Victory Capital Responds to Janus Henderson Special Committee’s Continued Lack of Substantive Engagement Regarding Fully Financed, Actionable and Clearly Superior Proposal
Special Committee Continues to Support Deal with Trian Rather Than Maximizing Value for Shareholders
Real Risk to Shareholders is Being Forced to Accept a Lower Price and Preserve Transaction with Insider
Purported “Engagement” Consisted of One 32-Minute Interaction Only at the End of Special Committee’s Review
Victory Capital Remains Fully Committed to Pursuing Compelling Transaction
“As fiduciaries, the Janus Henderson Special Committee must objectively evaluate superior alternatives for the benefit of all of its shareholders. The Special Committee has continued to support an inferior transaction with Trian, a financial buyer and company insider. The issues cited by the Special Committee to support its decision could be addressed through substantive engagement, and Victory Capital remains fully committed to pursuing this compelling opportunity.
Since Victory Capital submitted its first superior proposal in November 2025, the Special Committee’s sole “engagement” with Victory Capital over the past four months has merely consisted of a single 32-minute conversation with members of Victory Capital’s management team that was hastily scheduled at the end of the Special Committee’s review. The Special Committee provided no agenda for the call and requested that no advisors be included. The call was perfunctory, and the Special Committee was unwilling to meaningfully explore the operational, financial or transaction-specific considerations that it now cites as the basis for rejecting our proposal.
Victory Capital has a long track record of acquiring and successfully integrating investment management businesses while preserving investment autonomy, client continuity and brand strength. We have been clear that we intend to retain Janus Henderson’s investment talent, maintain the brand and minimize disruption for clients and employees. When Victory Capital has the opportunity to engage with Janus Henderson’s clients and employees, we are confident that they will see the benefits of the combined, global investment management business, which will have exceptional diversification, product and distribution capabilities and be better positioned to compete at scale against the largest asset managers in the world. We have doubts about whether the engagement with clients and employees cited by the Special Committee without our involvement reflects the superior value and long-term competitive positioning for Janus Henderson’s business, employees and clients.
We have also structured our proposal with a practical path to closing and are prepared to provide the Special Committee with detailed execution planning when given the opportunity to do so. Despite the lack of meaningful engagement to date and any ability to conduct due diligence, we have fully committed financing from two of the most reputable global banks.
When provided with the opportunity, we are confident that Janus Henderson shareholders will overwhelmingly vote in favor of Victory Capital’s transaction and satisfy the standard for approving a merger under Jersey law.
We remain fully committed to pursuing this compelling transaction.”
PJT Partners is serving as financial advisor to Victory Capital and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is serving as legal advisor.
About Victory Capital
Victory Capital (NASDAQ: VCTR) is a diversified global asset management firm with
Victory Capital is headquartered in
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication relates to a proposal which Victory Capital has made to the Special Committee of Janus Henderson’s Board of Directors for an acquisition of Janus Henderson. In furtherance of this proposal and subject to future developments, Victory Capital (and, if a negotiated transaction is agreed, Janus Henderson) may file one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender offer statements or other documents with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, tender offer statement, prospectus or other document Victory Capital and/or Janus Henderson may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transactions.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF VICTORY CAPITAL AND JANUS HENDERSON ARE URGED TO READ ANY PROXY STATEMENT(S), REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S), TENDER OFFER STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VICTORY CAPITAL, JANUS HENDERSON AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Any definitive proxy statement(s) or prospectus(es) (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of Victory Capital and/or Janus Henderson, as applicable. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Victory Capital free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Victory Capital (if and when available) will also be made available free of charge by accessing Victory Capital’s website at www.vcm.com.
Certain Information Regarding Participants
This communication is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC. Nonetheless, Victory Capital and its directors and certain of its executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of any proposed transaction. Security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of such individuals in Victory Capital’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025 and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed transaction will be included in one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender offer statements or other documents filed with the SEC if and when they become available. These documents (if and when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website http://www.sec.gov and Victory Capital’s website at www.vcm.com.
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Investors:
Matthew Dennis, CFA
Chief of Staff
Director, Investor Relations
216-898-2412
mdennis@vcm.com
Media:
Andy Brimmer / Richard M. Goldman / Maggie Carangelo
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449
VictoryCapitalMedia@Joelefrank.com
OR
Jessica Davila
Director, Global Communications
210-694-9693
jessica_davila@vcm.com
Source: Victory Capital Holdings, Inc.