Cross Country Healthcare gains 6.2% as Aya deal clears FTC compliance hurdle.

Cross Country Healthcare shares rose 6.2% after the company and Aya agreed to certify compliance with the Federal Trade Commission for their deal. The certification confirms that the companies have met the FTC's requirements for the acquisition, paving the way for the deal to be completed.

Cross Country Healthcare (NASDAQ: CCRN) saw its shares increase by 6.2% following the company's certification of compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for its acquisition deal with Aya Healthcare. The certification, disclosed in an 8-K filing on September 1, 2025, indicates that both companies have substantially complied with the FTC's second request, a standard regulatory step in the review process for significant mergers [1].

The certification marks a significant milestone in the acquisition process, which was first announced on December 4, 2024. Initially, the deal was expected to close by September 3, 2025, but the termination date has been automatically extended to December 3, 2025 [2]. This extension allows the FTC additional time to complete its review, which is crucial for transactions of this scale in the healthcare staffing sector [3].

The merger, valued at approximately $615 million, would see Aya Healthcare acquire Cross Country for $18.61 per share in cash. Aya Healthcare, the largest healthcare staffing firm in the US, is expected to benefit from the acquisition of Cross Country, the seventh-largest healthcare staffing firm in the US [2].

The certification of compliance with the FTC's second request signifies progress in the regulatory review process and helps clarify the path to the expected Q4 2025 closing. Investors can expect further updates as the regulatory process continues, with the merger now anticipated to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the remaining regulatory green lights [3].

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4492456-cross-country-health-gains-amid-certifying-compliance-with-ftc-for-avaya-deal
[2] https://www.staffingindustry.com/news/global-daily-news/aya-cross-country-extend-merger-deadline
[3] https://www.panabee.com/news/cross-country-healthcare-merger-update-end-date-shifts-to-december-as-ftc-review-progres