Shift4 Payments (FOUR) Risk Analysis

We expect that the Preferred Stock will be rated by one or more nationally recognized rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on such material and information, and such of their own investigative studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate. A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the Preferred Stock, and there is no assurance that any rating will apply for any given period of time or that a rating may not be adjusted or withdrawn. A downgrade or potential downgrade in these ratings, the assignment of a new rating that is lower than existing ratings, or a downgrade or potential downgrade in ratings assigned to us, our subsidiaries, the Preferred Stock or any of our other securities could adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the Preferred Stock. If we issue subordinated notes or other "hybrid" securities, we anticipate that the ratings on our preferred stock, including the Preferred Stock, are likely to be lowered by one or more rating agencies as a result of "notching." We cannot be sure that rating agencies will rate the Preferred Stock or maintain their ratings once issued. We do not undertake any obligation to obtain a rating, maintain the ratings once issued or to advise holders of Preferred Stock of any change in ratings. A failure to obtain a rating or a negative change in our ratings once issued could have an adverse effect on the market price or liquidity of the Preferred Stock.

Certain provisions in the Preferred Stock could make a third-party attempt to acquire us more difficult or expensive. For example, if a takeover constitutes a "make-whole fundamental change" under the certificate of designations establishing the terms of the Preferred Stock, then preferred stockholders will have the right to convert their Preferred Stock at a potentially increased conversion rate and receive an additional payment, in cash or shares of Class A common stock, to compensate them for future scheduled dividends on their Preferred Stock. These make-whole fundamental change provisions could increase the cost of acquiring us or otherwise discourage a third party from acquiring us, including in a transaction that preferred stockholders or holders of our Class A common stock may view as favorable.

We may conduct future offerings of shares of our Class A common stock, preferred stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our Class A common stock to fund acquisitions, finance our operations or for other purposes. In addition, we may also issue shares of our Class A common stock under our equity incentive plans. The market price of shares of our Class A common stock and, accordingly, the Preferred Stock could decrease significantly as a result of (i) future issuances or sales of a large number of shares of our Class A common stock, including pursuant to other issuances under the shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR, including as payment for dividends on the Preferred Stock, (ii) future issuances or sales of rights to acquire shares of our Class A common stock, (iii) any of our existing stockholders selling a substantial amount of our Class A common stock, (iv) the conversion of a large number of instruments convertible into shares of our Class A common stock, including the conversion of Preferred Stock or the Convertible Notes into shares of our Class A common stock, or (v) the perception that such issuances, sales or conversions could occur, among other factors. These sales or conversions, or the possibility that these sales or conversions may occur, may also make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate. The terms of the Preferred Stock will not restrict our ability to issue additional common stock or other junior stock in the future. Our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, which may adversely affect the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings.

The trading price of our Class A common stock will significantly affect the trading price of the Preferred Stock, which could result in greater volatility in the trading price of the Preferred Stock than would be expected for non-convertible securities. The trading price of our Class A common stock will likely continue to fluctuate in response to the factors described or referred to elsewhere in this section, among others, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, the condition of the financial markets and changes in prevailing interest rates can have an adverse effect on the trading price of the Preferred Stock. For example, prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, and we would expect an increase in prevailing interest rates to depress the trading price of the Preferred Stock.

A liquid trading market for the Preferred Stock may not develop, and the listing may be subsequently withdrawn. Accordingly, you may not be able to sell your Preferred Stock at the times you wish to or at favorable prices, if at all. The liquidity of the trading market, if any, and future trading prices of the Preferred Stock will depend on many factors, including, among other things, the trading price and volatility of our Class A common stock, prevailing interest rates, our dividend yield, financial condition, results of operations, business, prospects and credit quality relative to our competitors, the market for similar securities and the overall securities market. Many of these factors are beyond our control. Historically, the market for convertible securities has been volatile. Market volatility could significantly harm the market for the Preferred Stock, regardless of our financial condition, results of operations, business, prospects or credit quality.

Without the consent of any preferred stockholder, we may authorize and issue preferred stock that ranks equally with the Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. If we issue any such preferred stock in the future, your rights as a holder of the Preferred Stock will be diluted and the trading price of the Preferred Stock may decline. The powers, preferences and rights of these additional series of preferred stock may be on parity with or (subject to certain consent rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock) senior to the Preferred Stock, which may reduce its value. We have no obligation to consider the specific interests of the holders of the Preferred Stock in engaging in any such offering or transaction.

You will have no rights with respect to our Class A common stock, including voting rights, rights to respond to Class A common stock tender offers, if any, and rights to receive dividends or other distributions on shares of our Class A common stock, if any (other than through an adjustment to the boundary conversion rates), prior to the conversion date with respect to a conversion of your Preferred Stock, but your investment in the Preferred Stock may be negatively affected by these events. Upon conversion, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of shares of our Class A common stock only as to matters for which the record date occurs on or after the conversion date. For example, in the event that an amendment is proposed to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws requiring stockholder approval and the record date for determining the stockholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to the conversion date, you will not be entitled to vote on the amendment (subject to certain limited exceptions if it would adversely affect the special rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Preferred Stock), although you will nevertheless be subject to any changes in the powers, preferences or special rights of our Class A common stock, even if your Preferred Stock has been converted into shares of our Class A common stock prior to the effective date of such change.

The Preferred Stock confers no voting rights except with respect to certain dividend arrearages, certain amendments to the terms of the Preferred Stock and certain other limited circumstances, and except as required by the Delaware General Corporation Law. As a preferred stockholder, you will not be entitled to vote on an as-converted basis with holders of our Class A common stock on matters on which our Class A common stockholders are entitled to vote. For example, you will not have the right, as a preferred stockholder, to vote in the general election of our directors, although you will have a limited right, voting together with holders of any voting parity stock, to elect up to two directors if accumulated dividends on the Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid for the equivalent of six or more dividend periods (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the dividend period beginning on, and including, the initial issue date of the Preferred Stock and ending on, but excluding August 1, 2025). Accordingly, the voting provisions of the Preferred Stock may not afford you with meaningful protections for your investment.

If certain corporate events that constitute a "make-whole fundamental change" occur, then you will, in certain circumstances, be entitled to convert at the "make-whole fundamental change conversion rate" and receive an additional payment, in cash or shares of Class A common stock, for a "future dividend present value amount." The make-whole fundamental change conversion rate and the future dividend present value amount are designed to compensate preferred stockholders for the lost option value and the remaining scheduled dividend payments, respectively, of their Preferred Stock. However, these provisions are subject to various limitations. For example, the make-whole fundamental change conversion rate is only an approximation of the lost option value and will not exceed the maximum conversion rate, and the number of shares that we may be required to deliver as payment for the future dividend present value amount may be limited based on the floor price prevailing at the time of the make-whole fundamental change. Accordingly, you may not be adequately compensated for any loss in the value of your Preferred Stock that may result from a make-whole fundamental change. Furthermore, the definition of make-whole fundamental change is limited to certain specific transactions, and these provisions will not protect preferred stockholders from other transactions that could significantly reduce the value of the Preferred Stock. For example, a spin-off or sale of a subsidiary or business division with volatile earnings, or a change in our line of business, could significantly affect the trading characteristics of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the Preferred Stock without constituting a make-whole fundamental change. In addition, our obligation to pay the future dividend present value amount in connection with a make-whole fundamental change could be considered a penalty, in which case its enforceability would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.

Each of the minimum conversion rate and the maximum conversion rate (which we collectively refer to as the "boundary conversion rates"), and the minimum conversion price and the maximum conversion price (which we collectively refer to as the "boundary conversion prices"), are subject to adjustment for certain events, including: - certain stock dividends, splits and combinations;- the issuance of certain rights, options or warrants to holders of our Class A common stock;- certain distributions of assets, debt securities, capital stock or other property to holders of our Class A common stock;- certain cash dividends on our Class A common stock; and - certain tender or exchange offers. We are not required to adjust the boundary conversion rates or the boundary conversion prices for other events, such as third-party tender offers or an issuance of Class A common stock (or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Class A common stock) for cash, that may adversely affect the trading price of the Preferred Stock and our Class A common stock. We have no obligation to consider the specific interests of the holders of the Preferred Stock in engaging in any such offering or transaction. An event may occur that adversely affects the preferred stockholders and the trading price of the Preferred Stock and the underlying shares of our Class A common stock but that does not result in an adjustment to the boundary conversion rates and boundary conversion prices.

We will adjust the boundary conversion rates of the Preferred Stock for certain events, including the payment of cash dividends on Class A common stock. If we adjust the boundary conversion rates, then you may be deemed, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to have received a taxable dividend to the extent of our earnings and profits, without the receipt of any cash. In addition, if we do not adjust (or adjust adequately) the boundary conversion rates after an event that increases your proportionate interest in us (including pursuant to a deferral exception), then you could be treated as having received a deemed taxable dividend. Moreover, we may make distributions to holders of the Preferred Stock that are paid in Class A common stock. Any such distribution may be taxable to the same extent as a cash distribution of the same amount. If a holder receives a non-cash distribution or is treated as receiving a deemed distribution in respect of its Preferred Stock, then such holder may be subject to tax even though it has received no cash with which to pay that tax, thus giving rise to an out-of-pocket expense. If a holder is a non-U.S. holder (as defined under "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations"), any deemed distribution generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax (currently at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty). If we (or an applicable withholding agent) pay withholding (including backup withholding) on behalf of a holder, we (or an applicable withholding agent) may set off any such payment against, or withhold such taxes from, payments of cash or delivery of shares of Class A common stock to such holder (or, in some circumstances, any payments on our Class A common stock) or sales proceeds received by, or other funds or assets of, such holder.

The trading market for our Class A common stock relies in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not control these analysts. Securities and industry analysts may not publish research on our Company. If securities or industry analysts do not continue coverage of our Company, the trading price of our shares would likely be negatively impacted. Furthermore, if one or more of the analysts who do cover us downgrade our stock or our industry, or the stock of any of our competitors, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts stops covering us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline. Additionally, any fluctuation in the credit rating of us or our subsidiaries may impact our ability to access debt markets in the future or increase our cost of future debt which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition, which in return may adversely affect the trading price of shares of our Class A common stock.

Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own, but rather has borrowed or intends to borrow from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities at a later date to return to the lender. A short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. It is therefore in the short seller's interest for the price of the stock to decline, and some short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, opinions or characterizations regarding the relevant issuer, often involving misrepresentations of the issuer's business prospects and similar matters calculated to create negative market momentum, which may permit them to obtain profits for themselves as a result of selling the stock short. In April 2023, short seller Blue Orca Capital issued a short report on us, resulting in a decrease in the price of our Class A common stock on the day the short report was issued. Subsequently, numerous lawsuits were filed against us, which the court dismissed with prejudice. As a public entity, we may be the subject of additional concerted efforts by short sellers to spread negative information in order to gain a market advantage. In addition, the publication of misinformation may also result in further lawsuits, the uncertainty and expense of which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, and reputation. There are no assurances that we will not face further short sellers' efforts or similar tactics in the future, and the market price of our common stock may decline as a result of their actions.

If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then our assets will be available to distribute to our equity holders, including holders of the Preferred Stock, only if all of our then-outstanding indebtedness is first paid in full. The remaining assets, if any, would then be allocated among the holders of our equity securities in accordance with their respective liquidation rights. There may be insufficient remaining assets available to pay the liquidating preference and unpaid accumulated dividends on the Preferred Stock. As of December 31, 2025, excluding intercompany indebtedness, we had approximately $4,589 million total principal amount of consolidated debt outstanding. In addition, our subsidiaries will have no obligation to pay any amounts on the Preferred Stock. If any of our subsidiaries liquidates, dissolves or winds up, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then we, as a direct or indirect common equity owner of that subsidiary, will be subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary's creditors, including trade creditors and preferred equity holders. We may never receive any amounts from that subsidiary, and, accordingly, the assets of that subsidiary may never be available to make payments on the Preferred Stock.

The sale of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our Class A common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. In addition, upon conversion of the $633 million aggregate principal amount of 2027 Convertible Notes, we will pay in cash the principal amount of the 2027 Convertible Notes with any excess to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, in cash or shares of our Class A common stock or a combination of both at our election. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our shares of Class A common stock or other securities. Furthermore, Rook has entered into margin loan agreements pursuant to which it has pledged 15,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to secure a margin loan. If Rook were to default on its obligations under the margin loan and fail to cure such default, the lender would have the right to sell up to 15,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to satisfy Rook's obligation. While the number of such pledged shares are currently valued in excess of the margin loan, such an event could cause our stock price to decline. Any Class A common stock that we issue under the 2020 Incentive Award Plan, or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future, would dilute the percentage ownership held by the investors who purchase our Class A common stock. In the future, we may also issue securities in connection with investments, acquisitions or capital raising activities. In particular, the number of shares of our Class A common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition, or to raise additional equity capital, could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our Class A common stock. Any such issuance of additional securities in the future may result in additional dilution to you or may adversely impact the price of our Class A common stock.

Certain provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may have an antitakeover effect and may delay, defer, or prevent a merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt or other change of control transaction that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders. These provisions provide for, among other things: - a multi-class common stock structure;- a classified board of directors with staggered three-year terms;- the ability of our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock;- advance notice for nominations of directors by stockholders and for stockholders to include matters to be considered at our annual meetings;- certain limitations on convening special stockholder meetings;- prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors; and - the removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power represented by our then-outstanding common stock. These antitakeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if the third party's offer may be considered beneficial by many of our stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares. In addition, we have opted out of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("DGCL"), but our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any "interested" stockholder (any stockholder with 15% or more of our voting stock) for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an "interested" stockholder is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions.

We are no longer considered a "controlled company" for the purposes of the NYSE. However, we will continue to qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that would otherwise provide protection to stockholders of other companies during a one-year transition period. We are entitled to phase-in the requirements for a majority independent board and independent nominating and compensation committees on the same schedule as a company listing in conjunction with an initial public offering, except the applicable compliance dates will run from the date of our status changes as a controlled company. Specifically, we will be required to satisfy the majority independent board requirement within one year and fully independent committees within one year. We intend to rely on certain of these independence exemptions throughout the one-year transition period. Accordingly, during the transition period, our stockholders may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE.

The value of the shares of our Class A common stock that you will receive upon mandatory conversion (excluding any shares issuable as payment for unpaid dividends) of your shares of Preferred Stock, unless previously redeemed, will generally exceed the liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock only if the mandatory conversion stock price exceeds the maximum conversion price. The maximum conversion price represents an increase of approximately 25.0% over the minimum conversion price. In addition, if the mandatory conversion stock price is greater than the minimum conversion price and less than the maximum conversion price, then the value the shares of our Class A common stock that you will receive upon mandatory conversion (excluding any shares issuable as payment for unpaid dividends) will generally be equal to the liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock. Accordingly, if the trading price of our Class A common stock price increases to, but does not exceed, the maximum conversion price, then the conversion value of the Preferred Stock will generally be unaffected by such increase. Conversely, the value of a direct investment in our Class A common stock will increase by the same percentage amount of such increase. For these reasons, a direct investment in our Class A common stock may earn higher returns from an increase in the trading price of our Class A common stock than an investment in the Preferred Stock.

Unless previously converted or redeemed, each share of Preferred Stock is automatically convert, for settlement on the mandatory conversion settlement date, which is scheduled to occur on May 1, 2028, subject to postponement in certain limited circumstances, into not less than the minimum conversion rate of 0.9780 shares of our Class A common stock and not more than the maximum conversion rate of 1.2224 shares of our Class A common stock, subject to adjustment. The actual number of shares issuable upon mandatory conversion will be determined based on the average of the "daily VWAPs" (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement) over the "mandatory conversion observation period," which is the 20 consecutive "VWAP trading days" (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement) beginning on, and including, the 21st "scheduled trading day" (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement) immediately before May 1, 2028. We refer to this average as the "mandatory conversion stock price." If the mandatory conversion stock price is less than the minimum conversion price, then the value of the shares of our Class A common stock that you will receive upon mandatory conversion (excluding any shares issuable as payment for unpaid dividends) will be less than the liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock, which is $100.00 per share of Preferred Stock. Accordingly, if the trading price of our Class A common stock declines, or does not increase, before the mandatory conversion observation period, you may incur a loss in your investment in the Preferred Stock. Furthermore, if the trading price of our Class A common stock declines during the period between the last day of the mandatory conversion observation period and the date that we deliver the shares due upon mandatory conversion, then the value of the shares you receive may be worth significantly less at the time you receive them than the value of those shares as of the last day of the mandatory conversion observation period. Accordingly, you will bear the entire risk of a decline in the market price of our Class A common stock, and any such decline could be substantial. In addition, if we elect to pay any portion of a declared dividend on the Preferred Stock in shares of our Class A common stock, then the number of shares that we will deliver as payment will depend on the average of the daily VWAPs per share of Class A common stock over the "dividend stock price observation period," which is the five consecutive VWAP trading days beginning on, and including, the sixth scheduled trading day immediately before the relevant dividend payment date. If the trading price of our Class A common stock declines during the period between the last day of the dividend stock price observation period and the date that we deliver the shares, then the value of the shares you receive as payment for the dividend may be worth significantly less than the dollar amount of the declared dividend.

As of December 31, 2025, Jared Isaacman, our founder, former Chief Executive Officer, and former Executive Chairman, controlled, in the aggregate, approximately 77% of the voting power represented by all our outstanding classes of stock. On February 7, 2026, we entered into a Transaction Agreement with Shift Payments, LLC, our Founder, and Rook (the "Transaction Agreement") to effect, among other things, the collapse of our former "Up-C" structure (the "Up-C Collapse") via a taxable exchange, and the assignment and waiver of Rook's rights under the TRA to us (the "Simplification Transactions"). The Simplification Transactions and other matters provided for in the Transaction Agreement will provide significant benefits to us, including being relieved of material future TRA payments, no longer having a stockholder with majority voting power ("Elimination of Voting Control Benefit") and obtaining a waiver by Rook of its rights under Section 4 of the Stockholders Agreement, dated June 4, 2020, among us, Rook, and Searchlight (the "Stockholders Agreement Waiver") (these and the other benefits to us arising from the Simplification Transactions (the "Company Benefits"). Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, the following transactions occurred: (i) Rook effected a redemption and exchange of all of its equity common units in Shift4 Payments, LLC on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock and cancelled the corresponding shares of Class B common stock, (ii) Mr. Isaacman exchanged all of his shares of Class C common stock on a one-for-one basis for shares of Class A common stock, (iii) Rook assigned all of its rights and benefits under the TRA to the Company, and each of Rook and the Company waived any rights they may have to any tax benefit payments; and (iv) Mr. Isaacman agreed to the Stockholders Agreement Waiver. As of February 19, 2026, our Founder controlled approximately 27% of the voting power of Shift4, represented solely by our Class A common stock. As a significant stockholder, our Founder can take actions that have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us or discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares, which could prevent stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares. These actions may be taken even if other stockholders oppose them. The concentration of voting power with our Founder may have an adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock. The interests of our Founder may not be consistent with your interests as a stockholder.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 imposed a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock redeemed or repurchased by publicly traded corporations, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception that allows netting the amount of stock redemptions or repurchases against certain new issuances of stock). If we redeem or repurchase shares of our stock in the future, we could be subject to this excise tax, unless we qualify for any of the exceptions that are provided in the Inflation Reduction Act or in future laws, regulations or rules. Any such excise tax would be our liability and could increase the amount of tax that we are required to pay.