Walkers Advises NYSE-Listed Janus Henderson on its US$7.9bn Take-Private

Walkers are acting as Jersey counsel to the special committee of NYSE-listed Janus Henderson Group plc on its approximately US$7.9bn acquisition by Trian Fund Management, L.P. and General Catalyst.

The transaction follows a high-profile competitive public M&A process and will see Janus Henderson acquired by funds affiliated with Trian and General Catalyst pursuant to a cash offer recommended by the company’s board. The special committee played a central role in evaluating and recommending the transaction in the interests of Janus Henderson and its shareholders.

This is only the third occasion of a ‘public-to-private’ transaction of a Jersey-listed company being implemented through a merger under the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 (as opposed to the more traditional method of a members’ scheme of arrangement), with the Walkers team  having now acted on all three occasions.

Kevin McQuillan, Corporate partner, said: ‘This was a complex and high-profile transaction, with significant focus on governance and process. We were pleased to support the special committee with Jersey law advice throughout the process, drawing on the combined strengths of our market-leading corporate and dispute resolution teams.’

Walkers worked alongside Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, which acted as lead counsel to Janus Henderson.

Their team was led by Corporate partner Kevin McQuillan, with support from senior associate Timur Ochkhaev and associates Angharad Prescott and Charlotte Beal.

Insolvency & Dispute Resolution partners Marc Seddon and Simon Hurry also advised on the transaction.