 220-40)*. The ASU requires the disaggregated disclosure of specific expense categories, including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and amortization included in each relevant expense caption presented on the statement of operations. The guidance also requires disclosure of a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively, as well as the total amount of selling expenses and an entity's definition of selling expenses. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption of the amendment is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the guidance and its impact to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-06, *Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software*. The ASU removes all references to "development stages" from ASC 350-40 and provides guidance on how to evaluate whether the probable-to-complete recognition threshold has been met. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning on an annual reporting period. The Company does not expect a material impact to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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**Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements** — In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, *Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures*, which requires a public business entity to disclose specific categories in its annual effective tax rate reconciliation and disaggregated information about significant reconciling items by jurisdiction and by nature. The ASU also requires entities to disclose their income tax payments, net of refunds, to international, federal, and state and local jurisdictions. We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2025, resulting in expanded disclosures that improve transparency into our tax positions and payments across jurisdictions.

**Note 3. Acquisitions** 

***2024 Acquisition***

On October 31, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of Sterling Check Corp. ("Sterling" and such acquisition, the "Sterling Acquisition"), a leading provider of background screening and identity verification services. The cash-and-stock transaction valued Sterling at approximately $2.2 billion and was financed through cash on hand and the issuance of new debt and common stock as described in Note 6, "Debt". The Sterling stockholders received consideration of approximately $1,168.1 million in cash and 27.15 million shares of First Advantage common stock with a fair value of $494.6 million. The acquisition extended 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.

Sterling was determined to constitute a business and the Company was deemed to be the acquirer under ASC 805. The Company recorded a preliminary allocation of the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of October 31, 2024.

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recorded measurement period adjustments related to its preliminary allocation of the purchase price. The measurement period adjustments were due to revisions to estimates for working capital and tax balances, resulting in a $0.7 million decrease to current assets, a $5.8 million increase to current liabilities, a $0.1 million increase to deferred tax liabilities, and a $0.2 million decrease to other liabilities. The net impact of these adjustments was a $6.4 million increase to goodwill. The purchase price allocation was finalized as of June 30, 2025.

The following table summarizes the consideration paid and the amounts recognized for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Consideration** |  |
| Cash consideration | $1152163 |
| Plus: fair value of assumed Sterling equity awards to receive cash attributable to pre-combination service | 15905 |
| Plus: repayment of Sterling's outstanding debt | 535046 |
| Plus: fair value of First Advantage common stock issued | 490098 |
| Plus: fair value of assumed Sterling equity awards to receive equity awards attributable to pre-combination service | 4487 |
| **Total fair value of consideration transferred** | $2197699 |
| Current assets | $226800 |
| Property and equipment, including software developed for internal use | 273370 |
| Intangible assets | 717000 |
| Deferred tax asset | 58100 |
| Other assets | 12516 |
| Current liabilities | (155596) |
| Deferred tax liability | (238221) |
| Other liabilities | (16075) |
| **Total identifiable net assets** | $877894 |
| **Goodwill** | $1319805 |

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The fair values and useful lives of the acquired intangible assets by category were as follows (in thousands):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Balance Sheet Location** | **Estimated Fair Values** | **Useful Life<br>(in years)** |
| Customer lists | Intangible assets, net | $655000 | 14 years |
| Software developed for internal use | Property and equipment, net | 259000 | 5 years |
| Trade names | Intangible assets, net | 62000 | 5 years |

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Goodwill recognized is not deductible for tax purposes. Costs incurred by the Company related to the Acquisition were primarily composed of deferred financing costs associated with the new financing structure which have been capitalized within long-term debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets (see Note 6. "Debt") and transaction costs. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 the Company recognized approximately $0.4 million and $68.1 million, respectively, of transaction costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs.

Additionally, for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $7.7 million and $41.2 million, respectively, in compensation expense related to converted cash awards for post-combination services in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, $4.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively, remained unpaid and was included in accrued compensation in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Company recognized $6.7 million and $4.4 million in share-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, related to converted equity awards for post-combination services in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. See Note 10. "Share-based Compensation" for further discussion.

Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 included revenues of $777.2 million and a net income of $46.3 million related to the Company's Sterling segment. For the year ended December 31, 2024, results of operations included revenues of $113.1 million and a net loss of $57.4 million related to the Company's Sterling segment.

***Pro Forma Results***

The following summary, prepared on a pro forma basis pursuant to ASC 805, presents the Company's consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, as if the Sterling Acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2023. The pro forma results below include the impact of certain adjustments related to the amortization of intangible assets, transaction-related costs incurred as of the acquisition date, and interest expense on related borrowings, and in each case, the related income tax effects, as well as certain other post-acquisition adjustments attributable to the Sterling Acquisition. This pro forma presentation does not include any impact of transaction synergies. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that actually would have been achieved had the Sterling Acquisition been consummated as of January 1, 2023.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, unaudited)* | **2024** | **2023** |
| Revenue | $1509560 | $1482850 |
| Net loss | $(138158) | $(193293) |

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***2023 Acquisition***

On September 1, 2023, the Company acquired 100% of the equity interest of a digital identity and biometrics solutions company headquartered in New York for $41.0 million, expanding the Company's network and portfolio of identity solutions in the United States. The acquired company operates under the trade name Infinite ID. The Company recognized $26.2 million of goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets related to this acquisition totaled $13.6 million, of which $3.8 million was attributable to a customer related intangible asset with an estimated useful life of thirteen years, $5.1 million was attributable to developed technology with a useful life of five years, $2.3 million was attributable to a trade name with an estimated useful life of twenty years, and $2.4 million was attributable to other intangible assets with an estimated useful life of five years. Goodwill recognized is not deductible for tax purposes. Results of operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company's First Advantage Americas segment since the date of acquisition.

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**Note 4. Property and Equipment, net**

Property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 consisted of the following (in thousands):

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| Furniture and equipment | $36460 | $32054 |
| Capitalized software for internal use, acquired by business combination | 467477 | 490346 |
| Capitalized software for internal use, developed internally or otherwise purchased | 163266 | 125973 |
| Leasehold improvements | 1284 | 3007 |
| Total property and equipment | 668487 | 651380 |
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | (417622) | (343841) |
| Property and equipment, net | $250865 | $307539 |

---

Depreciation and amortization expense of property and equipment was approximately $111.8 million, $77.2 million, and $67.4 million, for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

------

**Note 5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets**

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 by reportable segment were as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **First Advantage Americas** | **First Advantage International** | **Sterling** | **Total** |
| Balance – December 31, 2023 | $703797 | $116857 | $— | $820654 |
| Acquisitions |  |  | 1313365 | 1313365 |
| Adjustments to initial purchase price allocations | (368) |  |  | (368) |
| Foreign currency translation | (135) | (2516) | (6472) | (9123) |
| Balance – December 31, 2024 | $703294 | $114341 | $1306893 | $2124528 |
| Adjustments to initial purchase price allocations |  |  | 6440 | 6440 |
| Foreign currency translation | 89 | 2060 | 10487 | 12636 |
| Balance – December 31, 2025 | $703383 | $116401 | $1323820 | $2143604 |

---

The following summarizes the gross carrying value and accumulated amortization for the Company's trade names, customer lists, and other intangible assets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2025** | **December 31, 2025** | **December 31, 2025** | **December 31, 2025** |
|  | **Gross<br>Carrying Value** | **Accumulated<br>Amortization** | **Net Carrying<br>Value** | **Useful Life<br>(in years)** |
| Trade names | $158382 | $(58902) | $99480 | 5-20 years |
| Customer lists | 1176608 | (420263) | 756345 | 13-14 years |
| Other intangible assets | 2400 | (1114) | 1286 | 5 years |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total | $1337390 | $(480279) | $857111 |  |

---

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2024** | **December 31, 2024** | **December 31, 2024** | **December 31, 2024** |
|  | **Gross<br>Carrying Value** | **Accumulated<br>Amortization** | **Net Carrying<br>Value** | **Useful Life<br>(in years)** |
| Trade names | $157740 | $(39265) | $118475 | 5-20 years |
| Customer lists | 1170327 | (302632) | 867695 | 13-14 years |
| Other intangible assets | 2400 | (622) | 1778 | 5 years |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total | $1330467 | $(342519) | $987948 |  |

---

Amortization expense of trade names, customer lists, and other intangible assets was approximately $136.7 million, $68.7 million, and $62.1 million, for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

Amortization expense relating to trade names, customer lists, and other intangible assets is expected to be as follows (in thousands):

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **<u>Years Ending December 31,</u>** |  |
| 2026 | $137906 |
| 2027 | 123251 |
| 2028 | 112142 |
| 2029 | 98175 |
| 2030 | 76150 |
| Thereafter | 309487 |
|  | $857111 |

---

------

**Note 6. Debt**

The fair value of the Company's debt obligation approximated its book value as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 and consisted of the following (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| First Lien Credit Facility | $2114537 | $2185000 |
| Less: Current portion of long-term debt |  | (21850) |
| Total long-term debt | $2114537 | $2163150 |
| Less: Deferred financing costs | (34498) | (41861) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Long-term debt, net | $2080039 | $2121289 |

---

First Advantage Holdings, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was a party to a First Lien Credit Agreement (as amended, "First Lien Credit Agreement"), which provided for a term loan of $766.6 million due January 31, 2027, carrying an interest rate prior to the effectiveness of the 2024 First Lien Credit Agreement of 2.75% to 3.00%, based on the first lien ratio, plus the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York ("SOFR") (subsequent to an amendment in June 2023 to transition the reference rate from LIBOR (the London Interbank Offer Rate)), and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility due July 31, 2026.

In connection with the Sterling Acquisition, on October 31, 2024, the Company refinanced its existing First Lien Credit Agreement and all related Sterling debt (the "2024 First Lien Credit Agreement"). The 2024 First Lien Credit Agreement provided for a term loan of $2.185 billion due October 31, 2031, carrying an interest rate of 3.00% to 3.25%, based on the first lien ratio, plus SOFR and a $250.0 million revolving credit facility due October 31, 2029. As a result of the refinancing, the Company incurred $0.4 million of loss on extinguishment of debt during the year ended December 31, 2024, related to the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs.

On July 30, 2025, the Company amended its 2024 First Lien Credit Agreement ("2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement") to reduce the interest rate on its term loan facility to a range of 2.50% to 2.75%, based on the first lien ratio, plus SOFR ("First Lien Credit Facility"). The amendment also reduced the interest rate on its revolving credit facility to a range of 2.25% to 2.75%, based on the first lien ratio, plus SOFR ("Amended Revolver"). The effective interest rate on the First Lien Credit Facility, which is calculated as the contractual interest rates adjusted for the debt issuance costs was 6.97%.

Borrowings under the 2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to an applicable margin plus, at our option, either (a) a base rate or (b) SOFR, which is subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum. The applicable margins under the agreement are subject to stepdowns based on our first lien net leverage ratio. In addition, the borrower, First Advantage Holdings, LLC is required to pay a commitment fee on any unutilized commitments under the revolving credit facility. The commitment fee rate ranges between 0.25% and 0.50% per annum based on our first lien net leverage ratio. The borrower is also required to pay customary letter of credit fees. The First Lien Credit Facility amortizes in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the principal amount. The Amended Revolver has no amortization.

The 2025 Amended First Lien Credit Agreement requires the borrower to prepay outstanding term loans, subject to certain exceptions, with certain proceeds from non-ordinary course asset sales, issuance of debt not permitted by the credit agreement to be incurred and annual excess cash flows. Voluntary prepayments made in connection with certain repricing transactions on or before January 30, 2026, were subject to a 1.00% prepayment premium. Otherwise, the borrower may voluntarily prepay outstanding loans without premium or penalty, other than customary "breakage" costs. Voluntary prepayments reduce the remaining scheduled principal repayment obligations under the term loan.

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company made voluntary principal prepayments totaling $65.0 million on its outstanding term loan. As a result of these prepayments, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million, primarily related to the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs. No prepayment penalties were incurred.

The 2025 First Lien Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default (including upon a change of control). The 2025 First Lien Credit Agreement also includes a "springing" first lien net leverage ratio test, applicable only to the Amended Revolver, that requires such ratio to be no greater than 7.75:1.00 on the last day of any fiscal quarter if more than 40.0% of the Amended Revolver is utilized on such date. As of December 31, 2025, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Amended Revolver and $2,114.5 million outstanding under the First Lien Credit Facility. As the Company had no outstanding amounts under the Amended Revolver, it was not subject to the consolidated first lien leverage ratio covenant. The Company was compliant with all covenants under the agreement as of December 31, 2025.

------

Scheduled maturities of the Company's debt as of December 31, 2025, are as follows (in thousands):

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **<u>Years Ending December 31,</u>** |  |
| 2026 | $— |
| 2027 |  |
| 2028 | 20347 |
| 2029 | 21645 |
| 2030 | 21645 |
| Thereafter | 2050900 |
|  | $2114537 |

---

**Note 7. Derivatives**

To reduce exposure to variability in expected future cash outflows on variable rate debt attributable to the changes in one-month LIBOR, the Company has historically entered into interest rate derivative instruments to economically offset a portion of this risk and may do so in the future. In June 2023, the Company transitioned the reference rate for its interest rate derivative agreements from one-month LIBOR to one-month SOFR.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had the following outstanding derivatives that were not designated as a hedge in qualifying hedging relationships:

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Product** | **Effective Date** | **Maturity Date** | **Notional** | **Rate** |
| Interest rate swap<sup>(a)</sup> | June 30, 2023 | February 28, 2026 | $100.0 million | 4.32% |
| Interest rate swap | December 29, 2023 | December 31, 2026 | $150.0 million | 3.86% |
| Interest rate swap | March 1, 2024 | December 31, 2026 | $150.0 million | 3.76% |
| Interest rate swap | August 31, 2024 | December 31, 2026 | $160.0 million | 3.72% |
| Interest rate swap | October 31, 2024 | October 31, 2027 | $275.0 million | 3.94% |
| Interest rate swap | April 30, 2025 | April 30, 2028 | $250.0 million | 3.56% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) In conjunction with the June 2023 transition of the reference rate from LIBOR to SOFR, the fixed rate was reduced from 4.36% to 4.32%.

Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and are used to manage the Company's exposure to interest rate movements; therefore, the Company has not elected to apply hedge accounting for these instruments.

The following is a summary of location and fair value of the financial positions recorded related to the derivative instruments (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
| **Derivatives not designated<br>as hedging instruments** | **Balance Sheet Location** | **2025** | **2024** |
| Interest rate swaps | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $— | $3110 |
| Interest rate swaps | Accrued liabilities | $6492 | $247 |

---

The following is a summary of location and amount of gains and (losses) recorded related to the derivative instruments (in thousands):

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| **Derivatives not designated<br>as hedging instruments** | **Income Statement Location** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Interest rate collars | Interest expense, net | $— | $951 | $865 |
| Interest rate swaps | Interest expense, net | $(4842) | $9560 | $(981) |

---

------

**Note 8. Income Taxes** 

The Company is a U.S. domiciled corporation for tax purposes. The Company's income tax expense and balance sheet accounts reflect the results of the Company and its subsidiaries.

The domestic and foreign components of (loss) income before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| (Loss) income before provision for income taxes from United States operations | $(83184) | $(144187) | $25250 |
| Income before provision for income taxes from foreign operations | 45933 | 29572 | 23226 |
| (Loss) income before provision for income taxes | $(37251) | $(114615) | $48476 |

---

The domestic and foreign components of the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| **Current** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Federal | $11491 | $14859 | $18486 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;State | 5556 | 3350 | 5772 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Foreign | 13400 | 7385 | 6480 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total Current | $30447 | $25594 | $30738 |
| **Deferred** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Federal | $(25393) | $(26129) | $(16857) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;State | (2314) | (2447) | (2313) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Foreign | (5167) | (1360) | (385) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total Deferred | $(32874) | $(29936) | $(19555) |
| **Total** | $(2427) | $(4342) | $11183 |

---

------

Effective with annual reporting for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company adopted ASU 2023-09. See Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements for additional information on the adoption of ASU 2023-09. A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company's effective tax rate pursuant to the disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-09 for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

---

| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2025** | **2024** | **2024** | **2023** | **2023** |
|  | **Amount** | **Percent** | **Amount** | **Percent** | **Amount** | **Percent** |
| **U.S. Federal Statutory Tax Rate** | $(7823) | 21.00% | $(24070) | 21.00% | $10180 | 21.00% |
| **State and Local Income Taxes, Net of Federal Income Tax Effect**<sup>(1)</sup> | 1964 | (5.27)% | (1328) | 1.16% | 1888 | 3.89% |
| **Effect of Changes in Tax Laws or Rates Enacted in the Current Period** | 256 | (0.69)% | 1711 | (1.49)% | (322) | (0.66)% |
| **Foreign Tax Effects** |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;India |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Withholding Tax | 1402 | (3.76)% | 308 | (0.27)% |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other | 1021 | (2.74)% | 177 | (0.15)% | 420 | 0.87% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other foreign jurisdictions<sup>(2)</sup> | 1087 | (2.92)% | 1912 | (1.67)% | 959 | 1.98% |
| **Effect of Cross-Border Tax Laws** |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income | 942 | (2.53)% | 145 | (0.13)% |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Foreign Derived Intangible Income | (232) | 0.62% | (79) | 0.07% | (170) | (0.35)% |
| **Tax Credits** |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;US research and development credit | (1792) | 4.81% | (1397) | 1.22% | (1918) | (3.96)% |
| **Nontaxable or Nondeductible Items** |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Equity compensation | 992 | (2.66)% | 9986 | (8.71)% | 1630 | 3.36% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nondeductible compensation |  |  | 664 | (0.58)% |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Transaction costs | 17 | (0.05)% | 7176 | (6.26)% | 149 | 0.31% |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Non-Taxable or Non-Deductible Items | (95) | 0.26% | 39 | (0.03)% | 138 | 0.28% |
| **Changes in Unrecognized Tax Benefits** | (101) | 0.27% | (312) | 0.27% | 40 | 0.08% |
| **Adjustments to Prior Period Provision** | (212) | 0.57% | 106 | (0.09)% | (1807) | (3.73)% |
| **Other Adjustments** | 147 | (0.39)% | 620 | (0.54)% | (4) | (0.01)% |
| **Effective Tax Rate** | $(2427) | 6.52% | $(4342) | 3.79% | $11183 | 23.07% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)State income taxes in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect within this category for the year ended December 31, 2025. State income taxes in California, Georgia, Ohio (RITA), and Pennsylvania make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect within this category for the year ended December 31, 2024. State income taxes in Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect within this category for the year ended December 31, 2023.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)Primarily relates to foreign withholding taxes for the year ended December 31, 2025.

The domestic and foreign payments, net of refunds received, related to federal and state income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, were as follows (in thousands) pursuant to the disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-09:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| **Federal** | $12161 | $11100 | $18500 |
| **State** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pennsylvania | 2030 | 1761 | 2286 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other States | 3500 | 3019 | 3042 |
| **Foreign** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Australia | 2288 | 590 | 75 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Canada | 1896 | 328 | 482 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;India | 5651 | 3688 | 3626 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;United Kingdom | 891 | 1546 | 1668 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other countries | 2003 | 1356 | 1944 |
| **Total** | $30420 | $23388 | $31623 |

---

------

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had approximately $164.2 million of accumulated unremitted earnings generated by its foreign subsidiaries. Under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("2017 Tax Act"), a portion of these earnings was subject to U.S. federal taxation with the one-time transition tax. With the exception of certain unremitted earnings in Canada, China, India, and the United Kingdom, the Company asserted indefinite reinvestment on its unremitted earnings as well as any other additional outside basis differences of its foreign subsidiaries at December 31, 2025. Any future reversals could be subject to additional foreign withholding taxes, U.S. state taxes, and certain tax impacts relating to foreign currency exchange effects on any future repatriations of the unremitted earnings.

The primary components of temporary differences that give rise to the Company's net deferred tax liability as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 consist of the following (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| **Deferred tax assets** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Federal net operating loss carryforwards | $3163 | $3219 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;State net operating loss carryforwards | 7157 | 7952 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Foreign net operating loss carryforwards | 7846 | 7613 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred revenues | 452 | 481 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Disallowed interest | 36818 | 21815 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Bad debt reserves | 1807 | 476 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Employee benefits | 8054 | 5565 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Share-based compensation | 4013 | 3473 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued expenses and loss reserves | 2748 | 2876 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Operating lease liability | 2012 | 2693 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Related-party accrued expenses | 4509 | 5272 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Other deferred tax assets | 1662 | 895 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Less: Valuation allowances | (5883) | (5635) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total deferred tax asset | $74358 | $56695 |
| **Deferred tax liabilities** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Customer lists | $(168833) | $(191705) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Trade names | (24498) | (28903) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Prepaid assets | (1865) | (3351) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Goodwill | (23342) | (17615) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Operating lease asset | (2064) | (2823) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Depreciable and other amortizable assets | (37511) | (27104) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Withholding Tax | (2024) | (2178) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Other deferred liabilities | (293) | (72) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total deferred tax liability | $(260430) | $(273751) |
| **Net deferred tax liability** | $(186072) | $(217056) |

---

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company believes that federal, state, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards will be available to reduce future taxable income after taking into account various federal and foreign limitations on the utilization of such net operating loss carryforwards. The net operating loss carryforward balances as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, are as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| Federal | $15061 | $15329 |
| State | 108951 | 91612 |
| Foreign | 32258 | 32296 |
|  | $156270 | $139237 |

---

------

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $15.1 million of U.S. federal net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards acquired in the Sterling Acquisition. These federal NOLs are subject to annual utilization limitations and will begin to expire in 2026. The Company also had a $7.2 million deferred tax asset related to U.S. state NOL carryforwards. These state NOLs include amounts with various expiration dates beginning in 2026, as well as certain state NOLs that may be carried forward indefinitely. In addition, the Company had a $7.8 million deferred tax asset related to foreign NOL carryforwards. These foreign NOLs include amounts that will begin to expire in 2026, along with other foreign NOLs that do not expire and may be carried forward indefinitely.

After consideration of all of the evidence, the Company has determined that a valuation allowance of approximately $5.9 million and $5.6 million is necessary as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, for certain federal and foreign net operating loss carryforwards and other foreign deferred tax assets. The increase in the valuation allowance in 2025 is primarily due to the additional valuation allowance in Australia during the year.

The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations by tax authorities for years before 2012, and state, local, and non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities before 2012.

The aggregate changes in the balance of our gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding accrued interest, for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, were as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Balance, beginning of period | $5662 | $511 | $512 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Adjustments made during purchase accounting window | (167) |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Increases for tax positions related to prior years | 37 |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Decreases for tax positions related to prior years | (400) | (216) | (1) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Acquired tax positions related to prior years |  | 5433 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Effects of foreign currency | 66 | (66) |  |
| Balance, end of period | $5198 | $5662 | $511 |

---

An income tax benefit of approximately $5.2 million would be recorded if these unrecognized tax benefits are recognized. The Company recognizes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties in income tax expense. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, the Company accrued $1.5 million, $1.2 million, and $0.5 million, respectively, for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

On December 15, 2022, member states of the European Union ("EU") formally adopted the EU Pillar Two Directive, which implements a global minimum effective tax rate of 15% consistent with the Organization for Economic Co-operating and Development ("OECD") Pillar Two Framework. Various provisions of the directive became effective beginning on January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025. In addition, several other jurisdictions enacted Pillar Two legislation during 2025, with varying effective dates. As a result of the Sterling acquisition, the Company exceeded the applicable consolidated revenue threshold in 2024 and became subject to Pillar Two rules for the years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. In evaluating its exposure under the Income Inclusion Rule ("IIR"), Undertaxed Profit Rule ("UTPR"), and any applicable Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-Up Taxes ("QDMTT"), the Company applied the Transitional Country-by-Country Reporting ("CbCR") Safe Harbor in accordance with the OECD Administrative Guidance. Based on this assessment, the Company determined that it did not incur any material Pillar Two top-up tax obligations for either of the years ended December 31 2025 and December 31, 2024. The Company will continue to monitor global legislative developments and evaluate the potential impact of Pillar Two on future reporting periods as additional jurisdictions adopt or modify their implementing rules.

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the "OBBBA") was enacted into law in the United States, introducing substantial changes to the U.S. Corporate tax regime. Key provisions of the OBBBA include the reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation, the restoration of immediate expensing for domestic research or experimental ("R&E") expenditures, an elective acceleration of deduction for unamortized domestic R&E expenditures, revised limitations on the deductibility of business interest expense, and modifications to the Global Intangible Low-Tax Income ("GILTI") and Foreign-Derived Intangible Income ("FDII") regimes. The OBBBA includes multiple effective dates, with certain provisions effective tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and others phased in through 2027. In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, the Company reflected the impacts of OBBBA in the interim period that includes the enactment date. The effects of the new legislation, including the remeasurement of applicable deferred tax assets and liabilities, have been incorporated into the Company's income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company continues to evaluate the broader implications of the OBBBA, including potential impacts on future taxable income, the estimated annual effective tax rate, and potential effects of future regulatory or administrative guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service or other relevant tax authorities. Additional impacts, if any, will be recognized in subsequent periods as appropriate.

------

**Note 9. Revenues**

***Performance obligations***

Substantially all of the Company's revenues are recognized at a point in time when the orders are completed and the completed reports are reported, or otherwise made available. For revenues delivered over time, the output method is utilized to measure the value to the customer based on the transfer to date of the services promised, with no rights of return once consumed. In these cases, revenues from transactional contracts with a defined price but an undefined quantity are recognized utilizing the right to invoice expedient, with revenue recognized as the services are provided and become billable. Additionally, under this practical expedient, the Company is not required to estimate the transaction price.

Accordingly, in any period, the Company does not recognize a significant amount of revenues from performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in prior periods and the amount of such revenues recognized for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, were immaterial.

***Contract assets and liabilities***

The contract asset balance was $16.9 million and $5.9 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included in accounts receivable, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The contract liability balance was $5.0 million and $4.3 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included in deferred revenues in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. An immaterial amount of revenue was recognized in the current period related to the beginning balance of deferred revenues.

------

**Note 10. Share-based Compensation**

Share-based compensation expense is recognized in cost of services, product and technology expense, and selling, general, and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Share-based compensation expense |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cost of services | $2198 | $1643 | $1279 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Product and technology expense | 5296 | 3343 | 2246 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selling, general, and administrative expense | 16962 | 26776 | 11740 |
| Total share-based compensation expense | $24456 | $31762 | $15265 |

---

Prior to the IPO, all share-based awards were issued by Fastball Holdco, L.P., the Company's previous parent company, under individual grant agreements and the partnership agreement of such parent company under the 2020 Equity Plan. In connection with the IPO, the Company adopted the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of May 10, 2023, the "2021 Equity Plan").

In May 2023, the Company's Board of Directors approved a modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock (collectively, "Performance Awards") previously issued under its equity plans. The modification, effective May 10, 2023, allowed for unvested and unearned Performance Awards outstanding as of the date of the modification to vest based on time on the fourth, fifth, and sixth anniversaries of the relevant vesting commencement date, as set forth in each grant agreement (the "Vesting Commencement Date"), while preserving the eligibility to vest upon the Company's investors receiving a targeted money-on-money return, subject to continued service. As of the modification date, unrecognized pre-tax non-cash compensation expense related to the Performance Awards, after accounting for the modification, was $28.8 million. The Company is recognizing pre-tax non-cash compensation expense related to the modification of Performance Awards prospectively from the date of modification, on a straight-line basis.

The fair value of the modified restricted stock units and restricted stock was estimated using the closing stock price on the date of modification. The fair value of the modified stock options was estimated on the date of modification using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **Options** |
| Expected stock price volatility | 37.43% |
| Risk-free interest rate | 3.40% |
| Expected term (in years) | 4.67 |
| Fair-value of the underlying unit | $12.61 |

---

In connection with the Company's declaration of a one-time special dividend in August 2023, the exercise price of outstanding stock option awards and stock purchases under the Company's employee stock purchase plan ("ESPP") was reduced by $1.50, in accordance with the non-discretionary anti-dilution provisions of the equity and stock purchase plans.

In August 2024 and September 2024, the Company modified the equity award agreements for its former Chief Financial Officer and President, Americas, respectively, as part of each executive's retirement agreement. The modifications allowed for accelerated vesting of certain unvested equity awards that would have otherwise been forfeited at retirement and modified certain provisions of the outstanding stock option agreements. As a result of the modifications, the related awards were revalued, resulting in an incremental $4.2 million of compensation expense recognized in 2024. Historical exercise prices noted in the below tables have not been adjusted.

In October 2024, as part of the Sterling Acquisition, unvested Sterling restricted stock, restricted stock units, and net option shares underlying in-the-money stock option awards were converted to an unvested cash award, an unvested First Advantage restricted stock award, or a First Advantage restricted stock unit at the holder's election. Converted awards are subject to the same terms and conditions (including vesting) as applied to the replaced Sterling equity award. All out-of-the-money Sterling stock options, whether vested or unvested, were canceled for no consideration.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had approximately $23.3 million of unrecognized pre-tax non-cash compensation expense, related to its equity-based compensation plans. This amount includes approximately $1.3 million related to restricted stock, $11.5 million related to RSUs, and approximately $10.5 million related to stock options. The Company expects to recognize this expense over a weighted average period of 1.0 year.

------

***2020 Equity Plan***

Awards issued under the 2020 Equity Plan consist of options and profit interests and vest based on two criteria: (1) Time — awards vest over five years at a rate of 20% per year; and (2) Performance — awards vest based upon a combination of the five-year time vesting, subject to the Company's investors receiving a targeted money-on-money return. Options issued under the 2020 Equity Plan generally expire ten years after the grant date. No awards have been issued under the plan since the Company's IPO.

A summary of the stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Options** | **Weighted Average Exercise Price** | **Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term** | **Aggregate Intrinsic Value** |
| December 31, 2024 | Grants outstanding | 1602966 | $5.15 |  |  |
|  | Grants exercised | (295955) | $5.12 |  |  |
|  | Grants cancelled/forfeited | (31618) | $5.26 |  |  |
| December 31, 2025 | Grants outstanding | 1275393 | $5.15 | 4.2 Years | $12.0 million |
| December 31, 2025 | Grants vested | 901704 | $5.15 | 4.2 Years | $8.5 million |
| December 31, 2025 | Grants unvested | 373689 | $5.15 |  |  |

---

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was $3.7 million, $3.2 million, and $3.0 million, respectively.

A summary of changes in outstanding options and the related weighted-average exercise price per share for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2024** | **2024** | **2023** | **2023** |
|  | **Options** | **Weighted Average Exercise Price** | **Options** | **Weighted Average Exercise Price** |
| Grants outstanding at the beginning of the year | 1915252 | $5.15 | 2843342 | $6.66 |
| Grants exercised | (255716) | $5.22 | (394375) | $6.06 |
| Grants cancelled/forfeited | (56570) | $5.28 | (533715) | $6.68 |
| Grants outstanding at the end of the year | 1602966 | $5.15 | 1915252 | $5.15 |
| Grants vested | 657192 | $5.14 | 518455 | $5.13 |
| Grants unvested | 945774 | $5.15 | 1396797 | $5.16 |

---

***2021 Equity Plan***

The 2021 Equity Plan is intended to provide a means through which to attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby our directors, officers, employees, consultants, and advisors can acquire and maintain an equity interest in us, or be paid incentive compensation, including incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of our common stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to our welfare and aligning their interests with those of our stockholders. The 2021 Equity Plan provides for the grant of awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, and other equity-based or cash-based awards as determined by the Company's Compensation Committee. The 2021 Equity Plan initially had a total of 17,525,000 shares of common stock reserved. The number of reserved shares automatically increases on the first day of each calendar year commencing on January 1, 2022 and ending on January 1, 2030, in an amount equal to the lesser of (x) 2.5% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (y) a number of shares as determined by the Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2025, 22,395,427 shares were available for issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan.

*Stock Options*

Stock options issued immediately prior to the IPO vest based on two criteria: (1) Time — awards vest annually over five years; and (2) Performance — awards vest based upon a combination of the five-year time vesting, subject to the Company's investors receiving a targeted money-on-money return. Stock options issued after the IPO vest annually, generally over four or five years. Stock options generally expire ten years after the grant date.

------

The fair value for stock options granted for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighed average assumptions:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Expected stock price volatility | 35.69% | 35.43% | 32.99% |
| Risk-free interest rate | 4.04% | 4.18% | 4.00% |
| Expected term (in years) | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.78 |
| Fair-value of the underlying unit | $15.25 | $17.74 | $12.56 |

---

A summary of the option activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 is as follows:

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Options** | **Weighted Average Exercise Price** | **Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term** | **Aggregate Intrinsic Value** |
| December 31, 2024 | Grants outstanding | 4517897 | $14.38 |  |  |
|  | Grants issued | 857183 | $15.25 |  |  |
|  | Grants exercised | (23004) | $13.74 |  |  |
|  | Grants cancelled/forfeited | (126973) | $14.38 |  |  |
| December 31, 2025 | Grants outstanding | 5225103 | $14.52 | 6.8 Years | $4.1 million |
| December 31, 2025 | Grants vested | 3011550 | $13.95 | 6.0 Years | $2.9 million |
| December 31, 2025 | Grants unvested | 2213553 | $15.30 |  |  |

---

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was $0.1 million, $4.6 million, and $0.1 million, respectively.

A summary of changes in outstanding options and the related weighted-average exercise price per share for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2024** | **2024** | **2023** | **2023** |
|  | **Options** | **Weighted Average Exercise Price** | **Options** | **Weighted Average Exercise Price** |
| Grants outstanding at the beginning of the year | 4686659 | $13.61 | 4311662 | $15.24 |
| Grants issued | 819703 | $17.74 | 579745 | $12.56 |
| Grants exercised | (866864) | $13.50 | (22402) | $12.55 |
| Grants cancelled/forfeited | (121601) | $14.56 | (182346) | $13.81 |
| Grants outstanding at the end of the year | 4517897 | $14.38 | 4686659 | $13.61 |
| Grants vested | 1827922 | $13.76 | 1600529 | $13.76 |
| Grants unvested | 2689975 | $14.80 | 3086130 | $13.53 |

---

------

*Restricted Stock Units*

Restricted stock units ("RSU") generally vest annually over three to five years.

A summary of the RSU activity for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 is as follows:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Shares** | **Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value** |
| December 31, 2022 | Nonvested RSUs | 472332 | $16.00 |
|  | Granted | 235903 | $13.46 |
|  | Vested | (150724) | $15.42 |
|  | Forfeited | (50368) | $14.90 |
| December 31, 2023 | Nonvested RSUs | 507143 | $15.10 |
|  | Granted | 526980 | $17.28 |
|  | Vested | (192361) | $14.87 |
|  | Forfeited | (66111) | $15.98 |
| December 31, 2024 | Nonvested RSUs | 775651 | $16.61 |
|  | Granted | 446590 | $15.41 |
|  | Vested | (277313) | $16.47 |
|  | Forfeited | (61396) | $14.76 |
| December 31, 2025 | Nonvested RSUs | 883532 | $16.18 |

---

*Restricted Stock* 

The following table summarizes the restricted stock issued by the Company. These include grants of unvested 2020 Equity Plan profits interests grants that were converted into restricted stock, as well as restricted stock issued to new recipients. The restricted stock granted as a result of the conversion of 2020 Equity Plan profits interests retain the vesting attributes (including original service period vesting start date) of the original award.

A summary of the restricted stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 is as follows:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Shares** | **Weighted Average <br>Grant Date Fair Value** |
| December 31, 2022 | Nonvested restricted stock | 2281300 | $3.85 |
|  | Vested | (326670) | $3.85 |
| December 31, 2023 | Nonvested restricted stock | 1954630 | $8.50 |
|  | Vested | (776887) | $9.69 |
| December 31, 2024 | Nonvested restricted stock | 1177743 | $10.01 |
|  | Vested | (729520) | $11.42 |
| December 31, 2025 | Nonvested restricted stock | 448223 | $11.74 |

---

***Sterling Acquisition Awards*** 

*Restricted Stock Units*

The following table summarizes the RSUs issued by the Company as part of the Sterling Acquisition. These include Sterling restricted stock units and net option shares underlying in-the-money stock option awards that were unvested at close and converted to unvested First Advantage RSUs. The RSUs granted as a result of the conversion retain the vesting attributes (including the original service period vesting start dates) of the original award.

------

A summary of the RSU activity for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 is as follows:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Shares** | **Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value** |
| December 31, 2023 | Nonvested RSUs |  | $— |
|  | Exchanged for RSUs in the Company | 92380 | $18.70 |
|  | Vested | (2674) | $18.70 |
|  | Forfeited | (33) | $18.70 |
| December 31, 2024 | Nonvested RSUs | 89673 | $18.70 |
|  | Vested | (78154) | $18.70 |
|  | Forfeited | (1994) | $18.70 |
| December 31, 2025 | Nonvested RSUs | 9525 | $18.70 |

---

*Restricted Stock*

The following table summarizes the restricted stock issued by the Company as part of the Sterling Acquisition. These include Sterling restricted stock and net option shares underlying in-the-money stock option awards that were unvested at close and converted to unvested First Advantage restricted stock. The restricted stock granted as a result of the conversion retain the vesting attributes (including the original service period vesting start dates) of the original award.

A summary of the restricted stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 is as follows:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Shares** | **Weighted Average <br>Grant Date Fair Value** |
| December 31, 2023 | Nonvested restricted stock |  | $— |
|  | Exchanged for restricted stock in the Company | 929475 | $18.70 |
|  | Vested | (236734) | $18.70 |
|  | Forfeited | (27) | $18.70 |
| December 31, 2024 | Nonvested restricted stock | 692714 | $18.70 |
|  | Vested | (448936) | $18.70 |
|  | Forfeited | (63012) | $18.70 |
| December 31, 2025 | Nonvested restricted stock | 180766 | $18.70 |

---

***2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan*** 

The Company's ESPP allows eligible employees to voluntarily make after-tax contributions of up to 15% of such employee's cash compensation to acquire Company stock during designated offering periods. Each offering period consists of one six-month purchase period. During the holding period, ESPP purchased shares are not eligible for sale or broker transfer. The Company recorded an associated expense of approximately $0.7 million, $0.6 million, and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

***Excess Tax Benefits***

The Company recognized excess tax benefits of approximately $1.0 million, $1.1 million, and $0.3 million associated with equity award exercises and vesting in its income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

**Note 11. Defined Contribution Plan**

The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan that principally consists of a contributory 401(k) savings plan. The Company makes discretionary matching contributions to the 401(k) savings plan based on a percentage of employee contributions. The expense recognized related to the Company's contributions to the 401(k) savings plan for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was approximately $2.6 million, $1.3 million, and $1.2 million, respectively.

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**Note 12. Equity**

***Common and Preferred Stock***

On October 31, 2024, the Company acquired Sterling in a cash-and-stock transaction where certain existing Sterling Stockholders received 27,150,000 shares of First Advantage common stock, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, with a fair value of $494.6 million. A portion of the shares of First Advantage common stock received by Sterling stockholders was converted into Sterling Acquisition Awards and will vest over time.

As of December 31, 2025, no preferred stock had been issued.

***Share Repurchase Program*** 

On August 2, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of the Company's common stock over the 12-month period ending August 2, 2023. On November 8, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors increased the total available amount under the Repurchase Program to $150.0 million and extended the program through December 31, 2023. On February 28, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors further increased the authorization to $200.0 million. On September 14, 2023, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a one-year extension of the $200.0 million share repurchase authorization through December 31, 2024.

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company suspended purchases under the Repurchase Program on February 28, 2024. The Repurchase Program expired on December 31, 2024. During the term of the program, the Company repurchased 9.0 million shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $119.5 million.

The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. As of December 31, 2025, there have been no additional authorizations for share repurchases.

A summary of the stock repurchase activity under the Repurchase Program for the year ended December 31, 2023 is summarized as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended<br>December 31, 2023** |
| Shares repurchased | 4372879 |
| Average price per share | $13.49 |
| Costs recorded to accumulated deficit |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total repurchase costs | $58903 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional associated costs | 572 |
| Total costs recorded to accumulated deficit | $59475 |

---

Repurchased shares of common stock were retired. The par value of repurchased shares was deducted from common stock and the excess repurchase price over par value is reflected as a reduction to accumulated deficit. Additional associated costs include the related brokerage commissions and excise taxes on share repurchases.

***Dividend*** 

On August 8, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors declared a one-time special cash dividend of $1.50 per share to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2023. An aggregate cash dividend of $217.7 million was paid on August 31, 2023. Dividends accrued for unvested RSUs are contingent and payable upon vesting of the underlying award.

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**Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies**

***Litigation***

The Company is involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business. At times, the Company, given the nature of its background screening business, is subject to lawsuits, or potential class action lawsuits, in multiple jurisdictions, related to claims brought primarily by consumers or individuals who were the subject of its screening services.

For all pending matters, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend vigorously or otherwise seek indemnification from other parties as appropriate. However, the Company has recorded a liability of $8.7 million and $11.6 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, for matters that it believes entail a loss that is both probable and estimable. This is included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

The Company will continue to evaluate information as it becomes known and will record an estimate for losses at the time when it is both probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable.

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**Note 14. Leases**

The Company has operating and finance leases for office facilities and equipment. Certain of our leases include rental payments that will adjust periodically for inflation or certain adjustments based on step increases. An insignificant number of our leases contain residual value guarantees and none of our agreements contain material restrictive covenants. Variable rent expenses consist primarily of maintenance, property taxes, and charges based on usage.

The Company rents or subleases certain real estate to third parties. The Company's sublease portfolio consists of operating leases.

The components of lease costs are as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| Operating lease costs |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Fixed | $4476 | $3852 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Short-term | 1824 | 1225 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Variable | 2 | 4 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sub-leases | (1611) | (289) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total operating lease costs | $4691 | $4792 |
| Finance lease costs |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Amortization of leased assets | $13 | $5 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Interest on lease liabilities | 2 | 1 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total finance lease costs | $15 | $6 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total lease cost | $4706 | $4798 |

---

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **Classification** | **2025** | **2024** |
| **Assets** |  |  |  |
| Operating leases |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Right of use operating lease assets | Other assets | $9264 | $13659 |
| Finance leases |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Property and equipment, gross | Property and equipment, net | 5896 | 5897 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accumulated depreciation | Property and equipment, net | (5877) | (5864) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Property and equipment, net | Property and equipment, net | 19 | 33 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total lease assets |  | $9283 | $13692 |
| **Liabilities** |  |  |  |
| Operating leases |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Other current | Current portion of operating lease liability | $3568 | $4245 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Non-current | Operating lease liability, less current portion | 5525 | 9149 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total operating liabilities |  | 9093 | 13394 |
| Finance leases |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Other current | Accrued liabilities | 13 | 13 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Non-current | Other liabilities | 6 | 18 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total finance liabilities |  | 19 | 31 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total lease liabilities |  | $9112 | $13425 |

---

------

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **<u>Years Ending December 31,</u>** | **Operating Leases** | **Finance Leases** | **Total** |
| 2026 | $4143 | $13 | $4156 |
| 2027 | 3159 | 7 | 3166 |
| 2028 | 1871 |  | 1871 |
| 2029 | 924 |  | 924 |
| 2030 | 70 |  | 70 |
| Thereafter |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Total minimum lease payments | $10167 | $20 | $10187 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Less: Imputed interest | (1074) | (1) | (1075) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Present value of minimum lease payments | $9093 | $19 | $9112 |

---

Lease term and discount rates are as follows:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| **Weighted average remaining lease term** |  |  |
| Operating leases | 2.8 Years | 3.4 Years |
| Finance leases | 1.6 Years | 2.6 Years |
| **Weighted average discount rate** |  |  |
| Operating leases | 8.06% | 7.85% |
| Finance leases | 8.21% | 8.20% |

---

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of lease liabilities: |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Operating cash flows from operating leases | $5479 | $4373 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Operating cash flows from finance leases | 1 | 0 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Financing cash flows from finance leases | 17 | 7 |
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Operating leases | $740 | $9956 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Finance leases |  | 41 |
| Amortization: |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Amortization of right-of-use operating lease assets <sup>(1)</sup> | $4506 | $3346 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)Amortization of right of use operating lease assets during the period is reflected in operating lease liabilities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

**Note 15. Related Party Transactions** 

The Company had no material related party transactions.

------

**Note 16. Net (Loss) Income Per Share**

Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share was calculated as follows:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
| *(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)* | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Basic net (loss) income per share | $(0.20) | $(0.74) | $0.26 |
| Diluted net (loss) income per share | $(0.20) | $(0.74) | $0.26 |
| **Numerator:** |  |  |  |
| Net (loss) income | (34824) | (110273) | 37293 |
| **Denominator:** |  |  |  |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic | 173199004 | 148582226 | 144083808 |
| Add options and restricted stock units to purchase units |  |  | 2142288 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted | 173199004 | 148582226 | 146226096 |

---

For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, a total of 4,161,657, 3,630,723, and 4,725,584 stock options, RSUs, and restricted stock awards were excluded from the calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share, respectively, because their effect was anti-dilutive.

**Note 17. Reportable Segments** 

As discussed in Note 1. "Organization, Nature of Business, and Basis of Presentation," we have three reportable segments, First Advantage Americas, First Advantage International, and Sterling. Our CODM uses the performance measure of Adjusted EBITDA, on both a consolidated and a segment basis, to allocate resources and assess performance of our businesses. Our CODM also uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure for both segment and corporate management under our incentive compensation plans.

The segment financial information below aligns with how we report information to our CODM to assess operating performance and how the Company manages the business. Corporate costs are generally allocated to the segments based upon estimated revenue levels and other assumptions that management considers reasonable. Adjusted cost of services consists of amounts paid to third parties for access to government records, other third-party data and services, our internal processing fulfillment and customer care functions, and other cost of services excluding depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expenses, transaction expenses, and integration expenses. Other segment items consist of product and technology and selling, general, and administrative expenses, but similarly excludes depreciation and amortization, share based compensation, and other expenses excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

The CODM does not review the Company's assets by segment as it does not provide additional insights into the performance of our business; therefore, such information is not presented. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as described in Note 1. "Organization, Nature of Business, and Basis of Presentation" and Note 9. "Revenues."

Reconciliations of Segment Adjusted EBITDA to net (loss) income for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 are as follows (in thousands):

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31, 2025** | **Year Ended December 31, 2025** | **Year Ended December 31, 2025** | **Year Ended December 31, 2025** |
|  | **First Advantage Americas** | **First Advantage International** | **Sterling** | **Total** |
| Total revenues | $701634 | $104868 | $777194 | $1583696 |
| Intersegment revenues | (1625) | (5612) | (2070) | (9307) |
| External revenues | $700009 | $99256 | $775124 | $1574389 |
| Less: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Adjusted cost of services | 362247 | 61198 | 439194 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Other segment items | 127827 | 26236 | 125599 |  |
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA | $211560 | $17434 | $212401 | $441395 |
| Adjustments to reconcile to net loss: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Interest expense, net |  |  |  | 168667 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Benefit for income taxes |  |  |  | (2427) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  | 248583 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  | 1052 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Share-based compensation |  |  |  | 24456 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Transaction and acquisition-related charges <sup>(a)</sup> |  |  |  | 8741 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Integration, restructuring, and other charges <sup>(b)</sup> |  |  |  | 27147 |
| **Net loss** |  |  |  | $**(34824)** |

---

------

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31, 2024** | **Year Ended December 31, 2024** | **Year Ended December 31, 2024** | **Year Ended December 31, 2024** |
|  | **First Advantage Americas** | **First Advantage International** | **Sterling** | **Total** |
| Total revenues | $658758 | $96854 | $113068 | $868680 |
| Intersegment revenues | (1867) | (6439) | (169) | (8475) |
| External revenues | $656891 | $90415 | $112899 | $860205 |
| Less: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Adjusted cost of services | 335181 | 53726 | 67827 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Other segment items | 112587 | 25934 | 24123 |  |
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA | $210990 | $17194 | $21118 | $249302 |
| Adjustments to reconcile to net loss: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Interest expense, net |  |  |  | 51848 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Provision for income taxes |  |  |  | (4342) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  | 145919 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  | 383 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Share-based compensation |  |  |  | 31762 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Transaction and acquisition-related charges <sup>(a)</sup> |  |  |  | 128234 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Integration, restructuring, and other charges <sup>(b)</sup> |  |  |  | 5771 |
| **Net loss** |  |  |  | $**(110273)** |

---

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31, 2023** | **Year Ended December 31, 2023** | **Year Ended December 31, 2023** | **Year Ended December 31, 2023** |
|  | **First Advantage Americas** | **First Advantage International** | **Sterling** | **Total** |
| Total revenues | $673075 | $96832 | $— | $769907 |
| Intersegment revenues | (970) | (5176) |  | (6146) |
| External revenues | $672105 | $91656 | $— | $763761 |
| Less: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Adjusted cost of services | 338797 | 54892 |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Other segment items | 112633 | 26029 |  |  |
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA | $221645 | $15911 | $— | $237556 |
| Adjustments to reconcile to net income: |  |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Interest expense, net |  |  |  | 33040 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Provision for income taxes |  |  |  | 11183 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  | 129473 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Share-based compensation |  |  |  | 15265 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Transaction and acquisition-related charges <sup>(a)</sup> |  |  |  | 4364 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Integration, restructuring, and other charges <sup>(b)</sup> |  |  |  | 6938 |
| **Net income** |  |  |  | $**37293** |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $8.0 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $7.7 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2024 include approximately $125.7 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $41.2 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards, of which $38.9 million related to accelerated vesting for employees terminated after the acquisition, $45.8 million of legal, regulatory, integration, and diligence professional service fees, $16.5 million in debt refinancing costs, $10.7 million in post-combination restructuring expenses, $9.5 million in success-based banking fees, and $2.0 million of other one-time transaction charges. The years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 also include insurance costs related to the Company's initial public offering.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, impairment of capitalized software, (gains) losses on the sale of assets, and other non-recurring items. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $18.1 million of expense associated with the integration of Sterling, $1.5 million of expenses related to debt refinancing activities, as well as capitalized software impairment charges of approximately $1.2 million.

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*Geographic Information*

The Company bases revenues by geographic region in which the revenues and invoicing are recorded. Other than the United States, no single country accounted for 10% or more of our total revenues during these periods.

The following summarizes revenues by geographical region (in thousands):

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Revenues |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;United States | $1351024 | $740506 | $660583 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All other countries | 223365 | 119699 | 103178 |
| Total revenues | $1574389 | $860205 | $763761 |

---

The following table sets forth net long-lived assets by geographic area (in thousands):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| Long-lived assets, net |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;United States | $2822176 | $2996933 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;All other countries | 438668 | 436741 |
| Total long-lived assets, net | $3260844 | $3433674 |

---

**Note 18. Subsequent Events**

On January 2, 2026, the Company entered into an agreement to sell certain customer relationships associated with its Recovery Management Solutions services to an unrelated third party for cash consideration. The customers transferred represented less than 0.5% of the Company's consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company retained the underlying technology, data, and other assets used in servicing these customers and will continue to operate the subsidiary's remaining drug health business. Because the transaction does not represent a strategic shift and does not constitute the disposal of a separate major line of business, the related operations are not presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect the transaction to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position. The related accounting impacts of the transaction will be recognized in January 2026.

On February 23, 2026, the Company provided notice of a voluntary principal repayment in the amount of $25.0 million under its First Lien Credit Facility. The repayment is expected to be made in late February 2026 using available cash on hand. The Company does not expect to incur any prepayment penalties in connection with this repayment.

On February 25, 2026, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of the Company's common stock (the "2026 Repurchase Program") with no expiration date. Stock repurchases may be effected through open market repurchases at prevailing market prices, including through the use of block trades and trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, privately-negotiated transactions, through other transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws, or a combination of these methods on such terms and in such amounts as the Company deems appropriate. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares, and the timing, manner, value, and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company's stock price and liquidity requirements, other business considerations and general market and economic conditions. No shares will be purchased from SLP Fastball Aggregator, L.P. and its affiliates. The Company may discontinue or modify purchases without notice at any time. The Company plans to use its existing cash to fund repurchases made under the 2026 Repurchase Program.

------

**Note 19. Condensed Financial Information of Registrant**

**FIRST ADVANTAGE CORPORATION**

**(PARENT COMPANY ONLY)**

**CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS**

**(in thousands, except share and per share data)**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31,** | **December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** |
| **ASSETS** |  |  |
| Investments in subsidiaries | $1222807 | $1240750 |
| **LIABILITIES AND EQUITY** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Liabilities | $— | $— |
| **EQUITY** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Common stock - $0.001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 174,190,461 and 173,171,145 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively | 174 | 173 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional paid-in-capital | 1437570 | 1437718 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accumulated deficit | (194632) | (159808) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accumulated other comprehensive income | (20305) | (37333) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total equity | 1222807 | 1240750 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $1222807 | $1240750 |

---

The accompanying note is an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

**FIRST ADVANTAGE CORPORATION** 

**(PARENT COMPANY ONLY)**

**CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME**

**(in thousands, except share and per share data)**

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **For the Year Ended December 31,** | **For the Year Ended December 31,** | **For the Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Equity in net (loss) income of subsidiaries | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| **NET (LOSS) INCOME** | (34824) | (110273) | 37293 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | 17028 | (16176) | 1174 |
| **COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME** | $(17796) | $(126449) | $38467 |
| **NET (LOSS) INCOME** | $(34824) | $(110273) | $37293 |
| Basic net (loss) income per share | $(0.20) | $(0.74) | $0.26 |
| Diluted net (loss) income per share | $(0.20) | $(0.74) | $0.26 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic | 173199004 | 148582226 | 144083808 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted | 173199004 | 148582226 | 146226096 |

---

A statement of cash flows has not been presented as First Advantage Corporation (parent company) did not have any cash as of, or at any point in time during, the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 or 2023.

The accompanying note is an integral part of these condensed financial statements.

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**Note to Condensed Financial Statements of Registrant (Parent Company Only)**

**Basis of Presentation**

Fastball Intermediate, Inc. was formed on November 15, 2019. In March 2021, Fastball Intermediate, Inc. changed its name to First Advantage Corporation.

These condensed parent company-only financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 12-04, Schedule I of Regulation S-X, as the restricted net assets of the subsidiaries of First Advantage Corporation (as defined in Rule 4-08(e)(3) of Regulation S-X) exceed the specified threshold amount of the consolidated net assets of the Company. Because we have a consolidated accumulated deficit, the 25% threshold described in Rule 4-08 does not apply and any restrictions of net assets at our subsidiaries trigger the requirement to present parent company-only financial information. The ability of First Advantage Corporation's operating subsidiaries to pay dividends may be restricted due to the terms of the subsidiaries' outstanding term loan and revolving credit facility borrowings under the 2025 Amended First lien Credit Agreement, as described in Note 6 to the audited consolidated financial statements.

These condensed parent company-only financial statements have been prepared using the same accounting principles and policies described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, with the only exception being that the parent company accounts for its subsidiaries using the equity method. These condensed parent company-only financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

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## Exhibit 19.1

**Exhibit 19.1**

**FIRST ADVANTAGE CORPORATION**

**<u>SECURITIES TRADING POLICY</u>**

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| This Securities Trading Policy ("***Policy***") contains the following sections: | This Securities Trading Policy ("***Policy***") contains the following sections: |
| 1.0 | General |
| 2.0 | Definitions |
| 3.0 | General Statement of Policy |
| 4.0 | Other Prohibited Transactions |
| 5.0 | Certain Limited Exceptions |
| 6.0 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-clearance of Trades and Other Procedures |
| 7.0 | 10b5-1 and Other Trading Plans/Margin Accounts and Pledges |
| 8.0 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Potential Criminal and Civil Liability and/or Disciplinary Action |
| 9.0 | Broker Requirements for Section 16 Persons |
| 10.0 | Confidentiality |
| 11.0 | Legal Effect of this Policy |

---

**1.0** **General**

1.1First Advantage Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "***Company***") has adopted this Policy to prevent insider trading. Strict adherence to this Policy will help safeguard both the Company's reputation and integrity and your own. This Policy applies to all of the following (collectively, the "***Insiders***"), each of whom must, at all times, comply with the securities laws of the United States and all other applicable jurisdictions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the Company's directors, officers, employees and any other persons the Company determines should be subject to the Policy, such as contractors and consultants (collectively, "***Company Personnel***");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the households of Company Personnel (including any person who lives in the household of Company Personnel whether or not a family member), and any family members of Company Personnel who do not live in their household but whose transactions in Company securities are directed by or subject to the influence or control of Company Personnel (e.g., parents or children who consult with Company Personnel before they trade in Company securities); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•trusts, corporations and other entities, vehicles or accounts controlled by any of such persons.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Policy shall not apply to Silver Lake Group, L.L.C. and/or its affiliates, other than individuals serving as directors in their individual capacity.

1.2Federal securities laws prohibit trading in the securities of a company while aware of "inside" information. These transactions are commonly known as "insider trading". It is also illegal to recommend to others (commonly called "tipping") that they buy, sell or retain the securities of a company to which such inside information relates. This includes any communication providing inside information on social media or other internal or external Internet platforms. Anyone violating these laws is subject to personal liability

------

and could face significant fines and criminal penalties, including imprisonment. Federal securities laws also create a strong incentive for the Company to deter insider trading by its employees. In the normal course of business, Company Personnel may come into possession of inside information concerning the Company, its industry, transactions in which the Company proposes to engage, or customers, partners, vendors or other entities with which the Company does business. Therefore, the Company has established this Policy with respect to trading in its securities or securities of certain other companies. Any violation of this Policy could subject you to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. See Section 8.0.

1.3This Policy concerns compliance as it pertains to the disclosure of inside information regarding the Company or another company and to trading in securities while in possession of such inside information. In addition to requiring that Insiders comply with the letter of the law, it is the Company's policy that Insiders exercise judgment so as to also comply with the spirit of the law and avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

1.4This Policy is intended to protect Insiders and the Company from insider trading violations. However, the matters set forth in this Policy are not intended to replace your responsibility to understand and comply with the legal prohibition on insider trading. Appropriate judgment should be exercised in connection with all securities trading. If you have specific questions regarding this Policy or applicable law, please contact the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee.

**2.0** **Definitions**

2.1<u>Family Members</u>. For purposes of this Policy, the term "***family members***" includes family members who reside with you, anyone else who lives in your household and any family members who do not live in your household but whose transactions are directed by you or are subject to your influence or control. Company Personnel are responsible for the transactions of their family members and therefore should make them aware of the need to confer with them before they trade in the Company's securities or securities of companies we do business with.

2.2<u>Material</u>. Information is generally considered "***Material***" if a reasonable investor would consider it important in deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a security. The information may concern the Company or another company and may be positive or negative. In addition, it should be emphasized that Material information does not have to relate to a company's business; information about the contents of a forthcoming publication in the financial press that is expected to affect the market price of a security could well be Material. Insiders should assume that information that would affect their consideration of whether to trade, or which might tend to influence the price of the security, is Material.

Examples of Material information may include, but are not limited to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•financial results and other operating and performance information;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•guidance on earnings estimates, significant variances in results from previous guidance and changing or confirming such guidance on a later date or other projections of future financial performance;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, tender offers, joint ventures, or changes in assets;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•significant developments with respect to products or technologies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•developments regarding the Company's material intellectual property;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•developments regarding customers or suppliers, including the acquisition or loss of an important contract;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•changes in control or in senior management;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•significant changes in executive compensation policy;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•change in, or dispute with, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm or notification that the Company may no longer rely on such firm's report;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•financings and other events regarding the Company's debt instruments and debt or equity securities *(e.g.*, defaults, calls of securities for redemption, refinancings, amendments, share repurchase plans, stock splits, public or private sales of securities, changes in dividends and changes to the rights of securityholders);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•significant transactions in the Company's securities by the Company or its equityholders;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•financial restatements or significant write-offs;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•significant pending or threatened litigation or governmental investigations or significant developments with respect to litigation, governmental investigations or relations with regulators;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a significant disruption in the Company's operations, or loss, potential loss, breach or unauthorized access of the Company's property or assets, including information technology infrastructure, data and cybersecurity and privacy incidents or events; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•layoffs, furloughs, impending bankruptcy, corporate restructuring, or receivership.

Information that something is likely to happen or even just that it may happen can be Material. Courts often resolve close cases in favor of finding the information Material. Therefore, Insiders should err on the side of caution. Insiders should keep in mind that the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("***SEC***") provide that the mere fact that a person is aware of the information is a bar to trading. It is no excuse that such person's reasons for trading were unrelated to the information.

If you have a question regarding whether specific information may be deemed Material, please contact the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee.

2.3<u>Non-Public Information</u>. For the purpose of this Policy, all Company information is "***Non- Public***" until three criteria have been satisfied:

First, the information must have been widely disseminated by the Company. Generally, Insiders should assume that information has NOT been widely disseminated unless it has been disclosed by the Company in (i) a press release distributed through a widely disseminated news or wire service, (ii) a publicly available filing made with the SEC or (iii) another manner compliant with Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure). For additional information regarding disclosures made in compliance with Regulation FD, see the Company's Policies and Procedures for Compliance with Regulation FD.

Second, the information disseminated must be some form of "official" announcement or disclosure, which, in the case of information about the Company, must be made by the Company. In other words, the fact that rumors, speculation, or statements attributed to unidentified sources are public is insufficient to be considered widely disseminated even when the rumors, speculation, or statements are accurate.

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Third, after the information has been disseminated, a period of time must pass sufficient for the information to be absorbed by the general public. As a general rule, information should not be considered fully absorbed until after at least one full trading session has elapsed on the Nasdaq Stock Market ("***Nasdaq***") after the information has been publicly disclosed in a manner compliant with Regulation FD.

2.4<u>Restricted Persons.</u> The term "Restricted Persons" means Permanent Restricted Persons and Other Restricted Persons, as those terms are defined in Section 6.0.

2.5<u>Section 16 Persons:</u> The term "***Section 16 Persons***" means the Company's directors and "officers" (as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "***Exchange Act***")), as designated by the Company from time to time.

2.6<u>Security or Securities</u>. The term "***security***" or "***securities***" is defined very broadly by the securities laws and includes stock (common and preferred), stock options, warrants, bonds, notes, debentures, convertible instruments, put or call options (*i.e.*, exchange-traded options), or other similar instruments.

2.7<u>Trade or Trading</u>. The term "***trade***" or "***trading***" means broadly any purchase, sale or other transaction to acquire, transfer or dispose of securities, including derivative exercises, gifts or other contributions, pledges, exercises of stock options granted under the Company's stock plans, sales of stock acquired upon the exercise of options and trades made under an employee benefit plan such as a 401(k) plan.

**3.0** **General Statement of Policy**

3.1<u>Trading in Securities of the Company</u>. It is the policy of the Company that the Company and its directors, officers and employees comply with all federal and state securities laws and regulations applicable to the purchase and sale of the Company's securities. Accordingly, no Insider may trade the Company's securities at any time when the Insider has Material Non-Public Information concerning the Company. It is the responsibility of the Insider to be certain that he or she does not have Material Non-Public Information when determining to trade. For certain limited exceptions from prohibitions on trading imposed by this Policy, see Section 5.0 below.

3.2<u>Trading in Securities of Other Companies</u>. No Insider may trade securities of another company with which the Company has a business relationship (including, without limitation, our customers, vendors, suppliers or partners) at any time when the Insider has non-public information that was obtained, in whole or in part, as a result of the Insider's employment or relationship to the Company to the extent that such non-public information (regardless of its subject matter) may be material to the securities of the company that would be traded.

3.3<u>Tipping.</u> No Insider may disclose ("***tip***") Material Non-Public Information to any other person (including family members), and no Insider may make trading recommendations on the basis of Material Non-Public Information. In addition, Insiders should take care before trading on the recommendation of others to ensure that the recommendation is not the result of an illegal "tip."

3.4<u>Communications</u>. No Insider who receives or has access to the Company's Material Non-Public Information may comment on stock price movements or rumors of other corporate developments (including discussions in Internet "chat rooms" or on social media platforms) that are of possible significance to the investing public unless it is part of the Insider's job (such as Investor Relations) or the Insider has been specifically authorized in accordance with the Company's Policy and Procedures for Compliance with Regulation FD, which prohibits selective disclosure of Material Non-Public Information to market participants by persons acting on behalf of the Company. If you comment on corporate developments, stock price movements or rumors or disclose Material Non-Public Information to a third

------

party, you must contact the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee immediately. In addition, it is generally the practice of the Company not to respond to inquiries and/or rumors concerning the Company's affairs. If you receive inquiries concerning the Company from the media or inquiries from securities analysts or other members of the financial community, you should refer such inquiries, without comment, to the Company's Chief Financial Officer, the head of investor relations or the Chief Legal Officer or their respective designees.

3.5<u>Window Periods</u>. Even if you are not aware of any Material Non-Public Information, certain Insiders may only trade in the Company's securities during the four "Window Periods" that occur each fiscal year or in connection with an SEC-registered underwritten secondary offering of the Company. See Section 5.0. Certain of these persons must also receive pre-approval prior to any transaction involving the Company's securities. See Section 6.0.

3.6<u>Policy Effective Time</u>. An Insider who is aware of Material Non-Public Information when he or she ceases to be an Insider, may not trade in the Company's securities until that information has become public or is no longer material. In addition, this Policy continues in effect for all Restricted Persons until the opening of the first Window Period after termination of employment or other relationship with the Company, except that, unless notified otherwise by the Company, the pre-clearance requirements set forth in Section 6.0 continue to apply to Permanent Restricted Persons for six months after the termination of their status as a Permanent Restricted Person. See Section 6.3. If you have specific questions regarding this Policy, what may constitute Material Non-Public Information or applicable law, please contact the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee.

**4.0** **Other Prohibited Transactions**

4.1<u>No Short Sales, Hedging or Speculative Transactions</u>. No Insider, whether or not he or she possesses Material Non-Public Information, may trade in options, warrants, puts and calls or similar instruments on the Company's securities or sell such securities "short" (i.e., selling stock that is not owned and borrowing the shares to make delivery) or engage in speculative trading (e.g., "day-trading") that is intended to take advantage of short-term price fluctuations. Such activities may put the personal gain of the Insider in conflict with the best interests of the Company and its securityholders or otherwise give the appearance of impropriety. No Insider may engage in any transactions (including variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Company's equity securities.

4.2<u>Managed Accounts</u>*.* If you have a managed account (where another person has been given discretion or authority to trade without your prior approval), you should advise your broker or investment advisor not to trade in Company securities at any time.

4.3<u>Standing or Limit Orders.</u> Standing and limit orders (except standing and limit orders under approved Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, as described below) create heightened risks for insider trading violations similar to the use of margin accounts. There is no control over the timing of purchases or sales that result from standing instructions to a broker, and as a result, the broker could execute a transaction when an Insider is in possession of Material Non-Public Information. Accordingly, the Company generally discourages the use of standing or limit orders by Insiders. Any standing order or limit order placed by an Insider on the Company's securities should be limited to a short duration, must comply with the restrictions and procedures outlined in this Policy (including any applicable Window Periods and pre-clearance requirements), and (except standing and limit orders under approved Rule 10b5-1 trading plans) must be immediately revoked by the Insider upon acquisition of Material Non-Public Information or notice by the Company of a Special Blackout (as defined below) pursuant to Section 6.5.

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**5.0** **Certain Limited Exceptions**

The prohibition on trading in the Company's securities set forth in Section 3.0 above does not apply to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Transferring shares to an entity that does not involve a change in the beneficial ownership of the shares (for example, to an inter vivos trust of which you are the sole beneficiary during your lifetime), provided that prior written notice of such distribution or transfer is provided to the Legal Department.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The exercise of stock options (including any net-settled stock option exercise) pursuant to our equity incentive plans; *however, the sale of any stock acquired upon such exercise, including as part of a broker-assisted cashless exercise of an option or any other market sale for the purpose of generating the cash needed to pay the exercise price of an option or to satisfy tax withholding requirements, is subject to this Policy*.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The withholding by the Company (whether mandated by the Company or pursuant to a tax withholding right) of shares of restricted stock, shares underlying restricted stock units or shares subject to an option, in each case, to satisfy tax withholding requirements.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The execution of transactions pursuant to a trading plan that complies with SEC Rule 10b5-1 and which has been approved by the Company. See Section 7.1.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Sales of the Company's securities as a selling stockholder in a registered public offering in accordance with applicable securities laws.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•To the extent the Company offers its securities as an investment option in the Company's 401(k) plan, the purchase of stock through the Company's 401(k) plan through regular payroll deductions; however, the sale of any such stock and the election to transfer funds into or out of, the election to increase or decrease the percentage of periodic contributions allocated to the stock fund, or a loan with respect to amounts invested in, the stock fund is subject to this Policy.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•To the extent the Company offers its securities as an investment option in an employee stock purchase plan, the purchase of stock through the Company's employee stock purchase plan*; however, elections to participate in such plan, the sale of any such stock and changing instructions regarding the level of withholding contributions which are used to purchase stock is subject to this Policy*.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Trading in mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) holding Company securities at any time, that are either based on broad indexes, such as Standard & Poor's, or on targeted sectors with portfolio holdings of at least 30 or more companies.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•To the extent the Company offers a dividend reinvestment plan ("***DRIP***"), the purchase of stock through the DRIP resulting from reinvestment of dividends paid on the Company's securities; *however, (i) a voluntary purchase of the Company's securities that results from additional contributions a participant chooses to make to the DRIP, and to a participant's election to participate, cease participation or otherwise alter his or her participation in the DRIP, and (ii) a participant's sale of any of the Company's securities purchased pursuant to the DRIP, are subject to this Policy.*

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**6.0** **Pre-clearance of Trades and Other Procedures**

6.1<u>Permanent Restricted Persons</u>. The following are "Permanent Restricted Persons":

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Section 16 Persons; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•any person who lives in the household of a Section 16 Person whether or not a family member, and any of their family members who do not live in their household but whose transactions in Company securities they direct, influence, or control (e.g., parents or children who consult with such Section 16 Person before they trade in Company securities), and trusts, corporations and other entities influenced or controlled by any of such persons.

Permanent Restricted Persons must obtain the advance approval of the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee in accordance with Section 6.3 before effecting trades of, or engaging in other transactions in, the Company's securities, including, but not limited to, any purchase or sale, any exercise of an option (whether cashless or otherwise), gifts, loans, pledges, rights or warrant to purchase or sell such securities, contribution to a trust or other transfers, whether the transaction is for the individual's own account, one over which they exercise control or one in which they have a beneficial interest.

6.2<u>Other Restricted Persons</u>. From time to time, the Company will notify persons other than Permanent Restricted Persons that they are subject to the pre-clearance requirements set forth in Section 6.3 and/or the Window Periods set forth in Section 6.4 if the Company believes that, in the normal course of their duties, they are likely to have regular access to Material Non-Public Information ("***Other Restricted Persons***"). Examples of such persons include senior leadership and other employees working in Legal, Finance, Sales and Marketing, Information Technology and Corporate Development Departments, any person who lives in the household of such Other Restricted Persons, whether or not a family member, and any of their family members who do not live in their household but whose transactions in Company securities they direct, influence, or control (e.g., parents or children who consult with such Other Restricted Person before they trade in Company securities), and trusts, corporations and other entities influenced or controlled by any of such persons, and certain key support employees. Any person notified of their status as an Other Restricted Person will remain an Other Restricted Person subject to the pre-clearance requirements set forth in Section 6.3 and/or the Window Periods set forth in Section 6.4, as applicable, unless otherwise notified in writing by the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee. Occasionally, certain individuals may have access to Material Non-Public Information for a limited period of time. During such a period, such persons may be notified that they are also Other Restricted Persons who will be subject to the pre-clearance requirements set forth in Section 6.3 and/or the Window Period restrictions set forth in Section 6.4.

6.3<u>Pre-Clearance Procedures</u>. Subject to Section 7.1, Permanent Restricted Persons and Other Restricted Persons who are notified that they are subject to the pre-clearance requirements of this Section 6.3 should submit a request for pre-clearance to the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee at least two business days in advance of the proposed transaction (two weeks in the case of using shares as collateral for a loan (see Section 7.2)) by emailing the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee a copy of the attached "Request for Approval" form. Approval must be in writing, specifying the securities involved. **Approval for transactions will generally be granted only during a Window Period (described in Section 6.4 below) and the transaction may only be performed during the Window Period in which the approval was granted and in any event within two business days from the date of approval, *provided* that notwithstanding receipt of pre-clearance, you may not trade in Company securities if you subsequently become aware of Material Non-Public Information prior to effecting the transaction.** Unless notified otherwise by the Company, Permanent Restricted Persons must comply with these pre-clearance requirements for six months after the termination of their status as a Permanent Restricted Person.

------

6.4<u>Window Periods</u>. The Company has established four "windows" of time during the fiscal year ("***Window Periods***") during which Request for Approval forms may be approved and trading may be performed by Restricted Persons. Each Window Period begins after one full trading session on the Nasdaq has been completed after the Company makes a public news release of its quarterly or annual earnings for the prior fiscal quarter or year. Assuming Nasdaq is open each day, the following example illustrates when such persons may trade after the Company's public news release of its quarterly or annual earnings for the prior fiscal quarter or year:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| <u>Announcement on Tuesday</u> | <u>First Day of Trading</u> |
| Before market opens | Wednesday |
| While market is open | Thursday |
| After market closes | Thursday |

---

That same Window Period closes at the close of trading on the last trading day that is two weeks prior to the end of the then current fiscal quarter. After the close of the Window Period, except as set forth in Section 5.0 above, Restricted Persons may not trade in any of the Company's securities at least until the start of the next Window Period. The prohibition against trading while aware of, or tipping of, Material Non-Public Information applies even during a Window Period. For example, if during a Window Period, a material acquisition or divestiture is pending or a forthcoming publication in the financial press may affect the relevant securities market, you may not trade in the Company's securities. You must consult the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee whenever you are in doubt.

6.5<u>Special Blackouts</u>. From time to time, the Company may require that directors, officers, selected employees and/or others be prohibited from trading in the Company's securities, including during a Window Period, regardless of any other provision of this Policy because of developments that have not yet been disclosed to the public. If the Company declares a blackout to which you are subject, then a member of the Legal Department will notify you when the blackout begins and when it ends. *All those affected shall not trade in the Company's securities while the suspension is in effect, and shall not disclose to others inside or outside the Company that trading has been suspended for certain individuals*. Though these blackouts generally will arise because the Company is involved in a highly- sensitive transaction, incident or event, they may be declared for any reason.

6.6<u>Notification of Window Periods</u>. In order to assist you in complying with this Policy, the Company will endeavor to deliver an e-mail (or other communication) notifying all Restricted Persons when the Window Period has opened and when the Window Period closes. The Company's delivery or non-delivery of these e-mails (or other communication) does not relieve you of your obligation to only trade in the Company's securities in full compliance with this Policy.

6.7<u>Hardship Exemptions</u>. Those subject to the Window Periods or a blackout pursuant to Section 6.5 may request a hardship exemption for periods outside the Window Periods or during a blackout, as applicable, if they are not in possession of Material Non-Public Information and are not otherwise prohibited from trading pursuant to this Policy. Hardship exemptions are granted infrequently and only in exceptional circumstances. Any request for a hardship exemption should be made to the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee.

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**7.0** **10b5-1 and Other Trading Plans/Margin Accounts and Pledges**

7.1<u>10b5-1 Trading Plans</u>. SEC Rule 10b5-1 provides generally that a purchase or sale is "on the basis" of Material Non-Public Information if the person engaging in the transaction is aware of the Material Non-Public Information when the person makes the purchase or sale. A 10b5-1 trading plan is a binding, written contract between you and your broker that specifies the price, amount, and date of trades to be executed in your account in the future, or provides a formula or mechanism that your broker will follow, and satisfies various other conditions and limitations set forth in Rule 10b5-1. A 10b5-1 trading plan can only be established when you do not possess Material Non-Public Information. Therefore, Insiders cannot enter into, or amend, these plans at any time when in possession of Material Non-Public Information and, in addition, Restricted Persons cannot enter into these plans outside of Window Periods. You must enter into a 10b5-1 trading plan in good faith and without any purpose of evading the prohibitions of the SEC's rules and you must act in good faith with respect to the plan. In some circumstances, terminating a 10b5-1 trading plan that is in place could call into question whether it was entered into in good faith. In addition, a 10b5-1 trading plan must not permit you to exercise any subsequent influence over how, when, or whether the purchases or sales are made. 10b5-1 Plans must also otherwise comply with the conditions and limitations set forth in Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act including, but not limited to, the length of time between plan commencement and the first trade thereunder (i.e., "cooling-off periods"), certification requirements and restrictions on overlapping plans, as applicable.

The rules regarding 10b5-1 trading plans are complex and you must fully comply with them. You should consult with your legal advisor before entering into any 10b5-1 trading plan.

Each Restricted Person must pre-clear with the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee its proposed trading plan or arrangement, including 10b5-1 trading plan prior to establishing, amending or terminating such plan (and such request shall be submitted at least five business days in advance of the proposed execution date). The Company reserves the right to withhold pre-clearance of the adoption, amendment or termination of a 10b5-1 trading plan that the Company determines is not consistent with the rules regarding such plans. Notwithstanding any pre-clearance of a 10b5-1 trading plan, the Company assumes no liability for the consequences of any transaction made pursuant to such plan. No Insider will be permitted to adopt a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan if such Insider has an existing contract, instruction or plan that would qualify for the affirmative defense under Rule 10b5-1, subject to the exceptions set forth in the rule. Once pre-cleared, if an Insider is a Section 16 Person, then no trades can be made under any approved 10b5-1 trading plan until the later of: (i) 90 days after the adoption or modification of the plan; and (ii) two business days following the disclosure of the Company's financial results in a periodic report (Forms 10-K or 10-Q) for the fiscal quarter in which the plan was adopted or modified, subject to a maximum cooling-off period of 120 days. Insiders that are not Section 16 Persons cannot trade under an approved 10b5-1 plan until 30 days after the adoption or modification of the plan.

If you enter into a 10b5-1 trading plan, your 10b5-1 trading plan should be structured to avoid purchases or sales on dates occurring shortly before known announcements, such as quarterly or annual earnings announcements. Even though transactions executed in accordance with a properly formulated 10b5-1 trading plan are exempt from the insider trading rules, the trades may nonetheless occur at times shortly before we announce material news, and the investing public and media may not understand the nuances of trading pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan. This could result in negative publicity for you and the Company if the SEC or the Nasdaq were to investigate your trades.

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For Insiders, any modification or termination of a pre-approved 10b5-1 or other trading plan requires pre-clearance by the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee. In addition, any modification of a pre-approved 10b5-1 trading plan must occur when you are not aware of any Material Non-Public Information and must comply with the requirements of the rules regarding trading plans (including Rule 10b5-1, if applicable) and, if you are subject to Window Period restrictions, must take place during a Window Period. Plan modifications by Insiders will generally require a new cooling-off period other than for certain ministerial and non-material changes.

Transactions effected pursuant to a pre-cleared 10b5-1 or other trading plan will not require further pre-clearance at the time of the transaction if the plan specifies the dates, prices and amounts of the contemplated trades, or establishes a formula for determining the dates, prices and amounts.

Finally, if you are a Section 16 Person, 10b5-1 and other trading plans require special care as the Company will be required to disclose the adoption, amendment or termination of any such plan (as well as the material terms of such plans) by such persons in its periodic reports filed with the SEC. Moreover, because such plans specify conditions that trigger a purchase or sale, you may not even be aware that a transaction has taken place and you may not be able to comply with the SEC's requirement that you report your transaction to the SEC within two business days after its execution. Therefore, for Section 16 Persons, a transaction executed according to a trading plan is not permitted unless the trading plan requires your broker to notify the Company before the close of business on the day of the execution of the transaction. See Section 9.0.

7.2<u>Margin Accounts and Pledges</u>. Securities purchased on margin may be sold by the broker without the customer's consent if the customer fails to meet a margin call. Similarly, securities held in an account which may be borrowed against or are otherwise pledged (or hypothecated) as collateral for a loan may be sold in foreclosure if the borrower defaults on the loan. Accordingly, if you purchase securities on margin or pledge them as collateral for a loan, a margin sale or foreclosure sale may occur at a time when you are aware of Material Non-Public Information or otherwise are not permitted to trade in our securities. The sale, even though not initiated at your request, is still a sale for your benefit and may subject you to liability under the insider trading rules if made at a time when you are aware of Material Non-Public Information. Similar cautions apply to a bank or other loans for which you have pledged stock as collateral.

Therefore, no Company Personnel, whether or not in possession of Material Non-Public Information, may purchase the Company's securities on margin, or borrow against any account in which the Company's securities are held, or pledge the Company's securities as collateral for a loan, without first obtaining pre-clearance. Request for approval must be submitted to the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee at least two weeks prior to the execution of the documents evidencing the proposed pledge. The Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee is under no obligation to approve any request for pre-clearance and may determine not to permit the arrangement for any reason. Approvals will be based on the particular facts and circumstances of the request, including, but not limited to, the percentage amount that the securities being pledged represent of the total number of our securities held by the person making the request and the financial capacity of the person making the request. Notwithstanding the pre-clearance of any request, the Company assumes no liability for the consequences of any transaction made pursuant to such request.

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**8.0** **Potential Criminal and Civil Liability and/or Disciplinary Action**

8.1<u>Individual Responsibility</u>. Each Insider is individually responsible for complying with the securities laws and this Policy, regardless of whether the Company has prohibited trading by that Insider or any other Insiders. Trading in securities during the Window Periods and outside of any suspension periods or with pre-clearance should not be considered a "safe harbor." We remind you that, whether or not during a Window Period and whether or not you have obtained pre-clearance, you may not trade securities while in possession of Material Non- Public Information.

You also should bear in mind that any proceeding alleging improper trading will necessarily occur after the trade has been completed and is particularly susceptible to second-guessing with the benefit of hindsight. Therefore, as a practical matter, before engaging in any transaction you should carefully consider how enforcement authorities and others might view the transaction in hindsight. Further, whether or not you possess Material Non-Public Information, it is advisable that if you invest in the Company's securities or the securities of any company that has a substantial relationship with the Company, then you do so from the perspective of a long-term investor who would like to participate over time in the Company's or such other company's earnings growth and with the knowledge that you may be prohibited from disposing of such securities in the future.

8.2<u>Controlling Persons</u>. Federal securities laws provide that, in addition to sanctions against an individual who trades illegally, penalties may be assessed against what are known as "controlling persons" with respect to the violator. The term "controlling person" is not defined, but includes employers (*i.e.*, the Company), its directors, officers and managerial and supervisory personnel. The concept is broader than what would normally be encompassed by a reporting chain. Individuals may be considered "controlling persons" with respect to any other individual whose behavior they have the power to influence. Liability can be imposed only if two conditions are met. First, it must be shown that the "controlling person" knew or recklessly disregarded the fact that a violation was likely. Second, it must be shown that the "controlling person" failed to take appropriate steps to prevent the violation from occurring. For this reason, the Company's supervisory personnel are directed to take appropriate steps to ensure that those whom they supervise, understand and comply with the requirements set forth in this Policy.

8.3<u>Potential Sanctions</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)<u>Liability for Insider Trading and Tipping</u>. Insiders, controlling persons and the Company may be subject to civil penalties, criminal penalties and/or jail for trading in securities when they have Material Non-Public Information or for improper transactions by any person (commonly referred to as a "tippee") to whom they have disclosed Material Non-Public Information, or to whom they have made recommendations or expressed opinions on the basis of such information about trading securities. The SEC has imposed large penalties even when the disclosing person did not profit from the trading. The SEC, the stock exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority use sophisticated electronic surveillance techniques to uncover insider trading.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;i.<u>Possible Disciplinary Actions</u>. Company Personnel who violate this Policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment for cause or termination of other service relationship, whether or not the Company Personnel's failure to comply results in a violation of law. Needless to say, a violation of law, or even an SEC investigation that does not result in prosecution, can tarnish one's reputation and irreparably damage a career and result in potentially significant costs of an investigation.

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8.4<u>Questions and Violations</u>. Anyone with questions concerning this Policy or its application should contact the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee. Any violation or perceived violation should be reported immediately to the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee. Anonymous reporting of violations or perceived violations may be made through the Company's Ethics and Compliance Hotline.

**9.0** **Broker Requirements for Section 16 Persons**

The timely reporting of transactions requires tight interface with brokers handling transactions for Section 16 Persons. A knowledgeable, alert broker can also serve as a gatekeeper, helping to ensure compliance with our pre-clearance procedures and helping prevent inadvertent violations. Therefore, in order to facilitate timely compliance by the directors and executive officers of the Company with the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, brokers of Section 16 Persons need to comply with the following requirements:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•not to enter any order (except for orders under pre-approved Rule 10b5-1 plans) without first verifying with the Company that your transaction was pre-cleared and complying with the brokerage firm's compliance procedures (*e.g.*, Rule 144); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•to report before the close of business on the day of the execution of the transaction to the Company by telephone and in writing via e-mail to the Chief Legal Officer or his or her designee, the complete (*i.e.*, date, type of transaction, number of shares and price) details of every transaction involving the Company's equity securities, including gifts, transfers and all transactions under 10b5-1 and other trading plans.

Because it is the legal obligation of the trading person to cause any filings on Form 3, Form 4, Form 5 or Form 144 (or as may otherwise be required), to be made, you are strongly encouraged to confirm following any transaction that your broker has immediately telephoned and e-mailed the required information to the Company.

**10.0** **Confidentiality**

No Company Personnel should disclose any Non-Public Information to non-Company Personnel (including to family members that are non-Company Personnel), except when such disclosure is needed to carry out the Company's business and then only when the Company Personnel disclosing the information has no reason to believe that the recipient will misuse the information (for example, when such disclosures are authorized as necessary to facilitate negotiations with vendors, suppliers or customers or when such persons are subject to contractual confidentiality restrictions). When such information is disclosed, the recipient must be told that such information may be used only for the business purpose related to its disclosure and that the information must be held in confidence. Company Personnel should disclose Non-Public Information to other Company Personnel only in the ordinary course of business, for legitimate business purposes and in the absence of reasons to believe that the information will be misused or improperly disclosed by the recipient. Non-Public Information should be appropriately safeguarded and should not be left where it may be seen by persons not entitled to the information or otherwise accessible by persons not entitled to the information, and Non-Public Information should not be discussed with any person within the Company under circumstances where it could be overheard.

------

In addition to other circumstances where it may be applicable, this confidentiality policy must be strictly adhered to in responding to inquiries about the Company that may be made by the press, securities analysts or other members of the financial community. It is important that responses to any such inquiries be made on behalf of the Company by a duly designated officer. Accordingly, Company Personnel should not respond to any such inquiries and should refer all such inquiries to the Company's Chief Financial Officer, the head of investor relations or the Chief Legal Officer or their respective designees. See also, Statement of Policy, Sections 3.4 and 3.5.

Neither this Policy nor any other agreement with the Company or policy of the Company, shall be deemed to prohibit any current or former Insider from communicating, cooperating or filing a charge or complaint with the SEC or any other governmental or law enforcement entity, concerning possible violations of any legal or regulatory requirement, or making disclosures, including providing documents or other information to a governmental entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law or regulation, without notice to or approval of the Company, so long as (i) such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law and (ii) the information disclosed was not obtained through a communication that was subject to the attorney-client privilege (unless disclosure of that information would otherwise be permitted by an attorney pursuant to the applicable federal law, attorney conduct rules or otherwise). The Company will not limit the right of any current or former Insider to receive an award for providing information pursuant to the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law or regulation to the SEC or any other government agency. Any provisions of any agreement between the Company and any current or former Insider that is inconsistent with the above language or that may limit the ability of any person to receive an award under the whistleblowing provisions of applicable law is hereby deemed invalid and will not be enforced by the Company.

**11.0** **Legal Effect of this Policy**

The Company's Policy with respect to securities trading and the disclosure of confidential information, and the procedures that implement this Policy, are not intended to serve as precise recitations of the legal prohibitions against insider trading and tipping which are highly complex, fact specific and evolving. Certain of the procedures are designed to prevent even the appearance of impropriety and in some respects may be more restrictive than the securities laws. Therefore, these procedures are not intended to serve as a basis for establishing civil or criminal liability that would not otherwise exist.

Adopted: August 6, 2025

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## Exhibit 21.1

**Exhibit 21.1**

**First Advantage Corporation Subsidiaries**

Subsidiaries of the Registrant - First Advantage Corporation (a Delaware corporation) - as of December 31, 2025

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Name of Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Organization |
| A-Check America, LLC | Delaware |
| AIM Screening Ltd.  | New Zealand |
| AIM Screening Ltd. (HKG)  | Hong Kong |
| AIM Screening (M) Sdn Bhd  | Malaysia |
| AIM Screening Pte Ltd.  | Singapore |
| AIM Screening Pty Ltd. | Australia |
| Bishops Services LLC | Delaware |
| Checkwell Decision Inc.  | Philippines |
| Corporate Screening Services LLC | Ohio |
| Employment Background Investigation, LLC | Maryland |
| FADV (Australia) PTY Limited | Australia |
| FADV B.V. | Netherlands |
| FADV Cooperatief UA | Netherlands |
| FADV Malaysia Sdn. Bhd | Malaysia |
| Fastball Parent, Inc. | Delaware |
| First Advantage Acquisitions, Inc. | Delaware |
| First Advantage Australasia Pty Ltd. | Australia |
| First Advantage Australia Pty Ltd. | Australia  |
| First Advantage Background Services Corp. | Florida |
| First Advantage BackTrack Reports, LLC | Delaware |
| First Advantage Bangladesh Ltd. | Bangladesh |
| First Advantage (Beijing) Co. Ltd | China |
| First Advantage Canada, Inc. | Canada |
| First Advantage Enterprise Screening Corporation | Delaware |
| First Advantage Europe Ltd. | United Kingdom |
| First Advantage Form I9 Compliance LLC | Delaware |
| First Advantage Global Operating Center Private Limited | India |
| First Advantage (HK) Limited | Hong Kong |
| First Advantage Holdings, LLC | Delaware |
| First Advantage Indian Holdings, LLC | Delaware |
| First Advantage Infinite ID LLC | New York |
| First Advantage Japan K.K. | Japan |
| First Advantage Limited | Hong Kong |
| First Advantage New Zealand Limited | New Zealand |
| First Advantage Occupational Health Services, LLC. | Florida |
| First Advantage Philippines, Inc. | Philippines |
| First Advantage Poland sp z.o.o. | Poland |
| First Advantage Priderock Holding Company, Inc. | Alabama |
| First Advantage Private Limited | India |
| First Advantage Pte. Ltd. | Singapore |
| First Advantage Quest Research Corporation | Cayman Islands |
| First Advantage Quest Research Group Ltd. | British Virgin Islands |
| First Advantage Quest Research Limited | British Virgin Islands |
| First Advantage Tax Consulting Services, LLC | Delaware |
| First Advantage U.S., LLC | Delaware |
| First Advantage (Zhuhai) Co.  | China |
| First Hospital Laboratories, LLC | Virginia |

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---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Name of Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Organization |
| IDASAN Singapore Pte Ltd.  | Singapore |
| MultiLatin Advisors S.A. de CV | Mexico |
| National Credit Audit Corporation | Illinois |
| National Crime Check Pty Ltd.  | Australia |
| RISQ Group Holdings Pty Ltd.  | Australia |
| RISQ Group Management Consulting (Beijing) Co.  | China |
| Sterling Asia Pacific Pty Ltd. | Australia |
| Sterling Backcheck Canada Corp. | Canada (British Columbia) |
| Sterling EMEA B.V | Netherlands |
| Sterling EMEA Holdings UK Ltd. | United Kingdom |
| Sterling (EMEA) Ltd. | United Kingdom |
| Sterling EMEA sp. z.o.o.  | Poland |
| Sterling Information Resources Private Limited | India |
| Sterling Infosystems Brazil Ltda.  | Brazil |
| Sterling Infosystems Colombia S.A.S.  | Colombia |
| Sterling Infosystems Inc. | Delaware |
| Sterling Infosystems Mexico S.A. de C.V. | Mexico |
| Sterling Latin America Ltd.  | United Kingdom |
| Sterling Middle East DMCC  | UAE |
| Sterling Talent Solutions Philippines, Inc.  | Philippines |
| STS SID LLC | Delaware |
| TP Verify Screening Services LLP | India |
| Verify (Mauritius) Limited | Mauritius |
| Verify Limited | Mauritius |

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## Exhibit 23.1

**Exhibit 23.1**

**CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM**

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-257380 of our reports dated February 26, 2026, relating to the financial statements of First Advantage Corporation and the effectiveness of First Advantage Corporation's internal control over financial reporting appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, GA

February 26, 2026

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## Exhibit 31.1

**Exhibit 31.1**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO**

**RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

I, Scott Staples, certify that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of First Advantage Corporation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Date: February 26, 2026 | By: | /s/ Scott Staples |
|  |  | **Scott Staples** |
|  |  | **Chief Executive Officer**<br>**(principal executive officer)** |

---

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## Exhibit 31.2

**Exhibit 31.2**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO**

**RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

I, Steven Marks, certify that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of First Advantage Corporation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Date: February 26, 2026 | By: | /s/ Steven Marks |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Steven Marks** |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;**Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer**<br>**(principal financial officer)** |

---

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## Exhibit 32.1

**Exhibit 32.1**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO<br>18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO<br>SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of First Advantage Corporation (the "Company") for the year ended December 31, 2025 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Date: February 26, 2026 | By: | /s/ Scott Staples |
|  |  | **Scott Staples** |
|  |  | **Chief Executive Officer**<br>**(principal executive officer)** |

---

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## Exhibit 32.2

**Exhibit 32.2**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO<br>18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO<br>SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of First Advantage Corporation (the "Company") for the year ended December 31, 2025 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Date: February 26, 2026 | By: | /s/ Steven Marks |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;**Steven Marks** |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;**Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer**<br>**(principal financial officer)** |

---

------