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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 31, 2024

 

 

STERLING CHECK CORP.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40829   37-1784336

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

6150 Oak Tree Boulevard, Suite 490 Independence Ohio   44131
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 1 (800) 853-3228

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   STER   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

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. 

 

 

 


Introductory Note

As previously announced, on February 28, 2024, Sterling Check Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Sterling”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with First Advantage Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“First Advantage”), and Starter Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of First Advantage (“Merger Sub”).

On October 31, 2024, First Advantage completed the acquisition (such acquisition, the “Transaction”) of Sterling. Pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Sterling, with Sterling surviving the merger with Merger Sub and becoming an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of First Advantage.

The foregoing description of the Transaction and the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company on March 1, 2024 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 1.02.

Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, on October 31, 2024, the Company repaid all outstanding term loans and other amounts under, and terminated, its Credit Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2022, by and among Sterling Infosystems, Inc., as borrower, Sterling Intermediate Corp. and the other guarantors party thereto, KeyBank National Association, as agent, and the lenders party thereto.

 

Item 2.01.

Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.01.

Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Sterling (each, a share of “Sterling Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction (the “Effective Time”), other than shares of Sterling Common Stock (i) owned or held in treasury by Sterling or owned by First Advantage or Merger Sub (which were cancelled), (ii) owned by stockholders who properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights under Delaware law or (iii) owned by any wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterling, was converted into the right to receive, at the election of the holder of such shares of Sterling Common Stock, and subject to proration in accordance with the Merger Agreement as described below, one of the following forms of consideration (or a combination thereof) (the “Merger Consideration”):

 

   

$16.73 in cash, without interest (the “Cash Consideration”) per share of Sterling Common Stock; or

 

   

0.979 (the “Exchange Ratio”) of a share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of First Advantage (each, a share of “First Advantage Common Stock”) per share of Sterling Common Stock (the “Stock Consideration”).

The Merger Consideration was subject to proration, such that the total number of shares of Sterling Common Stock and Company Common Stock Equivalents (as defined in the Merger Agreement) entitled to receive the Cash Consideration was equal to approximately 71% of the aggregate number of shares of Sterling Common Stock issued and outstanding and Company Common Stock Equivalents immediately prior to the Effective Time, and the total number of shares of Sterling Common Stock and Company Common Stock Equivalents entitled to receive the Stock Consideration was equal to approximately 29% of the aggregate number of shares of Sterling Common Stock issued and outstanding and Company Common Stock Equivalents immediately prior to the Effective Time. No fractional shares of First Advantage Common Stock were issued.

Based on the final results of the Merger Consideration election process:

 

   

Holders of approximately 41.58% of the shares of Sterling Common Stock and Company Common Stock Equivalents eligible to make a Merger Consideration election elected to receive the Stock Consideration and, in accordance with the proration procedures set forth in the Merger Agreement, (i) approximately 65.71% of such shares shall receive the Stock Consideration and (ii) approximately 34.29% of such shares shall receive the Cash Consideration; and

 

   

Holders of approximately 58.42% of the shares of Sterling Common Stock and Company Common Stock Equivalents eligible to make a Merger Consideration election elected to receive the Cash Consideration or did not make a valid election or did not deliver a valid election form prior to the election deadline. Each such holder shall receive the Cash Consideration.

A more detailed description of the Merger Consideration and the allocation and proration procedures applicable to elections is contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by First Advantage with the SEC, and related information statement/prospectus, dated as of June 11, 2024, which are available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.


Item 3.01.

Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 3.01.

In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, Sterling notified representatives of The NASDAQ Global Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) that the Transaction had been completed. Sterling requested that NASDAQ (i) halt trading of Sterling Common Stock prior to the open of trading on the day of the closing of the Transaction, (ii) withdraw the Sterling Common Stock from listing on NASDAQ and (iii) file with the SEC a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 25 to report that the Sterling Common Stock is no longer listed on NASDAQ and to apply for the deregistration of the Sterling Common Stock under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. As a result, the Sterling Common Stock, which previously traded under the symbol “STER”, will no longer be listed on NASDAQ.

In addition, Sterling intends to file with the SEC a certification and notice of termination on Form 15 requesting the termination of registration of the Sterling Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the suspension of reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

Item 3.03.

Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Items 2.01, 3.01, 5.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 3.03.

In connection with the consummation of the Transaction, at the Effective Time, holders of Sterling Common Stock (other than Sterling Common Stock (i) owned or held in treasury by Sterling or owned by First Advantage or Merger Sub (which were cancelled), (ii) owned by stockholders who properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights under Delaware law or (iii) owned by any wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterling), and Sterling Equity Awards ceased to have any rights in connection with their holding of such securities (other than the right to receive their applicable amount of the Merger Consideration as described under Item 2.01).

 

Item 5.01.

Change in Control of Registrant.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Items 2.01 and 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 5.01.

As a result of the consummation of the Transaction, a change in control of the Company occurred, and the Company became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of First Advantage.

 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

The information set forth under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 5.02.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each of the members of the Company’s board of directors as of immediately prior to the Effective Time ceased his or her respective service as a director of the Company and all of the incumbent officers of the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time were removed as officers of the Company.

 

Item 5.03.

Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 5.03.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each of the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time was amended and restated in its entirety, as set forth in Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

2.1*    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 by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2024).
2.2    Waiver, dated as of March 25, 2024, by and among First Advantage Corporation, Sterling Check Corp. and Starter Merger Sub, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2024).
3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sterling Check Corp.
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Sterling Check Corp.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

*

Annexes, schedules and/or exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted attachment to the SEC upon request.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

      STERLING CHECK CORP.
October 31, 2024     By:  

/s/ Amanda DeGasperi

   

Name:

Title:

 

Amanda DeGasperi

Vice President, Associate General Counsel and

Assistant Secretary

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

of

STERLING CHECK CORP.

FIRST. The name of the corporation is Sterling Check Corp. (the “Corporation”).

SECOND. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19808, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

THIRD. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) or any successor statute.

FOURTH. The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).

FIFTH. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the board of directors of the Corporation, acting by majority vote, is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation.

SIXTH. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation shall so require, election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

SEVENTH. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article SEVENTH, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a current or former director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

EIGHTH. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by, or other wrongdoing by, any director, officer, employee, stockholder or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time), (d) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time), or (e) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein; provided, that, if and only if the Court of

 

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Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state court sitting in the State of Delaware. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article EIGHTH.

NINTH.

(a) Each current or former director or officer of the Corporation (hereinafter an “indemnitee”) who was or is a party, is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, as a witness or otherwise, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including any and all appeals, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by indemnitee in any such capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent (hereinafter an “indemnifiable proceeding”), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than the DGCL permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals; provided, however, that, except as provided in clause (c) of this Article NINTH with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors; provided, further, that the Corporation not be obligated under this clause (a) of this Article NINTH: (i) to indemnify indemnitee under this Certificate of Incorporation for any amounts paid in settlement of any indemnifiable proceeding unless the Corporation consents to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, or (ii) to indemnify indemnitee for any disgorgement of profits made from the purchase or sale by indemnitee of securities of the Corporation under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, subject to clause (d) of this Article NINTH, the Corporation shall not be liable under this Article NINTH to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, without limitation, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) if and to the extent that the indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Article NINTH or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

(b) In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in clause (a) of this Article NINTH, an indemnitee shall also have the right, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees, costs and expenses) incurred

 

2


by the indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending, or otherwise arising out of or related to, any indemnifiable proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under clause (c) of this Article NINTH (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, (i) if the DGCL so requires or in the case of an advance made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, an advancement of expenses shall be made solely upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay any amounts so advanced (without interest) if and to the extent that it is determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under clause (a) and (b) of this Article NINTH or otherwise; (ii) the Corporation’s obligation to make an advancement of expenses pursuant to this clause (b) of this Article NINTH shall be subject to the limitations on indemnification provided in clause (a) of this Article NINTH, except that the Corporation shall advance expenses to defend an indemnifiable proceeding alleging a claim under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and (iii) with respect to any indemnifiable proceeding for which the indemnitee requests advancement of expenses under this clause (b) of this Article NINTH, the Corporation shall be entitled to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to indemnitee, upon the delivery to indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so.

(c) If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full within 90 days after receipt by the Corporation of a request therefor, the indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in any court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense (including attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) of prosecuting or defending such suit. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or the Corporation’s stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or the Corporation’s stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Further, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover advanced expenses upon a final adjudication that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article NINTH or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

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(d)

(i) The provisions for indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any indemnitee under this Article NINTH, or the entitlement of any indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article NINTH, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such indemnitee in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, the Certificate, other agreements or arrangements, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such indemnitee’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity.

(ii) Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of the indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Corporation at the request of the indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for payments to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article NINTH, irrespective of any right of recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities. Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities, and no right of advancement or recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee against the Corporation, and the indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this clause (d)(ii) of this Article NINTH and entitled to enforce this clause (d)(ii) of this Article NINTH.

(iii) For purposes of this clause (d)(ii) of this Article NINTH, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Corporation or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which the indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and

 

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which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom an indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).

(2) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the Corporation and any indemnity related entity pursuant to the DGCL, any agreement and any certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or the indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.

(e) The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article NINTH shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article NINTH that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal. In addition, the rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article NINTH shall extend to any broader indemnification rights permitted by any amendment to the DGCL.

(f) The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL. Subject to clause (d) of this Article NINTH, in the event of any payment by the Corporation under this Article NINTH, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy or any other indemnity agreement covering the indemnitee. The indemnitee shall execute all papers required and take all reasonable action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

 

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(g) The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article NINTH with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation, and may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation, enter agreements with any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation that grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses in excess of those granted in the provisions of this Article NINTH.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

of

STERLING CHECK CORP.

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office shall be established and maintained at the office of Corporation Service Company, at 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, and said corporation shall be the registered agent of this corporation (the “Corporation”) in charge thereof.

SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation may have other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or places as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time appoint or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETINGS. If required by applicable law, annual meetings of stockholders for the election of directors, and for such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting, shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting. At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect a Board and they may transact such other corporate business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

SECTION 2. VOTING. Each stockholder entitled to vote in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of stock entitled to vote held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. All elections for directors shall be decided by plurality vote. All other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless a different or minimum vote is required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.


A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the ensuing election, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each and the number of shares held by each, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days beginning on the tenth day prior to the meeting, either (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, and/or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is held at a place, this list shall also be produced and kept at the meeting and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then this list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

SECTION 3. QUORUM. Except as otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. In case a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time.

SECTION 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Chief Executive Officer or Corporate Secretary of the Corporation or by resolution of the Board. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice

SECTION 5. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

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SECTION 6. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing or electronic transmission setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. NUMBER AND TERM. The number of directors shall be not less than one nor more than 12. Within the limits specified above, the number of directors shall be determined by the Board or stockholders of the Corporation. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders and each director shall be elected to serve until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.

SECTION 2. RESIGNATIONS. Any director or member of a committee of the Board may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Corporation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

SECTION 3. VACANCIES; NEWLY CREATED DIRECTORSHIPS. Any newly created directorship or vacancy occurring in the Board may be filled by the remaining directors in office, though less than a quorum, or by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders, and each person so elected shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified.

SECTION 4. REMOVAL. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, any director or directors may be removed either for or without cause at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon.

SECTION 5. POWERS. The Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Corporation, except such as are by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.

SECTION 6. COMMITTEES. The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees consisting of one or more directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

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Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board creating such committee or in these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; provided, however, that no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as from time to time in effect, the “DGCL”), to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) a adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these Bylaws.

SECTION 7. MEETINGS.

Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board.

Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation on the written request of any two directors, on at least 24 hours’ prior notice to each director and shall be held at such place or places as may be determined by the Board or as may be stated in the notice of the meeting.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any such committee, by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

SECTION 8. QUORUM. The greater of (a) a majority of the directors then- in office and (b) one-third of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned.

SECTION 9. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and any consent may be documented, signed and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. After any such action is taken, such consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or such committee in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.

 

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ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

SECTION 1. OFFICERS. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer and a Corporate Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the Board from time to time and who shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. In addition, the Board may elect a Chairperson, a President, a General Counsel, one or more Executive Vice Presidents and one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers as they may deem proper. None of the officers of the Corporation need be directors. The officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the Board after each annual meeting. More than two offices may be held by the same person.

SECTION 2. RESIGNATIONS. Any officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Corporation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

SECTION 3. REMOVAL. Any officer or officers may be removed either for or without cause at any time by the Board.

SECTION 4. OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENTS. The Board may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board.

SECTION 5. CHAIRPERSON. The Chairperson of the Board, if one is elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board and he or she shall have and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board.

SECTION 6. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer, who may also be the President, shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of Chief Executive Officer of a corporation. Except as the Board shall authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, he or she shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts on behalf of the Corporation and shall cause the seal to be affixed to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed the seal shall be attested by the signature of the Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer.

SECTION 7. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. He or she shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositaries as may be designated by the Board.

 

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The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. He or she shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board at the regular meetings of the Board, or whenever they may request it, an account of all of his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board, he or she shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board shall prescribe.

SECTION 8. CORPORATE SECRETARY. The Corporate Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of stockholders and of the Board and all other notices required by law or by these Bylaws. In case of his or her absence or refusal or neglect so to do, any such notice may be given by any person thereunto directed by the Chief Executive Officer. He or she shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation and of the Board and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the directors or the Chief Executive Officer. He or she shall have the custody of the seal of the Corporation and shall affix the same to all instruments requiring it, when authorized by the directors or the Chief Executive Officer, and attest the same.

SECTION 9. PRESIDENT. The President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the directors.

SECTION 9. GENERAL COUNSEL. The General Counsel, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the directors.

SECTION 9. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT. The Executive Vice Presidents, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the directors.

SECTION 10. ASSISTANT TREASURERS AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries, if any, shall be elected and shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them, respectively, by the directors.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1. UNCERTIFICATED SHARES. The shares of the Corporation’s stock shall be issued in uncertificated form.

SECTION 2. TRANSFER OF SHARES. The shares of the Corporation’s stock shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives. A record shall be made of each transfer and, whenever a transfer shall be made for collateral security and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer.

 

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SECTION 3. STOCKHOLDERS RECORD DATE.

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

(c) Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

SECTION 4. DIVIDENDS. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may, out of funds legally available therefor, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any dividend, there may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the Board shall deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 5. SEAL. The corporate seal of the Corporation, if any, shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the Corporation, the year of its creation and the words “CORPORATE SEAL DELAWARE”. Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. The Corporation shall not be required to have a seal.

SECTION 6. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board.

SECTION 7. CHECKS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or agent or agents of the Corporation and in such manner as shall be determined from time to time by resolutions of the Board.

SECTION 8. NOTICE AND WAIVER OF NOTICE.

(a) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Notice shall be given (i) if mailed, when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, (ii) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at the stockholder’s address, or (iii) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address (unless the stockholder has notified the corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by the DGCL to be given by electronic transmission). A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation. A notice by electronic mail will include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files or information. Any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws provided by means of electronic transmission (other than any such notice given by electronic mail) may only be given in a form consented to by such stockholder, and any such notice by such means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to be given as provided by the DGCL. The terms “electronic mail,” “electronic mail address,” “electronic signature” and “electronic transmission” as used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the DGCL.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to any director may be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to such director at such director’s address appearing on the books of the Corporation, or may be given by telephone or by any means of electronic transmission (including electronic mail) directed to an address for receipt by such director of electronic transmissions appearing on the books of the Corporation.

 

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(iii) Whenever any notice whatsoever is required to be given under the provisions of any law or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission given by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be altered or repealed and Bylaws may be made by the Board or by the stockholders.

 

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v3.24.3
Document and Entity Information
Oct. 31, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0001645070
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Oct. 31, 2024
Entity Registrant Name STERLING CHECK CORP.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code DE
Entity File Number 001-40829
Entity Tax Identification Number 37-1784336
Entity Address, Address Line One 6150 Oak Tree Boulevard
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 490
Entity Address, City or Town Independence
Entity Address, State or Province OH
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 44131
City Area Code 1 (800)
Local Phone Number 853-3228
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Security 12b Title Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol STER
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company true
Entity Ex Transition Period false

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