Summary of Janus Henderson Group (NYSE:JHG) Update / Briefing Company Overview - **Company**: Janus Henderson Group - **Event**: Pre-AGM webinar for the Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust - **Date**: September 17, 2025 Key Points Industry Context - The UK market environment has been challenging due to the new Labour government and its political and fiscal agenda [2][3] - The UK small-cap asset class has underperformed large caps, with a total return decline of 5.1% for the year ending May 31, 2025 [5][6] Financial Performance - **Net Asset Value (NAV)**: Declined by 5.1% on a total return basis [3][5] - **Share Price**: Fell by 2.3% [3][5] - **Benchmark Underperformance**: Underperformed the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies Index by 10.1% [3][5] - **Dividend**: Final dividend declared at £0.205, bringing the full-year dividend to £0.28, a 3.7% year-on-year growth [3][6] Management Changes - Neil Hermon, the Portfolio Manager for 22 years, is retiring [3][6][10] - Indriyati Van Heen will take over as the sole Fund Manager [6][10] Investment Strategy - Focus on UK smaller companies, leveraging the "small-cap effect" where smaller companies tend to outperform larger ones [15][16] - Emphasis on active management due to the illiquidity in the small-cap market [16] - The Trust has around £700 million in gross assets and £600 million in net assets, with an attractive 8% to 9% discount to NAV [17][18] Portfolio Management - The investment process remains unchanged, focusing on the 4Ms: business model, money, management, and earnings momentum [23] - Plans to reduce the number of holdings to focus on high-conviction positions [23][36] - Recent purchases include AJ Bell and Alpha Financial Services, which are expected to benefit from unique tailwinds [33] Market Outlook - The UK small-cap market is seen as undervalued, trading at over 30% discount to developed markets [38] - Anticipation of a positive shift in sentiment due to potential fiscal stability and government reforms [39][52] - The upcoming autumn statement is critical for market reassurance regarding fiscal policies [50][51] Sector Performance - Defense sector has been a strong contributor to performance due to increased government spending amid geopolitical instability [47] - Construction companies are also benefiting from strong demand for infrastructure projects [47][48] Share Buyback Program - The company has actively bought back shares, reducing the total share capital by nearly 15% over the past year [57][58] - The discount to NAV has narrowed as a result of the buyback program [58][59] Conclusion - The Trust aims to provide diversified exposure to high-quality UK small-cap growth stocks, with a focus on long-term value creation [45] - The management team expresses cautious optimism about the future, citing attractive valuations and potential for growth as key drivers [53][54] This summary encapsulates the key insights and developments discussed during the Janus Henderson Group's update, highlighting the company's strategic direction, financial performance, and market outlook.