Bay Street News

First Advantage Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2023 Results

Introduces Full Year 2024 Guidance

Announces Agreement to Acquire Sterling Check Corp.

Full Year 2023 Highlights1

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights1

Standalone First Advantage Full Year 2024 Guidance

Acquisition of Sterling Check Corp.

ATLANTA, Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FA), a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions, today announced financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Key Financials
(Amounts in millions, except per share data and percentages)

  Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
  2023     2022     Change     2023     2022     Change  
Revenues $ 202.6     $ 212.6       (4.7 )%   $ 763.8     $ 810.0       (5.7 )%
Income from operations $ 29.4     $ 28.7       2.2 %   $ 81.5     $ 94.3       (13.5 )%
Net income $ 14.8     $ 20.1       (26.5 )%   $ 37.3     $ 64.6       (42.3 )%
Net income margin   7.3 %     9.5 %   NA       4.9 %     8.0 %   NA  
Diluted net income per share $ 0.10     $ 0.13       (23.1 )%   $ 0.26     $ 0.43       (39.5 )%
Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 68.2     $ 70.3       (2.9 )%   $ 237.6     $ 248.9       (4.6 )%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin1   33.7 %     33.1 %   NA       31.1 %     30.7 %   NA  
Adjusted Net Income1 $ 42.6     $ 45.0       (5.3 )%   $ 145.8     $ 156.5       (6.8 )%
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share1 $ 0.29     $ 0.30       (3.3 )%   $ 1.00     $ 1.03       (2.9 )%
                                               
1 Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are non-GAAP measures. Please see the schedules accompanying this earnings release for a reconciliation of these measures to their most directly comparable respective GAAP measures.
Note: “NA” indicates not applicable information.
 

“We were pleased with our performance for 2023 as we successfully navigated the uncertain macroeconomic environment and evolving labor market. Our upsell and cross-sell wins, new customer additions, and attrition for the year performed broadly in-line with our historical revenue growth rates,” said Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer. “The fourth quarter exemplified the continued strength of our flexible business model, disciplined cost management, and investments in technology and automation, which were key drivers of our record Adjusted EBTIDA Margin of nearly 34% and strong Cash Flow from Operations of approximately $57 million,” continued Mr. Staples.

“Today, we announced a transformative step for First Advantage and the background screening industry with the agreement to acquire Sterling. This is a game changer in our value creation playbook that accelerates our strategy to strengthen our customer offerings and drive growth. Customers already recognize the value we add in creating a safer employment environment and rely on us for fast, high-quality background screening, identity, and verification services that enable them to hire smarter and onboard faster. With the acquisition of Sterling, we will create a platform that combines leading technology and innovative solutions, further enhancing our customer value proposition and differentiating First Advantage as a vendor of choice,” continued Mr. Staples. 

First Advantage To Acquire Sterling Check Corp.

First Advantage announced today that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Sterling Check Corp. First Advantage will issue a combination of cash and stock valuing Sterling Check at approximately $2.2 billion, including Sterling Check’s outstanding debt. The transaction extends First Advantage’s high-quality and cost-effective background screening, identity, and verification technology solutions for the benefit of both companies’ customers across industry verticals and geographies. Building on pro forma combined revenue of $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, the transaction is expected to deliver at least $50 million in run-rate synergies, implying immediate double-digit EPS accretion on a run-rate synergy basis. The combined company will have greater diversification of revenue across customer segments, industries, and geographies, reducing seasonality and improving resource planning and operational efficiency. The transaction is expected to close in approximately the third quarter of 2024, with the closing and timing thereof subject to required regulatory approvals, clearances, and other customary closing conditions.

Liquidity, Cash Flow, and Capital Allocation

As of December 31, 2023, First Advantage had cash and cash equivalents of $213.8 million and total debt of $564.7 million.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company generated $56.7 million of cash flow from operations and spent $7.1 million on purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software development costs.

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 232,360 shares of its common stock for an aggregate outlay of approximately $3.1 million under its $200 million share repurchase program. Since the authorization of the share repurchase program in 2022, the Company has returned approximately $119.5 million to shareholders through the repurchase of approximately 9.0 million shares, as of February 23, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 145,074,802 shares of common stock outstanding. Given today’s announcement of the agreement to acquire Sterling Check, the Company is suspending purchases under its share repurchase program.

“Over the course of 2023, we continued our balanced approach to capital allocation, including making ongoing investments in our technology and automation, acquiring Infinite ID, paying a one-time special dividend, and continuing to repurchase shares,” commented David Gamsey, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. “Our flexible business model, strong margins, robust cash flow generation, and healthy balance sheet were key enablers to our announced acquisition of Sterling. Looking forward, we are excited to build on our strong, established foundation with the acquisition of Sterling. We will work quickly to realize synergies to drive improved Adjusted EBITDA margins and cash flows as we focus on investing in innovation and reducing our overall net leverage.”

Standalone First Advantage Full Year 2024 Guidance

The following table summarizes our standalone full-year 2024 guidance, which excludes contributions from the pending Sterling Check acquisition and will be adjusted accordingly upon closing:

  As of February 29, 2024
Revenues $750 million – $800 million
Adjusted EBITDA2 $228 million – $248 million
Adjusted Net Income2 $127 million – $142 million
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share2 $0.88 – $0.98

2
 A reconciliation of the foregoing guidance for the non-GAAP metrics of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to GAAP net income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to GAAP diluted net income per share cannot be provided without unreasonable effort because of the inherent difficulty of accurately forecasting the occurrence and financial impact of the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliation that have not yet occurred, are out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to assess the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could have a material impact on its future GAAP financial results.
 

The Company’s standalone full-year 2024 guidance ranges reflect the current hiring environment and expectations that existing macroeconomic conditions and similar labor market trends will continue throughout 2024. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share guidance ranges include the impacts from the 2023 one-time special dividend, expiring interest rate swaps, and share buybacks.

Actual results may differ materially from First Advantage’s full-year 2024 guidance as a result of, among other things, the factors described under “Forward-Looking Statements” below.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

First Advantage will host a conference call to review its fourth quarter and full year 2023 results and to discuss details of the Sterling Check Corp. acquisition today, February 29, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-267-6316 (domestic) or 203-518-9843 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage fourth quarter 2023 earnings call or provide the conference code FA4Q23. The call will also be webcast live on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.fadv.com under the “News & Events” and then “Events & Presentations” section, where related presentation materials will be posted prior to the conference call.

Following the conference call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s investor relations website, https://investors.fadv.com. Alternatively, the live webcast and subsequent replay will be available at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4450900/D4362414C8BAE251D42253413CDB11CB.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release 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,” “target,” “guidance,” 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. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

For additional information on these and other factors that could cause First Advantage’s actual results to differ materially from expected results, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which is expected to be filed after this press release, which are or will be accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains “non-GAAP financial measures” that are financial measures that either exclude or include amounts that are not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Specifically, we make use of the non-GAAP financial measures “Adjusted EBITDA,” “Adjusted EBITDA Margin,” “Adjusted Net Income,” “Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share,” “Constant Currency Revenues,” and “Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA.”

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA have been presented in this press release as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core 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, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA 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 other 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.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash provided by (used in) operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. 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.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net 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 define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. We define Adjusted Net Income for a particular period as net 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. We define Constant Currency Revenues as current period revenues translated using prior-year period exchange rates. We define Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA as current period Adjusted EBITDA translated using prior-year period exchange rates. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, see the reconciliations included at the end of this press release. Numerical figures included in the reconciliations 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.

About First Advantage

First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions. The Company delivers innovative services and insights that help customers manage risk and hire the best talent. Enabled by its proprietary technology, First Advantage helps companies protect their brands and provide safer environments for their customers and their most important resources: employees, contractors, contingent workers, tenants, and drivers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories on behalf of its more than 30,000 customers. For more information about First Advantage, visit the Company’s website at https://fadv.com/.

Investor Contact

Stephanie Gorman
Vice President, Investor Relations
Investors@fadv.com
(888) 314-9761

Condensed Financial Statements

First Advantage Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
    December 31,  
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)   2023     2022  
ASSETS            
CURRENT ASSETS            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 213,774     $ 391,655  
Restricted cash     138       141  
Short-term investments           1,956  
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,036 and $1,348 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)     142,690       143,811  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     13,426       25,407  
Income tax receivable     3,710       3,225  
Total current assets     373,738       566,195  
Property and equipment, net     79,441       113,529  
Goodwill     820,654       793,080  
Trade names, net     66,229       71,162  
Customer lists, net     275,528       326,014  
Other intangible assets, net     2,257        
Deferred tax asset, net     2,786       2,422  
Other assets     10,021       13,423  
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 1,630,654     $ 1,885,825  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY            
CURRENT LIABILITIES            
Accounts payable   $ 47,024     $ 54,947  
Accrued compensation     16,379       22,702  
Accrued liabilities     16,162       16,400  
Current portion of operating lease liability     3,354       4,957  
Income tax payable     264       724  
Deferred revenues     1,856       1,056  
Total current liabilities     85,039       100,786  
Long-term debt (net of deferred financing costs of $6,268 and $8,075 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)     558,456       556,649  
Deferred tax liability, net     71,274       90,556  
Operating lease liability, less current portion     5,931       7,879  
Other liabilities     3,221       3,337  
Total liabilities     723,921       759,207  
EQUITY            
Common stock – $0.001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 145,074,802 and 148,732,603 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively     145       149  
Additional paid-in-capital     977,290       1,176,163  
Accumulated deficit     (49,545 )     (27,363 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (21,157 )     (22,331 )
Total equity     906,733       1,126,618  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   $ 1,630,654     $ 1,885,825  
                 
First Advantage Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
 
    Interim Periods     Annual Periods  
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)   Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2023
    Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2022
    Year Ended
December 31, 2023
    Year Ended
December 31, 2022
 
REVENUES   $ 202,562     $ 212,595     $ 763,761     $ 810,023  
                         
OPERATING EXPENSES:                        
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below)     101,309       107,905       386,777       408,928  
Product and technology expense     10,889       11,962       49,263       51,931  
Selling, general, and administrative expense     27,851       28,925       116,732       116,640  
Depreciation and amortization     33,132       35,061       129,473       138,246  
Total operating expenses     173,181       183,853       682,245       715,745  
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS     29,381       28,742       81,516       94,278  
                         
OTHER EXPENSE, NET:                        
Interest expense, net     12,915       5,197       33,040       9,199  
Total other expense, net     12,915       5,197       33,040       9,199  
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES     16,466       23,545       48,476       85,079  
Provision for income taxes     1,653       3,399       11,183       20,475  
NET INCOME   $ 14,813     $ 20,146     $ 37,293     $ 64,604  
                         
Foreign currency translation income (loss)     1,697       2,395       1,174       (20,694 )
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME   $ 16,510     $ 22,541     $ 38,467     $ 43,910  
                         
NET INCOME   $ 14,813     $ 20,146     $ 37,293     $ 64,604  
Basic net income per share   $ 0.10     $ 0.14     $ 0.26     $ 0.43  
Diluted net income per share   $ 0.10     $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.43  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – basic     143,167,422       148,704,033       144,083,808       150,227,213  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – diluted     144,969,753       150,055,595       146,226,096       151,807,139  
                                 
First Advantage Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2023     2022  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
Net income   $ 37,293     $ 64,604  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:            
Depreciation and amortization     129,473       138,246  
Amortization of deferred financing costs     1,807       1,804  
Bad debt (recovery) expense     (56 )     207  
Deferred taxes     (19,497 )     4,597  
Share-based compensation     15,265       7,856  
Loss on foreign currency exchange rates     8       91  
Loss on disposal of fixed assets and impairment of ROU assets     1,608       1,263  
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps     116       (12,429 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
Accounts receivable     2,339       9,149  
Prepaid expenses and other assets     13,440       4,892  
Accounts payable     (8,503 )     2,983  
Accrued compensation and accrued liabilities     (9,301 )     (11,365 )
Deferred revenues     788       91  
Operating lease liabilities     (1,378 )     (898 )
Other liabilities     347       4,724  
Income taxes receivable and payable, net     (929 )     (3,045 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     162,820       212,770  
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired     (41,122 )     (19,052 )
Purchases of property and equipment     (2,085 )     (6,165 )
Capitalized software development costs     (25,614 )     (22,363 )
Other investing activities     1,974       (1,016 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (66,847 )     (48,596 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
Cash dividends paid     (217,739 )      
Share repurchases     (58,990 )     (60,530 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans     4,565       3,522  
Payments on deferred purchase agreements     (938 )     (884 )
Net settlement of share-based compensation plan awards     (350 )     (378 )
Payments on finance lease obligations     (104 )     (884 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (273,556 )     (59,154 )
Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash     (301 )     (6,014 )
(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash     (177,884 )     99,006  
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period     391,796       292,790  
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period   $ 213,912     $ 391,796  
             
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:            
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received   $ 31,623     $ 17,475  
Cash paid for interest   $ 45,697     $ 27,042  
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:            
Property and equipment acquired on account   $ 118     $ 105  
Excise taxes on share repurchases incurred but not paid   $ 490     $  
Dividends declared but not paid   $ 614     $  
                 

Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Three Months Ended December 31, 2023  
(in thousands)   Americas     International     Eliminations     Total revenues  
Revenues, as reported (GAAP)   $ 182,290     $ 22,065     $ (1,793 )   $ 202,562  
Foreign currency translation impact (a)     (56 )     (636 )     (12 )     (704 )
Constant currency revenues   $ 182,234     $ 21,429     $ (1,805 )   $ 201,858  
    Year Ended December 31, 2023  
(in thousands)   Americas     International     Eliminations     Total revenues  
Revenues, as reported (GAAP)   $ 673,075     $ 96,832     $ (6,146 )   $ 763,761  
Foreign currency translation impact (a)     (146 )     2,067       103       2,024  
Constant currency revenues   $ 672,929     $ 98,899     $ (6,043 )   $ 765,785  
                                 
(a) Constant currency revenues is calculated by translating current period amounts using prior-year period exchange rates.
    Interim Periods     Annual Periods  
(in thousands)   Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2023
    Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2022
    Year Ended
December 31, 2023
    Year Ended
December 31, 2022
 
Net income   $ 14,813     $ 20,146     $ 37,293     $ 64,604  
Interest expense, net     12,915       5,197       33,040       9,199  
Provision for income taxes     1,653       3,399       11,183       20,475  
Depreciation and amortization     33,132       35,061       129,473       138,246  
Share-based compensation(a)     4,816       2,032       15,265       7,856  
Transaction and acquisition-related charges(b)     532       1,433       4,364       6,018  
Integration, restructuring, and other charges(c)     373       3,020       6,938       2,512  
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 68,234     $ 70,288     $ 237,556     $ 248,910  
Revenues     202,562       212,595       763,761       810,023  
Net income margin     7.3 %     9.5 %     4.9 %     8.0 %
Adjusted EBITDA Margin     33.7 %     33.1 %     31.1 %     30.7 %
Adjusted EBITDA     68,234             237,556        
Foreign currency translation impact(d)     (110 )           498        
Constant currency Adjusted EBITDA   $ 68,124           $ 238,054        
 
(a) Share-based compensation for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023, includes approximately $2.6 million and $6.6 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 vesting modification.
(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. Also includes incremental professional service fees incurred related to the initial public offering and subsequent one-time compliance efforts. The year ended December 31, 2022 includes a transaction bonus expense related to one of the Company’s 2021 acquisitions.
(c) Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, and (gains) losses on the sale of assets.
(d) Constant currency Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by translating current period amounts using prior-year period exchange rates.


Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

    Interim Periods     Annual Periods  
(in thousands)   Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2023
    Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2022
    Year Ended
December 31, 2023
    Year Ended
December 31, 2022
 
Net income   $ 14,813     $ 20,146     $ 37,293     $ 64,604  
Provision for income taxes     1,653       3,399       11,183       20,475  
Income before provision for income taxes     16,466       23,545       48,476       85,079  
Debt-related costs(a)     5,812       460       12,845       (9,569 )
Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization(b)     26,044       28,873       102,659       115,944  
Share-based compensation(c)     4,816       2,032       15,265       7,856  
Transaction and acquisition-related charges(d)     532       1,433       4,364       6,018  
Integration, restructuring, and other charges(e)     373       3,020       6,938       2,512  
Adjusted Net Income before income tax effect     54,043       59,363       190,547       207,840  
Less: Adjusted income taxes(f)     11,480       14,407       44,759       51,378  
Adjusted Net Income   $ 42,563     $ 44,956     $ 145,788     $ 156,462  
                                 
    Interim Periods     Annual Periods  
    Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2023
    Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2022
    Year Ended
December 31, 2023
    Year Ended
December 31, 2022
 
Diluted net income per share (GAAP)   $ 0.10     $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.43  
Adjusted Net Income adjustments per share                        
Provision for income taxes     0.01       0.02       0.08       0.13  
Debt-related costs(a)     0.04       0.00       0.09       (0.06 )
Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization(b)     0.18       0.19       0.70       0.76  
Share-based compensation(c)     0.03       0.01       0.10       0.05  
Transaction and acquisition-related charges(d)     0.00       0.01       0.03       0.04  
Integration, restructuring, and other charges(e)     0.00       0.02       0.05       0.02  
Adjusted income taxes(f)     (0.08 )     (0.10 )     (0.31 )     (0.34 )
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP)   $ 0.29     $ 0.30     $ 1.00     $ 1.03  
                         
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share:                        
Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (GAAP and Non-GAAP)     144,969,753       150,055,595       146,226,096       151,807,139  
                                 
(a) Represents the non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of debt issuance costs for the 2021 February refinancing of the Company’s First Lien Credit Facility. Beginning in 2022, this adjustment also includes the impact of the change in fair value of interest rate swaps. This adjustment, which represents the difference between the fair value gains or losses and actual cash payments and receipts on the interest rate swaps, was added as a result of the increased interest rate volatility observed in 2022.
(b) Represents the depreciation and amortization expense related to intangible assets 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 three months and year ended December 31, 2023, includes approximately $2.6 million and $6.6 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 vesting modification.
(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. Also includes incremental professional service fees incurred related to the initial public offering and subsequent one-time compliance efforts. The year ended December 31, 2022 includes a transaction bonus expense related to one of the Company’s 2021 acquisitions.
(e) Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, and (gains) losses on the sale of assets.
(f) Effective tax rates of approximately 21.2% and 24.3% have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Effective tax rates of approximately 23.5%, and 24.7%, have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.


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