Covista (CVSA) Risk Analysis

Due to the regulatory and enforcement efforts at times directed at all Title IV participating institutions and adverse publicity arising from such efforts, we may face additional government and regulatory investigations and actions, lawsuits from private plaintiffs, and shareholder class actions and derivative claims. We may incur significant costs and other expenses in connection with our response to, and defense, resolution, or settlement of, investigations, claims, or actions, or group of related investigations, claims, or actions, which, individually or in the aggregate, could be outside the scope of, or in excess of, our existing insurance coverage and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. As part of our resolution of any such matter, or group of related matters, we may be required to comply with certain forms of injunctive relief, including altering certain business practices, or pay substantial damages, settlement costs, fines, and/or penalties. In addition, findings or claims or settlements thereof could serve as a basis for additional lawsuits or governmental inquiries or enforcement actions, including actions under ED's Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations. Such actions, individually or combined with other proceedings, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. Additionally, an adverse allegation, finding or outcome in any of these matters could also materially and adversely affect our ability to maintain, obtain, or renew licenses, approvals, or accreditation, and maintain eligibility to participate in Title IV, Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs programs or serve as a basis for ED to discharge certain Title IV student loans and seek recovery for some or all of its resulting losses from us under Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

ED could require Covista to post multiple and substantial letters of credit or other securities in connection with, among other things, certain pending and future claims, investigations, and program reviews, in certain circumstances, regardless of the merits of our actions or available defenses, or, potentially, the severity of any findings or facts stipulated. The aggregate amount of these letters of credit or other required security could materially and adversely limit our borrowing capacity under our credit agreement and our ability to make capital expenditures and other investments aimed at growing and diversifying our operations, sustain and fund our operations, and make dividend payments to shareholders. Covista's credit agreement allows Covista to post up to $500.0 million in letters of credit. In the event Covista is required to post letters of credit in excess of the $500.0 million limit, Covista would be required to seek an amendment to its credit agreement or seek an alternative means of providing security required by ED. Covista may not be able to obtain the excess letters of credit or security or may only be able to obtain such excess letters of credit or security at significant cost.

As a provider of higher education, we are subject to extensive regulation. These regulatory requirements cover virtually all phases and aspects of our U.S. postsecondary operations, including educational program offerings, facilities, civil rights, safety, public health, privacy, instructional and administrative staff, administrative procedures, marketing and recruiting, financial operations, payment of refunds to students who withdraw, acquisitions or openings of new schools or programs, addition of new educational programs, and changes in our corporate structure and ownership. In particular, the HEA subjects schools that participate in the various federal student financial aid programs under Title IV, which includes all Covista Title IV institutions, to significant regulatory scrutiny. Covista's Title IV institutions collectively receive 78% of their revenue from Title IV programs. As a result, the suspension, limitation, or termination of the eligibility of any of our institutions to participate in Title IV programs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. To participate in Title IV programs, an institution must receive and maintain authorization by the appropriate state education agencies, be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by ED, and be certified by ED as an eligible institution, which ultimately is accomplished through the execution of a PPA. Our institutions that participate in Title IV programs each do so pursuant to a PPA that, among other things, includes commitments to abide by all applicable laws and regulations, such as Incentive Compensation and Substantial Misrepresentation. Alleged violations of such laws or regulations may form the basis of civil actions for violation of state and/or federal false claims statutes predicated on violations of a PPA, including pursuant to lawsuits brought by private plaintiffs on behalf of governments (qui tam actions), that have the potential to generate very significant damages linked to our receipt of Title IV funding from the government over a period of multiple years.

Our Title IV institutions collectively receive 78% of their revenue from Federal education assistance funds. As a result, any reductions in funds available to our students or any delays in payments to us under Title IV and other Federal programs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. Action by the U.S. Congress to revise the laws governing the federal student financial aid programs or reduce funding for those programs could reduce Covista's student enrollment and/or increase its costs of operation. Political and budgetary concerns significantly affect Title IV programs. The U.S. Congress enacted the HEA to be reauthorized on a periodic basis, which most recently occurred in August 2008. A comprehensive HEA reauthorization bill has not yet been introduced. However, standalone bills impacting Title IV federal financial aid programs have been introduced in both chambers of Congress. Some of these bills could be included in a larger legislative package, which could include the HEA. When the HEA is reauthorized, existing programs and participation requirements are subject to change. Additionally, funding for student financial assistance programs may be impacted during appropriations and budget actions. The U.S. Congress can change the laws affecting Title IV programs in annual federal appropriations bills and other laws it enacts between the HEA reauthorizations, as it did in the recent OBBBA. We are continuing to evaluate and implement the changes made by OBBBA and the effect those changes may have on Covista. At this time, Covista cannot predict what additional changes, if any, the U.S. Congress may ultimately make. Any action by the U.S. Congress that reduces Title IV program funding or the ability of Covista's degree-granting institutions or students to participate in Title IV programs could have a material adverse effect on Covista's business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. Certain legislation, provisions in proposed legislation if enacted, or implementation of existing or future law by a current or future administration, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including but not limited to legislation that limits the enrollment of U.S. citizens in foreign medical schools, legislation that could require institutions to share in the risk of defaulted federal student loans, and legislation that ties institutions' eligibility for Title IV funds to the earnings of its graduates. Additionally, a shutdown or significant staff reduction of government agencies, such as ED, responsible for administering student financial aid programs under Title IV could lead to delays in student eligibility determinations, delays in origination and disbursement of government-funded student loans to our students, and delays in issuing regulations and guidance related to legislation governing federal financial aid.

Our ability to comply with several ED regulations is not entirely within our control. In particular, our ability to participate in federal Title IV programs is partially dependent on other factors including the ability of our past students to avoid default on student loans, obtain sufficiently remunerative employment, and of our future students to pay for a portion of their education with private funds. These factors are influenced by broader economic drivers, including the personal or family wealth of our students, the overall employment outlook for their area of study, and the availability of private financing sources. An economic downturn could impact these factors, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. Additionally, institutions may lose Title IV eligibility if the most recent cohort default rate on student loans exceeds 40% or if each of the three most recent cohort default rates exceed 30%. According to ED, the default rate for all Title IV institutions nationally was 0.0% for the fiscal year 2022 cohort, 0.0% for the fiscal year 2021 cohort, and 0.0% for the fiscal year 2020 cohort. The recently enacted Do No Harm provisions of OBBBA are discussed in detail in Item 1. "Business." We are continuing to evaluate the potential impact of the Do No Harm provisions and ED's regulations on Covista's programs.

ED regulations applicable to institutions participating in Title IV programs prohibit any "substantial misrepresentation" by our institutions, employees, and agents regarding the nature of the institution's educational programs, its financial charges, or the employability of its graduates. These regulations may, among other things, subject us to claims of sanctions for statements containing errors made to non-students, including any member of the public, impose liability on us for the conduct of others and expose us to liability even when no actual harm occurs. A "substantial misrepresentation" is any misrepresentation on which the person to whom it was made could reasonably be expected to rely, or has reasonably relied, to that person's detriment. It is possible that despite our compliance controls to prevent misrepresentations, our employees or service providers may make statements that could be construed as substantial misrepresentations. As a result, we may face complaints from students and prospective students over statements made by us and our agents in advertising and marketing, during the enrollment, admissions and financial aid process, and throughout attendance at any of our Title IV institutions, which would expose us to increased risk of enforcement action and applicable sanctions or other penalties, including potential Borrower Defense to Repayment liabilities, and increased risk of private qui tam actions under the Federal False Claims Act. If ED determines that an institution has engaged in substantial misrepresentation, ED may (1) fine the institution; (2) discharge students' debt and hold the institution liable for the discharged debt under the HEA and the Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations; and/or (3) suspend or terminate an institution's participation in Title IV programs. Alternatively, ED may impose certain other limitations on the institution's participation in Title IV programs, which could include the denial of applications for approval of new programs or locations, a requirement to post a substantial letter of credit, or the imposition of one of ED's heightened cash monitoring processes. Any of the foregoing actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

Due to the regulated nature of proprietary postsecondary institutions, we are subject to audits, compliance reviews, inquiries, complaints, investigations, claims of non-compliance, and lawsuits by federal and state governmental agencies, regulatory agencies, accrediting agencies, present and former students and employees, shareholders, and other third parties, any of whom may allege violations of any of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to us. If the results of any such claims, actions, or allegations thereof are unfavorable to us or one or more of our institutions, we may be required to pay monetary judgments, fines, or penalties, be required to repay funds received under Title IV programs or state financial aid programs, have restrictions placed on or terminate our schools' or programs' eligibility to participate in Title IV programs or state financial aid programs, have limitations placed on or terminate our schools' operations or ability to grant degrees and certificates, have our schools' accreditations restricted or revoked, or be subject to civil or criminal penalties. ED regulations regarding financial responsibility provide that, if any one of our Title IV institutions is unable to pay its obligations under its Program Participation Agreement ("PPA") as a result of operational issues and/or an enforcement action, our other Title IV institutions, regardless of their compliance with applicable laws and regulations, would not be able to maintain their Title IV eligibility without assisting in the repayment of the non-compliant institution's Title IV obligations. As a result, even though Covista's Title IV institutions are operated through independent entities, an enforcement action against one of our institutions could also have a material adverse effect on the businesses, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of Covista's other Title IV institutions.

At times, Title IV participating institutions, from all sectors, have experienced scrutiny from federal and state legislators, agencies, attorneys general, and other government officials. An adverse disposition of these existing inquiries, administrative actions, or claims, or the initiation of other inquiries, administrative actions, or claims, could, directly or indirectly, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

Under the Higher Education Act ("HEA"), the U.S. Department of Education ("ED") is authorized to specify in regulations which acts or omissions of an institution of higher education a borrower may assert as a Borrower Defense to Repayment of a Direct Loan made under the Federal Direct Loan Program. See "Borrower Defense to Repayment" in Item 1. "Business" for additional information. Although OBBBA delayed implementation of the 2023 Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations until July 1, 2035, the 2020 regulations have been restored and the outcome of any legal proceeding instituted by a private party or governmental authority, facts asserted in pending or future lawsuits, and/or the outcome of any future governmental inquiry, lawsuit, or enforcement action (including matters described in Note 18 "Commitments and Contingencies" to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data") could form the basis for claims by students or ED under the Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations, the posting of substantial letters of credit, liability to ED for recoupment of forgiven federal student loans, or the termination of eligibility of our institutions to participate in the Title IV program based on ED's institutional administrative capability assessment, any of which could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

Any material change of ownership or change of control of Covista, depending on the type of change, may have significant regulatory consequences for each of our Title IV institutions. Such a change of ownership or control could require recertification by ED, the reevaluation of accreditation by each institution's accreditors, reauthorization by each institution's state licensing agencies, and/or providing financial protections. If Covista experiences a material change of ownership or change of control, then our Title IV institutions may cease to be eligible to participate in Title IV programs until recertified by ED. The continuing participation of each of our Title IV institutions in Title IV programs is critical to our business. Any disruption in an institution's eligibility to participate in Title IV programs would materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. In addition, each Title IV institution is required to report any material change in stock ownership to its principal institutional accrediting body and would generally be required to obtain approval prior to undergoing any transaction that affects, or may affect, its corporate control or governance. In the event of any such change, each of our institution's accreditors may undertake an evaluation of the effect of the change on the continuing operations of our institution for purposes of determining if continued accreditation is appropriate, which evaluation may include a comprehensive review. If our accreditors determine that the change is such that prior approval was required, but was not obtained, many of our accreditors' policies require the accreditor to consider withdrawal of accreditation. If certain accreditation is suspended or withdrawn with respect to any of our Title IV institutions, they would not be eligible to participate in Title IV programs until the accreditation is reinstated or is obtained from another appropriate accrediting body. There is no assurance that reinstatement of accreditation could be obtained on a timely basis, if at all, and accreditation from a different qualified accrediting authority, if available, would require a significant amount of time. Any material disruption in accreditation would materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. In addition, some states in which our Title IV institutions are licensed require approval (in some cases, advance approval) of changes in ownership or control in order to remain authorized to operate in those states, and participation in grant programs in some states may be interrupted or otherwise affected by a change in ownership or control.

Our Title IV institutions may lose eligibility to participate in Title IV programs if, on a cash basis, the percentage of the institution's revenue derived from Federal education assistance funds for two consecutive fiscal years is greater than 90%. Further, if an institution exceeds the 90% threshold for any single fiscal year, ED could place that institution on provisional certification status for the institution's following two fiscal years. See "The 90/10 Rule" in Item 1. "Business" for additional information.

Our Title IV institutions must be authorized to operate by the appropriate postsecondary regulatory authorities in each state in which the institution is located. See "State Authorization" in Item 1. "Business" for a description of Covista's current U.S. approvals. The loss of state authorization would, among other things, render the affected institution ineligible to participate in Title IV programs, at least at those state campus locations, and otherwise limit that school's ability to operate in that state. If these pressures and uncertainties continue in the future, or if one or more of our institutions are unable to offer programs in one or more states, it could have a material adverse impact on our enrollment, revenue, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

AUC and RUSM enter into affiliation agreements with hospitals across the U.S. to place their third and fourth year students in clinical programs at such hospitals. Certain states with regulatory programs that require state approval of clinical education programs may preclude, limit, or impose onerous requirements on Covista's entry into affiliation agreements with hospitals in their states. If states limit access to affiliation arrangements, our schools may be at a competitive disadvantage to other schools, and our schools may be required to substantially restrict their enrollment due to limited clinical opportunities for enrolled students. The impact on enrollment, and the potential for enrollment growth, of such restrictions on our schools' clinical placements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

We contract with unaffiliated entities for student software systems and services related to the administration of portions of our Title IV and financing programs. Because each of our institutions may be jointly and severally liable for the actions of third-party servicers and vendors, failure of such servicers to comply with applicable regulations could have a material adverse effect on our institutions, including fines and the loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, which could have a material adverse effect on our enrollment, revenue, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. If any of our third-party servicers discontinues providing such services to us or provides services that are materially deficient, we may not be able to replace such third-party servicer in a timely, cost-efficient, or effective manner, or at all, and we could lose our ability to comply with collection, lending, and Title IV requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on our enrollment, revenue, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

The use of the internet and other online services has led to and may lead to the adoption of laws and regulations in the U.S. or foreign countries and to changing interpretations of existing laws and regulations. These laws, regulations, and interpretations may relate to issues such as online privacy, copyrights, trademarks and service marks, sales taxes, value-added taxes, withholding taxes, cost of internet access, and services, allocation, and apportionment of income amongst various state, local, and foreign jurisdictions, fair business practices, and the requirement that online education institutions qualify to do business as foreign corporations or be licensed in one or more jurisdictions where they have no physical location or other presence. New laws, regulations, or interpretations related to doing business over the internet could increase our costs and materially and adversely affect our enrollment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

As part of our strategy, we intend to open new campuses, offer new educational programs, and add capacity to certain existing locations. Such actions require us to obtain appropriate federal, state, and accrediting agency approvals. In addition, adding new locations, programs, and capacity may require significant financial investments and human resource capabilities. The failure to obtain appropriate approvals or to properly allocate financial and human resources could adversely impact our future growth. The impacts of potential tariffs on supply chains and construction materials may increase the costs of building new campuses.

The loss of institutional accreditation by any of our Title IV institutions would leave the affected institution ineligible to participate in Title IV programs and would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. In addition, an adverse action by any of our institutional accreditors other than loss of accreditation, such as issuance of a warning or probation, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Increased scrutiny of accreditors by ED in connection with ED's recognition process may result in increased scrutiny of institutions by accreditors or have other consequences.

The HEA and ED regulations require us to calculate refunds of unearned Title IV program funds disbursed to students who withdraw from their educational program. If refunds are not properly calculated or timely paid, we may be required to post a letter of credit with ED or be subject to sanctions or other adverse actions by ED, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

If we, or one of the companies that service our credit programs, do not comply with laws applicable to the financing programs that assist our students in affording our educational offerings, including Truth in Lending and Fair Debt Collections Practices laws and the Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Acts or Practices provisions of Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act, we could be subject to fines, penalties, obligations to discharge the debts, and other injunctive requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. Additionally, an adverse allegation, finding or outcome in any of these matters could also materially and adversely affect our ability to maintain, obtain or renew licenses, approvals or accreditation, and maintain eligibility to participate in Title IV programs or serve as a basis for ED to discharge certain Title IV student loans and seek recovery for some or all of its resulting losses from us, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.

A significant portion of our enrollment is sponsored through various federal and state supported agencies and programs, including the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As a recipient of funds, we are subject to periodic reviews and audits. Inaccurate or untimely reporting or administration of funds to students could result in suspension or termination of our eligibility to participate in these federal and state programs and have a material adverse impact on enrollment and revenue, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.