HENNESSY ADVISORS INC - Quarter Report: 2018 June (Form 10-Q)

HENNESSY ADVISORS INC - Quarter Report: 2018 June (Form 10-Q)

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10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2018

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period From to

Commission File Number 001-36423

HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


California		68-0176227
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

7250 Redwood Boulevard, Suite 200 Novato, California		94945
(Address of principal executive office)		(Zip Code)

(415) 899-1555

(Registrant’s telephone number)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of July 27, 2018, there were 7,808,527 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


PART I	Financial Information
Item 1	Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements	3
	Balance Sheets	3
	Statements of Income	4
	Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity	5
	Statements of Cash Flows	6
	Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements	7
Item 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	18
Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	30
Item 4	Controls and Procedures	30

PART II	Other Information
Item 6	Exhibits	31
	Signatures	32

– 2 –

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1:

Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)


	June 30, 2018		September 30, 2017
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	21,142	$	15,700
Investments in marketable securities, at fair value		8		8
Investment fee income receivable		4,457		4,325
Prepaid expenses		607		1,614
Other accounts receivable		484		584

Total current assets		26,698		22,231

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,088 and $922, respectively		365		254
Management contracts		78,038		74,628
Other assets		188		145

Total assets	$	105,289	$	97,258

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity Current liabilities:
Accrued liabilities and accounts payable	$	5,839	$	7,353
Income taxes payable		418		676
Deferred rent		177		202
Current portion of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs		4,228		4,228

Total current liabilities		10,662		12,459

Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs and current portion		18,557		21,728
Deferred income tax liability, net of deferred tax asset		8,055		11,541

Total liabilities		37,274		45,728

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8) Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value, 22,500,000 shares authorized: 7,808,496 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018, and 7,776,563 at September 30, 2017		16,672		14,943
Retained earnings		51,343		36,587

Total stockholders’ equity		68,015		51,530

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	105,289	$	97,258

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements

– 3 –

Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

Statements of Income

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended June 30,						Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Revenue:
Investment advisory fees	$	12,503		$	12,020		$	38,068		$	36,192
Shareholder service fees		1,064			1,158			3,318			3,516

Total revenue		13,567			13,178			41,386			39,708

Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits		3,219			3,124			9,872			9,613
General and administrative		1,357			1,332			4,302			4,122
Mutual fund distribution		140			80			383			213
Sub-advisor fees		2,662			2,281			7,842			6,862
Amortization and depreciation		98			91			276			275

Total operating expenses		7,476			6,908			22,675			21,085

Net operating income		6,091			6,270			18,711			18,623
Interest expense		279			281			808			825
Other income		(44	)		(3	)		(79	)		(3	)

Income before income tax expense		5,856			5,992			17,982			17,801
Income tax expense		1,638			2,032			1,022			6,217

Net income	$	4,218		$	3,960		$	16,960		$	11,584

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.54		$	0.51		$	2.17		$	1.51

Diluted	$	0.53		$	0.51		$	2.15		$	1.49

Weighted average shares outstanding (prior periods restated for stock split, see Note 6):
Basic		7,807,972			7,690,443			7,804,733			7,688,397

Diluted		7,924,510			7,788,456			7,883,733			7,785,536

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements

– 4 –

Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)


										Total Stockholders’ Equity
	Common Stock						Retained Earnings
	Shares			Amount			Retained Earnings
Balance at September 30, 2017		7,776,563		$	14,943		$	36,587		$	51,530
Net income		—			—			16,960			16,960
Dividends paid		—			—			(2,147	)		(2,147	)
Employee and director restricted stock vested		38,700			—			—			—
Repurchase of vested employee restricted stock for tax withholding		(9,316	)		(94	)		(57	)		(151	)
Shares issued for auto-investments pursuant to the 2015 and 2018 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plans		733			13			—			13
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment pursuant to the 2015 and 2018 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plans		1,816			33			—			33
Stock-based compensation		—			1,828			—			1,828
Employee restricted stock forfeiture		—			(51	)		—			(51	)

Balance at June 30, 2018		7,808,496		$	16,672		$	51,343		$	68,015

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements

– 5 –

Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	16,960		$	11,584
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization and depreciation		276			275
Deferred income taxes		(3,486	)		1,349
Stock-based compensation		1,828			1,585
Amortization of debt issuance costs		(110	)		(110	)
Employee restricted stock forfeiture		(51	)		—
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Investment fee income receivable		(132	)		(130	)
Prepaid expenses		1,007			548
Other accounts receivable		100			26
Other assets		(43	)		3
Accrued liabilities and accounts payable		(1,514	)		(877	)
Income taxes payable		(258	)		(383	)
Deferred rent		(25	)		178

Net cash provided by operating activities		14,552			14,048

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(277	)		(112	)
Payments related to management contracts		(3,410	)		(165	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(3,687	)		(277	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on bank loan		(3,171	)		(3,171	)
Restricted stock units repurchased for employee tax withholding		(151	)		(168	)
Proceeds from shares issued pursuant to the 2015 and 2018 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Repurchase Plans		46			3
Dividend payments		(2,147	)		(1,642	)
Cash paid for fractional shares		—			(1	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(5,423	)		(4,979	)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		5,442			8,792
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period		15,700			3,535

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	21,142		$	12,327

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for:
Income taxes	$	3,698		$	4,643

Interest	$	810		$	822

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements

– 6 –

HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

The accompanying condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2017, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim condensed financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and include the accounts of Hennessy Advisors, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). Certain information and footnote disclosures in these unaudited interim condensed financial statements, normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position at June 30, 2018, the Company’s operating results for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, and the Company’s cash flows for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. These unaudited interim condensed financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto for fiscal year 2017, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. Accordingly, the actual results could differ substantially from those estimates.

The Company’s operating activities consist primarily of providing investment advisory services to 14 open-end mutual funds branded as the Hennessy Funds. The Company serves as the investment advisor to all classes of the Hennessy Cornerstone Growth Fund, the Hennessy Focus Fund, the Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund, the Hennessy Cornerstone Large Growth Fund, the Hennessy Cornerstone Value Fund, the Hennessy Total Return Fund, the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund, the Hennessy Balanced Fund, the Hennessy Gas Utility Fund, the Hennessy Small Cap Financial Fund, the Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund, the Hennessy Technology Fund, the Hennessy Japan Fund, and the Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund. The Company also provides shareholder services to the entire family of the Hennessy Funds.

The Company’s operating revenues consist of contractual investment advisory and shareholder service fees paid to it by the Hennessy Funds. The Company earns investment advisory fees from each Hennessy Fund by, among other things:

•

acting as portfolio manager for the fund or overseeing the sub-advisor acting as portfolio manager for the fund, which includes managing the composition of the fund’s portfolio (including the purchase, retention, and disposition of portfolio securities in accordance with the fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions), seeking best execution for the fund’s portfolio, managing the use of soft dollars for the fund, and managing proxy voting for the fund;

– 7 –

•

performing a daily reconciliation of portfolio positions and cash for the fund;

•

monitoring the fund’s compliance with its investment objectives and restrictions and federal securities laws;

•

performing activities such as maintaining a compliance program, conducting ongoing reviews of the compliance programs of the fund’s service providers (including its sub-advisor, as applicable), conducting on-site visits to the fund’s service providers (including its sub-advisor, as applicable), monitoring incidents of abusive trading practices, reviewing fund expense accruals, payments, and fixed expense ratios, evaluating insurance providers for fidelity bond, D&O/E&O, and cybersecurity insurance coverage, conducting employee compliance training, reviewing reports provided by service providers, maintaining books and records, and preparing an annual compliance report for the Board of Trustees of Hennessy Funds Trust (the “Funds’ Board of Trustees”);

•

overseeing the selection and continued employment of the fund’s sub-advisor, if applicable, reviewing the fund’s investment performance, and monitoring such sub-advisor’s adherence to the fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions;

•

overseeing service providers that provide accounting, administration, distribution, transfer agency, custodial, sales, marketing, public relations, audit, information technology, and legal services to the fund;

•

maintaining in-house marketing and distribution departments on behalf of the fund;

•

being actively involved with preparing all regulatory filings for the fund, including writing and annually updating the fund’s prospectus and related documents;

•

preparing or reviewing a written summary of the fund’s performance for the most recent 12-month period for each annual report of the fund;

•

monitoring and overseeing the accessibility of the fund on third party platforms;

•

paying the incentive compensation of the fund’s compliance officers and employing other staff such as legal, marketing, national accounts, distribution, sales, administrative, and trading oversight personnel, as well as management executives;

•

providing a quarterly compliance certification to Hennessy Funds Trust; and

– 8 –

•

preparing or reviewing materials for the Funds’ Board of Trustees, presenting or leading discussions to or with the Funds’ Board of Trustees, preparing or reviewing meeting minutes, and arranging for training and education of the Funds’ Board of Trustees.

The Company earns shareholder service fees from Investor Class shares of the Hennessy Funds by, among other things, maintaining a toll-free number that the current investors of the Hennessy Funds may call to ask questions about the Hennessy Funds or their accounts, or to get help with processing exchange and redemption requests or changing account options. These fee revenues are earned and calculated daily by the Hennessy Funds’ accountants at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC and are subsequently reviewed by management. The fees are computed and billed monthly, at which time they are recognized in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification 605 “Revenue Recognition.”

Effective February 28, 2017, the Company waives fees with respect to the Hennessy Technology Fund to comply with a contractual expense ratio limitation. The fee waiver is calculated daily by the Hennessy Funds’ accountants at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, is subsequently reviewed by management, and is then charged to expense monthly by the Company as an offset to revenue. The waived fee is deducted from investment advisory fee income and reduces the aggregate amount of advisory fees received by the Company in the subsequent month. To date, the Company has only waived fees based on contractual obligations, but the Company has the ability to waive fees at its discretion. If the Company elects to voluntarily waive fees, the decision to waive fees would not apply to previous periods, but would only apply on a going forward basis.

The Company’s contractual agreements for investment advisory and shareholder services provide persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists with fixed and determinable fees, and the services are rendered daily. The collectability is deemed probable as the fees are received from the Hennessy Funds in the month subsequent to the month in which the services are provided.

(2) Management Contracts Purchased

Throughout its history, the Company has completed nine purchases of assets related to the management of 28 different mutual funds, some of which were reorganized into already existing Hennessy Funds. In accordance with guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), the Company periodically reviews the carrying value of its purchased management contracts to determine if any impairment has occurred. The fair value of management contracts are based on management estimates and assumptions, including third party valuations that utilize appropriate valuation techniques. The fair value of the management contracts was estimated by applying the income approach. It is the opinion of the Company’s management that there was no impairment as of June 30, 2018, or September 30, 2017.

Under the FASB guidance on “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other,” intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested at least annually for impairment. The Company reviews the life of the management contracts each reporting period to determine if they continue to have an indefinite useful life. The Company considers the mutual fund management contracts to be intangible assets with an indefinite useful life and are not impaired as of June 30, 2018, or September 30, 2017.

– 9 –

Most recently, the Company purchased the assets related to the management of the Rainier Large Cap Equity Fund, the Rainier Mid Cap Equity Fund, and the Rainier Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund (collectively, the “Rainier U.S. Funds”). In the aggregate, the Company paid $3.1 million for approximately $375 million of assets related to management of the Rainier U.S. Funds. The transaction, which was completed in two stages, was consummated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Transaction Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2017, as amended, between the Company, Manning & Napier Group, LLC, and Rainier Investment Management, LLC.

The details of the first stage of the transaction, which closed on December 1, 2017, are as follows:

•

The Company purchased the assets related to the management of (i) the Rainier Large Cap Equity Fund, which were reorganized into the Hennessy Cornerstone Large Growth Fund, and (ii) the Rainier Mid Cap Equity Fund, which were reorganized into the Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund.

•

The purchase price of $1.0 million was funded with available cash and was based on the total net assets under management of the Rainier Large Cap Equity Fund and the Rainier Mid Cap Equity Fund as measured at the close of business on November 30, 2017.

•

The amount of the purchased assets under management as of the closing date was approximately $122 million.

The details of the second stage of the transaction, which closed on January 12, 2018, are as follows:

•

The Company purchased the assets related to the management of the Rainier Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund and reorganized them into the Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund.

•

The purchase price of $2.1 million was funded with available cash and was based on the total net assets under management of the Rainier Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund as measured at the close of business on January 11, 2018.

•

The amount of the purchased assets under management as of the closing date was approximately $253 million.

(3) Investment Advisory Agreements

The Company has management contracts with Hennessy Funds Trust, under which it provides investment advisory services to all classes of the 14 Hennessy Funds.

The management contracts must be renewed annually (except in limited circumstances) by (i) the Funds’ Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable Hennessy Fund and (ii) the vote of a majority of the trustees of Hennessy Funds Trust who are not interested persons of the Hennessy Funds. If the management contracts are not renewed annually as described above, they will terminate automatically. There are two additional circumstances in which the management contracts would terminate. First, the management contracts would automatically terminate if the Company assigned them to another advisor (assignment includes “indirect assignment,” which is the transfer of the Company’s common stock in sufficient quantities deemed to constitute a controlling block). Second, each management contract may be terminated prior to its expiration upon 60 days’ notice by either the Company or the applicable Hennessy Fund.

– 10 –

As provided in the management contracts with the 14 Hennessy Funds, the Company receives investment advisory fees monthly based on a percentage of the respective fund’s average daily net assets.

The Company has entered into sub-advisory agreements for the Hennessy Focus Fund, the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund, the Hennessy Japan Fund, and the Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund. Under each of these sub-advisory agreements, the sub-advisor is responsible for the investment of the assets of the applicable Hennessy Fund in accordance with the terms of such agreement and the applicable Hennessy Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The sub-advisors are subject to the direction, supervision, and control of the Company and the Funds’ Board of Trustees. The sub-advisory agreements must be renewed annually (except in limited circumstances) in the same manner as, and are subject to the same termination provisions as, the management contracts.

In exchange for the sub-advisory services, the Company (not the Hennessy Funds) pays sub-advisory fees to the sub-advisors out of its own assets. Sub-advisory fees are calculated as a percentage of the applicable sub-advised fund’s average daily net asset value.

(4) Bank Loan

The Company has an outstanding bank loan with U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”), as administrative agent and as a lender, and California Bank & Trust, as syndication agent and as a lender. On September 17, 2015, in connection with the repurchase of up to 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to its self-tender offer, the Company and its lenders entered into a term loan agreement with an original principal amount of $35.0 million (consisting of a $20.0 million promissory note to U.S. Bank and a $15.0 million promissory note to California Bank & Trust). Then, on September 19, 2016, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the term loan agreement to allow the Company to purchase the assets related to the management of the Westport Fund and the Westport Select Cap Fund (each of which merged into the Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund). On November 16, 2017, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the term loan agreement to revise the excess cash flow prepayment requirements. On November 30, 2017, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the term loan agreement to allow the Company to purchase the assets related to the management of the Rainier U.S. Funds.

The term loan agreement requires 48 monthly payments in the amount of $364,583 plus interest calculated based on one of the following, at the Company’s option:

(1) the sum of (a) a margin that ranges from 2.75% to 3.25%, depending on the Company’s ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (excluding, among other things, certain non-cash gains and losses) (“EBITDA”), plus (b) the LIBOR rate; or

– 11 –

(2) the sum of (a) a margin that ranges from 0.25% to 0.75%, depending on the Company’s ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA plus (b) the highest rate out of the following three rates: (i) the prime rate set by U.S. Bank from time to time, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, or (iii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%.

The Company currently uses a one-month LIBOR rate contract, which must be renewed monthly. As of June 30, 2018, the effective rate is 4.732%, which is comprised of the one-month LIBOR rate of 1.982% as of June 1, 2018, plus a margin of 2.75% based on the Company’s ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA as of March 31, 2018. The Company intends to continue renewing the LIBOR rate contract on a monthly basis provided that the LIBOR-based interest rate remains favorable to the prime rate-based interest rate.

All borrowings under the term loan agreement are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets. The final installment of the then-outstanding principal plus accrued interest is due September 17, 2019. As of June 30, 2018, the Company had $23.0 million outstanding under its term loan ($22.8 million net of debt issuance costs).

The term loan agreement includes certain reporting requirements and loan covenants requiring the maintenance of certain financial ratios. The Company was in compliance for the periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

In connection with securing the financings discussed above, the Company incurred loan costs in the amount of $0.41 million. These costs were reclassified to offset debt liability per Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-03 as of March 31, 2017, and the balance is being amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest basis, over 48 months. Amortization expense during the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, was $0.1 million for each period. The unamortized balance of the loan fees was $0.2 million as of June 30, 2018. The following is a reconciliation of the reclassification:


	Gross Debt at at June 30, 2018		Debt Issuance Cost			Debt, Net of Issuance Cost, at June 30, 2018
			(In thousands)
Current portion of debt	$	4,375	$	(147	)	$	4,228
Long-term portion of debt		18,594		(37	)		18,557

Total Debt	$	22,969	$	(184	)	$	22,785


	Gross Debt at September 30, 2017		Debt Issuance Cost			Debt, Net of Issuance Cost, at September 30, 2017
	(In thousands)
Current portion of debt	$	4,375	$	(147	)	$	4,228
Long-term portion of debt		21,875		(147	)		21,728

Total Debt	$	26,250	$	(294	)	$	25,956

(5) Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which permits companies a period of one year from the enactment date of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”) to account for the resulting tax effects. Any required adjustment would be included in “net earnings from continuing operations” as an adjustment to income tax expense in the reporting period during which such adjustment is identified. In our first quarter, based on available information, we estimated the impact of the reduced corporate tax rate and re-measured our deferred tax liability. This resulted in a reduction to income tax expense of approximately $4 million.

– 12 –

The Company’s effective income tax rates for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, were 28.0% and 33.9%, respectively. The effective income tax rate was lower for the three months ended June 30, 2018, due to the reduced federal tax rate resulting from the 2017 Tax Act, offset partially by state taxes.

The Company’s effective income tax rates for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, were 5.7% and 34.9%, respectively. The effective income tax rate was lower for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, due to the 2017 Tax Act, with a slight offset due to state taxes and increased income before income tax expense. For the three months ended December 31, 2017, the Company was required to record a one-time, non-cash benefit to income taxes of approximately $4 million for the accounting re-measurement of its deferred tax liability to account for the future impact of a lower federal corporate income tax rate.

We are subject to income tax in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and multiple state jurisdictions. Our U.S. federal tax returns for 2015 and subsequent years remain open to examination. Generally, we are no longer subject to state examinations by tax authorities for years prior to fiscal year 2014. For state tax jurisdictions with unfiled tax returns, the statute of limitations will remain open indefinitely.

(6) Earnings per Share and Dividends per Share

Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, while diluted earnings per share is determined by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, which consist of restricted stock units (“RSUs”).

All common stock equivalents were dilutive and therefore included in the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

On January 26, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a 3-for-2 stock split, which was effected on March 6, 2017, for shareholders of record as of February 10, 2017. All disclosures in this report relating to shares of common stock, RSUs, and per share data have been adjusted to reflect this stock split.

The Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.075, $0.10, and $0.10 per share, respectively, on December 8, 2017, to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2017; on March 5, 2018, to shareholders of record as of February 9, 2018; and on June 11, 2018, to shareholders of record as of May 17, 2018.

– 13 –

(7) Equity

Amended and Restated 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan

The Company has adopted, and the Company’s shareholders have approved, the Amended and Restated 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”). Under the Omnibus Plan, participants may be granted RSUs, representing an unfunded, unsecured right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock on the date specified in the recipient’s award. The Company issues new shares of its common stock when it is required to deliver shares to an RSU recipient. The RSUs granted under the Omnibus Plan vest over four years, at a rate of 25% per year. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the four-year vesting term of each award. There were no RSUs granted under the Omnibus Plan during the nine months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017. RSU activity for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, was as follows:


	RSU Activity Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
	Number of RSUs			Weighted Avg. Fair Value Per Share at Each Date
Non-vested balance at September 30, 2017		358,291		$	16.48
Granted		—			—
Vested (1)		(112,676	)		15.77
Forfeited		(11,367	)		16.62

Non-vested balance at June 30, 2018		234,248		$	16.77

(1)

The number of vested RSUs includes partially vested shares. Shares of common stock have not been issued for the partially vested shares, but the related compensation expense has been recognized. There were 29,384 net shares of common stock issued for vested and issued RSUs in the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

– 14 –


RSU Compensation Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
	(In thousands)
Total expected compensation expense related to RSUs	$	12,289
Compensation expense recognized at reporting date		(8,360	)

Unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs at reporting date	$	3,929

As of June 30, 2018, there was $3.9 million of total RSU compensation expense related to non-vested awards not yet recognized, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average vesting period of 2.4 years.

Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

In January 2018, the Company adopted an updated Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “DRSPP”), replacing the previous Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan established in March 2015, to provide shareholders and new investors with a convenient and economical means of purchasing shares of the Company’s common stock and reinvesting cash dividends paid on the Company’s common stock. Under the DRSPP and its predecessor, the Company issued 2,549 and 1,533 shares of common stock during the nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Stock Buyback Program

In August 2010, the Company adopted a stock buyback program. The program provides that the Company may repurchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its common stock and has no expiration date. Share repurchases may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. The Company did not repurchase any shares pursuant to the stock buyback program during the nine months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

The Company’s headquarters is located in leased office space under a single non-cancelable operating lease at 7250 Redwood Boulevard, Suite 200, Novato, California 94945. The lease expires June 30, 2021, with one five-year extension available thereafter.

The Company also has office space under a single non-cancelable operating lease at 101 Federal Street, Suite 1900, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. The initial term of the lease expired on November 30, 2015, but automatically renews for successive one-year periods unless either party terminates the lease by providing at least three months’ notice of termination to the other party prior to the next renewal date.

The Company also has office space under a single non-cancelable operating lease at 1340 Environ Way, #305, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517. The initial term of the lease expired on November 30, 2014, but automatically renews for successive three-month periods unless either party terminates the lease by providing at least two months’ notice of termination to the other party prior to the next renewal date.

– 15 –

The Company also has office space under a single, non-cancelable operating sub-lease at 4800 Bee Caves Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78746, where it occupies approximately 600 square feet and has the right to use all common areas. The term of the sub-lease commenced on January 4, 2018, and expires on December 31, 2018, but will automatically renew for successive six-month periods unless either party gives at least 60 days’ notice of termination to the other party prior to the renewal date.

Total rent expense for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018, were $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, there were no material changes in the leasing arrangements that would have a significant effect on future minimum lease payments reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

(9) Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies the FASB standard “Fair Value Measurements” for all financial assets and liabilities, which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The standard defines fair value as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” It also establishes a fair value hierarchy consisting of the following three “levels” that prioritize the inputs to the valuation techniques used to measure fair value:

•

Level 1 – Unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that an entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

•

Level 2 – Other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets).

•

Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs (including the entity’s own assumptions about what market participants would use to price the asset or liability based on the best available information) when observable inputs are not available.

– 16 –

Based on the definitions, the following table represents the Company’s assets categorized in the Level 1 to 3 hierarchies as of June 30, 2018, and September 30, 2017:


	Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2018
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Money market fund deposits	$	19,913	$	—	$	—	$	19,913
Mutual fund investments		8		—		—		8

Total	$	19,921	$	—	$	—	$	19,921

Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	19,913	$	—	$	—	$	19,913
Investments in marketable securities		8		—		—		8

Total	$	19,921	$	—	$	—	$	19,921


	Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2017
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Money market fund deposits	$	13,832	$	—	$	—	$	13,832
Mutual fund investments		8		—		—		8

Total	$	13,840	$	—	$	—	$	13,840

Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,832	$	—	$	—	$	13,832
Investments in marketable securities		8		—		—		8

Total	$	13,840	$	—	$	—	$	13,840

There were no transfers between levels during the nine months ended June 30, 2018, or the year ended September 30, 2017.

(10) New Accounting Standards

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” The update eliminates a step from impairment testing to simplify the process, particularly for entities with a zero or negative carrying amount for an intangible asset. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 (our fiscal year 2021). The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which allows companies to account for nonemployee awards in the same manner as employee awards. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods (our fiscal year 2019). The adoption of this update is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

– 17 –

(11) Subsequent Events

On July 10, 2018, the Company announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with BP Capital Fund Advisors, LLC (“BP Capital”) to purchase the assets related to the management of the BP Capital TwinLine Energy Fund and the BP Capital TwinLine MLP Fund (the “BP Funds”). The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K regarding this transaction on July 11, 2018.

The definitive agreement includes customary representations, warranties, and covenants of the Company and BP Capital. It provides for payment by the Company to be made in two parts: (1) a payment upon closing equal to (A) $100,000 plus (B) 0.75% of the aggregate current net asset value of the BP Funds measured as of the close of business on the trading day immediately preceding the closing date of the transaction, and (2) a payment on the one-year anniversary of the closing date equal to 0.75% of the aggregate current net asset value of the successor funds to the BP Funds measured as of the close of business on the trading day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the closing date of the transaction. The Company expects to complete the transaction in the fourth calendar quarter of 2018.

Upon completion of the transaction, the assets related to the BP Capital TwinLine Energy Fund will be reorganized into a new series of Hennessy Funds Trust called the Hennessy BP Energy Fund, and the assets related to the BP Capital TwinLine MLP Fund will be reorganized into a new series of Hennessy Funds Trust called the Hennessy BP Midstream Fund (together with the Hennessy BP Energy Fund, the “Hennessy BP Funds”). The Company will become the investment advisor of the Hennessy BP Funds, and BP Capital will become the sub-advisor to the Hennessy BP Funds.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the BP Funds’ shareholders.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued and has concluded that no other material subsequent events occurred during this period that would require recognition or disclosure.

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws, for which we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project,” “continue,” “seek,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in the future tense. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events, based on information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or means by, which such performance or results will be achieved.

– 18 –

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unforeseen developments could cause actual performance or results to differ substantially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Management does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of these forward-looking statements. There is no regulation requiring an update of any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

Our business activities are affected by many factors, including, without limitation, redemptions by mutual fund shareholders, taxes, general economic and financial conditions, movement of interest rates, competitive conditions, industry regulation, and fluctuations in the stock market, many of which are beyond the control of our management. Further, the business and regulatory environments in which we operate remain complex, uncertain, and subject to change. We expect that regulatory requirements and developments will cause us to incur additional administrative and compliance costs. In addition, while domestic economic conditions currently are relatively favorable, further increases in short-term interest rates, policy changes from the administration in Washington, D.C., and developments in international financial markets could influence economic and financial conditions significantly. Notwithstanding the variability in our economic and regulatory environments, we remain focused on the investment performance of the Hennessy Funds and on providing high-quality customer service to investors.

Our business strategy centers on (i) the identification, completion, and integration of future acquisitions and (ii) organic growth, through both the retention of the mutual fund assets we currently manage and the generation of inflows into the mutual funds we manage. The success of our business strategy may be influenced by the factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. All statements regarding our business strategy, as well as statements regarding market trends and risks and assumptions about changes in the marketplace, are forward-looking by their nature.

Overview

Our primary operating activity is providing investment advisory services to 14 open-end mutual funds branded as the Hennessy Funds. With respect to four of the funds, sub-advisors act as portfolio managers, subject to our oversight. We oversee the selection and continued employment of each sub-advisor, review each sub-advisor’s investment performance, and monitor each sub-advisor’s adherence to the applicable fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. In addition, we conduct ongoing reviews of the compliance programs of sub-advisors and make on-site visits to sub-advisors. Our secondary operating activity is providing shareholder services to Investor Class shares of each of the Hennessy Funds.

– 19 –

We derive our operating revenues from investment advisory fees and shareholder service fees paid to us by the Hennessy Funds. These fees are calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets in each of the Hennessy Funds. The percentage amount of the investment advisory fees varies from fund to fund, but the percentage amount of the shareholder service fees is consistent across all funds. The dollar amount of the fees we receive fluctuates with changes in the average net asset value of each of the Hennessy Funds, which is affected by each fund’s investment performance, purchases and redemptions of shares, general market conditions and the success of our marketing, sales, and public relations efforts.

U.S. equity markets rose over the nine months ended June 30, 2018. U.S. equities rallied principally in response to the positive impact on earnings from the significantly lower corporate tax rates established by the 2017 Tax Act. Investors were also encouraged by reports of economic strength domestically, including three consecutive quarters of real GDP growth close to 3% and robust job growth. However, equity prices came under pressure over the period in reaction to the imposition by the U.S. administration of barriers to trade on certain of its major trading partners. Fears of retaliatory tariffs and of the potential for an escalating trade war weighed on equity prices. The U.S. Federal Reserve, which appeared to continue to feel confident about the strength of the economy and mindful of a tight labor market and the possibility of a slight acceleration in inflation in 2018, raised short-term interest rates three times, by a quarter point each time, in December 2017, March 2018, and June 2018.

Long-term U.S. bond yields rose modestly over the nine months ended June 30, 2018. Bond yields rose sharply over the first half of the period as indications of an acceleration in domestic economic activity, together with signals from the Federal Reserve that the pace of interest rate increases would be nudged higher, combined to send bond prices lower. Prices recovered in the latter half of the period as concerns that a trade war could dampen growth and evidence that wage growth remained moderate boosted demand for fixed income securities.

The Japanese equity market rose modestly in local currency terms over the nine months ended June 30, 2018. Equities rallied higher in the first half of the period, boosted by evidence of continued strong economic growth, an acceleration in inflation, and healthy corporate profits growth. However, equity prices dropped sharply in the second half of the period as the imposition of trade tariffs by the U.S. set off fears of an international trade war. Reports of weaker economic growth in the first quarter of 2018 also contributed to the decline in equities.

We seek to provide positive annualized returns to investors in the Hennessy Funds over a market cycle and to generate inflows into the Hennessy Funds through our marketing and sales efforts. We use a database containing over 100,000 Registered Investment Advisors and Registered Representatives (“Advisors”) nationwide to whom we strategically target and regularly market, and approximately 19,400 of these Advisors currently use the Hennessy Funds for their clients. More than one in five of those Advisors owns two or more of the Hennessy Funds. We continually seek to expand our sales and distribution efforts, to serve our community of Advisors, and to provide high-quality and personalized services to our over 320,000 mutual fund accounts across the country. In addition, we have an active public relations effort with the Hennessy brand name appearing on television, radio, print, or online media on average once every two to three days.

Each of the 14 Hennessy Funds achieved positive annualized returns for the one-year, three-year, five-year, 10-year, and since inception periods ended June 30, 2018.

– 20 –

Total assets under management as of June 30, 2018, was $6.40 billion, a decrease of 2.0%, or $132 million, from $6.53 billion as of June 30, 2017. The decrease in total assets from June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2018, was attributable to net outflows from the Hennessy Funds, offset by market appreciation and the purchase of assets related to the management of the Rainier U.S. Funds.

The following table illustrates the changes quarter by quarter in our assets under management since June 30, 2017:


	Total Assets Under Management
	At Each Quarter End, June 30, 2017, through June 30, 2018
	6/30/2017			9/30/2017			12/31/2017			3/31/2018			6/30/2018
	(In thousands)
Beginning assets under management	$	6,635,802		$	6,526,756		$	6,612,812		$	6,923,993		$	6,577,379
Acquisition inflows		—			—			121,831			252,530			—
Organic inflows		249,043			197,671			324,132			460,948			214,236
Redemptions		(496,768	)		(393,988	)		(480,832	)		(700,679	)		(694,271	)
Market appreciation
(depreciation)		138,679			282,373			346,050			(359,413	)		297,873

Ending assets under management	$	6,526,756		$	6,612,812		$	6,923,993		$	6,577,379		$	6,395,217

The principal asset on our balance sheet, management contracts, represents the capitalized costs incurred in connection with the purchase of assets related to the management of mutual funds. As of June 30, 2018, this asset had a net balance of $78.0 million, compared to $74.6 million as of September 30, 2017. The current period increase was mainly due to the purchase of assets related to the management of the Rainier U.S. Funds.

The principal liability on our balance sheet is the bank debt incurred in connection with the purchase of assets related to the management of mutual funds and the repurchase of 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the completion of its self-tender offer in September 2015. As of June 30, 2018, this liability had a gross balance of $23.0 million, compared to $26.3 million as of September 30, 2017. The decrease was the result of making monthly loan payments on our bank debt.

2017 Corporate Tax Reform

On December 22, 2017, the 2017 Tax Act was enacted into law, which changed various corporate income tax provisions within the existing Internal Revenue Code. The law was required to be accounted for in the period of enactment, which was our first fiscal quarter of 2018. As a result, we recorded a one-time, non-cash benefit to income taxes of approximately $4 million for the accounting re-measurement of our deferred tax liability based on the lower federal corporate income tax rate.

– 21 –

Beginning January 1, 2018, the 2017 Tax Act reduced our corporate federal income tax rate, favorably impacting our net income, earnings per share, and cash flows for our second and third fiscal quarters of 2018.

Results of Operations

The following tables set forth items in the statements of income as dollar amounts and as percentages of total revenue for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:


	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2018						2017
	Amounts			Percent of Total Revenue			Amounts			Percent of Total Revenue
	(In thousands, except percentages)
Revenue:
Investment advisory fees	$	12,503			92.2	%	$	12,020			91.2	%
Shareholder service fees		1,064			7.8			1,158			8.8

Total revenue		13,567			100.0			13,178			100.0

Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits		3,219			23.7			3,124			23.7
General and administrative		1,357			10.0			1,332			10.1
Mutual fund distribution		140			1.0			80			0.6
Sub-advisor fees		2,662			19.7			2,281			17.3
Amortization and depreciation		98			0.7			91			0.7

Total operating expenses		7,476			55.1			6,908			52.4

Net operating income		6,091			44.9			6,270			47.6
Interest expense		279			2.1			281			2.1
Other income		(44	)		(0.4	)		(3.0	)		—

Income before income tax expense		5,856			43.2			5,992			45.5
Income tax expense		1,638			12.1			2,032			15.4

Net income	$	4,218			31.1	%	$	3,960			30.1	%

– 22 –


	Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2018						2017
	Amounts			Percent of Total Revenue			Amounts			Percent of Total Revenue
	(In thousands, except percentages)
Revenue:
Investment advisory fees	$	38,068			92.0	%	$	36,192			91.1	%
Shareholder service fees		3,318			8.0			3,516			8.9

Total revenue		41,386			100.0			39,708			100.0

Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits		9,872			23.9			9,613			24.2
General and administrative		4,302			10.4			4,122			10.4
Mutual fund distribution		383			0.9			213			0.5
Sub-advisor fees		7,842			18.9			6,862			17.3
Amortization and depreciation		276			0.7			275			0.7

Total operating expenses		22,675			54.8			21,085			53.1

Net operating income		18,711			45.2			18,623			46.9
Interest expense		808			2.0			825			2.1
Other income		(79	)		(0.2	)		(3.0	)		—

Income before income tax expense		17,982			43.4			17,801			44.8
Income tax expense		1,022			2.4			6,217			15.6

Net income	$	16,960			41.0	%	$	11,584			29.2	%

Revenue

Total revenue is comprised of investment advisory fees and shareholder service fees. Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, total revenue increased by 3.0%, from $13.2 million to $13.6 million, investment advisory fees increased by 4.0%, from $12.0 million to $12.5 million, and shareholder service fees decreased by 8.1%, from $1.2 million to $1.1 million.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, total revenue increased by 4.2%, from $39.7 million to $41.4 million, investment advisory fees increased by 5.2%, from $36.2 million to $38.1 million, and shareholder service fees decreased by 5.6%, from $3.5 million to $3.3 million.

The increase in investment advisory fees for each of the above periods was mainly due to increased average daily net assets of the Hennessy Funds. Average daily net assets for the three months ended June 30, 2018, increased to $6.59 billion, which represents an increase of $28.3 million, or 0.4%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2017. Average daily net assets for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, increased to $6.75 billion, which represents an increase of $172 million, or 2.6%, compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in shareholder service fees for each of the above periods was due to an increase in the average daily net assets held in Institutional Class shares and a decrease in the average daily net assets held in Investor Class shares over such periods. Assets held in Institutional Class shares of the Hennessy Funds are not subject to a shareholder service fee, whereas assets held in Investor Class shares of the Hennessy Funds are subject to a shareholder service fee.

– 23 –

The Company collects investment advisory fees from each of the Hennessy Funds at differing rates. These range between an annual rate of 0.40% and 0.90% of average daily net assets. The Hennessy Fund with the largest average daily net assets for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018, was the Hennessy Focus Fund, with $2.58 billion and $2.70 billion, respectively. The Company collects an investment advisory fee from the Hennessy Focus Fund at an annual rate of 0.90% of average daily net assets. However, the Company pays a sub-advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.29% to the Fund’s sub-advisor, which reduces the net operating profit contribution of the Fund to the Company’s financial results. The Hennessy Fund with the second largest average daily assets for the three months ended June 30, 2018, was the Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund, with $1.05 billion. The Company collects an investment advisory fee from the Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund at an annual rate of 0.74% of average daily net assets. The Hennessy Fund with the second largest average daily assets for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, was the Hennessy Gas Utility Fund, with $1.19 billion. The Company collects an investment advisory fee from the Hennessy Gas Utility Fund at an annual rate of 0.40% of average daily net assets.

Total assets under management as of June 30, 2018, was $6.4 billion. Compared with assets under management as of March 31, 2018, this represents a decrease of $182 million, or 2.8%. This decrease was attributable to net outflows from the Hennessy Funds, partially offset by market appreciation. Compared with assets under management as of September 30, 2017, this represents a decrease of $218 million, or 3.3%. This decrease was attributable to net outflows from the Hennessy Funds, partially offset by market appreciation and the purchase of assets related to the management of the Rainier U.S. Funds.

The Hennessy Funds with the three largest amounts of net inflows for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018, were as follows:


Three Months Ended June 30, 2018		Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
Fund	Net Inflow	Fund	Net Inflow
Hennessy Japan Fund	$21 million	Hennessy Japan Fund	$195 million
Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund	$12 million	Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund	$137 million
Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund	$0.3 million	Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund	$20 million

– 24 –

The Hennessy Funds with the three largest amounts of net outflows for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018, were as follows:


Three Months Ended June 30, 2018		Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018
Fund	Net Outflow	Fund	Net Outflow
Hennessy Focus Fund	-$284 million	Hennessy Focus Fund	-$425 million
Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund	-$95 million	Hennessy Gas Utility Fund	-$340 million
Hennessy Gas Utility Fund	-$90 million	Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund	-$326 million

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, redemptions as a percentage of assets under management increased from an average of 2.5% per month to 3.5% per month. Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, redemptions as a percentage of assets under management increased from an average of 2.9% per month to 3.1% per month.

Operating Expenses

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, total operating expenses increased by 8.2%, from $6.9 million to $7.5 million. As a percentage of total revenue, total operating expenses increased 2.7 percentage points to 55.1%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, total operating expenses increased by 7.5%, from $21.1 million to $22.7 million. As a percentage of total revenue, total operating expenses increased 1.7 percentage points to 54.8%.

The increase for each of the above periods was due primarily to an increase in sub-advisory fee expense.

Compensation and Benefits Expense

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, compensation and benefits expense increased by 3.0%, from $3.1 million to $3.2 million. As a percentage of total revenue, compensation and benefits expense remained the same at 23.7%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, compensation and benefits expense increased by 2.7%, from $9.6 million to $9.9 million. As a percentage of total revenue, compensation and benefits expense decreased 0.3 percentage points to 23.9%.

The increase for each of the above periods was due primarily to an increase in the Company’s incentive-based compensation expense.

– 25 –

General and Administrative Expense

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, general and administrative expense increased by 1.9%, from $1.3 million to $1.4 million. The increase resulted from increased business development-related expenses in the current period versus the prior comparable period. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense decreased 0.1 percentage points to 10.0%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, general and administrative expense increased by 4.4%, from $4.1 million to $4.3 million. The increase resulted primarily from increased variable sales-related expenses and business development-related expenses in the current period versus the prior comparable period. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense remained the same at 10.4%.

Mutual Fund Distribution Expense

Mutual fund distribution expense consists of fees paid to various financial institutions that offer the Hennessy Funds as potential investments to their clients. When the Hennessy Funds are purchased through one of these financial institutions, the institution typically charges an asset-based fee, which is recorded in “mutual fund distribution expense” in our statement of operations to the extent paid by us. When the Hennessy Funds are purchased directly, we do not incur any such expense. These fees generally increase or decrease in line with the net assets of the Hennessy Funds held through these financial institutions, which are affected by inflows, outflows, and fund performance.

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, mutual fund distribution expense increased by 75.0%, from $0.08 million to $0.14 million. As a percentage of total revenue, mutual fund distribution expense increased 0.4 percentage points to 1.0%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, mutual fund distribution expense increased by 79.8%, from $0.2 million to $0.4 million. As a percentage of total revenue, mutual fund distribution expense increased 0.4 percentage points to 0.9%.

The increase in each of the above periods was due to both entering into contract amendments that altered the services provided (and associated fees) and changes in the composition of average daily net assets held by financial institutions. These changes have led to an allocation of a larger portion of mutual fund distribution expense to the Company.

Sub-Advisory Fee Expense

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, sub-advisory fee expense increased by 16.7%, from $2.3 million to $2.7 million. As a percentage of total revenue, sub-advisory fee expense increased 2.4 percentage points to 19.7%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, sub-advisory fee expense increased by 14.3%, from $6.9 million to $7.8 million. As a percentage of total revenue, sub-advisory fee expense increased 1.6 percentage points to 18.9%.

– 26 –

The increase for each of the above periods was a result of an increase in average assets under management in the sub-advised Hennessy Funds as well as, to a lesser extent, the amendment to the sub-advisory agreement with SPARX Asset Management Co., Ltd., which immediately increased the sub-advisory fee expense attributable to the Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund.

Amortization and Depreciation Expense

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, amortization and depreciation expense increased by 7.7%, from $0.09 million to $0.10 million. As a percentage of total revenue, amortization and depreciation expense remained the same at 0.7%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, amortization and depreciation expense increased by 0.4%, from $0.275 million to $0.276 million. As a percentage of total revenue, amortization and depreciation expense remained the same at 0.7%.

The increase in each of the above periods was a result of higher fixed asset purchases in the current period.

Interest Expense

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, interest expense decreased by 0.7%, from $0.281 million to $0.279 million. As a percentage of total revenue, interest expense remained the same at 2.1%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, interest expense decreased by 2.1%, from $0.83 million to $0.81 million. As a percentage of total revenue, interest expense decreased 0.1 percentage points to 2.0%.

The decrease in each of the above periods was due primarily to a decrease in the Company’s principal loan balance, and was partly offset by an increase in the interest rate charged to the loan.

Income Tax Expense

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, the provision for income tax expense decreased by 19.4%, from $2.0 million to $1.6 million. This decrease was due to the 2017 Tax Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017, which reduced our corporate federal income tax rate. As a percentage of total revenue, income tax expense decreased 3.3 percentage points to 12.1%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, the provision for income tax expense decreased by 83.6% from an expense of $6.2 million to $1.0 million. This decrease was due to the 2017 Tax Act. At December 31, 2017, the Company was required to record a one-time, non-cash benefit to income taxes of approximately $4 million for the accounting re-measurement of the Company’s deferred tax liability based on the lower federal corporate income tax rate. As a percentage of total revenue, income tax expense decreased 13.2 percentage points to 2.4%.

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Net Income

Comparing the three months ended June 30, 2017, to the three months ended June 30, 2018, net income increased by 6.5%, from $4.0 million to $4.2 million as a result of the reduction in income tax expense discussed above. As a percentage of total revenue, net income increased 1.0 percentage point to 31.1%.

Comparing the nine months ended June 30, 2017, to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, net income increased by 46.4%, from $11.6 million to $17.0 million as a result of the reduction in income tax expense discussed above. As a percentage of total revenue, net income increased 11.8 percentage points to 41.0%.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require the use of estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. These accounting policies, methods, and estimates are an integral part of the financial statements prepared by management and are based upon management’s current judgments. Those judgments are normally based on knowledge and experience with regard to past and current events and assumptions about future events. Certain accounting policies, methods, and estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ markedly from management’s current judgment. For a discussion of the accounting policies that we believe are most critical to understanding our results of operations and financial position, see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We continually review our capital requirements to ensure that we have funding available to support our business model. Management anticipates that cash and other liquid assets on hand as of June 30, 2018, will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements for at least one year from the issuance date of this report. To the extent that liquid resources and cash provided by operations are not adequate to meet long-term capital requirements, management plans to raise additional capital by either, or both, seeking to increase our borrowing capacity or accessing the capital markets. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional capital.

Total assets under management as of June 30, 2018, was $6.4 billion, which was a decrease of $132 million, or 2.0%, from June 30, 2017. The primary sources of our revenue, liquidity, and cash flow are our investment advisory fees and shareholder service fees, which are based on and generated by our average assets under management. Property and equipment and management contracts purchased totaled $78.0 million as of June 30, 2018. As of June 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $21.1 million.

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The following table summarizes key financial data relating to our liquidity and use of cash for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, and 2017:


	For the Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2018			2017
	(Unaudited, in thousands)
Cash flow data:
Operating cash flows	$	14,552		$	14,048
Investing cash outflows		(3,687	)		(277	)
Financing cash outflows		(5,423	)		(4,979	)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	$	5,442		$	8,792

The increase in cash provided by operating activities of $0.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, was mainly due to increased operating income in the current period versus the nine months ended June 30, 2017.

The increase in cash used in investing activities of $3.4 million was mainly related to the purchases of the assets related to the management of the Rainier U.S. Funds.

The increase in cash used in financing activities of $0.4 million was due to an increase in dividend payments.

On September 17, 2015, in connection with the repurchase of up to 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to its self-tender offer, the Company and its lenders entered into a term loan agreement with an original principal amount of $35.0 million (consisting of a $20.0 million promissory note to U.S. Bank and a $15.0 million promissory note to California Bank & Trust). Then, on September 19, 2016, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the term loan agreement to allow the Company to purchase the assets related to the management of the Westport Fund and the Westport Select Cap Fund. On November 16, 2017, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the term loan agreement to revise the excess cash flow prepayment requirements. On November 30, 2017, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment to the term loan agreement to allow the Company to purchase the assets related to the management of the Rainier U.S. Funds.

The term loan agreement requires 48 monthly payments in the amount of $364,583 plus interest calculated based on one of the following, at the Company’s option:

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(2) the sum of (a) a margin that ranges from 0.25% to 0.75%, depending on the Company’s ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA, plus (b) the highest rate out of the following three rates (i) the prime rate set by U.S. Bank from time to time, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, or (iii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

An analysis of our market risk was provided in Item 7A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017. There were no material changes to the Company’s market risk during the nine months ended June 30, 2018.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

An evaluation was performed by management of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of June 30, 2018. Based on that evaluation, management, including the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There has been no change in the internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.

Exhibits

Set forth below is a listing of all exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.



2.1		Transaction Agreement, dated as of July 10, 2018, between Hennessy Advisors, Inc. and BP Capital Fund Advisors, LLC (1)

31.1		Rule 13a-14a Certification of the Principal Executive Officer

31.2		Rule 13a-14a Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

32.1		Written Statement of the Principal Executive Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

32.2		Written Statement of the Chief Financial Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350

101		Financial statements from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Hennessy Advisors, Inc. for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, filed on August 1, 2018, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Condensed Balance Sheets; (ii) the Condensed Statements of Income; (iii) the Condensed Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity; (iv) the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

(1)	Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (SEC File No. 001-36423) filed July 11, 2018.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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