StepStone Group Inc. 10-K

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. In the normal course of business, we are exposed to a broad range of risks inherent in the financial markets in which we participate, including price risk, interest-rate risk, access to and cost of financing risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and foreign exchange-rate risk. Potentially negative effects of these risks may be mitigated to a certain extent by those aspects of our investment approach, investment strategies, fundraising practices or other business activities that are designed to benefit, either in relative or absolute terms, from periods of economic weakness, tighter credit markets or financial market dislocations. 116 Table of Contents Market Risk Our predominant exposure to market risk is related to our role as general partner or investment manager for our focused commingled funds and SMAs and the sensitivities to movements in the fair value of their investments, which may adversely affect our performance fee revenues and investment income. Our management fee and advisory fee revenue is only marginally affected by changes in investment values because our management fees are generally based on commitments or net invested capital and our advisory fees are fixed. As of March 31, 2022, NAV-based management fees represented approximately 3% of total net management and advisory fees. We estimate that a 10% decline in market values of the investments held in our funds as of March 31, 2022 would result in an approximate $1.5 million decrease to annual management fees. The fair value of the financial assets and liabilities of our focused commingled funds and SMAs may fluctuate in response to changes in the fair value of a fund’s underlying investments, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates. The effect of these risks is as follows: • Incentive fees from our funds are not materially affected by changes in the fair value of unrealized investments because they are based on realized gains and subject to achievement of performance criteria rather than on the fair value of the fund’s assets prior to realization. As of March 31, 2022, we had $14.2 million of deferred incentive fee revenue recorded in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. • We earn carried interest allocation revenue from certain of the StepStone Funds based on cumulative fund performance to date, subject to specified performance criteria. Our carried interest allocation is affected by changes in market factors. However, the degree of impact will vary depending on several factors, including but not limited to (i) the performance criteria for each individual fund in relation to how that fund’s results of operations are affected by changes in market factors; (ii) whether such performance criteria are annual or over the life of the fund; (iii) to the extent applicable, the previous performance of each fund in relation to its performance criteria; and (iv) whether each funds’ performance related distributions are subject to contingent repayment. As a result, the impact of changes in market factors on carried interest allocation revenue will vary widely from fund to fund. An overall decrease of 10% in the general equity markets would not necessarily drive the same impact on our funds’ valuations, as many of our investments in our funds are illiquid and do not trade on any exchange. Additionally, as a large percentage of our carried interest allocation revenues are paid to employees as carried interest-related compensation, the overall net impact to our income would be mitigated by lower compensation payments. As of March 31, 2022, the maximum amount of carried interest allocations (excluding legacy Greenspring carried interest allocations) subject to contingent repayment was an estimated $204.8 million, net of tax, assuming the fair value of all investments was zero, a possibility that we view as remote. • Investment income changes in relation to realized and unrealized gains and losses of the underlying investments in our funds in which we have a general partner commitment. Based on investments (excluding legacy Greenspring investments in funds) held as of March 31, 2022, we estimate that a 10% decline in fair value of the investments would result in a $10.7 million decrease in the amount of income. Exchange Rate Risk Our business is affected by movements in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar currencies in respect of revenues and expenses of our foreign offices that are denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies and cash and other balances we hold in non-functional currencies. The amount of revenues and expenses attributable to our foreign offices is not material in relation to our U.S. offices. Therefore, changes in exchange rates are not expected to materially affect our consolidated financial statements. 117 Table of Contents Certain of our focused commingled funds and SMAs hold investments denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies that may be affected by movements in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, which could affect investment performance. The currency exposure related to investments in foreign currency assets is limited to our general partner interest, which is typically no more than 1% of total capital commitments. Changes in exchange rates are not expected to materially affect our consolidated financial statements. Interest Rate Risk As of March 31, 2022, we had $65.0 million in borrowings outstanding under our Revolver. The Revolver accrues interest at a variable rate. As of March 31, 2022, we estimate that interest expense would increase by $0.7 million on an annualized basis as a result of a 100 basis point increase in interest rates. Based on the $117.4 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31, 2022, we estimate that interest income would increase by $1.2 million on an annualized basis as a result of a 100 basis point increase in interest rates. Credit Risk We are party to agreements providing for various financial services and transactions that contain an element of risk in the event that the counterparties are unable to meet the terms of such agreements. In such agreements, we depend on the respective counterparty to make payment or otherwise perform. We generally endeavor to minimize our risk of exposure by limiting the counterparties with which we enter into financial transactions to reputable financial institutions. In other circumstances, availability of financing from financial institutions may be uncertain due to market events, and we may not be able to access these financing markets. 118 Table of Contents