Maravai Lifesciences Holdings (MAR) Risk Analysis

Our organizational structure, including the Tax Receivable Agreement, confers certain benefits upon MLSH 1, as the only other LLC Unitholder in Topco LLC, and MLSH 2 that will not benefit the other holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent. We have entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement with MLSH 1 and MLSH 2, which will provide for the payment by us to MLSH 1 and MLSH 2, collectively, of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize, or in some circumstances are deemed to realize, as a result of (i) certain increases in the tax basis of assets of Topco LLC and its subsidiaries resulting from purchases or exchanges of LLC Units, (ii) certain tax attributes of certain of the entities through which GTCR and other existing members of MLSH 1 and MLSH 2 held their ownership interests in MLSH 1, Topco LLC and subsidiaries of Topco LLC that existed prior to our initial public offering and (iii) certain other tax benefits related to our entering into the Tax Receivable Agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments that we make under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Due to the uncertainty of various factors, we cannot estimate the likely tax benefits we will realize as a result of purchases of LLC Units and LLC Unit exchanges, and the resulting amounts we are likely to pay out to MLSH 1 and MLSH 2 pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement; however, we estimate that such payments may be substantial. Although we will retain 15% of the amount of such tax benefits, this and other aspects of our organizational structure may adversely impact the future trading market for the Class A common stock.

Topco LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, taxable income is allocated to its members, including us. We expect Topco LLC will continue to make tax distributions quarterly to the LLC Unitholders in Topco LLC (including us), in each case on a pro rata basis based on Topco LLC's net taxable income and without regard to any applicable basis adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code. Funds used by Topco LLC to satisfy its tax distribution obligations will not be available for reinvestment in our business. Moreover, these tax distributions may be substantial, and will likely exceed (as a percentage of Topco LLC's income) the overall effective tax rate applicable to a similarly situated corporate taxpayer. As a result, it is possible that we will receive distributions significantly in excess of our tax liabilities and obligations to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. While our Board may choose to distribute such cash balances as dividends on our Class A common stock, they will not be required to do so, and may in their sole discretion choose to use such excess cash for any purpose (including an investment of such cash into Topco LLC) depending upon the facts and circumstances at the time of determination. See "Dividend Policy."

As of December 31, 2025, investment entities affiliated with GTCR collectively controlled approximately 51% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock and therefore GTCR controls the outcome of all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. This control enables GTCR to control the election of the members of the Board and all other corporate decisions. Even when GTCR ceases to control a majority of the total voting power, for so long as GTCR continues to own a significant percentage of our Class A common stock, GTCR will still be able to significantly influence the composition of our Board and the approval of actions requiring shareholder approval. Accordingly, for such period of time, GTCR will have significant influence with respect to our management, business plans and policies, including the appointment and removal of our officers, decisions on whether to raise future capital and amending our charter and bylaws, which govern the rights attached to our Class A common stock. In particular, for so long as GTCR continues to own a significant percentage of our Class A common stock, GTCR will be able to cause or prevent a change of control of us or a change in the composition of our Board and could preclude any unsolicited acquisition of us. The concentration of ownership could deprive you of an opportunity to receive a premium for your shares of Class A common stock as part of a sale of us and ultimately might affect the market price of our Class A common stock. We entered into a Director Nomination Agreement with GTCR that provides GTCR the right to nominate to the Board a number of designees equal to at least: (i) 100% of the total number of directors comprising the Board, so long as GTCR beneficially owns shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock representing at least 40% of the total amount of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock it beneficially owned as of November 19, 2020, (ii) 40% of the total number of directors, in the event that GTCR beneficially owns shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock representing at least 30% but less than 40% of the total amount of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock it owned as of November 19, 2020, (iii) 30% of the total number of directors, in the event that GTCR beneficially owns shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock representing at least 20% but less than 30% of the total amount of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock it owned as of November 19, 2020, (iv) 20% of the total number of directors, in the event that GTCR beneficially owns shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock representing at least 10% but less than 20% of the total amount of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock it owns as of November 19, 2020 and (v) one director, in the event that GTCR beneficially owns shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock representing at least 5% of the total amount of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock it owned as of November 19, 2020. The Director Nomination Agreement provides that GTCR may assign such right to a GTCR affiliate. The Director Nomination Agreement prohibits us from increasing or decreasing the size of our Board without the prior written consent of GTCR. GTCR and its affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities, including investments in our industry generally. In the ordinary course of their business activities, GTCR and its affiliates may engage in activities where their interests conflict with our interests or those of our other shareholders, such as investing in or advising businesses that directly or indirectly compete with certain portions of our business or are suppliers or customers of ours. Our certificate of incorporation provides that none of GTCR, any of its affiliates or any director who is not employed by us (including any non-employee director who serves as one of our officers in both his or her director and officer capacities) or its affiliates has any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities or similar business activities or lines of business in which we operate. GTCR also may pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. In addition, GTCR may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in its judgment, could enhance its investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to you or may not prove beneficial.

Currently, GTCR controls a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. As a result, we are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance requirements of NASDAQ. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a "controlled company" and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements of NASDAQ, including: - the requirement that a majority of our Board is composed of "independent directors" as defined under NASDAQ rules;- the requirement that we have a nominations committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and - the requirement that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors. From time to time, we may rely on these exceptions. Although a majority of our Board is currently composed of independent directors, neither our Compensation and Leadership Development Committee, nor our Nominating, Governance and Risk Committee, consists entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of NASDAQ.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial to our shareholders. Among other things: - these provisions allow us to authorize the issuance of undesignated preferred stock, the terms of which may be established and the shares of which may be issued without shareholder approval, and which may include supermajority voting, special approval, dividend, or other rights or preferences superior to the rights of shareholders;- these provisions provide for a classified board of directors with staggered three-year terms;- these provisions provide that, at any time when GTCR controls, in the aggregate, less than 40% of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock, directors may only be removed for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class;- these provisions prohibit shareholder action by written consent from and after the date on which GTCR controls, in the aggregate, less than 35% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;- these provisions provide that for as long as GTCR controls, in the aggregate, at least 50% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of our bylaws by our shareholders will require the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock and at any time when GTCR controls, in the aggregate, less than 50% in voting power of all outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of our bylaws by our shareholders will require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; and - these provisions establish advance notice requirements for nominations for elections to our Board or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by shareholders at shareholder meetings; provided, however, at any time when GTCR controls, in the aggregate, at least 10% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, such advance notice procedure will not apply to GTCR. We opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any interested shareholder for a period of three years following the date on which the shareholder became an interested shareholder. However, our certificate of incorporation contains a provision that provides us with protections similar to Section 203, and prevents us from engaging in a business combination with a person (excluding GTCR and any of its direct or indirect transferees and any group as to which such persons are a party) who acquires at least 85% of our Class A common stock for a period of three years from the date such person acquired such common stock, unless board or shareholder approval is obtained prior to the acquisition. These provisions could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of our company. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other shareholders to elect directors of your choosing and cause us to take other corporate actions you desire, including actions that you may deem advantageous, or negatively affect the trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, because our Board is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions could in turn affect any attempt by our shareholders to replace current members of our management team. These and other provisions in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for shareholders or potential acquirers to obtain control of our Board or initiate actions that are opposed by our then-current Board, including actions to delay or impede a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving our company. The existence of these provisions could negatively affect the price of our Class A common stock and limit opportunities for you to realize value in a corporate transaction.

Pursuant to our certificate of incorporation, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for any claims in state court for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our shareholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or (4) any other action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the forum selection provision that identifies the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, including any "derivative action," will not apply to suits to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Our certificate of incorporation further provides that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation described above. The forum selection provisions in our certificate of incorporation may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers and may limit our shareholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us. If the enforceability of our forum selection provisions were to be challenged, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such challenge. While we currently have no basis to expect any such challenge would be successful, if a court were to find our forum selection provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of these specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with having to litigate in other jurisdictions, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our employees, management and board of directors.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market could occur at any time. As of December 31, 2025, we had 145,324,017 outstanding shares of Class A common stock, 20,150,005 of which were held by MLSH 2, and further, as of December 31, 2025, an additional 110,684,080 shares of Class A common stock are issuable upon the exchange by MLSH 1 of its interest in Topco. Because each of MLSH 1 and MLSH 2 is controlled by GTCR and is considered an "affiliate" of ours, the shares of Class A common stock held by MLSH 1 and MLSH 2 are subject to certain restrictions on resale imposed by U.S. federal securities laws. However, pursuant to a registration rights agreement, MLSH 1 and MLSH 2 have the right to request that we register these shares in which case the shares would be able to be freely sold in the public market without such restrictions. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of Class A common stock intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our Class A common stock.