Item 1A. Risk Factors

Other than as described below, there were no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

WE MAY FAIL TO REALIZE ALL OF THE ANTICIPATED BENEFITS OF THE TRANSACTION (INCLUDING USE OF ACCESSION’S DEFERRED TAX ASSETS), AND THE TRANSACTION OR THOSE BENEFITS MAY TAKE LONGER TO REALIZE THAN EXPECTED.

We believe that there are significant benefits and synergies that may be realized through the Transaction. However, the efforts to realize these benefits and synergies will be a complex process and may disrupt existing operations if not implemented in a timely and efficient manner. The full benefits of the Transaction, including the anticipated synergies and growth opportunities, may not be realized as expected or may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame, or at all. In addition, our use post-closing of any of Accession’s deferred tax assets may be subject to limitation. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Transaction could adversely affect our results of operations or cash flows, decrease or delay any anticipated accretive effect of the Transaction and negatively impact the price of our common stock and the trading prices of our senior notes.

FINANCING THE TRANSACTION RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN OUR INDEBTEDNESS, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT US, INCLUDING BY DECREASING OUR BUSINESS FLEXIBILITY AND INCREASING OUR INTEREST EXPENSE.

As of September 30, 2025, our total debt was $7,728 million. We financed the purchase price of the Transaction with the net proceeds of certain securities offerings and cash on hand. These increases in our indebtedness may, among other things, reduce our flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions or to fund capital expenditures or working capital needs. In addition, the amount of cash required to pay interest on our indebtedness, and thus the demands on our cash resources, will materially increase as a result of the Transaction.

WE HAVE MADE CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION WHICH MAY PROVE TO BE MATERIALLY INACCURATE.

We have made certain assumptions relating to the Transaction, which assumptions involve significant judgement and may not reflect the full range of uncertainties and unpredictable outcomes inherent in the Transaction and may be materially inaccurate. These assumptions relate to numerous matters, including:

• projections of future revenue and our earnings per share;

• projections of future expenses and expense allocation relating to the Transaction and Accession;

• our ability to realize the expected benefits of the Transaction;

• unknown or contingent liabilities associated with the Transaction or Accession;

• our ability to maintain, develop and deepen relationships with employees, including key brokers, and customers associated with Accession;

• the amount of goodwill and intangibles that will result from the Transaction;

• other purchase accounting adjustments that we may record in our financial statements in connection with the Transaction;

• acquisition and integration costs, including restructuring charges and transaction costs;

• the impact of the financing of the Transaction on our operating results or financial condition; and

• other financial and strategic risks of the Transaction.

WE ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS RELATED TO ACCESSION’S BUSINESS, INCLUDING UNDERWRITING RISK IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

We are subject to risks related to Accession’s business and assumed its insurance policies and other obligations.

Accession’s ownership of one or more protected cells in certain captive insurance companies subjects us to underwriting risk through such ownership and/or participation and may also subject us to certain liabilities and expenses, including those subject to the indemnification provisions of the Merger Agreement. Accession currently owns, and may continue to own, from time to time, one or more protected cells in

certain captive insurance companies for the purpose of facilitating additional underwriting capacity for certain of its customers. While Accession’s underwriting risk through any such captive insurance company would generally be limited (absent any regulatory requirement for the contribution of additional capital or contractual obligation to fund any underwriting losses in excess of contributed capital), we may be subject to claims expenses associated with any losses from these customers or programs to the extent not covered by any reinsurance. Our results of operations may be negatively impacted if any such captive insurance company incurs claims expenses.

Relatedly, we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the litigation pending against Accession’s subsidiary, Oxford Risk Management Group LLC, with respect to the 2024 restructuring of the domicile of certain financial guarantee and final judgment preservation policies for segregated captive cells (the “FG Policies”), including remedies, damage awards or adverse results in such litigation, and any similar proceedings could have a material adverse effect on us. Our results of operations would be negatively impacted if the costs of the claims relating to the FG Policies exceed the value of the cash and stock held in the indemnity escrow fund pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

In addition, Accession has an advisory services business that assists certain clients with the establishment of captive insurance companies, for their own purposes, which leverage the benefits of Section 831(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and which are subject to audit and oversight from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS has conducted investigations, and may be conducting investigations, of certain peers of Accession that also provide similar services, with respect to whether or not such third parties are acting as a tax shelter promoter in connection with those operations. If the IRS were to disallow 831(b) elections, modify its guidance around 831(b) elections, or otherwise investigate our business and conclude that we are not in compliance with IRS regulations, whether or not merited, those events could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Furthermore, where our businesses overlap, any risks we face may be intensified due to the Transaction. This may exacerbate the risks we already undertake, as described in our 2024 10-K under “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equi****ty Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuances of Unregistered Securities

As partial consideration for the Transaction, on August 1, 2025, the Company issued approximately 11 million shares to the equityholders of RSC. The issuance was made in reliance upon the following exemptions of exclusions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”): Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table provides information about our repurchase of shares of our common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2025:

(1)

A total of (a) 8,431 shares reported in this column are attributable to shares withheld for taxes in connection with vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units under our 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, and (b) 6,947 shares reported in this column were acquired by the Company in satisfaction of a legal settlement with a former employee of the Company.

(2)

On July 18, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of the Company's shares of common stock, and on July 20, 2015, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $400 million of the Company's shares of common stock. On May 1, 2019, the Board of Directors approved an additional repurchase authorization amount of $373 million to bring the total available share repurchase authorization to approximately $500 million. After completing these open market repurchases, the Company’s outstanding Board approved share repurchase authorization as of September 30, 2025 was approximately $249 million. Between January 1, 2014 and September 30, 2025, the Company repurchased a total of approximately 20 million shares for an aggregate cost of approximately $748 million.

(3)

Dollar values stated in millions.