TRINET GROUP INC

Risk Factors

Other than the risk factor below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A, of our 2024 Form 10-K.

Our SMB clients are particularly affected by volatility in the economic environment.

SMBs can be particularly susceptible to changes in the level of overall economic activity in the markets in which they operate. These businesses are often exposed to credit and cash liquidity risks, including exposure as a result of the failure of their financial institutions, that larger businesses may be able to avoid, and during periods of weak economic conditions, including periods of increased inflation and increased borrowing costs, SMB failures tend to increase, and employment levels tend to decrease. During these periods, our clients can and do freeze hiring, terminate their employees, and reduce compensation and benefits levels, any of which would negatively affect our revenues and margins if we are unable to reduce our operating expenses sufficiently or quickly enough. During these periods, we have also seen and expect to see, reduced demand for our services, increased client terminations, fewer new clients, and clients seeking to renegotiate our contracts and prices. When our clients leave us or reduce their headcount, we typically see increases in the volume and severity of unemployment claims, COBRA claims, disability claims, and workers’ compensation claims. We may be unable to recover costs related to these claims based on the fees established in our client service agreements, and any failure to recover such costs may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, trade policies, including tariffs or other import restrictions, could directly or indirectly have a material adverse effect on our customers' businesses, as well as result in an economic downturn more generally. For example, increased tariffs or input restrictions, or even uncertainty with respect to such increases, could result in cost inflation or supply chain disruption, which could in turn result in companies generally taking actions, including reducing payroll expenses, delaying hiring, or cutting jobs. In addition, an economic downturn could result in a weakening of the market for our services as a result of fewer new companies being formed or funded, as well as a reluctance of companies to spend on PEO or ASO services. The results of any of these could negatively impact our revenue, as well as our ability to grow and retain clients, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.