With apologies to Charles Dickens, 2025 was neither the best of times, nor the worst of times, but
it was, indeed, a tale of two halves. The first half was downright mediocre, as our heightened expectations for increased capital formation and strategic transactions failed to materialize due to a “complex” environment. The second half,
while not yet “great,” saw the macro and regulatory environment calm, which paved the way for what we believe may have been the true beginning of a long overdue period of constructive strategic activity and new issuance in the capital
markets. While it is always unsettling when one half of the year is good and one half is not, let’s be clear: it feels a lot better when the second half is the better one, as it meaningfully increases the likelihood that the progress will
continue and build upon itself. And that is why, as we enter 2026 – again, with hats off to Mr. Dickens – 2025 remained for us “an epoch of belief” in Jefferies’ momentum and positioning. We are intensely focused on executing on our
opportunity and realizing the attractive and consistent results that we believe Jefferies can produce. We expect we can continue to gain market position in what we anticipate will be an increasingly favorable environment. Our ongoing
technology investments are yielding innovation, enhanced productivity, and better client solutions. Further, we continue to drive opportunities and initiatives we have underway across our firm to support additional long-term growth.
Consistent market share gains, margin improvement, the benefits of scale and brand, and perhaps a more “normal” operating environment, all bode extremely well for Jefferies. 20 25 SH A R EHO L D ER L E T T ER 2 JEFFER I E S In 2025,
Jefferies delivered $7.3 billion in net revenues, $0.9 billion in pre-tax income from continuing operations, $2.85 in diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations and a return on adjusted tangible shareholders’ equity from
continuing operations of 10.1%. Our 2025 full-year results are substantially similar to those of the prior year on the surface, but the tale of two halves tells a better story. Our 2025 second half net revenues were 28% higher than those of
our first half. More significantly, our second half Investment Banking net revenues exceeded first half net revenues by over 50%. Again, clear second half momentum underlines why we feel good moving forward. Although most indicators for
Jefferies are currently upward and to the right, 2025 also delivered serious disappointment with the fraud and bankruptcy of First Brands substantially impacting Point Bonita, a fund of which we are the investment advisor and in which we own
a 6% equity interest. We take this situation very personally and deeply regret Point Bonita’s involvement in First Brands. We are doing everything we can to protect the interests of our partners and to maximize Point Bonita’s recovery from
First Brands and its wrongdoers. There clearly are lessons to be learned, even from an idiosyncratic event such as this, and we will continue to adjust and improve our control regime across our firm. Fortunately, while we are devoting
meaningful energy and attention to Point Bonita, the positive momentum throughout Jefferies continues apace, and we enter 2026 in high gear, intensely focused on delivering for our stakeholders. The two of us have been at Jefferies for quite
a while, and no one is prouder of our emergence as one of the leading Wall Street firms providing investment Dear Fellow Shareholders, J A N U A R Y 7, 2026