ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves various risks, including those mentioned below and those that are discussed from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC. Investors should carefully consider these risks, along with the other information contained in this report, before making an investment decision regarding our common stock. There may be additional risks of which we are currently unaware, or which we currently consider immaterial. Any of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and value of our common stock.
Risks Relating to the Proposed Merger
We may not complete the pending Merger within the timeframe anticipated, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations, as well as negatively impact the price of our common stock.
On December 21, 2025, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), with Jupiter Company Limited, a company incorporated in Jersey (“Parent”), and Jupiter Merger Sub Limited, a company incorporated in Jersey (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides that, among other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into JHG (the “Merger”) in accordance with the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 (the “Companies Law”), with JHG surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
Completion of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including (i) JHG obtaining the Required Company Vote (as defined in the Merger Agreement) in connection with the approval of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement by our shareholders, (ii) the absence of any law or governmental order prohibiting the Merger, (iii) the expiration of the waiting period applicable to the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), (iv) (A) the date as set out in Article 127FJ(3)(a) of the Companies Law having passed and (B) each applicable date as set out in Article 127FJ(3)(c) of the Companies Law having passed in respect of the and notification and publication obligations of JHG and Merger Sub described in Section 7.13(a) of the Merger Agreement, (v) obtaining certain regulatory approvals, (vi) no material adverse effect on JHG having occurred since the signing of the Merger Agreement, (vii) the accuracy of JHG’s representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement subject to the standards set forth in the Merger Agreement, (viii) JHG’s performance of our covenants and agreements under the Merger Agreement in all material respects prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement and (ix) the receipt of consent of advisory clients and funds representing Closing Revenue Run-Rate (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of at least 80% of our Base Date Revenue Run-Rate (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
There can be no assurance that we will receive the requisite HSR Act and other regulatory approvals or that the other conditions to closing will be satisfied on the proposed terms and schedules as contemplated by the parties, if at all. A number of the conditions are not within our control. The closing conditions may delay the completion of the Merger, and if certain closing conditions are not satisfied prior to the end date specified in the Merger Agreement, the parties will not be obligated to complete the Merger.
Failure to complete the Merger within the timeframe anticipated or at all, whether due to the failure to receive, or timely receive, required regulatory approvals and clearances or any other event that delays or prevents the Merger, could cause uncertainty and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market price of our common stock in a number of ways, including:
The price of our common stock may decline to the extent that current market prices reflect an assumption that the Merger will be completed on a timely basis.
If the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances specified in the Merger Agreement, we would be required to pay a termination fee equal to $297,130,000 (or, if the Merger Agreement is terminated due to a failure of our shareholders to approve the Merger at the shareholder’s meeting, we would be required to reimburse Parent for expenses incurred by or on Parent’s behalf, up to an amount not to exceed $111,420,000).
We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant expenses for professional services in connection with the Merger for which we will have received little or no benefit if the Merger is not completed.
The failure to complete the Merger may result in negative publicity and negatively affect our relationship with our shareholders, employees, clients and other stakeholders.
If the Merger is not completed, the time and resources committed by our management team could have been devoted to pursuing other opportunities.
If the Merger is not completed, and the Parent termination fee of $222,850,000 becomes payable, such fee will be our sole and exclusive remedy against Parent when paid.
Even if successfully completed, there are certain risks to our shareholders from the Merger, including:
The per share consideration is fixed and will not be adjusted for changes in our business, assets, liabilities, prospects, outlook, financial condition or operating results or in the event of any change in the market price of, analyst estimates of, or projections relating to, our common stock.
In addition, the Merger and the related financing transactions could trigger a Change of Control Repurchase Event under the indenture governing the 2034 Senior Notes if there is a ratings downgrade in connection with the Merger and the 2034 Senior Notes are rated below investment grade. If such Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, we would be required to offer to purchase any or all outstanding 2034 Senior Notes. Furthermore, any litigation or enforcement proceeding commenced against us in connection with the Merger may require us to devote significant time and resources and could require us to incur significant costs. This also could result in the Merger being delayed and/or enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction, which could prevent the Merger from becoming effective. The occurrence of any of these events individually or in combination which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations, as well as negatively impact the price of our common stock.
Business uncertainties while the Merger is pending and efforts to complete the Merger could disrupt our relationships with third parties.
Uncertainty about the closing or effect of the Merger may affect the relationship between us and our clients, including through reduced net flows during the pendency of the Merger. This uncertainty may also affect the relationship between us and our business counterparties. These uncertainties may also cause parties that deal with us to seek to change existing business relationships with us and to delay or defer decisions concerning us. For example, under the terms of the Merger Agreement, we will seek to obtain the consent of advisory clients and funds representing Closing Revenue Run-Rate (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of at least 80% of our Base Date Revenue Run-Rate (as defined in the Merger Agreement). As part of the consent process, clients may ask to amend, modify, waive or otherwise adjust the terms (financial or otherwise) of their existing arrangements. The Merger Agreement does not permit us to offer or grant any material accommodation or alteration of terms for the purpose of obtaining consent. Although we have no intent to accommodate such requests (if any), our inability to obtain consents sufficient to meet the relevant condition in the Merger Agreement may result in the Merger not being completed. These business uncertainties and our efforts to complete the Merger could result in changes to existing business relationships, including terminations or modifications thereof, and negatively affect our assets under management, revenue, earnings and cash flow, as well as the price of our common stock.
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We may face challenges in attracting and retaining key personnel during the pendency of the Merger.
We are dependent on the experience and industry knowledge of our officers, key management personnel and other key employees to operate and execute our business plans. Such dependency is heightened as a result of the Merger Agreement. Current and prospective employees may experience uncertainty about their role with us during and following the Merger, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to attract or retain key management personnel and other key employees. If key employees depart because of issues related to uncertainty or a desire not to remain with us, we could be negatively impacted. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that we will be able to attract or retain key management personnel and other key employees to the same extent that we have previously been able to attract or retain employees. These adverse effects could be exacerbated by any delays in consummation of the Merger or termination of the Merger Agreement.
Efforts to complete the Merger could divert management ’ s attention, or result in negative publicity or legal proceedings which may delay or prevent the Merger, any of which could negatively impact our operating results and ongoing business.
We have expended, and continue to expend, significant management time and resources in an effort to complete the Merger, which may have a negative impact on our ongoing business and operations. The pendency of the Merger also could result in negative publicity and a negative impression of us in the financial markets. Putative shareholder complaints, including shareholder class action complaints, and other complaints may be filed against us, our Board of Directors, our officers, parties involved in the Merger and others in connection with the Merger. Such litigation would be distracting to management and, may, in the future, require us to incur significant costs. Such litigation could also result in the Merger being delayed and/or enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction, which could prevent the Merger from becoming effective. The occurrence of any of these events individually or in combination could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Merger Agreement contains provisions that limit our ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger which could discourage a potential competing acquiror from making an alternative transaction proposal.
The Merger Agreement contains provisions that preclude our ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger. These provisions include our agreement that we and our subsidiaries will not, and will not authorize or permit any of our or their controlled affiliates, officers, directors, employees, representatives, advisors or other intermediaries or subsidiaries to solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage the submission of inquiries, proposals or offers from any person (other than Parent) relating to any Company Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), or agree to or endorse any Company Acquisition Proposal. This prohibition limits our ability to affirmatively seek offers from other possible acquirers that may be superior to the pending Merger, although we are permitted, subject to compliance with certain procedures specified in the Merger Agreement, to respond to certain unsolicited proposals from third parties. If the Merger Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances related to our entry into an agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), we will be required to pay a termination fee of $297,130,000 to Parent. This termination fee may make it less likely that a third party will make an alternative acquisition proposal, or might result in a potential competing acquirer proposing to pay a lower price than it would otherwise have proposed to pay because of the transaction expenses that may become payable in certain circumstances. Additionally, if the Merger Agreement is terminated and we determine to seek another business combination, we may not be able to negotiate a transaction with another party on terms comparable to, or better than, the terms of the Merger.
While the Merger Agreement is in effect, we are subject to restrictions on our business activities.
While the Merger Agreement is in effect, we are subject to restrictions on the conduct of our business prior to the completion of the Merger, which generally require us to conduct our business in the ordinary course and subject us to specified limitations, absent Parent’s prior written consent. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, we are also required to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain certain minimum cash balances between the date of the Merger Agreement and the closing. These and other contractual restrictions in the Merger Agreement may delay or prevent us from, or limit our ability to, respond effectively to competitive pressures, industry developments and future business opportunities that may arise during such period, even if our management believes they may be advisable.
Trian and its affiliates have interests in the Merger that are different from or conflict with the interests of other Janus Henderson shareholders.
As of February 23, 2026, Trian beneficially owned 31,867,800 shares of JHG common stock (representing approximately 20.7% of the outstanding shares of JHG common stock), and two directors recommended by Trian have served on our Board since February 2022. As a result, Trian may be able to exert a degree of influence over our management, affairs and matters requiring shareholder approval. In addition, Trian, as one of the lead investors in the investor group that plans to acquire JHG in the Merger, has interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of other JHG shareholders generally, and Trian’s concentration of share ownership may also discourage the submission of alternative transaction proposals that could benefit other JHG shareholders. These interests may influence, or be perceived to influence, decisions made during the pendency of the Merger, including decisions relating to strategy, operations, or the timing and terms of the Merger.
Additional information regarding the interests of Trian and its affiliates in the proposed Merger are described in the proxy statement relating to the proposed Merger filed with the SEC.
Some of our executive officers and directors have interests in the proposed Merger that are different from, or in addition to, those of our shareholders generally .
Some of our executive officers and directors have interests in the proposed Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of our shareholders generally, including, among others, the modification of equity awards and receipt of change in control or other severance payments in connection with the proposed Merger, continued indemnification and insurance and potentially continued service to the combined company. These interests, among others, may influence, or appear to influence, our executive officers and directors and cause them to view the Merger differently from how our shareholders generally may view it.
Additional information regarding our executive officers and directors and their interests in the proposed Merger are included in the proxy statement relating to the proposed Merger filed with the SEC.
If the Merger occurs, our shareholders will not be able to participate in any further upside to our business.
If the Merger is consummated, our shareholders will receive $49.00 per share of common stock in cash, without interest, and will not receive any equity interests of Parent. As a result, if our business following the Merger performs well, our current shareholders will not receive any additional consideration and will therefore not receive any benefit from any such future performance of our business.
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Market and Investment Performance Risks
Our results of operations and financial condition are primarily dependent on the value, composition and relative investment performance of our AUM, all of which are subject to fluctuation caused by factors outside of our control.
We derive our revenues primarily from investment management and related services we provide to institutional and retail investors worldwide through our investment products. Our investment management fees typically are calculated as a percentage of the market value of our AUM. Certain of our investment products are also subject to performance fees, which vary based on a product’s relative performance as compared to a benchmark index. As a result, our revenues are dependent on the value, composition and investment performance of our AUM, all of which are subject to fluctuation caused by factors outside of our control.
Factors that could cause our AUM and revenue to decline include the following:
Declines in equity markets . Our AUM is concentrated in the U.S. and European equity markets. Equity securities may decline in value as a result of many factors, including an issuer’s actual or perceived financial condition and growth prospects, investor perception of an industry or sector, changes in currency exchange rates, changes in regulations, inflation, labor disputes or shortages, supply chain issues, natural disasters, and geopolitical and economic risks. Declines in the equity markets, or in the market segments in which our investment products are concentrated, have in the past, and could in the future, cause our AUM to decrease.
Declines in fixed income markets . Fixed income investment products also constitute a large portion of our AUM. Fixed income securities may decline in value as a result of various factors, principally increases in interest rates (partly due to inflationary expectations), changes in currency exchange rates, changes in relative yield among instruments with different maturities (including as a result of shifts in the U.S. treasury yield curve), geopolitical and general economic risks, available liquidity in the markets in which a security trades, an issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness, or an issuer’s ability to meet its obligations. Declines in the fixed income markets, or in the market segments in which our investment products are concentrated, have in the past, and could in the future, cause our AUM to decrease.
Investment performance . Our investment performance, along with achieving and maintaining superior distribution and client service, is critical to the success of our business. Strong investment performance has historically stimulated sales of our investment products. Poor investment performance as compared to third-party benchmarks or competitive products has in the past, and could in the future, lead to a decrease in sales of investment products we manage and stimulate redemptions from existing products, generally lowering the overall level of our AUM and reducing our management fees, and may have an adverse effect on our revenue and net income. In addition, certain of our investment products are subject to performance fees that are based either on investment performance as compared to an established benchmark index or on positive absolute return over a specified period of time. If our investment products that are subject to performance fees underperform, our revenue, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected. In addition, performance fees subject our revenue to increased volatility. No assurance can be given that past or present investment performance in the investment products we manage is indicative of future performance.
Our revenue and profitability would be adversely affected by any reduction in our AUM as a result of redemptions and other withdrawals from the funds and accounts we manage.
Investors may reduce their investments in the funds and accounts we manage, or reduce their investments generally, for many reasons, including:
In response to adverse market conditions;
To pursue other investment opportunities;
To reallocate investments to lower-fee strategies;
To take profits from their investments;
As a result of poor investment performance of the funds and accounts we manage;
As a result of the failure or negative performance of investment products offered by competitors that could lead investors to lose confidence in similar investment products we manage, irrespective of the investment performance of such products;
As a consequence of damage to our reputation;
Due to portfolio risk characteristics, which could cause investors to move assets to other investment managers; or
As a result of changes to the investor’s business model that could cause them to reduce their investments with us, such as moving away from a sub-advised business model or exiting the mutual fund business.
In addition, the loss of key personnel or significant investment management professionals could reduce the attractiveness of our products to current and potential clients and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, and adverse changes in the global economy, may significantly affect our results of operations and may put pressure on our financial results.
The capital and credit markets may, from time to time, experience volatility and disruption worldwide. Declines in global financial market conditions have in the past, and could in the future, result in significant decreases in our AUM, revenues and income. Such declines have had, and may in the future have, an adverse impact on our results of operations. We may need to modify our business, strategies or operations, and we may be subject to additional constraints or costs in order to compete in a changing global economy and business environment.
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Disruptions in the markets, to market participants and to the operations of third parties whose functions are integral to our ETF platforms may adversely affect the prices at which ETFs trade, particularly during periods of market volatility.
The trading price of an ETF’s shares or units fluctuates continuously throughout trading hours. While an ETF’s creation/redemption feature and the arbitrage mechanism are designed to make it more likely that the ETF’s shares or units normally will trade at prices close to the ETF’s net asset value (“NAV”), exchange prices may deviate significantly from the NAV. ETF market prices are subject to numerous potential risks, including:
Significant market volatility;
Imbalances in supply and demand;
Trading halts invoked by a stock exchange; and
Inability or unwillingness of market markers, authorized participants, settlement systems or other market participants to perform functions necessary for an ETF’s arbitrage mechanism to function effectively.
If market events lead to instances where an ETF trades at prices that deviate significantly from the ETF’s NAV or indicative value, or trading halts are invoked by the relevant stock exchange or market, investors may lose confidence in ETF products and sell their holdings, which may cause the ETF’s AUM, revenue and earnings to decline.
Illiquidity in certain securities in which we invest may negatively impact the financial condition of our investment products and may impede our ability to effect redemptions.
Some of our funds or mandates invest in certain securities or other assets in which the secondary trading market is illiquid or does not exist. Illiquidity may occur with respect to the securities of a specific issuer, based on industry, sector or geographic region, or with respect to an asset class or an investment type. An illiquid trading market may increase market volatility and may make it difficult to sell investments promptly without suffering a loss. This may have an adverse impact on the investment performance of such funds and mandates, and on our AUM, revenues and results of operations.
Investors in certain funds we manage have contractual terms that provide for a shorter notice period for redemptions or withdrawals than the time period during which these funds may be able to sell underlying investments within the fund. This liquidity mismatch may be exacerbated during periods of market illiquidity and, in circumstances in which there are high levels of investor redemptions, it may be necessary for us to impose restrictions on redeeming investors or suspend redemptions. Such actions could increase the risk of legal claims by investors and regulatory investigations and/or fines and may adversely affect our reputation.
Changes in the value of our seeded investment products could adversely affect our earnings and financial condition.
We have a significant seed portfolio. Periodically, we add new investment strategies to our investment product offering and provide the initial cash investment, or seeding, to facilitate the launch of the new product. We may also provide substantial supplemental capital to an existing investment product to accelerate the growth of a strategy and attract outside investment in the product. A decline in the valuation of these seeded investments could negatively impact our earnings and financial condition.
Valuation methodologies for assets within private markets and other similar strategies can be subject to significant subjectivity and the values of assets established pursuant to those methodologies may never be realized.
We have invested in assets, including our private credit investments, for which there are no readily ascertainable market prices available on a regular basis or at all. In addition, many of these investments are, or may in the future be, concentrated in industries or sectors that could experience volatility or uncertainties, and may be subject to rapid changes in value caused by company-specific or industry-wide developments. The determination of the net asset values for these investments, therefore, takes a range of factors into consideration in applying valuation methodologies, and may reflect estimates or valuation models of independent third parties.
These valuation methodologies require the use of estimates and assumptions, and involve a significant degree of judgment and, accordingly, the fair values of such investments reflected in net asset values do not necessarily reflect the prices that would be obtained if the assets were to be liquidated on the date of the valuation, or on the date when an investor purchases, redeems or otherwise transacts in the product, and may differ significantly from the prices obtained when such investments are ultimately realized. These factors could result in reduced earnings or losses for the applicable investment, increased risk of liquidity management issues, litigation and regulatory actions, or difficulties in raising additional capital or launching similar products.
We could be adversely impacted by changes in assumptions used to calculate pension assets and liabilities.
We provide retirement benefits for our current and former employees in the UK through the Janus Henderson Group Pension Scheme (“UK Pension Scheme”). The UK Pension Scheme operates a number of defined benefit sections, which closed to new entrants on November 15, 1999, and a money purchase section. As of December 31, 2025, the UK Pension Scheme had a net pension asset of $69.9 million. Our funding obligations for the UK Pension Scheme may be adversely affected by many factors, including poorer than expected long-term return on plan assets; longer life expectancy; changes in actuarial assumptions by reference to which our contributions are assessed, such as changes to assumptions on interest rates and inflation; changes to the regulatory regime for funding defined benefit pension schemes in the UK; and other factors. We may also be subject to obligations to contribute funds or take other action imposed by the Pension Protection Fund in connection with the UK Pension Scheme. If we were required to increase our contributions in the future to cover any increased funding shortfall, levy by the Pension Protection Fund and/or expenses in the UK Pension Scheme, our results and financial condition could be adversely affected.
The global scope of our business subjects us to currency exchange rate risk that may adversely impact revenue and income.
We generate a substantial portion of our revenue in Great British pounds (“GBP”), euros (“EUR”) and Australian dollars (“AUD”). As a result, we are subject to foreign currency exchange risk relative to the U.S. dollar (“USD”), our financial reporting currency, through our non-U.S. operations, including through our exposure to non-USD income, expenses, assets and liabilities of our overseas subsidiaries, as well as net assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than USD. Fluctuations in the exchange rates to the USD have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, our financial results from one period to the next. In addition, there is risk associated with the foreign exchange revaluation of balances held by certain of our subsidiaries for which the local currency is different from our functional currency.
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We could be impacted by counterparty or client defaults.
In periods of significant market volatility, the deteriorating financial condition of one financial institution may materially and adversely impact the performance of others. We, and the funds and accounts we manage, have exposure to many different counterparties, and routinely execute transactions with counterparties across the financial industry. As a result, we and our managed funds and accounts may be exposed to credit, operational or other risks in the event of a default by a counterparty or client, or in the event of other unrelated systemic market failures.
Business and Strategic Risks
We operate in a highly competitive environment, and revenue from fees may be reduced.
The investment management business is highly competitive. In recent years, established firms and new entrants to the asset management industry have expanded their application of technology, including the use of robo advisers and artificial intelligence (“AI”), to provide services to clients. Our traditional fee structures may be subject to downward pressure due to these factors. Moreover, the asset management industry is facing transformative pressures and trends from a variety of different sources, including a trend toward lower fee investment products, as evidenced by the movement toward passively managed mutual funds and the growth of lower cost funds such as exchange-traded, smart beta and quantitative funds. Fees for actively managed investment products may continue to come under increased pressure if such products fail to outperform returns for comparable passively managed products or as a consequence of regulatory intervention. Fee reductions on existing or future new business, as well as changes in regulations pertaining to fees, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, we compete with investment management companies on the basis of investment performance, fees, diversity of products, distribution capability, scope and quality of services, reputation and the ability to develop new investment products to meet the changing needs and preferences of investors. Failure to adequately compete could adversely affect our AUM, results of operations and financial condition.
Our success depends on our key personnel, and our financial performance could be negatively affected by the loss of their services.
The success of our business is highly dependent on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled and often highly specialized technical, executive, sales and investment management personnel. The market for qualified investment and sales professionals is extremely competitive and is characterized by the frequent movement of portfolio managers, analysts and salespeople among different firms. Any changes to management structure, shifts in corporate culture, changes to corporate governance authority, or adjustments or reductions to compensation could affect our ability to retain key personnel and could result in legal claims. To retain certain key personnel, we may be required to increase compensation to such individuals, resulting in additional expense. Laws and regulations could impose restrictions on the amount of compensation paid by financial institutions, as well as the processes for paying and deferring compensation, which could restrict our ability to compete effectively for qualified professionals. In addition, technological advancements in our industry, including with respect to AI and machine learning technologies, could result in increased demand and competition for qualified professionals with such skills and technological knowledge. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in finding, attracting and retaining qualified individuals, and the departure of key personnel, particularly those personnel responsible for managing client funds that account for a high proportion of our revenue, could cause us to lose clients, which could have a material adverse effect on our AUM, results of operations and financial condition. Effective succession planning is also important to our long-term success. Failure to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and smooth transitions involving key employees could hinder our strategic planning and execution.
We are dependent upon third-party distribution channels to access clients and potential clients.
Our ability to market and distribute our investment products is significantly dependent on access to the client base of financial intermediaries, such as insurance companies, defined contribution plan administrators, securities firms, broker-dealers, financial advisors, multi-managers, banks and other distribution channels. These companies generally offer their clients’ various investment products in addition to, and competitive with, products offered by us. In addition, our existing relationships with third-party distributors and access to new distributors could be adversely affected by recent consolidation within the financial services industry. Consolidation may result in increased distribution costs, a reduction in the number of third parties distributing our investment products or increased competition to access third-party distribution channels. Moreover, fiduciary regulations have led to significant shifts in distributors’ business models and more limited product offerings, and additional fiduciary or other regulations could lead to further changes, potentially resulting in reduced distribution of certain of our products. Our inability to access clients through third-party distribution channels could adversely affect our business prospects, AUM, results of operations and financial condition.
The global scope of our business subjects us to market-specific political, economic and other risks that may adversely impact our revenue and income generated overseas.
Our global portfolios and revenue derived from managing these portfolios are subject to significant risks of loss as a result of political, economic and diplomatic developments; currency fluctuations; social instability; global hostilities; changes in governmental policies, regulation and enforcement; expropriation; nationalization; asset confiscation; and changes in legislation related to ownership of non-U.S. securities.
Individual financial, equity, debt and commodity markets may be adversely affected by financial, economic, political, electoral, diplomatic or other instabilities that are particular to the country or region in which a market is located, and such events may also adversely impact other markets. Global economic conditions also affect the mix, market values and levels of our AUM and are difficult to predict. Political, economic and environmental events in any country or region could result in significant declines in equity and/or fixed income securities with exposure to such a country or region and, to the extent that we have a concentration of AUM in such a country or region, could result in a material adverse effect on our AUM, results of operations and financial condition. For example, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have significantly impacted the global economy and financial markets and may continue to have an adverse impact on our investment performance and flows in certain products. There is a risk that these conflicts may expand, and future conflicts and other geopolitical uncertainties, including as a result of tensions between China and Taiwan and the United States’ potential acquisition of Greenland, may develop, increasing the potential adverse impact on our AUM, results of operations and financial condition. We will continue to monitor any direct and indirect impacts of these circumstances on our business, financial results and operations, although it is not possible to predict the broader consequences of these ongoing conflicts at this time.
In addition, international trading markets, particularly in some emerging market countries, are often smaller, less liquid, less regulated and significantly more volatile than those in the U.S. Local regulatory environments may vary widely in terms of scope, adequacy and sophistication. Moreover, regulators in non-U.S. jurisdictions could change their policies or laws in a manner that might restrict or otherwise impede our ability to distribute or authorize products or maintain our authorizations in their respective markets. Similarly, local distributors and their policies and practices, as well as financial viability, may also vary widely or be inconsistent, less developed or less mature than other, more internationally focused distributors. As our business grows in non-U.S. markets, any ongoing and future business, political, economic or social unrest affecting these markets may have a negative impact on the long-term investment climate in these and other areas, and, as a result, our AUM and the revenue and income we generate from these markets may be negatively affected.
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Our reputation is critical to the success of our business. Harm to our reputation could reduce our AUM and impact sales, which could adversely affect our revenue and net income.
We believe that our brand name is well-received both in the asset management industry and with our clients, reflecting the fact that our brand, like our business, is based in part on trust and confidence. If our reputation is harmed, existing clients may reduce their investments or withdraw from funds we manage, or funds may terminate or reduce AUM under their management agreements with us, which could reduce our AUM and negatively impact our revenue and profitability.
As part of our business, we are required to continuously manage actual and potential conflicts of interest, including situations where our services to a particular client conflict, or are perceived to conflict, with the interests of another client or those of JHG or our employees. The willingness of clients to enter into transactions in which such a conflict might arise may be affected if we fail, or appear to fail, to deal appropriately with conflicts of interest. In addition, failure to appropriately manage potential, perceived or actual conflicts could damage our reputation and give rise to litigation or regulatory enforcement actions.
Our reputation could also be damaged by factors such as:
Litigation;
Regulatory action;
Loss of key personnel;
Operational failures;
Underperformance of our investment products;
Fraud, misconduct or mismanagement, theft, loss or misuse of client data by our personnel or third parties;
Failure to manage conflicts of interest or satisfy fiduciary responsibilities; and
Negative publicity or press speculation (whether or not any such allegations or claims are valid or ultimately disproved, dismissed or withdrawn).
Reputational harm may cause us to lose current clients and we may be unable to continue to attract new clients or develop new business. If we fail to effectively address the underlying causes of any harm to our reputation, our financial results and future business prospects would likely be adversely affected.
The carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets on our balance sheet could become impaired, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
At December 31, 2025, our goodwill and intangible assets totaled $4,148.3 million. The value of these assets may not be realized for a variety of reasons, including significant redemptions, loss of clients, damage to brand name and unfavorable economic conditions. We have recorded goodwill and intangible asset impairments in the past and could incur similar charges in the future. Under U.S. GAAP, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. Other intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and reviewed whenever there is an indication of impairment. Should such reviews indicate impairment, a reduction of the carrying value of the intangible asset could occur, resulting in a charge that may, in turn, adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Our business depends on investment management agreements that are subject to termination, non-renewal or reductions in fees.
We derive revenue from investment management agreements with investment funds, institutional investors and other investors. These agreements generally provide investors or, in some cases, the independent directors of applicable investment funds, with significant latitude to terminate such contracts, withdraw funds or liquidate funds, or to remove Janus Henderson as a fund's investment advisor (or equivalent). We also manage our U.S. mutual funds under management agreements that may be terminated by either party with notice, or in the event of an “assignment” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) and must be approved and renewed annually by the independent members of each fund’s board of directors or trustees or its shareholders, as required by law. U.S. mutual funds, investment funds or other investors may choose to exercise such termination rights at any time. The annual review of investment management agreements with U.S. mutual funds, as required by law, could result in a reduction in our advisory fee revenues. The termination of, or failure to renew, one or more of these agreements could have a material adverse effect on our AUM, results of operations and financial condition. Consummation of the Merger will result in termination of the investment advisory agreements with the U.S. mutual funds and exchange-traded funds and will require consent of certain other funds/accounts to continue the investment advisory agreement. As a result, boards and shareholders of the U.S. mutual funds and exchange-traded funds will be asked to approve new investment advisory agreements, and certain other clients will be asked to consent to continuation of their investment advisory agreements.
Our expenses are subject to fluctuations that could materially affect our operating results.
Our results of operations are dependent on our level of expenses, which can vary significantly for many reasons, including:
Changes in the level and scope of our operating expenses in response to market conditions or regulations;
Variations in the level of total compensation expense due to changes in bonuses and stock-based awards, changes in employee benefit costs due to regulatory or plan design changes, changes in our employee count and mix, competitive factors, market performance and other factors;
Expenses incurred to support distribution of our investment strategies and services, develop new strategies and services, and enhance our technology, compliance and other infrastructure;
Impairments of intangible assets or goodwill; and
Impact of inflation and interest rate changes.
Increases in the level of our expenses, or our inability to reduce the level of expenses when necessary, could materially affect our operating results.
We may engage in strategic transactions that could pose risks to our business, financial condition and global operations.
As part of our global business strategy, we regularly consider, and have discussions with respect to, potential strategic transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, consolidations, joint ventures or similar transactions, some of which may be deemed material. There can be no assurance that we will find suitable candidates for strategic transactions at acceptable prices or other terms, have sufficient capital resources to accomplish our strategy or be successful in entering into agreements for strategic transactions.
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We have made acquisitions and divestitures in the past and may pursue similar transactions in the future. Such transactions typically involve a number of risks and present financial, managerial and operational challenges, including:
Difficulties in the integration of acquired businesses into our operations and control environment (including our risk management policies and procedures);
Assumed or unforeseen liabilities that arise in connection with the acquired businesses;
Disputes with counterparties, including the possible failure of counterparties to satisfy any obligations to indemnify us against liabilities arising from the acquired businesses;
Adverse effects on our earnings if acquired intangible assets or goodwill become impaired; and
The possible need for us to increase our firm's leverage or, if we issue equity securities to pay for acquisitions, dilute the holdings of our existing shareholders.
Acquisitions also pose the risk that any business we acquire may lose customers, intermediaries or employees or could underperform relative to growth expectations or expected synergies from the acquired businesses. Additionally, the loss of investment personnel poses the risk that we may lose the AUM we expected to manage, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Entries into definitive agreements for material transactions typically are announced publicly even though completion of these transactions may remain subject to numerous closing conditions, contingencies and approvals, and there is no assurance that any announced transaction will actually be consummated.
In addition, from time to time, we may enter into joint ventures or take minority stakes in companies in which we do not have control. These investments may involve risks, including the risk that the controlling stakeholder or joint venture partner may have business interests, strategies or goals that are inconsistent with ours. The business decisions or other actions or omissions of the controlling stakeholder, joint venture partner or the entity itself may result in liability to us or harm to our reputation, or adversely affect the value of our investment in the entity.
Operational and Technology Risks
We could be subject to losses and reputational harm if we, or our agents, fail to properly safeguard sensitive and confidential information against cyberattacks or other security breaches, or if our business processes are not sufficiently resilient.
We depend on the continued effectiveness of our information and cybersecurity policies, procedures and capabilities to protect our computer and telecommunications systems and the data that resides in or is transmitted through such systems.
As part of our normal operations, we maintain and transmit confidential information about our clients and employees as well as proprietary information relating to our business operations. We maintain a system of internal controls designed to secure and protect such information. Nevertheless, all technology systems remain susceptible to unauthorized access and may be corrupted by cyberattacks, computer viruses or other malicious software code. In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally misappropriate or release confidential or proprietary information. Any breach or other failure of our technology or operational controls, including those of third parties with which we do business, or any failure to timely and effectively identify and respond to a breach or failure, could result in the loss of valuable information, liability for stolen assets or information, remediation costs to repair damage caused by the incident, additional costs to mitigate against future incidents and litigation costs resulting from the incident. Our use of mobile and cloud technologies and AI applications could heighten these and other operational risks, and any failure by the providers of these services to prevent cyberattacks could disrupt our operations and result in misappropriation, corruption or loss of confidential or proprietary information. Moreover, any loss of confidential customer identification information could harm our reputation, result in the termination of certain contracts by our existing customers and subject us to liability under laws that protect confidential personal data, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue.
Security breaches, including as a result of cyberattacks, phishing attacks, and the use of social engineering, malware or ransomware, have become increasingly sophisticated. Cyberattacks can originate from a variety of sources, including third parties affiliated with foreign governments, organized crime or terrorist organizations. Third parties may also attempt to place individuals within our firm, or induce employees, clients or other users of our systems, to disclose sensitive information or provide access to our data, and these types of risks may be difficult to detect or prevent. Also, increasing use of AI may heighten these risks. In addition, threat actors may seek to gain access to sensitive information by illicitly purchasing identification and password credentials on the dark web. There can be no assurance that our investments in precautions and safeguards will protect our business from all attempted cyberattacks or other incidents. Recent well-publicized security breaches at other companies have exposed failures to keep pace with the threats posed by threat actors and have led to increased government and regulatory scrutiny, including investigations and enforcement actions, which could lead to increased costs or fines or public censure. In addition, although we maintain insurance coverage that may, subject to terms and conditions, cover certain aspects of cyber and information security risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses, such as litigation costs or financial losses that exceed our policy limits or are not covered under any of our current insurance policies.
Due to our interconnectivity with third-party vendors, advisors, central agents, exchanges, clearing organizations and other financial institutions, we may be adversely affected if any of them are subject to a successful cyberattack or other information security event, including those arising from the use of mobile technology, a third-party cloud environment or AI applications. Certain software applications that we use in our business are licensed by, and supported, upgraded and maintained by, third-party vendors. A suspension or termination of certain of these licenses or the related support, upgrades and maintenance could cause temporary system delays or interruption that could adversely impact our business. Also, such third-party applications may include confidential and proprietary data provided by vendors and by us. We may be subject to indemnification costs and liability to third parties if we breach any confidentiality obligations regarding vendor data for losses related to the data, or if data we provide is deemed to infringe upon the rights of others.
Finally, cybersecurity, data privacy and AI have become high priorities for regulators, and many jurisdictions are enacting laws and regulations in these areas. Our failure to comply with these and other applicable requirements could result in regulatory investigations and penalties as well as negative publicity, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Initiatives to upgrade our information technology systems and business processes involve many risks, and our failure to execute these upgrades successfully could have an adverse impact on our business.
From time to time, we undertake significant projects to upgrade our information technology systems and business processes intended to optimize our operational and financial performance. For example, we are engaged in a project to implement BlackRock’s Aladdin platform, a complex, multi-year initiative to upgrade our Investment Management, Compliance, and Middle- and Back-Office services platform. The Aladdin program will redesign our systems and data architecture under a global operating model, establishing efficient connections with our Back-Office services platform and third parties such as custodians, administrators, brokers, and other market and data providers. Transitioning to new or upgraded systems and processes may require significant capital investments and personnel resources. These projects may be subject to cost overruns and delays, and the transition to these new or upgraded systems and processes may cause disruptions in our daily business operations. There is also no guarantee that we will realize the anticipated synergies and benefits related to these initiatives. Any material disruptions in our information technology systems or business processes could have a material adverse effect on our business.
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We are incorporating artificial intelligence into some of our business workflows and processes, and challenges with properly managing its use could result in reputational harm, competitive harm and legal liability, and adversely affect our results of operations.
We have begun using AI and machine learning technologies to enhance certain workflows and processes used in our business, and our research into and continued deployment of such capabilities remain ongoing. AI is still in its early stages, and the introduction and incorporation of AI technologies may result in unintended consequences or other new or expanded risks and liabilities. If the content, analyses or recommendations that AI applications assist in producing are, or are alleged to be, deficient, inaccurate or biased, such as due to limitations in AI algorithms, insufficient or biased base data or flawed training methodologies, our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation may be adversely affected. Additionally, AI technology is continuously evolving, and we may incur costs to adopt and deploy AI technologies that could become obsolete earlier than expected, and there can be no assurance that we will realize the desired or anticipated benefits from AI. Also, our competitors or other third parties may incorporate AI into their products and services more quickly or more successfully than us, which could impair our ability to compete effectively and adversely affect our results of operations.
The use of AI applications to support business processes carries inherent risks related to data privacy and security, such as unintended or inadvertent transmission of proprietary or sensitive information, including personal data. AI presents emerging ethical issues, and we may be unsuccessful in identifying and resolving these issues before they arise. If our use of AI becomes controversial, we may experience brand or reputational harm, competitive harm, or legal liability. There is uncertainty in the legal and regulatory landscape for AI, which is not fully developed, and any laws, regulations or industry standards adopted in response to the emergence of AI may be burdensome, could entail significant costs, and may restrict or impede our ability to successfully develop, adopt and deploy AI technologies efficiently and effectively.
Failure to maintain adequate controls and risk management policies, the circumvention of controls and policies, or fraud, as well as failure to maintain adequate infrastructure or failures in operational or risk management processes and systems could have an adverse effect on our AUM, results of operations and financial condition.
Although we have a comprehensive risk management process, there can be no assurances that our controls, procedures, policies and systems will successfully identify and manage internal and external risks to our business. For example, our employees, contractors or other third parties may deliberately seek to circumvent established controls to commit fraud or act in ways that are inconsistent with our controls, policies and procedures. Any operational errors or negligence by our employees, or others acting on our behalf, or weaknesses in the internal controls over those processes could result in losses for us, and we may be required to compensate clients for losses suffered and/or regulatory fines. Persistent or repeated incidents involving conflicts of interest, circumvention of policies and controls, fraud or insider trading could have a materially adverse impact on our reputation and could lead to costly regulatory inquiries.
Our business is also highly dependent on the integrity, security and reliability of our information technology systems and infrastructure. If any of our critical systems or infrastructure do not operate properly or are disabled, our ability to perform effective investment management on behalf of our clients could be impaired. In addition, if we fail to maintain our information technology systems and an infrastructure commensurate with the size, scope and technological requirements of our business, our productivity, growth and reputation could be negatively affected, which could have an adverse impact on our AUM, results of operations and financial condition.
Insurance may not be available on a cost-effective basis to protect us from potential liabilities.
We face the inherent risk of liability and costs related to or arising from claims from clients, employees and other third parties; actions taken by regulatory agencies; losses arising from fraud or other criminal activity; and costs and losses associated with cyber incidents. To help protect against these and other potential liabilities, we have purchased insurance in amounts, and against risks, that we consider appropriate, where such insurance is available at prices we deem reasonable. There can be no assurance, however, that a claim or claims will be covered by insurance or, if covered, will not exceed coverage limits; that an insurer will meet its obligations regarding coverage; or that insurance coverage will continue to be available on a cost-effective basis. Insurance costs are impacted by market conditions and the risk profile of the insured, and may increase significantly over relatively short periods. In addition, certain types of insurance coverage may not be available or may only be available at prohibitive cost. Renewals of insurance policies may expose us to additional costs through higher premiums or the assumption of higher deductibles or co-insurance liability.
Our business may be vulnerable to failures of support systems and client service functions provided by third-party vendors.
Our client service capabilities as well as our ability to obtain prompt and accurate securities pricing information and to process client transactions and reports are significantly dependent on communication and information systems and services provided by third-party vendors. The ability to consistently and reliably obtain securities pricing information, process client transactions, and provide reports and other client services to the shareholders of funds and other investment products we manage is essential to our operations. Any delays, errors or inaccuracies in pricing information, processing client transactions, or providing reports, and any other inadequacies in other client service functions could impact client relationships, result in financial losses and potentially give rise to regulatory actions and claims against us.
We depend on third-party service providers and other key vendors for various fund administration, accounting, custody, risk analytics, market data, market indices and transfer agent roles, and other distribution and operational needs. If our third-party service providers or other key vendors fail to fulfill their obligations, experience service interruptions, cease providing their services on short notice or otherwise provide inadequate service, operational and regulatory problems could occur, including with respect to certain of our products, which could result in losses, enforcement actions or reputational harm, and which could negatively impact our AUM, results of operations and financial condition.
Our inability to recover successfully, should we experience a disaster or other business continuity problem, could cause material financial loss, regulatory actions, legal liability and/or reputational harm.
Significant portions of our business operations and those of our critical third-party service providers are concentrated in a few geographic areas, including the UK, the U.S., Luxembourg and Australia. Should we, or any of our critical service providers, experience a significant local or regional disaster or other event that disrupts business continuity, such as an earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, wildfire, terrorist attack, epidemic or pandemic, or other natural or man-made disaster, our continued success will depend in part on the safety and availability of our personnel, our office facilities and the proper functioning of our technology, computer, telecommunications and other systems and operations that are critical to our business. We have developed various backup systems and contingency plans, but no assurance can be given that they will be adequate in all circumstances that could arise or that material interruptions and disruptions will not occur. In addition, we will
rely to varying degrees on outside vendors for disaster recovery support, and no assurance can be given that these vendors will be able to perform in an adequate and timely manner. If we, or any of our critical service providers, are unable to respond adequately to such an event in a timely manner, we may be unable to continue our business operations, which could damage our reputation and lead to a loss of customers and have an adverse effect on our AUM, revenue and net income.
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Climate change-related risks could adversely affect our business, products, operations and clients, which may cause our AUM, revenue and earnings to decline.
Our business and those of our clients could be impacted by risks related to climate change. Climate change may present risk to us through changes in the physical climate or from the process of transitioning to a lower-carbon economy. Climate-related physical risks arise from the direct impacts of a changing climate over the short, medium and long term. Such risks may include extreme weather events, rising sea levels, water scarcity, and changes in temperature, which may damage infrastructure and facilities, as well as disrupt connectivity or supply chains. Climate-related transition risks arise from our exposure to the transition to a lower-carbon economy through policy, regulatory, technology and market changes. For instance, new regulations or guidance relating to climate change, as well as the perspectives of stakeholders regarding climate change, may impact our investment products, business processes and reputation, which could increase our costs of doing business. At times, regulations and market demands regarding climate impact in one region may be in direct conflict with regulations and market demands in another region, which may create risk that our activity in one region adversely impacts activity in the other. Climate-related physical and transition risks could impact us both directly and indirectly through adverse impacts on our clients, including as a result of declines in asset values, changes in client investing preferences, increased regulatory and compliance costs, and significant business disruptions. Any of these risks may cause our AUM, revenue and earnings to decline.
Negative changes in our credit ratings and global market volatility may impair our ability to obtain financing and may increase our borrowing costs.
Our ability to access the capital markets, as well as our borrowing costs under our credit facility, depends significantly on our credit ratings and credit outlook, which are determined by rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s (“S&P’s”) and Moody’s Investors Service. These rating agencies have indicated that they are monitoring the indebtedness we incur in connection with the proposed Merger. We expect to incur a significant amount of debt to finance the proposed Merger, which may result in a downgrade in our credit ratings or credit outlooks. Changes in our credit ratings or credit outlook, as well as global market volatility and interest rate increases, could cause us to incur higher borrowing costs or to have greater difficulty in accessing the capital markets. In addition, volatility in global financial and capital markets may also affect our ability to access the capital markets in a timely manner.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
We operate in an industry that is subject to extensive, complex, overlapping and sometimes conflicting regulation and supervision around the world, and any enforcement action or changes in the laws or regulations governing our business could adversely affect our AUM, results of operations or financial condition.
Like all investment management firms, our activities, products and services are highly regulated in almost all markets in which we conduct business, including the U.S., the UK, Continental Europe, Australia, Singapore and other international markets. Compliance with these regulations is costly and complex.
Laws and regulations applied at the international, national, state or provincial, and local levels generally grant governmental agencies and industry self-regulatory authorities broad administrative discretion over our activities, including the power to limit or restrict our business activities; conduct examinations, risk assessments, investigations and capital adequacy reviews; and impose remedial programs to address perceived deficiencies. As a result of regulatory oversight, we could face requirements that negatively impact the way in which we conduct business, increase compliance and operating costs, impose additional or increased capital requirements and/or involve enforcement actions that could lead to sanctions, including the potential revocation of licenses to operate certain businesses, the suspension or expulsion from a particular jurisdiction or market of any of our business organizations or key personnel, or the imposition of increasingly substantial fines and censures on us, any of our subsidiaries or affiliates, or our employees. Judgments or findings of wrongdoing by regulatory or governmental authorities, or in private litigation against us, could affect our reputation, increase our costs of doing business and/or negatively impact our AUM and revenues, any of which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
The regulatory environment in which we operate also changes frequently and has seen a significant increase globally in proposed and adopted regulations in recent years. Certain enacted regulations and proposals for new regulation are potentially far-reaching and, depending upon their implementation, could increase the cost of offering investment products and services in the markets where we conduct business and have material adverse effects on our business, results of operations and/or financial condition. Additionally, challenges associated with interpreting regulations issued in numerous countries in a globally consistent manner may add to such risks and impacts if regulators in different jurisdictions have inconsistent views or provide only limited regulatory guidance. The aggressive pace, scope and complexity of regulatory change place additional demands on resources and introduce additional operational strains, which may impact our ability to fully and timely satisfy those regulatory requirements or constrain our ability to pursue other strategic projects and business priorities.
In the U.S., government agencies like the SEC have adopted new regulations over the past several years that have increased our regulatory burdens and related compliance and operating costs, including an amended investment company names rule. The SEC and other federal and state agencies and institutions have taken action, and may continue to take further action, in response to global financial market developments, internal political dynamics, perennial industry challenges, as well as technological developments, such as AI and blockchain. In addition, there remains uncertainty about the ultimate impact of recent changes to the leadership within the U.S. government under the current administration, including changes to policies or priorities that could impact the current regulatory landscape in which we operate. Moreover, even if certain regulatory or policy changes may ease existing requirements or burdens, shifts in political priorities, future leadership transitions, or evolving market and regulatory conditions could result in reversals, reinstatements, or new rulemakings that reimpose prior obligations or introduce additional ones.
The EU has promulgated or is considering various new or revised legislation pertaining to financial services firms, including investment managers. On November 10, 2023, the EU published the final compromise text amending the Alternative Investment Funds Managers Directive (“AIFMD II”). Key changes include a new pan-European regime for loan origination funds, amendments to delegation and depositary processes, and enhanced reporting and transparency requirements. Such regulatory changes may have a direct impact on the revenue of our business should they result in structural or operational changes and may increase operational or compliance costs. We do not believe implementation of these requirements will fundamentally change the asset management industry or cause us to reconsider our fundamental strategy, but certain provisions may require us to change or impose new limitations on the manner in which we conduct business and may result in increased fee and margin pressure from clients.
The full extent of the impact on us of any laws, regulations or initiatives that may be proposed, and regulatory reform initiatives and enforcement agendas pursued by regulators such as the FCA, SEC and the DOL, is impossible to determine. Recent changes have imposed, and may continue to impose, new compliance costs and/or capital requirements or impact us in other ways that could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Moreover, certain legal or regulatory changes could require us to modify our strategies, businesses or operations, and these changes may result in the incurrence of other new constraints or costs, including the investment of significant management time and resources in order to satisfy new regulatory requirements or to compete in a changed business environment.
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Regulatory and governmental examinations and/or investigations, litigation and the legal risks associated with our business could adversely impact our AUM, increase costs and negatively impact our profitability and/or our future financial results.
From time to time, we receive and respond to regulatory and governmental requests for documents or other information, subpoenas, examinations and investigations in connection with our business activities. In addition, from time to time, we are named as a party in litigation. Even if claims made against us are without merit, litigation typically is an expensive process. Risks associated with legal liability often are difficult to assess or quantify and their existence and magnitude can remain unknown for significant periods of time. Among other things, such matters may result in substantial fines, censure, legal damages, suspension of personnel, revocation of licenses and reputational damage, which may reduce our sales and increase redemptions. Eventual exposures from and expenses incurred relating to any examinations, investigations, litigation and/or settlements could adversely impact our AUM, increase costs and/or negatively impact our profitability and financial results. Allegations, findings or judgments of wrongdoing by regulatory or governmental authorities or in litigation against us, or settlements with respect thereto, could affect our reputation, increase our costs of doing business and/or negatively impact our revenues, any of which could have a material negative impact on our financial results.
Regulators may impose increased capital requirements on our subsidiaries, which could negatively impact our ability to return capital or pay dividends to our shareholders and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Regulators typically have broad discretion to impose increased regulatory capital requirements on the regulated entities within their jurisdiction. It is possible that the regulatory capital requirements that currently apply to our subsidiaries could be increased. The imposition of increased regulatory capital requirements could negatively impact our ability to return capital or pay dividends to shareholders, restrict our ability to make future acquisitions or, should we be required to raise additional capital, negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Failure to comply with client contractual requirements and/or investment guidelines could negatively impact our AUM, results of operations and financial condition.
Many of the investment management agreements under which we manage assets or provide services specify investment guidelines or requirements that we are required to observe. Laws and regulations also impose similar requirements for certain accounts. A failure to follow these guidelines or requirements, or implement them appropriately, could result in damage to our reputation or in clients seeking to recover losses, withdrawing their assets or terminating their contracts, any one of which could cause revenues and profitability to decline. In addition, a breach of these investment guidelines or requirements could result in regulatory investigation, censure and/or fines.
We may be subject to claims of lack of suitability.
If our clients suffer losses on funds or investment mandates we manage, they may seek compensation from us on the basis of allegations that these funds or mandates were not suitable for them or that the fund prospectuses or other marketing materials contained material errors or were misleading. Despite the controls relating to disclosure in fund prospectuses and marketing materials, it is possible that such action may be successful, which in turn could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any claim for lack of suitability could also result in a regulatory investigation, censure or fines, and may damage our reputation.
Changes to tax laws could adversely affect us.
The determination of our provision for income taxes requires judgment, the use of estimates and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Our provision for income taxes reflects a combination of income earned and taxed in the various U.S. federal and state, UK and other jurisdictions. Jurisdictional tax law changes, increases or decreases in permanent differences between book and tax items, accruals or adjustments of accruals for unrecognized tax benefits or valuation allowances, and any changes in our mix of earnings from these taxing jurisdictions affect the overall effective tax rate and the amount of taxes payable.
Our tax affairs will, in the ordinary course of business, be reviewed by tax authorities, which may disagree with certain positions that we have taken or will take in the future and assess additional taxes. We regularly assess the likely outcomes of such tax inquiries, investigations or audits in order to determine the appropriateness of their respective tax provisions. However, there can be no assurance that we will accurately predict the outcomes of these inquiries, investigations or audits, and the actual outcomes of these inquiries, investigations or audits could have a material impact on our financial results.
In addition, changes to tax laws or income tax rates could materially impact our tax provision, cash tax liability, deferred income tax balances and effective tax rate.
Jersey Company Risks
Our ordinary shares, which we refer to as our common stock, are governed by the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands, which may not provide the level of legal certainty and transparency afforded by incorporation in a U.S. state.
We are organized under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands, a British crown dependency that is an island located off the coast of Normandy, France. Jersey is not a member of the EU. Jersey, Channel Islands, legislation regarding companies is largely based on English corporate law principles. However, there can be no assurance that the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands, will not change in the future or that it will serve to protect investors in a similar fashion afforded under corporate law principles in the U.S., which could adversely affect the rights of investors.
U.S. shareholders may not be able to enforce civil liabilities against us.
Certain of our directors and executive officers are not residents of the U.S. A substantial portion of the assets of such persons are located outside the U.S. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the U.S. upon such persons.
Judgments of U.S. courts may not be directly enforceable outside of the U.S., and the enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts outside of the U.S. may be subject to limitations. Investors may also have difficulties pursuing an original action brought in a court in a jurisdiction outside the U.S. for liabilities under the securities laws of the U.S.
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