Victory Capital Reports First-Quarter 2022 Financial Results and New $100 Million Share Repurchase Program

Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: VCTR) ("Victory Capital" or "the Company") today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

"We had positive organic growth momentum across all of our channels as we entered into 2022, and it continued through the end of the quarter. This was our third quarter, out of the last four, with positive net long-term inflows," said David Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This is particularly gratifying, given the challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop during the period and the associated market disruptions. Our institutional, retail intermediary, as well as our direct investor business all achieved sequential and year-over-year improvement in both gross and net long-term asset flows. This culminated in quarterly gross sales of $11 billion and positive net long-term inflows of $3 billion during the quarter.

"Investment performance was also exceptional during the quarter. A majority of our strategies continued to outperform their benchmarks over the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods. Through quarter-end, 78% and 83%, of our total AUM outperformed benchmarks over the critical 3-year and 5-year periods, respectively.

"Our variable cost structure enabled us to generate healthy profit margins in the first quarter. Margins were in line with previous guidance and our consolidated average fee rate decreased, as expected, due to a shift in product mix associated with the WestEnd Advisors ("WestEnd") acquisition.

"Strong and predictable cash flow generation has allowed us to continue paying down debt at a fast pace. Since the beginning of the year, we have repaid a total of $90 million of debt. With our current $15 million share repurchase authorization nearing completion, the Board authorized a new $100 million share repurchase plan, which is the largest in our history. This new program provides us with flexibility to be more opportunistic with repurchase activity.

"As always, we continue to focus on our top priority, which is generating strong investment performance and serving our clients."

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.

AUM, Flows and Investment Performance

Victory Capital's AUM decreased by $5.6 billion to $178.1 billion at March 31, 2022, compared with $183.7 billion at December 31, 2021. The decrease was due to negative market action of $8.3 billion, partially offset by net inflows of $3.0 billion. Total gross flows for the first quarter were $11.1 billion, including long-term gross flows of $11.0 billion.

As of March 31, 2022, Victory Capital offered 129 investment strategies through its 12 autonomous Investment Franchises and Solutions Platform. The table below presents outperformance against benchmarks by AUM as of March 31, 2022.

First Quarter 2022 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2021

Revenue increased $0.9 million to $230.0 million, in the first quarter, compared with $229.1 million in the fourth quarter, due to additional revenue associated with the WestEnd acquisition, which closed on December 31, 2021, partially offset by two fewer days in the quarter and lower revenue realization due to changes in asset mix, resulting from the impact of WestEnd and lower average net assets. GAAP operating margin expanded 490 basis points in the first quarter to 44.1%, up from 39.2% in the fourth quarter, due to lower acquisition-related costs as a result of the WestEnd and New Energy Capital ("NEC") acquisitions in the fourth quarter of 2021 and a non-cash $6.7 million difference in amounts recorded to the change in fair value of consideration payable for acquisitions, partially offset by continued investments to support future growth. First quarter GAAP net income rose 2% to $71.3 million, up from $69.7 million in the prior quarter. On a per-share basis, GAAP net income advanced 3% to $0.97 per diluted share in the first quarter, versus $0.94 per diluted share in the fourth quarter.

Adjusted net income with tax benefit decreased 3% to $90.4 million in the first quarter, down from $93.7 million in the fourth quarter. On a per-share basis, adjusted net income with tax benefit decreased 3% to $1.23 per diluted share in the first quarter, from $1.27 per diluted share in the prior quarter. Adjusted EBITDA decreased $0.6 million to $114.4 million in the first quarter compared to $114.9 million in the fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 50 basis points in the first quarter of 2022 to 49.7% compared with 50.2% in the prior quarter primarily due to higher seasonal payroll taxes and benefits.

First Quarter 2022 Compared with First Quarter 2021

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022, rose 8% to $230.0 million, compared with $212.9 million in the same quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to higher average AUM partially offset by lower revenue realization as a result of the WestEnd acquisition.

GAAP operating margin was 44.1% in the first quarter, a 200 basis point increase from 42.1% in the same quarter of 2021. Operating expenses increased 4% to $128.5 million, compared with $123.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to continued investments to support future growth as well as an increase in personnel expense from acquisitions, partially offset by a non-cash $6.0 million difference in amounts recorded to the change in fair value of consideration payable for acquisitions. GAAP net income rose 9% to $71.3 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, in the first quarter compared with $65.2 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, in the same quarter of 2021.

Adjusted net income with tax benefit advanced 8% to $90.4 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, in the first quarter, compared with $83.6 million, or $1.13 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% to $114.4 million, compared with $106.8 million in the same quarter of 2021. Year-over-year, adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 50 basis points to 49.7% in the first quarter of 2022, compared with 50.2% in the same quarter last year.

Balance Sheet / Capital Management

During the first quarter, the Company reduced outstanding debt by an additional $70.0 million. The total debt outstanding as of March 31, 2022 was approximately $1,081 million and consisted of an existing term loan balance of $646 million and the 2021 Incremental Term Loans balance of $435 million. Subsequent to March 31, 2022, the Company reduced outstanding debt on the 2021 Incremental Term Loans by $20.0 million.

During the first quarter, the Company repurchased 293 thousand shares under its current share repurchase program, which is nearing completion. The Company's Board of Directors approved a new common stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $100 million of its common stock. Under the new program, which will commence immediately upon completion of the current program, the Company may purchase its shares from time to time until December 31, 2023 in privately negotiated transactions, through block trades, pursuant to open market purchases, or pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the SEC. The amount and timing of the purchases will depend on a number of factors including the price and availability of the Company's shares, trading volume, capital availability, Company performance and general economic and market conditions. The share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

The Company's Board of Directors also approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable on June 27, 2022, to shareholders of record on June 10, 2022.

Conference Call, Webcast and Slide Presentation

The Company will host a conference call tomorrow morning, May 6, 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 call (888) 330-3571 (domestic) or (646) 960-0657 (international), shortly before 8:00 a.m. ET and reference the Victory Capital Conference Call. 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 during 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 diversified global asset management firm with $178.1 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2022. It was ranked ninth on Fortune's list of the 100 Fastest Growing Companies for 2021. The Company operates a next-generation business model combining boutique investment qualities with the benefits of a fully integrated, centralized operating and distribution platform.

Victory Capital provides specialized investment strategies to institutions, intermediaries, retirement platforms and individual investors. With 12 autonomous Investment Franchises and a Solutions Platform, Victory Capital offers a wide array of investment products, including mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, third-party ETF model strategies, collective investment trusts, private funds, and a 529 Education Savings Plan.

For more information, please visit www.vcm.com or follow us: Twitter and LinkedIn.

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 such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our business, operations and financial results going forward, 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 such as a pandemic; 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 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.

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Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Victory Capital uses non-GAAP financial measures referred to as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to measure the operating profitability of the Company. These measures eliminate the impact of one-time acquisition, restructuring and integration costs and demonstrate the ongoing operating earnings metrics of the Company. The Company has included these non-GAAP measures to provide investors with the same financial metrics used by management to assess the operating performance of the Company.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjustments made to GAAP Net Income to calculate Adjusted EBITDA, as applicable, are:

• Adding back income tax expense;
• Adding back interest paid on debt and other financing costs, net of interest income;
• Adding back depreciation on property and equipment;
• Adding back other business taxes;
• Adding back amortization expense on acquisition-related intangible assets;
• Adding back stock-based compensation expense associated with equity awards issued from pools created in connection with the management-led buyout and various acquisitions and as a result of equity grants related to the IPO;
• Adding back direct incremental costs of acquisitions, including restructuring costs;
• Adding back debt issuance cost expense;
• Adjusting for earnings/losses on equity method investments.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjustments made to GAAP Net Income to calculate Adjusted Net Income, as applicable, are:

• Adding back other business taxes;
• Adding back amortization expense on acquisition-related intangible assets;
• Adding back stock-based compensation expense associated with equity awards issued from pools created in connection with the management-led buyout and various acquisitions and as a result of any equity grants related to the IPO;
• Adding back direct incremental costs of acquisitions, including restructuring costs;
• Adding back debt issuance cost expense;
• Subtracting an estimate of income tax expense applied to the sum of the adjustments above.

Tax Benefit of Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets

Due to Victory Capital's acquisitive nature, tax deductions allowed on acquired intangible assets and goodwill provide it with additional significant supplemental economic benefit. The tax benefit of goodwill and intangible assets represent the tax benefits associated with deductions allowed for intangible assets and goodwill generated from prior acquisitions in which the Company received a step-up in basis for tax purposes. Acquired intangible assets and goodwill may be amortized for tax purposes, generally over a 15-year period. The tax benefit from amortization on these assets is included to show the full economic benefit of deductions for all acquired intangible assets with a step-up in tax basis.