StepStone Group Inc.STEP
StepStone Group Inc. Debt Disclosure
Debt Obligations
The Company’s debt obligations consist of the following:
| As of March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| Series A senior notes | $ | 175,000 | $ | — | |||||||
| Revolver | 100,000 | 150,000 | |||||||||
| Total remaining principal | 275,000 | 150,000 | |||||||||
| Less: Debt issuance costs | (5,732) | (1,178) | |||||||||
| Total debt obligations | $ | 269,268 | $ | 148,822 | |||||||
Senior Notes
On October 22, 2024, the Partnership issued $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.52% Series A senior notes due October 22, 2029 (the “Notes”), pursuant to a note purchase agreement, dated as of October 22, 2024 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”), in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
Interest on the Notes is be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 22 and October 22 of each year, commencing on April 22, 2025. Interest on the Notes accrues from and including October 22, 2024. The Notes will mature on October 22, 2029. The Partnership may, at its option, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes, in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus any applicable “make-whole amount” and accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. So long as no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing under the Note Purchase Agreement, no make-whole amount will be due if the Notes are paid on or after April 22, 2029.
The fair value of the Notes, which are recorded at amortized cost, is classified as a Level III valuation within the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2025, the carrying value of the Notes, net of debt issuance costs, approximated fair value. There were no Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2024.
Revolving Credit Facility
The Company is party to a credit agreement, as amended and restated in May 2024 (the “Credit Agreement”), which, among other things, increased the aggregate principal amount of the commitments thereunder to $300.0 million from $225.0 million and extended the maturity date of the revolving facility to May 2029. The Credit Agreement was arranged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent and collateral agent, and certain other lenders party thereto and provides for a $300.0 million multicurrency revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”).
Borrowings under the Revolver bear interest at a variable rate per annum. The Company may designate each borrowing as (i) in the case of any borrowing in U.S. dollars, a base rate loan or a Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) rate loan, (ii) in the case of any borrowing denominated in Euros, a EURIBOR rate loan, (iii) in the case of any borrowing denominated in British Pounds Sterling, a Sterling Overnight Index Average (“SONIA”) loan, (iv) in the case of any borrowing denominated in Swiss Francs, a Swiss Average Rate Overnight (“SARON”) loan, and (v) in the case of any borrowing denominated in Australian dollars, an AUD rate loan. Borrowings bear interest equal to (i) in the case of base rate loans, 1.00% plus the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the New York Federal Reserve Bank Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the 1 month Term SOFR, plus 1.10%, (ii) in the case of a Term SOFR rate loan, the Term SOFR rate plus 2.10%, (iii) in the case of a EURIBOR rate loan, the EURIBOR rate multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 2.00%, (iv) in the case of a SONIA loan, the Sterling Overnight Index Average plus 2.03%, (v) in the case of a SARON loan, the Swiss Average Rate Overnight plus 2.00%, and (vi) in the case of an AUD rate loan, the AUD Screen Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate plus 2.20%, in certain cases subject to applicable interest rate floors. The weighted-average interest rate in effect for the Revolver as of March 31, 2025 was 6.48%.
Borrowings under the Revolver may be repaid at any time during the term of the Credit Agreement and, subject to certain terms and conditions, may be reborrowed prior to the maturity date. Any outstanding principal amounts, together with any accrued interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the maturity date. The maturity date for the Revolver is May 16, 2029.
The Revolver bears a fee on undrawn commitments equal to 0.25% per annum if total utilization of revolving commitments is equal to or greater than 50% and 0.35% per annum if total utilization of revolving commitments is less than 50%.
The carrying value of the Revolver approximates fair value, as the loan is subject to variable interest rates that adjust with changes in market rates and market conditions and the current interest rate approximates that which would be available under similar financial arrangements.
The Company can use available funding capacity under the Revolver to satisfy letters of credit in amounts up to $10.0 million. Amounts used to satisfy the letters of credit reduce the available capacity under the Revolver. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $6.5 million.
Debt Obligations of Consolidated Funds
Certain Consolidated Funds may maintain revolving credit facilities that are secured by fund assets to fund investments on a short-term basis. The debt obligations of the Consolidated Funds are non-recourse to the Company.
In December 2024, one of the Company’s consolidated investment funds entered into a credit agreement with Northern Trust Global Service SE (the “Fund Credit Facility”). The Fund Credit Facility provides for a multi-currency revolving credit facility of up to $125.0 million. Amounts drawn under the facility must be repaid within 180 days. As of March 31, 2025, there were no outstanding borrowings on the Fund Credit Facility.
Borrowings under the Fund Credit Facility bear interest at a variable rate per annum. Borrowings in USD will bear interest at the applicable federal funds target rate (upper range) plus a margin of 250 basis points. Borrowings in GBP will bear interest at the Bank of England base rate plus a margin of 250 basis points. Borrowings in EUR will bear interest at the European Central Bank main refinancing rate plus a margin of 250 basis points.
The carrying value of the Fund Credit Facility approximates fair value, as the loan is subject to variable interest rates that adjust with changes in market rates and market conditions and the current interest rate approximates that which would be available under similar financial arrangements.
Debt Covenants
Senior Notes
The Note Purchase Agreement contains certain covenants, including those requiring the Company to (a) maintain a total net leverage ratio, (b) maintain a minimum total of fee-earning assets under management, (c) cause at least 80% of all management fees payable by material subsidiaries to the Company to be collected each period without deferral, waiver or reduction, (d) limit the amount of secured indebtedness to be incurred by the Company, and (e) other customary covenants. The Note Purchase Agreement also provides for customary events of default, which, if any occur and is continuing, could permit or require the entire unpaid principal amount of any or all Notes, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any applicable “make-whole amount” to become or to be declared due and payable immediately.
Revolving Credit Facility
Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, certain of the Company’s assets serve as pledged collateral. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains covenants that, among other things: limit the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness; create, incur or allow liens; transfer or dispose of assets; merge with other companies; make certain investments; pay dividends or make distributions in certain circumstances; engage in new or different lines of business; and engage in certain transactions with affiliates. The Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain a total net leverage ratio and a minimum total of fee-earning assets under management.
Fund Credit Facility
Under the terms of the Fund Credit Facility, certain of the assets of the Consolidated Funds serve as pledged collateral. In addition, the Fund Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other things: limit the ability of the fund to incur indebtedness; create, incur or allow liens; and other customary covenants. The Fund Credit Facility also provides for customary events of default, which, if any occur and are continuing, could permit or require the entire unpaid principal amount of any or all loans under the Fund Credit Facility, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon to become or to be declared due and payable immediately.
As of March 31, 2025, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under its various debt agreements.
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About Debt Disclosures
Debt disclosures detail a company's borrowing structure — the types of instruments, interest rates, maturity schedule, and covenant restrictions that define its financial obligations and flexibility. This section is essential for assessing refinancing risk, interest rate exposure, and the margin of safety against financial distress.
Key signals: the maturity schedule reveals concentration risk — large maturities within 1-2 years during tight credit markets can force dilutive refinancing or asset sales. Compare the fair value of debt against carrying amount to gauge whether the market views the company's credit risk differently than the balance sheet suggests. Watch covenant compliance disclosures for tightening cushions, especially leverage and interest coverage ratios. Variable-rate debt exposure quantifies sensitivity to interest rate changes. Secured versus unsecured mix affects recovery rates and future borrowing capacity. Compare net debt-to-EBITDA against industry peers and covenant limits to assess financial health.