Sec Form 13D Filing - Bradley Thomas Alcott filing for StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) - 2021-09-29

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*

StepStone Group Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Class A Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 Per Share

(Title of Class of Securities)

85914M107

(CUSIP Number)

Jennifer Y. Ishiguro

Chief Legal Officer & Secretary

StepStone Group Inc.

450 Lexington Avenue, 31st Floor

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 351-6100

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

September 20, 2021

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box:  ☐

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SCHEDULE 13D

SCHEDULE 13D

Item 1. Security and Issuer

This statement on Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) relates to the Reporting Person’s (as defined in Item 2 below) beneficial ownership interest in the Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of StepStone Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 450 Lexington Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10017.

Item 2. Identity and Background

This Statement is being filed by Thomas Bradley (the “Reporting Person”). The Reporting Person previously filed as a member of a Schedule 13D Group in his capacity as a member of a Class B Committee pursuant to an Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement of the Issuer (the “Stockholders Agreement”), dated as of September 20, 2021. As a result of the Reporting Person’s resignation from the Class B Committee, the Reporting Person no longer has voting power over any shares of the Issuer’s common stock. The Reporting Person is filing this Statement as a person who has dispositive power of more than 5% of the Class B units (the “Class B Units”) of StepStone Group LP (the “Partnership”).

Pursuant to an exchange agreement between the Issuer and the direct partners of the Partnership (the “Exchange Agreement”), including the Reporting Person, those partners (and certain permitted transferees thereof) are entitled to exchange their Class B Units in the Partnership together with an equal number of shares of the Issuer’s Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), for shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis or, at the Issuer’s election, for cash.

In addition, pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement (as defined below), the Reporting Person agreed to vote all his shares of voting stock, including Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, together and in accordance with the instructions of the Class B Committee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) on any matter submitted to the Issuer’s common stockholders for a vote.

The Issuer’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on substantially all matters submitted to the Issuer’s stockholders for approval. The Class A Common Stock carries one vote per share, and the Class B Common Stock currently carries five votes per share. The Issuer’s certificate of incorporation contemplates a “Sunset” becoming effective upon the earliest to occur of September 18, 2025 or one of a series of enumerated events or transactions. After a Sunset becomes effective, the Class B Common Stock will carry one vote per share, and the Stockholders Agreement will terminate.

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

The Issuer entered into the Exchange Agreement with the direct partners of the Partnership, including the Reporting Person, that entitles those partners (and certain permitted transferees thereof) to exchange their Class B Units in the Partnership together with an equal number of shares of the Issuer’s Class B Common Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis or, at the Issuer’s election, for cash.

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction

The Reporting Person acquired, and presently holds, Class A Common Stock and the Class B Units for investment purposes.

Except as otherwise described in this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Person does not currently have any plans or proposals that would result in or relate to any of the transactions or changes listed in Items 4(a) through 4(j) of Schedule 13D. However, as part of his ongoing evaluation of his investment and investment alternatives, the Reporting Person may consider such matters and, subject to applicable law, may formulate a plan with respect to such matters or make formal proposals to the Board of Directors of the Issuer, other stockholders of the Issuer or other third parties regarding such matters. The Reporting Person reserves the right to acquire additional securities of the Issuer in the open markets, in privately negotiated transactions (which may be with the Issuer or with third parties) or otherwise, to dispose of all or a portion of their holdings of securities of the Issuer or to change their intention with respect to any or all of the matters referred to in this Item 4.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer

(a) and (b) The following table sets forth the aggregate number and percentage of the Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person. The aggregate number and percentage of the Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person is calculated in accordance with Rule 13d-3.

(c) Except as set forth in this Item 5, the Reporting Person has not effected any transaction in shares of Class A Common Stock during the past sixty (60) days.

(d) To the best knowledge of the Reporting Person, no person other than the Reporting Person has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities beneficially owned by the Reporting Person.

(e) Not applicable.

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement and the Exchange Agreement described above, the Reporting Person may exchange his Class B Units for shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, or at the Issuer’s election, for cash, subject to timing and procedural requirements set forth therein. When a Class B Unit is exchanged for a share of Class A Common Stock, the corresponding share of the Issuer’s Class B Common Stock will be automatically redeemed and cancelled. When a Class B Unit is surrendered for exchange, it will not be available for reissuance by the Issuer.

The Exchange Agreement contains certain timing and volume limitations on exchanges of units held by the Issuer’s senior employees and certain large Class B stockholders, including the Reporting Person: no exchanges will be permitted until after the first anniversary of the closing date of the initial public offering of the Issuer, and then exchanges may not exceed one-third of their original holdings prior to the second anniversary of the closing and two-thirds of their original holdings prior to the third anniversary. After the third anniversary of the closing date, these limitations expire. Under the Exchange Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Issuer may waive these limitations in its discretion.

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) entered into by and among the Issuer and certain stockholders, including the Reporting Person, certain stockholders can require the Issuer to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, their shares of Class A Common Stock, whether currently owned or issued upon exchange of the Class B Units or Class C units of the Partnership. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides for customary piggyback rights.

In addition, pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, certain holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, including the Reporting Person, agree to vote all their shares of voting stock, including Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, together and in accordance with the instructions of the Class B Committee on any matter submitted to the Issuer’s common stockholders for a vote. Under the Stockholders Agreement, the Reporting Person has given an irrevocable proxy, coupled with an interest, to the Chair and Secretary of the Class B Committee to vote such Reporting Person’s shares of Class A Common Stock.

The foregoing summaries do not purport to be complete, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement, filed herewith as Exhibits 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Other than the matters disclosed in this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Person is not party to any contracts, arrangements, understandings, or relationships with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including but not limited to the transfer or voting of any of the securities, finder’s fees, joint ventures, loan or option agreements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies.

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of each of the undersigned’s knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned, severally and not jointly, certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: September 29, 2021