Covista’s business operations are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are not entirely within our control. Investors should carefully consider the risk factors described below and all other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K before making an investment decision with respect to Covista’s common stock. If any of the following risks are realized, Covista’s business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected, and as a result, the price of Covista’s common stock could be materially and adversely 14 Table of Contents affected. Management cannot predict all the possible risks and uncertainties that may arise. Risks and uncertainties that may affect Covista’s business include the following: Risks Related to Covista’s Regulated Industry We are subject to regulatory audits, investigations, lawsuits, or other proceedings relating to compliance by the institutions in the Covista portfolio with numerous laws and regulations in U.S. and foreign jurisdictions applicable to the postsecondary education industry. 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. The ongoing regulatory effort aimed at all Title IV participating institutions could be a catalyst for additional or more restrictive legislative or regulatory restrictions, investigations, enforcement actions, and claims. 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. Adverse publicity arising from investigations, claims, or actions brought against us or other proprietary higher education institutions may negatively affect our reputation, business, or stock price, or attract additional investigations, lawsuits, or regulatory action. Adverse publicity regarding any past, pending, or future investigations, claims, settlements, and/or actions against us or other proprietary postsecondary education institutions could negatively affect our reputation, student enrollment levels, revenue, profit, and/or the market price of our common stock. Unresolved investigations, claims, and actions, or adverse resolutions or settlements thereof, could also result in additional inquiries, administrative actions or lawsuits, increased scrutiny, the withholding of authorizations, and/or the imposition of other sanctions by state education and professional licensing authorities, taxing authorities, our accreditors and other regulatory agencies governing us, which, individually or in the aggregate, 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. Government and regulatory agencies and third parties have initiated, and could initiate additional investigations, claims, or actions against us, which could require us to pay monetary damages, halt certain business practices, or receive other sanctions. The defense and resolution of these matters could require us to expend significant resources. 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 15 Table of Contents 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 has issued regulations setting forth standards and procedures related to Borrower Defense to Repayment of Title IV loan obligations and ED’s right of recoveries against institutions following a successful borrower defense and institutional financial responsibility. It is possible that a finding, allegation, or assertion arising from current or future legal proceedings or governmental administrative actions may create significant liability under the applicable Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations. 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. While we intend to defend ourselves vigorously in all pending and future legal proceedings, we may settle certain matters. Moreover, regardless of the merits of our actions and defenses, if we are unable to resolve certain legal proceedings or regulatory actions, indirect consequences arising from unproven allegations or appealable regulatory findings may have adverse consequences to us. We may settle certain matters due to uncertainty in potential outcome, for strategic reasons, as a part of a resolution of other matters, or to avoid potentially worse consequences in inherently uncertain judicial or administrative processes. The terms of any such settlement 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, although inconsistent with its usual practices, ED and other regulatory and accrediting bodies possess broad discretion to impose significant limitations on us and our business operations arising from acts it determines are in violation of their regulations or standards. Such discretion may be exercised based on facts, allegations, or patterns of conduct, even in the absence of final adjudicated findings. As a result, foreseeable and unforeseeable consequences of prior and prospective adjudicated or settled legal proceedings and regulatory matters 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. 16 Table of Contents Within Title IV regulations, pending or future lawsuits, investigations, program reviews, and other events could each trigger, automatically or in some cases at ED’s discretion, the posting of letters of credit or other securities. 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. We are subject to risks relating to regulatory matters. If we fail to comply with the extensive regulatory requirements for our operations, we could face fines and penalties, including loss of access to federal and state student financial aid for our students, loss of ability to enroll students in a state, and significant civil liability. 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. Government budgetary pressures and changes to laws governing financial aid programs could reduce our student enrollment or delay our receipt of tuition payments. 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. 17 Table of Contents 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 some ED regulations is affected by economic forces affecting our students and graduates that are not entirely within our control. 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. Recent changes to federal student loan programs that reduce annual, aggregate, and lifetime borrowing limits and limit federal student aid for part-time students may limit students’ ability to finance their education, which may in turn materially and adversely affect our results of operations. There have been recent changes to federal student loan programs under the HEA, including the imposition of new annual, aggregate, and lifetime borrowing limits across multiple loan programs, eliminating or restricting certain loan options previously available to graduate and professional students such as Grad PLUS, and limiting federal student aid for part-time students. Many of these changes took effect July 1, 2026, with certain provisions applying prospectively to new borrowers, subject to further implementation through ED regulations and guidance. These changes may materially reduce the amount of loan funding available to students. Students who are unable to access sufficient federal loan funds may be required to rely more heavily on personal savings, private loans, or other sources of financing, which may be unavailable, more expensive, or less predictable. As a result, some prospective students 18 Table of Contents may choose not to enroll, delay enrollment, enroll part-time, select shorter or lower-cost programs, or discontinue their studies before completion. Other students may choose to enroll full-time to avoid part-time Title IV limits. Any sustained reduction in students’ ability or willingness to finance their education through federal loan programs could materially reduce student enrollments, persistence, and completion rates, and adversely affect our revenue, operating results, and growth prospects. We are informing prospective students about private financing alternatives available in the market. We cannot predict the extent to which reduced federal loan availability may influence prospective student demand. ED rules prohibiting “substantial misrepresentation” create exposure to litigation arising from student and prospective student complaints and enforcement actions by ED that could restrict or eliminate our eligibility to participate in Title IV 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. A failure to demonstrate financial responsibility or administrative capability may result in the loss of eligibility, or the imposition of conditions, including provisional certification, to participate in Title IV programs. All of our Title IV institutions are subject to meeting financial and administrative standards. These standards are assessed through annual compliance audits, periodic renewal of institutional PPAs, periodic program reviews, and ad hoc events which may lead ED to evaluate an institution’s financial responsibility or administrative capability. See “Financial Responsibility” and “Administrative Capability” in Item 1. “Business” for additional information. If ED does not recertify any one of our institutions to continue participating in Title IV programs, students at that institution would lose their access to Title IV program funds. Alternatively, ED could recertify our institutions but require our institutions to accept significant limitations as a condition of their continued participation in Title IV programs. ED certification to participate in Title IV programs lasts a maximum of six years, and institutions are thus required to seek recertification from ED on a regular basis in order to continue their participation in Title IV programs. An institution must also apply for recertification by ED if it undergoes a change in control, as defined by ED regulations. Each of our Title IV institutions operates under a PPA. There can be no assurance that ED will recertify any of our institutions after its PPA expires or that ED will not limit the period of recertification to participate in Title IV programs to less than six years, place the institution on provisional certification, or impose conditions or other restrictions on the institution as a condition of granting our application for recertification. If ED does not renew or withdraws the certification to participate in Title IV programs for one or more of our institutions at any time, students at such institution would no 19 Table of Contents longer be able to receive Title IV program funds. Alternatively, ED could (1) renew the certifications for an institution, but restrict or delay receipt of Title IV funds, limit the number of students to whom an institution could disburse such funds, or place other restrictions on that institution, or (2) delay recertification after an institution’s PPA expires, in which case the institution’s certification would continue on a month-to-month basis, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the businesses, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the institution or Covista as a whole and could result in the imposition of significant restrictions on the ability of the institution or Covista as a whole to operate. See “Program Participation Agreement” in Item 1. “Business” for additional information. If we fail to maintain our institutional accreditation or if our institutional accrediting body loses recognition by ED, we would lose our ability to participate in Title IV programs. 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. If regulators do not approve, or delay their approval, of transactions involving a material change of ownership or change of control of Covista, the eligibility of our institutions to participate in Title IV programs, our institutions’ accreditations and our institutions’ state licenses may be impaired in a manner that materially and adversely affects our business. 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. A bankruptcy filing by us or by any of our Title IV institutions, or a closure of one of our Title IV institutions, would lead to an immediate loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. In the event of a bankruptcy filing by Covista, all of our Title IV institutions would lose their eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, pursuant to statutory provisions of the HEA, notwithstanding the automatic stay provisions of federal 20 Table of Contents bankruptcy law, which would make any reorganization difficult to implement. Similarly, in the event of a bankruptcy filing by any of Covista’s subsidiaries that own a Title IV institution, such institution would lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. In the event of any bankruptcy affecting one or more of our Title IV institutions, ED could hold our other Title IV institutions jointly liable for any Title IV program liabilities, whether asserted or unasserted at the time of such bankruptcy, of the institution whose Title IV program eligibility was terminated. Further, in the event that an institution closes and fails to pay liabilities or other amounts owed to ED, ED can attribute the liabilities of that institution to other institutions under common ownership. If any one of our Title IV institutions were to close or have unpaid ED liabilities, ED could seek to have those liabilities repaid by one of our other Title IV institutions. In addition, if one of our Title IV institutions were to close, we could be subject to liabilities arising from closed school discharge claims. Under applicable regulations, students who do not complete their programs due to a qualifying institutional closure may be eligible for loan discharges, and ED may seek to recover the amount of such discharges from the institution or, in certain circumstances, from other institutions under common ownership. Any such liabilities could be material and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Excessive student loan defaults could result in the loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. Our Title IV institutions may lose their eligibility to participate in Title IV programs if their student loan default rates are greater than standards set by ED. An educational institution may lose its eligibility to participate in some or all Title IV programs, if, for three consecutive federal fiscal years, 30% or more of its students who were required to begin repaying their student loans in the relevant federal fiscal year default on their payment by the end of the next two federal fiscal years. In addition, an institution may lose its eligibility to participate in some or all Title IV programs if its default rate for a federal fiscal year is greater than 40%. If any of our Title IV institutions lose eligibility to participate in Title IV programs because of high student loan default rates, it 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. See “Cohort Default Rate” in Item 1. “Business” for additional information. Nevertheless, Covista’s cohort default rates are far below such thresholds as discussed in “Cohort Default Rate” in Item 1. “Business.” Our Title IV institutions could lose their eligibility to participate in federal student financial aid programs if the percentage of their revenue derived from those programs was too high. 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. If we fail to maintain any of our state authorizations, we would lose our ability to operate in that state and could lose eligibility to participate in Title IV programs in that state. 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. 21 Table of Contents Our ability to place our students in clinicals in hospitals in the U.S. may be limited by efforts of certain state government regulatory bodies, which may limit the growth potential of our medical schools, put our medical schools at a competitive disadvantage to other medical schools, or force our medical schools to substantially reduce their class sizes. 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. Budget constraints in states that provide state financial aid to our students could reduce the amount of such financial aid that is available to our students, which could reduce our enrollment and adversely affect our 90/10 Rule percentage. Some states may reduce or eliminate various student financial assistance programs or establish minimum performance measures as a condition of participation. If our students who receive this type of assistance cannot secure alternate sources of funding, they may be forced to withdraw, reduce the rate at which they seek to complete their education, or replace the source with more expensive forms of funding, such as private loans. Other students who would otherwise have been eligible for state financial assistance may not be able to enroll without such aid. This reduced funding could decrease our enrollment and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. In addition, the reduction or elimination of these non-federal sources of student funding may adversely affect our 90/10 Rule percentage. See “The 90/10 Rule” in Item 1. “Business” for additional information. We could be subject to sanctions if we fail to calculate accurately and make timely payment of refunds of Title IV program funds for students who withdraw before completing their educational program. 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. A failure of our vendors to comply with applicable regulations in the servicing of our students and institutions or meet our requirements could subject us to fines or restrictions on or loss of our ability to participate in Title IV programs or otherwise damage our business. 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. We provide financing programs to assist some of our students in affording our educational offerings. These programs are subject to various federal and state rules and regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations could subject us to fines, penalties, obligations to discharge loans, and other injunctive requirements. 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 22 Table of Contents 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. Release of confidential information could subject us to civil penalties or cause us to lose our eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. As an educational institution participating in federal and state student assistance programs and collecting funds from enrollees or their sponsors, we collect and retain certain confidential information. Such information is subject to federal and state privacy and security rules, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. Release or failure to secure confidential information or other non-compliance with these rules could subject us to fines, loss of our capacity to conduct electronic commerce, and loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. We could be subject to sanctions if we fail to accurately and timely report sponsored students’ tuition, fees, and enrollment to the sponsoring agency. 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. Risks Related to Covista’s Business Student enrollment at our schools is affected by legislative, regulatory, and economic factors that may change in ways we cannot predict. These factors outside our control limit our ability to assess our future enrollment effectively. Our future revenue and growth depend on a number of factors, including many of the regulatory risks discussed above and business risks discussed below. Despite ongoing efforts to provide more scholarships and other financing sources to prospective students, and to increase quality and build our reputation, negative perceptions of the value of a college degree, increased reluctance to take on debt, and the resulting lower student consumer confidence may continue to impact enrollment in the future. In addition, technological innovations in the delivery of low-cost education alternatives and increased competition could negatively affect enrollment. We are subject to risks relating to enrollment of students. If we are not able to continue to successfully recruit and retain our students, our revenue may decline. Our undergraduate and graduate educational programs are concentrated in selected areas of medical and healthcare. If applicant career interests or employer needs shift away from these fields, and we do not anticipate or adequately respond to that trend, future enrollment and revenue may decline and the rates at which our graduates obtain jobs involving their fields of study could decline. 23 Table of Contents If our graduates are unable to find appropriate employment opportunities or obtain professional licensure or certification, we may not be able to recruit new students. If employment opportunities for our graduates in fields related to their educational programs decline or they are unable to obtain professional licenses or certifications in their chosen fields, future enrollment and revenue may decline as potential applicants choose to enroll at other educational institutions or providers. We face heightened competition in the postsecondary education market from both public and private educational institutions. Postsecondary education in our existing and new market areas is competitive. We compete with traditional public and private two-year and four-year colleges, other proprietary schools, and alternatives to higher education. Some of our competitors, both public and private, have greater financial and nonfinancial resources than us. Some of our competitors, both public and private, are able to offer programs similar to ours at a lower tuition level for a variety of reasons, including the availability of direct and indirect government subsidies, government and foundation grants, large endowments, tax-deductible contributions, and other financial resources not available to proprietary institutions, or by providing fewer student services or larger class sizes. An increasing number of traditional colleges and community colleges are offering distance learning and other online education programs, including programs that are geared towards the needs of working adults. This trend has been accelerated by private companies that provide and/or manage online learning platforms for traditional colleges and community colleges. As the proportion of traditional colleges providing alternative learning modalities increases, we will face increasing competition for students from traditional colleges, including colleges with well-established reputations for excellence. As the online and distance learning segment of the postsecondary education market matures, we believe that the intensity of the competition we face will continue to increase. This intense competition could make it more challenging for us to enroll students who are likely to succeed in our educational programs, which could adversely affect our new student enrollment levels and student persistence and put downward pressure on our tuition rates, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Outbreaks of communicable infections or diseases, or other public health pandemics in the locations in which we, our students, faculty, and employees live, work, and attend classes, could substantially harm our business. Disease outbreaks and other public health conditions in the locations in which we, our students, faculty, and employees live, work, and attend classes could have a significant negative impact on our revenue, profitability, and business. We continue to evaluate, and if appropriate, adopt other measures in the future required for the ongoing safety of our students and employees. If our business experiences prolonged occurrences of adverse public health conditions, we believe it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Natural disasters or other extraordinary events, political disruptions, armed conflicts or wars may interrupt our operations, cause us to close some of our schools, or suffer casualty losses. We may experience business interruptions or casualty losses resulting from natural disasters, inclement weather, transit disruptions, political disruptions, armed conflicts or wars, or other events in one or more of the geographic areas in which we operate, particularly in the West Coast and Gulf States of the U.S., and the Caribbean. These events could impair the value of our assets and/or cause us to close schools, temporarily or permanently, and could affect student recruiting opportunities in those locations, causing enrollment and revenue to decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. The personal information that we collect may be vulnerable to breach, theft, or loss that could adversely affect our reputation and operations. Possession and use of personal information in our operations subjects us to risks and costs that could harm our business. We collect, use, and retain large amounts of personal information regarding our students and their families. We also collect and maintain personal information of our employees and contractors in the ordinary course of our business. Some of this personal information is held and managed by certain of our vendors. Confidential information also may become available 24 Table of Contents to third parties inadvertently when we integrate or convert computer networks into our network following an acquisition or in connection with system upgrades from time to time. Due to the sensitive nature of the information contained on our networks, such as students’ financial information and grades, our networks may be targeted by hackers. Attacks could have a significant negative impact on our systems and operations. Anyone who circumvents security measures could misappropriate proprietary or confidential information or cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations. Although we use security and business controls to limit access and use of personal information, a third party may be able to circumvent those security and business controls, which could result in a breach of privacy. In addition, errors in the storage, use, or transmission of personal information could result in a breach of privacy. Possession and use of personal information in our operations also subjects us to legislative and regulatory burdens that could require notification of data breaches and restrict our use of personal information. We cannot assure that a breach, loss, or theft of personal information will not occur. A breach, theft, or loss of personal information regarding our students and their families, employees, or contractors that is held by us or our vendors could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and results of operations and result in liability under state and federal privacy statutes and legal actions by federal or state authorities and private litigants, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate. System disruptions and vulnerability from security risks to our computer network or information systems could severely impact our ability to serve our existing students and attract new students. The performance and reliability of our computer networks and system applications, especially online educational platforms and student operational and financial aid packaging applications, are critical to our reputation, operations, and ability to attract and retain students. System errors, disruptions or failures, including those arising from unauthorized access, computer hackers, computer viruses, denial of service attacks, and other security threats, could adversely impact our delivery of educational content to our students or result in delays and/or errors in processing student financial aid and related disbursements. Such events could have a material adverse effect on the reputation of our institutions, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. We may be required to expend significant resources to protect against system errors, failures or disruptions, or the threat of security breaches, or to repair or otherwise mitigate problems caused by any actual errors, disruptions, failures, or breaches. We cannot ensure that these efforts will protect our computer networks, or fully mitigate the resulting impact of interruptions or malfunctions in our operations, despite our regular monitoring of our technology infrastructure security and business continuity plans. A breach of our information technology systems could subject us to liability, reputational damage, or interrupt the operation of our business. We rely upon our information technology systems and infrastructure to operate our business. We could experience theft of sensitive data or confidential information or reputational damage from malware or other cyber-attacks, which may compromise our system infrastructure or lead to data leakage, either internally or at our third-party providers. Similarly, data privacy breaches by those who access our systems may pose a risk that sensitive data, including intellectual property, trade secrets, or personal information belonging to us, our employees, students, or business partners, may be exposed to unauthorized persons or to the public. Cyber-attacks are increasing in their frequency, sophistication, and intensity, and have become increasingly difficult to detect and respond to. There can be no assurance that our mitigation efforts to protect our data and information technology systems will prevent breaches in our systems (or that of our third-party providers) that could adversely affect our operations and business and result in financial and reputational harm to us, theft of trade secrets and other proprietary information, legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, and regulatory penalties. Although we maintain a cybersecurity insurance policy covering costs that we may incur in connection with incidents, we nevertheless may incur expenses and losses related to a cyber incident that are not covered by insurance or are in excess of our insurance coverage. Government regulations relating to the internet could increase our cost of doing business and affect our ability to grow. 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 25 Table of Contents 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. Our ability to open new campuses, offer new programs, and add capacity is dependent on regulatory approvals and requires financial and human resources. 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. We may not be able to attract, retain, and develop key employees necessary for our operations and the successful execution of our strategic plans. We may be unable to attract, retain, and develop key employees with appropriate educational qualifications and experience. In addition, we may be unable to effectively plan and prepare for changes in key employees. Such matters may cause us to incur higher compensation costs and/or provide less student support and customer service, which could adversely affect enrollment, revenue, and expense. A significant amount of our compensation for key employees is tied to our financial performance. We may require new employees to execute some of our strategic plans. Uncertainty regarding our future financial performance may limit our ability to attract new employees with competitive compensation or increase our cost of recruiting and retaining such new employees. We may not be able to successfully integrate acquisitions. As part of our strategy, we are actively exploring acquisition opportunities. We have acquired and may in the future acquire additional education institutions or education related businesses aligned to our strategy. Any acquisition involves significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: · Inability to successfully integrate the acquired operations and personnel into our business and maintain uniform standards, controls, policies, and procedures; · Failure to secure applicable regulatory approvals; · Assumption of known and unknown liabilities; · Diversion of significant attention of our senior management from day-to-day operations; · Issues not discovered in our due diligence process, including compliance issues, commitments, and/or contingencies; and · Financial commitments, investments in foreign countries, and compliance with debt covenants and ED financial responsibility scores. Expansion into new international markets will subject us to risks inherent in international operations. To the extent that we expand internationally, we will face risks that are inherent in international operations including, but not limited to: · Compliance with foreign laws and regulations; · Management of internal operations; · Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; · Ability to protect intellectual property; · Monetary policy risks, such as inflation, hyperinflation, and deflation; · Price controls or restrictions on exchange of foreign currencies; · Political and economic instability in the countries in which we operate; 26 Table of Contents · Potential unionization of employees under local labor laws; · Multiple and possibly overlapping and conflicting tax laws; · Inability to cost effectively repatriate cash balances; and · Compliance with U.S. laws and regulations such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Changes in tax laws or exposure to additional income tax liabilities may have a negative impact on our financial results. Our effective tax rate may fluctuate as a result of evolving U.S. and international tax rules, including those stemming from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (“OECD’s”) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) initiative. This project includes a two-pillar approach to global taxation focusing on global profit allocation (Pillar One) and a global minimum tax rate of 15% (Pillar Two). The implementation of Pillar Two’s 15% global minimum tax, along with related coordination frameworks such as the recently introduced “side-by-side” approach, is ongoing across multiple jurisdictions in which we operate. As countries adopt these rules, we may experience increased compliance costs, greater complexity in our tax profile, and higher cash taxes. These developments could adversely impact our effective tax rate and results of operations in future years. Changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our results. Our future effective tax rates may be subject to volatility due to a number of factors, including the geographic mix of earnings, with lower than expected income in jurisdictions with favorable tax rates and higher than expected income in higher tax jurisdictions; changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities; the expiration, modification, or lapses of various tax law provisions; the tax treatment of stock-based compensation; and costs associated with intercompany transactions or business restructurings. In addition, changes in tax rates, laws, regulations, accounting principles, or interpretations thereof could further impact our tax position. We are also subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities, which may result in adjustments to our tax liabilities that could be material. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes from these examinations in determining the adequacy of our income tax provision. While we have accrued taxes and related interest for potential prior-year adjustments, the ultimate resolution of these matters could have a material impact, either favorable or unfavorable, on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our goodwill and intangible assets potentially could be impaired if our business results and financial condition were materially and adversely impacted by risks and uncertainties. Covista’s market capitalization can be affected by, among other things, changes in industry or market conditions, changes in results of operations, and changes in forecasts or market expectations related to future results. If our market capitalization were to remain below its carrying value for a sustained period of time or if such a decline becomes indicative that the fair values of our reporting units have declined below their carrying values, an impairment test may result in a non-cash impairment charge. As of June 30, 2026, intangible assets from business combinations totaled $754.3 million and goodwill totaled $961.3 million. Together, these assets equaled 57% of total assets as of such date. If our business results and financial condition were materially and adversely impacted, then such intangible assets and goodwill could be impaired, requiring a possible write-off of up to $754.3 million of intangible assets and up to $961.3 million of goodwill. We and our subsidiaries may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may not be able to refinance our debt obligations. Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our and our subsidiaries’ financial condition and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, competitive, legislative, regulatory, and other factors beyond our control. As a result, we may not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness. In addition, because we conduct a significant portion of our operations through our subsidiaries, repayment of our indebtedness is also dependent on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us by dividend, debt repayment, or otherwise. Our subsidiaries are distinct legal entities and other than the guarantors on our indebtedness, they do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on our debt obligations or to make 27 Table of Contents funds available for that purpose or for other obligations. Pursuant to applicable state limited liability company laws and other laws and regulations, our non-guarantor subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to us in order to enable us to make payments in respect of our debt obligations. In the event that we do not receive distributions from our non-guarantor subsidiaries, we may be unable to make required principal and interest payments on our indebtedness. In addition, there can be no assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us under our Revolver (as defined in Note 13 “Debt” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”) in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional capital, or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. If we cannot make scheduled payments on our indebtedness, we will be in default, and investors of our debt obligations could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable, the lenders under the credit facilities could terminate their commitments to loan money, our secured lenders (including the lenders under the credit facilities) could foreclose against the assets securing their loans and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Increased use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in our programs and processes or by others may subject us to increased business, compliance, and legal risk. We use and are working to further incorporate AI technologies into our operations, products, and services. While we expect that our use of AI will help grow our business and benefit our students and employees, it is not certain that we will realize our desired or anticipated benefits. Any actual or perceived misuse of AI technologies could adversely affect student trust, our reputation, and our business results. Our development and use of AI may require additional investments and/or increase the cost of our operations and offerings and increase our reliance on third-party vendors and service providers. Any failure, disruption, security incident, or misconduct involving such providers may adversely affect our operations and financial condition. The presence of AI could increase our legal risk due to the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape governing AI. Compliance with existing and future AI-related laws and regulations may increase our cost of compliance, restrict our ability to deploy certain AI-enabled solutions, and may result in legal or reputational exposure in the event of actual or alleged noncompliance. Other postsecondary institutions may more successfully and quickly integrate AI as a means to facilitate business growth, reduce operating expenses, and improve the student experience, which may result in a material adverse effect on our business or operations. We may be required to make substantial investments in content creation, digital marketing, search optimization, AI optimization strategies, technology, personnel, and third-party service providers to maintain or improve visibility across emerging AI-enabled platforms. There can be no assurance that these investments will be successful or that we will be able to keep pace with technological change.