As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 8/12/19  Victory Capital Holdings, Inc.    8-K:2,9     8/12/19    2:1.7M                                   Merrill Bridge/FA

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 8-K         Current Report                                      HTML     30K 
 2: EX-99.1     Miscellaneous Exhibit                               HTML    510K 

 

Victory Capital Reports Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

and Initiates Quarterly Cash Dividend

Second Quarter 2019 Highlights

San Antonio, Texas, August 12, 2019 — Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: VCTR) (“Victory Capital” or “the Company”) today reported its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, and announced the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend. The first dividend of $0.05 per share will be payable on September 25, 2019, to shareholders of record on September 10, 2019.

“The decision by our Board of Directors to initiate a dividend exemplifies the confidence we have in the strength and durability of our business and underscores our commitment to enhancing shareholder value,” said David Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The addition of a cash dividend adds another component to our capital allocation strategy while maintaining a primary focus on creating the capital flexibility needed to participate in the consolidation of our industry.

 

“I am also pleased to report that Victory Capital’s investment and financial results were excellent in the second quarter. Our Investment Franchises and Solutions Platform continued to deliver impressive investment performance with 84% of AUM outperforming respective benchmarks over the trailing five-year period ended June 30, 2019. Additionally, net flows were positive at $3.7 billion for the quarter and $2.6 billion through the first six months of the year. Gross flows were also robust for the quarter at $7.5 billion.

“AUM for Victory Capital grew to $64.1 billion as of June 30, 2019. The Company’s AUM as of July 31, 2019, inclusive of the USAA Asset Management Company acquisition, was $147.8 billion.

“The completion of the USAA Asset Management Company acquisition marks a significant milestone for Victory Capital. It significantly broadens our investment capabilities, increases our size and scale and expands our distribution platform with the introduction of a new direct channel focused on USAA members. Our integration efforts are progressing well, and we remain on target to achieve total annual cost synergy estimates of $120 million. This includes $75 million of synergies that were realized as of July 1, 2019, an additional $25 million expected to be realized by year-end, and the balance in 2020.

“We believe our growth and evolution as an organization since becoming a public company demonstrates the strength of our integrated multi-boutique business model as well as our ability to successfully execute against our long-term strategic vision. We intend to continue to grow organically by leveraging our full suite of products and inorganically through strategic acquisitions. As in the past, serving the needs of our clients remains our top priority.”

The table below presents AUM, and certain GAAP and non-GAAP (“adjusted”) financial results. Due to rounding, AUM values and other amounts in this press release may not add up precisely to the totals provided.  

(in millions except per share amounts or as otherwise noted)

 

 

1 The Company reports its financial results in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income are not defined by GAAP and should not be regarded as an alternative to any measurement under GAAP. Please see the section “Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this press release for an explanation of Non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measure.

 

2 On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” and now records all Mutual Fund and ETF waivers and expense reimbursements as a reduction of reported revenue and not as an expense item. Prior periods have not been restated, as permitted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, due to the Company adopting the new revenue guidance using the modified retrospective method.

 

AUM, Flows and Investment Performance

Victory Capital’s AUM increased by 10.3%, or $6.0 billion, to $64.1 billion at June 30, 2019, compared with $58.1 billion at March 31, 2019. The increase was due to positive net flows of $3.7 billion, compounded by market appreciation of $2.3 billion. Gross flows for the second quarter were $7.5 billion. For the year-to-date period ended June 30, 2019, the Company reported positive net flows of $2.6 billion.

 

As of June 30, 2019, Victory Capital offered 71 investment strategies through its nine autonomous Investment Franchises and Solutions Platform. The table below presents outperformance against benchmarks by AUM and strategies as of June 30, 2019.

Second Quarter of 2019 Compared to First Quarter of 2019

Revenue increased 4.5% to $91.4 million, in the second quarter of 2019, compared with revenue of $87.5 million in the first quarter. The increase was due to higher average AUM in the second quarter. Excluding restructuring and integration costs, operating expenses in the second quarter of 2019 increased 2.3%, despite average AUM increasing 5.3%, from the first quarter of the year.

 

Second quarter GAAP net income was $14.4 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared with $14.5 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2019. GAAP operating margin was 24.9% for the quarter, compared with 25.3% in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease was driven by higher restructuring and integration costs in the year’s second quarter.

 

Adjusted net income with tax benefit increased 9.5% to $27.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, in the second quarter, up from $25.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the first quarter. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin were $36.6 million and 40.0%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2019, up from $33.6 million and 38.4%, respectively, in the first quarter of the year.

 

Second Quarter of 2019 Compared to Second Quarter of 2018

Revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, decreased $13.0 million to $91.4 million, compared with $104.4 million in the second quarter of 2018. Current-year revenue was negatively impacted by lower average AUM and a lower reported average fee rate—related to change in business mix and the adoption of ASU 2014-09 in 2019.

 

Operating expenses declined 8.2% in the second quarter of 2019 to $68.6 million, compared with $74.7 million in the prior-year quarter. This year’s second quarter operating expenses included $4.6 million of acquisition, restructuring, and integration costs, compared with $0.4 million of acquisition, restructuring, and integration costs in the same year-ago quarter. The year-over-year improvement resulted from lower personnel expenses, reflecting the Company’s variable cost structure and sharply lower distribution and other asset-based expenses, which declined $7.9 million, or 32.9%, compared with last year, due to the mix of mutual fund assets and share classes and lower average AUM. Last year’s second-quarter distribution and other asset-based expenses included $3.3 million of fund waivers and reimbursements that are no longer included in operating expenses following the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2019.

 

GAAP net income of $14.4 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2019 compared with $18.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the same quarter last year. GAAP operating margin was 24.9% in the quarter, compared with 28.4% in the second quarter of 2018. The lower operating margin was due to higher acquisition related costs and higher restructuring and integration costs in 2019. 

 

Adjusted net income with tax benefit was $27.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2019, compared with $29.9 million, or $0.41 per diluted share in the prior year’s second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin were $36.6 million and 40.0%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2019, compared with $40.7 million and 39.0%, respectively, for the second quarter one year ago.  

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2018

 

Revenue declined to $178.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared with $209.4 million for the comparable period ended June 30, 2018, due to lower average AUM and a decrease in the realized fee rate. Revenue for the first half of 2019 includes a reduction of $8.2 million in mutual fund waivers and reimbursements due to the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2019, compared with no such reduction of revenue in the prior year. Operating expenses, for the six months ended June 30, 2019, declined to $134.0 million, compared with $152.4 million for the same period in 2018, due to the Company’s variable cost structure and adoption of ASU 2014-09. All expense categories declined in 2019, except for acquisition related costs and restructuring and integration costs.  

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, GAAP net income was $28.9 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared with $29.2 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the comparable six months of 2018. GAAP operating margin was 25.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2019, versus 27.2% for six months ended June 30, 2018. Current-year operating results include $7.4 million in acquisition, restructuring, and integration costs, compared with $0.7 million for these same costs in the comparable 2018 period. In addition, last year’s results include $1.9 million of costs related to debt issued in the first quarter of 2018.

 

Adjusted net income with tax benefit was $53.0 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, in the first half of 2019, and comprised of $0.63 per diluted share in adjusted net income and $0.09 per diluted share in tax benefit. This was down 5.9% from adjusted net income with tax benefit of $56.3 million, or $0.81 per diluted per diluted share, comprised of $0.72 per diluted share in adjusted net income and $0.09 per diluted share in tax benefit, for the same period in 2018.  

 

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin were $70.2 million and 39.2%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared with $80.5 million and 38.4%, respectively, for last year’s comparable period.

 

Balance Sheet / Capital Management

Cash and cash equivalents, inclusive of restricted cash, increased $43.8 million, to $95.3 million at June 30, 2019. This was up from $51.5 million at December 31, 2018. On June 28, 2019, the Company placed $71.9 million into escrow to partially fund its USAA Asset Management Company acquisition. These funds are categorized as restricted cash on the Company’s June 30, 2019 balance sheet. During the second quarter, the Company repurchased an additional 113,297 shares, at an average price of $17.19 per share, for a total cost of $1.9 million.  

 

After quarter end, on July 1, the Company closed its previously announced acquisition of the USAA Asset Management Company and entered into a new $1.1 billion seven-year term loan. The interest rate on the term loan was set at LIBOR plus 325 basis points. In addition, the Company established a five-year $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility that remains undrawn. Since July 1, the

Company has reduced outstanding debt with principal repayments totaling $20.0 million and announced the initiation of a $0.05 per share quarterly cash dividend.

Conference Call, Webcast and Slide Presentation

The Company will host a conference call tomorrow morning, August 13, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. Analysts and investors may participate in the question-and-answer session. To participate in the conference call, please dial (866) 465-5145 (domestic) or (409) 220-9945 (international), shortly before 8:00 a.m. ET. A live, listen-only webcast will also be available via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.vcm.com. Prior to the call, a supplemental slide presentation that will be used for the conference call will be available on the Events and Presentations page of the Company’s investor relations website. For anyone who is unable to join the live event, an archive of the webcast will be available for replay shortly after the call concludes.

About Victory Capital

Victory Capital is a global investment management firm operating a next-generation, integrated multi-boutique business model with $147.8 billion in assets under management as of July 31, 2019.

Victory Capital provides specialized investment strategies to institutions, intermediaries, retirement platforms and individual investors, including USAA members through its direct member channel. Through its Investment Franchises and Solutions Platform, Victory Capital offers a diverse array of independent investment approaches and innovative investment vehicles designed to drive better investor outcomes. This includes actively managed mutual funds and separately managed accounts, rules-based and active ETFs, multi-asset class strategies, custom solutions and a 529 College Savings Plan.

For more information, please visit www.vcm.com or follow us.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “intend,” “may,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “budget,” “continue,” “estimate,” “future,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond Victory Capital’s control, as discussed in Victory Capital’s filings with the SEC, that could cause Victory Capital’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although it is not possible to identify all such risks and factors, they include, among others, the following: reductions in AUM based on investment performance, client withdrawals, difficult market conditions and other factors; the nature of the Company’s contracts and investment advisory agreements; the Company’s ability to maintain historical returns and sustain its historical growth; the Company’s dependence on third parties to market its strategies and provide products or services for the operation of its business; the Company’s ability to retain key investment professionals or members of its senior management team; the Company’s reliance on the technology systems supporting its operations; the Company’s ability to successfully acquire and integrate new companies; the concentration of the Company’s investments in long-only small- and mid-cap equity and U.S. clients; risks and uncertainties associated with non-U.S. investments; the Company’s efforts to establish and develop new teams and strategies; the ability of the Company’s investment teams to identify appropriate investment opportunities; the Company’s ability to limit employee misconduct; the Company’s ability to meet the guidelines set by its clients; the Company’s exposure to potential litigation (including administrative or

tax proceedings) or regulatory actions; the Company’s ability to implement effective information and cyber security policies, procedures and capabilities; the Company’s substantial indebtedness; the potential impairment of the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets; disruption to the operations of third parties whose functions are integral to the Company’s ETF platform; the Company’s determination that Victory Capital is not required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act; the fluctuation of the Company’s expenses; the Company’s ability to respond to recent trends in the investment management industry; the level of regulation on investment management firms and the Company’s ability to respond to regulatory developments; the competitiveness of the investment management industry; the dual class structure of the Company’s common stock; the level of control over the Company retained by Crestview GP; the Company’s status as an emerging growth company and a controlled company; and other risks and factors listed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Victory Capital’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Victory Capital assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Contacts

 

Investors:

Matthew Dennis, CFA

Director, Investor Relations

216-898-2412

mdennis@vcm.com 

Media:
Tricia Ross

310-622-8226

tross@finprofiles.com 

 

Victory Capital and its affiliates are not affiliated with United Services Automobile Association or its affiliates. USAA and the USAA logo are registered trademarks and the USAA logo is a trademark of United Services Automobile Association and are being used by Victory Capital and its affiliates under license.