HENNESSY ADVISORS INC - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

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 March 31, 2023

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

For the transition period from

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)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par value	HNNA	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
4.875% Notes due 2026	HNNAZ	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 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 May 7, 2023, there were 7,576,191 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



PART I	Financial Information

Item 1	Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements	1

	Balance Sheets	1

	Statements of Income	2

	Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity	3

	Statements of Cash Flows	4

	Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements	5

Item 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	16

Item 4	Controls and Procedures	27

PART II	Other Information

Item 6	Exhibits	28

	Signatures	29

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1: Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	March 31, 2023		September 30, 2022
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	57,869	$	58,487
Investments in marketable securities, at fair value		10		9
Investment fee income receivable		1,942		2,051
Prepaid expenses		880		853
Other accounts receivable		245		257

Total current assets		60,946		61,657

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,162 and $2,057, respectively		328		320
Operating lease right-of-use asset		472		651
Management contracts		81,071		80,868
Other assets		157		156

Total assets	$	142,974	$	143,652

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accrued liabilities and accounts payable	$	1,781	$	3,320
Accrued management contract payment		—		210
Operating lease liability		371		367
Income taxes payable		483		820

Total current liabilities		2,635		4,717

Notes payable, net of issuance costs		39,014		38,870
Long-term operating lease liability		93		279
Net deferred income tax liability		14,143		13,488

Total liabilities		55,885		57,354

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, no par value, 22,500,000 shares authorized; 7,575,829 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023, and 7,571,741 as of September 30, 2022		21,510		20,951
Retained earnings		65,579		65,347

Total stockholders’ equity		87,089		86,298

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	142,974	$	143,652

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

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Statements of Income

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,						Six Months Ended March 31,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Revenue
Investment advisory fees	$	5,435		$	7,186		$	11,089		$	15,124
Shareholder service fees		481			559			972			1,155

Total revenue		5,916			7,745			12,061			16,279

Operating expenses
Compensation and benefits		1,930			2,111			3,788			4,373
General and administrative		1,276			1,163			2,845			2,563
Fund distribution and other		132			178			227			333
Sub-advisory fees		930			1,570			1,899			3,447
Depreciation		56			50			105			103

Total operating expenses		4,324			5,072			8,864			10,819

Net operating income		1,592			2,673			3,197			5,460
Interest expense		562			490			1,125			998
Interest income		(580	)		(1	)		(1,047	)		(3	)

Income before income tax expense		1,610			2,184			3,119			4,465
Income tax expense		415			582			805			950

Net income	$	1,195		$	1,602		$	2,314		$	3,515

Earnings per share
Basic	$	0.16		$	0.21		$	0.31		$	0.47

Diluted	$	0.15		$	0.21		$	0.30		$	0.46

Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic		7,574,360			7,478,707			7,573,397			7,475,660

Diluted		7,610,729			7,548,335			7,595,000			7,535,154

Cash dividends declared per share	$	0.14		$	0.14		$	0.28		$	0.28

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

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Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)


	Six Months Ended March 31, 2023
	Common Stock				Retained Earnings			Total Stockholders’ Equity
	Shares		Amount		Retained Earnings			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance at September 30, 2022		7,571,741	$	20,951	$	65,347		$	86,298
Net income		—		—		1,119			1,119
Dividends paid		—		—		(1,041	)		(1,041	)
Shares issued for auto-investments pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		215		2		—			2
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		1,750		15		—			15
Stock-based compensation		—		262		—			262

Balance at December 31, 2022		7,573,706	$	21,230	$	65,425		$	86,655

Net income		—		—		1,195			1,195
Dividends paid		—		—		(1,041	)		(1,041	)
Shares issued for auto-investments pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		199		2		—			2
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		1,924		16		—			16
Stock-based compensation		—		262		—			262

Balance at March 31, 2023		7,575,829	$	21,510	$	65,579		$	87,089

Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)


	Six Months Ended March 31, 2022
	Common Stock						Retained Earnings			Total Stockholders’ Equity
	Shares			Amount			Retained Earnings			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance at September 30, 2021		7,469,584		$	19,964		$	63,298		$	83,262
Net income		—			—			1,913			1,913
Dividends paid								(1,027	)		(1,027	)
Employee restricted stock vested		10,000			—			—			—
Repurchase of vested employee restricted stock for tax withholding		(3,458	)		(31	)		(6	)		(37	)
Shares issued for auto-investments pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		193			2			—			2
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		1,729			19			—			19
Stock-based compensation		—			388			—			388
Employee restricted stock forfeiture		—			(3	)					(3	)

Balance at December 31, 2021		7,478,048		$	20,339		$	64,178		$	84,517

Net income		—			—			1,602			1,602
Dividends paid		—			—			(1,028	)		(1,028	)
Shares issued for auto-investments pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		64			1			—			1
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan		1,952			19			—			19
Stock-based compensation		—			295			—			295
Employee restricted stock forfeiture		—			(12	)		—			(12	)

Balance at March 31, 2022		7,480,064		$	20,642		$	64,752		$	85,394

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

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Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Six Months Ended March 31,
	2023			2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	2,314		$	3,515
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation		105			103
Unrealized gain on marketable securities		(1	)		—
Change in right-of-use asset and operating lease liability		(3	)		1
Amortization of note issuance costs		144			120
Deferred income taxes		655			1,034
Employee restricted stock forfeiture		—			(15	)
Stock-based compensation		524			683
Change in operating assets and liabilities
Investment fee income receivable		109			192
Prepaid expenses		(27	)		152
Other accounts receivable		12			(22	)
Other assets		(1	)		83
Accrued liabilities and accounts payable		(1,539	)		(1,678	)
Income taxes payable		(337	)		(625	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		1,955			3,543

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment		(113	)		(100	)
Payments related to management contracts		(413	)		—

Net cash used in investing activities		(526	)		(100	)

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of notes, net of underwriting discount		—			39,042
Payment of issuance costs on notes		—			(435	)
Repurchase of vested employee restricted stock for tax withholding		—			(37	)
Proceeds from shares issued pursuant to the 2021 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Repurchase Plan		4			3
Dividend payments		(2,051	)		(2,017	)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(2,047	)		36,556

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(618	)		39,999
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period		58,487			15,836

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	57,869		$	55,835

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for income taxes	$	487		$	541
Cash paid for interest	$	981		$	878
Dividend reinvestment issued in shares	$	31		$	38

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

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HENNESSY ADVISORS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1)	Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

The accompanying condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2022, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim condensed financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, 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 statement of the Company’s financial position at March 31, 2023, the Company’s operating results for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and the Company’s cash flows for the six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. 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 2022, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on

Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.

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 16

open-end

mutual funds and one

exchange-traded

fund (“ETF”) 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 Energy Transition Fund, the Hennessy Midstream Fund, the Hennessy Gas Utility Fund, the Hennessy Japan Fund, the Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund, the Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund, the Hennessy Small Cap Financial Fund, and the Hennessy Technology Fund (collectively, the “Hennessy Mutual Funds”), as well as to the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF (previously named the Hennessy Stance ESG Large Cap ETF). The Company also provides shareholder services to investors in the Hennessy Mutual Funds.

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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;

•

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

•

monitoring the liquidity of the fund;

•

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

•

maintaining a compliance program (including a code of ethics), conducting ongoing reviews of the compliance programs of the fund’s service providers (including any

sub-advisor),

including their codes of ethics, as appropriate, conducting onsite visits to the fund’s service providers (including any

sub-advisor)

as feasible, monitoring incidents of abusive trading practices, reviewing fund expense accruals, payments, and fixed expense ratios, evaluating insurance providers for fidelity bond, directors and officers and errors and omissions insurance, and cybersecurity insurance coverage, managing regulatory examination compliance and responses, conducting employee compliance training, reviewing reports provided by service providers, and maintaining books and records;

•

if applicable, overseeing the selection and continued employment of the fund’s

sub-advisor,

reviewing the fund’s investment performance, and monitoring the

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;

•

preparing or directing the preparation of all regulatory filings for the fund, including writing and annually updating the fund’s prospectus and related documents;

•

for each annual report of the fund, preparing or reviewing a written summary of the fund’s performance during the most recent

12-month

period;

•

monitoring and overseeing the accessibility of the fund on

third-party

platforms;

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•

paying the incentive compensation of the fund’s compliance officer 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 the Board of Trustees of Hennessy Funds Trust (the “Funds’ Board of Trustees”); and

•

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

The Company earn

s shareholder service fees from Investor Class shares of the Hennessy Mutual Funds by, among other things, maintaining a

toll-free

number that the current investors in the Hennessy Funds may call to ask questions about their accounts or the funds 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. Bank Global Fund Services and are subsequently reviewed by management. The fees are computed and billed monthly, at which time they are recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

The Company waives a portion of its fees with respect to the Hennessy Midstream Fund, the Hennessy Technology Fund, and the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF to comply with contractual expense ratio limitations. The fee waivers are calculated daily by the Hennessy Funds’ accountants at U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, reviewed by management, and then charged to expense monthly as offsets to the Company’s revenues. Each waived fee is then deducted from investment advisory fee income and reduces the aggregate amount of advisory fees the Company receives from such fund 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. Any decision to waive fees would apply only on a

going-forward

basis.

The Company’s contractual agreements for investment advisory and shareholder services prove that a contract exists with fixed and determinable fees, and the services are rendered daily. The collectability is deemed probable because 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 11 purchases of the assets related to the management of 31 investment funds, some of which were reorganized into already existing Hennessy Funds. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance, the Company periodically reviews the carrying value of its management contracts asset to determine if any impairment has occurred. The fair value of the management contracts asset was estimated as of September 30, 2022, by applying the income approach and is based on management estimates and assumptions, including third-party valuations that utilize appropriate valuation techniques. It was determined there was

no impairment as of such date. As of March 31, 2023, management performed a qualitative analysis and determined it was more likely than not that there continued to be no impairment.

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Under Accounting Standards Codification 350 — 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 useful life of the management contracts each reporting period to determine if they continue to have an indefinite useful life.

The Company completed its most recent asset purchase on December 22, 2022, when it purchased certain assets related to the management of the Stance Equity ESG Large Cap Core ETF (the “Stance ETF”). This asset purchase added approximately $

million to the Company’s assets under management at the time of closing. The purchase was consummated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Transaction Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2022, among the Company, Stance Capital, LLC, and Red Gate Advisers, LLC, among others. Upon completion of the transaction, the assets related to the management of the Stance ETF were reorganized into a newly formed series of Hennessy Funds Trust named the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF. In connection with the transaction, Stance Capital, LLC and Vident Investment Advisory, LLC became

sub-advisors

to the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF.

(3)	Investment Advisory Agreements

The Company has investment advisory agreements with Hennessy Funds Trust under which it provides investment advisory services to all classes of the 16

Hennessy Mutual Funds and the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF.

The investment advisory agreements must be renewed annually (except in limited circumstances) by (a) the Funds’ Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable Hennessy Fund and (b) the vote of a majority of the trustees of Hennessy Funds Trust who are not interested persons of the Hennessy Funds. If an investment advisory agreement is not renewed, it terminates automatically. There are two additional circumstances in which an investment advisory agreement terminates. First, an investment advisory agreement automatically terminates if the Company assigns 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, an investment advisory agreement may be terminated prior to its expiration upon 60 days’ written notice by either the applicable Hennessy Fund or the Company.

As provided in each investment advisory agreement, the Company receives investment advisory fees monthly based on a percentage of the applicable fund’s average daily net asset value.

The Company has entered into

sub-advisory

agreements for the Hennessy Focus Fund, the Hennessy Equity and Income Fund, the Hennessy Japan Fund, the Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund, and the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF. Under each of these

sub-advisory

agreements, the

sub-advisor

is responsible for the investment and reinvestments 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 investment advisory agreements.

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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)	Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies Accounting Standards Codification 820 — Fair Value Measurement 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); and

•

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.

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Based on the definitions, the following tables represent the Company’s assets categorized in the Level 1 to Level 3 hierarchies:


	March 31, 2023
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total

	(In thousands)
Money market fund deposits	$	57,462	$	—	$	—	$	57,462
Mutual fund investments		10		—		—		10

Total	$	57,472	$	—	$	—	$	57,472

Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	57,462	$	—	$	—	$	57,462
Investments in marketable securities		10		—		—		10

Total	$	57,472	$	—	$	—	$	57,472


	September 30, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total

	(In thousands)
Money market fund deposits	$	54,225	$	—	$	—	$	54,225
Mutual fund investments		9		—		—		9

Total	$	54,234	$	—	$	—	$	54,234

Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,225	$	—	$	—	$	54,225
Investments in marketable securities		9		—		—		9

Total	$	54,234	$	—	$	—	$	54,234

There were

transfers between levels during the three months ended March 31, 2023, or the year ended September 30, 2022.

The fair values of receivables, payables, and accrued liabilities approximate their book values given the short-term nature of those instruments.

The fair value of the 2026 Notes (see Note 7) was approximately $37.29 million as of March 31, 2023, based on the last trading price of the notes on that date (Level 1).

(5)

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is an operating lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease

right-of-use

assets and current and

long-term

operating lease liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet. During the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the Company renewed the lease for its office in Novato, California for an additional three years, which created a

long-term

operating lease as of such date. Upon renewal of the lease, the Company recorded a

right-of-use

asset of $1.1 million on its balance sheet. The renewed lease expires on July 31, 2024. There were no other

long-term

operating leases as of March 31, 2023, and September 30, 2022.

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Right-of-use

assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease

right-of-use

assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present value of lease payments, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise any such options. For its leases, the Company concluded that it is not reasonably certain that any renewal options would be exercised, and, therefore, the amounts are not recognized as part of operating lease

right-of-use

assets or operating lease liabilities. Leases with initial terms of 12 months or less, and certain office equipment leases that are deemed insignificant, are not recorded on the balance sheet and are expensed as incurred and included within rent expense under general and administrative expense. Lease expense related to operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease terms.

The Company’s most significant leases are real estate leases of office facilities. The Company leases office space under

non-cancelable

operating leases. Its principal executive office is located in Novato, California, and it has additional offices in Austin, Texas, Dallas, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Only the office lease in Novato, California has been capitalized because the other operating leases have terms of 12 months or less, including leases that are

month-to-month

in nature. The classification of the Company’s operating lease

right-of-use

assets and operating lease liabilities and other supplemental information related to the Company’s operating leases are as follows:


	March 31, 2023
	(In thousands, except years and percentages)
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	472
Current operating lease liability	$	371
Long-term operating lease liability	$	93
Weighted average remaining lease term		1.3
Weighted average discount rate		0.90	%

For the six months ended March 31, 2023, rent expense for all offices, which is recorded under general and administrative expense in the statements of income, totaled $0.3 million.

The undiscounted cash flows for future maturities of the Company’s operating lease liabilities and the reconciliation to the balance of operating lease liabilities reflected on the Company’s balance sheet are as follows:


	March 31, 2023
	(In thousands)
Remainder of fiscal year 2023	$	188
Fiscal year 2024		286

Total undiscounted cash flows		474

Present value discount		(10	)

Total operating lease liabilities		464

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(6)	Accrued Liabilities and Accounts Payable

Details relating to accrued liabilities and accounts payable reflected on the Company’s balance sheet are as follows:


	March 31, 2023		September 30, 2022

	(In thousands)
Accrued bonus liabilities	$	944	$	2,207
Accrued sub-advisor fees		299		336
Other accrued expenses		538		777

Total accrued liabilities and accounts payable	$	1,781	$	3,320

(7)	Debt Outstanding

On October 20, 2021, the Company completed a public offering of 4.875% notes due 2026 in the aggregate principal amount of $40,250,000 (the “2026 Notes”), which included the full exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option. The initial net proceeds received were approximately $38,607,000 after considering the impact of issuance costs and underwriter discounts. The 2026 Notes bear interest at 4.875% per annum, payable on the last day of each calendar quarter and at maturity, beginning December 31, 2021. The 2026 Notes mature on December 31, 2026.

The 2026 Notes are direct unsecured obligations, rank equally in right of payment with any of the Company’s future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness, senior to any of the Company’s future indebtedness that expressly provides that it is subordinate to the 2026 Notes, effectively subordinate to all of the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of any of the Company’s future subsidiaries.

(8)	Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rates for the six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, were 25.8% and 21.3%, respectively. For the six months ended March 31, 2022, the effective income tax rate was lower than the federal statutory rate due to the recognition of a tax benefit related to a California tax refund of $0.2 million.

The Company is subject to income tax in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. As of March 31, 2023, the Company has identified 22 state tax jurisdictions in which it is subject to income tax.

(9)	Commitments and Contingencies

In addition to the operating leases discussed in Note 5, the Company has contractual expense ratio limitations in place with respect to the Hennessy Midstream Fund, the Hennessy Technology Fund, and the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF. The contractual expense ratio limitations with respect to the Hennessy Midstream Fund and the Hennessy Technology Fund expire February 28, 2024. The contractual expense ratio limitation with respect to the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF expires December 31, 2024. Total fees waived during the six months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022, were $

0.08 million and $0.05 million, respectively. To date, the Company has only waived fees based on contractual obligations but has the ability to waive fees at its discretion. Any decision to waive fees would apply only on a going forward basis.

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The Company has no other commitments and no significant contingencies with original terms in excess of one year.

(10)

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 restricted stock units (“RSUs”), each of which represents 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.

A summary of RSU activity is as follows:


	Six Months Ended March 31, 2023
	Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Non-vested balance at beginning of period		315,561		$	8.15
Granted		—			—
Vested (1)		(63,506	)		(8.26	)
Forfeited		—			—

Non-vested balance at end of period		252,055		$	8.12

(1)	Represents partially vested RSUs for which the Company already has recognized the associated compensation expense but has not yet issued to employees the related shares of common stock.

Additional information related to RSUs is as follows:


	March 31, 2023
	(In thousands, except years)
Total expected compensation expense related to RSUs	$	18,143
Recognized compensation expense related to RSUs		(16,095	)

Unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs	$	2,048

Weighted average remaining years to expense for RSUs		2.6

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Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

In January 2021, the Company adopted a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “DRSPP”), replacing the previous Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan that had been in place since 2018. The DRSPP provides 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, the Company issued

4,088 and 3,938 shares of common stock during the six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the DRSPP is 1,470,000, of which 1,448,757 shares remained available for issuance as of

March 31, 2023.

Stock Buyback Program

In August 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a stock buyback program pursuant to which the Company was authorized to repurchase up to 1,500,000 shares of its common stock in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. The program has no expiration date. In August 2022, the Board of Directors increased the number of shares that may be repurchased under the program to 2,000,000 shares. As a result, a total of 1,096,368 shares remains available for repurchase under the stock buyback program. The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock pursuant to the stock buyback program during the six months ended March 31, 2023.

(11)	Earnings per Share and Dividends per Share

Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing net earnings by the w

eight

ed 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 RSUs.

For the six months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company excluded 98,991 and 357 common stock equivalents, respectively, from the diluted earnings per share calculations because they were not dilutive. In each case, the excluded common stock equivalents consisted of

non-vested

RSUs.

The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1375 per share on March 6, 2023, to shareholders of record as of February 21, 2023.

(12)	Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards

The Company has reviewed accounting pronouncements issued between the filing date of its most recent Form

10-K,

which was December 7, 2022, and the filing date of this Form

10-Q

and h

determined that no accounting pronouncements issued would have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or disclosures.

(13)	Subsequent Events

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

On April 26, 2023, the Company announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Community Capital Management, LLC (“CCM”) related to the management of the CCM Core Impact Equity Fund and the CCM

Small/Mid-Cap

Impact Value Fund (the “CCM Equity Funds”). The Company filed a Current Report on Form

8-K

regarding this transaction on April 26, 2023.

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The definitive agreement includes customary representations, warranties, and covenants of the parties to the agreement. It provides for payment by the Company to be made upon closing equal to 1.25% of the aggregate current net asset value of the CCM Equity Funds measured as of the close of business two trading days prior to the closing date of the transaction. The Company expects to complete the transaction during calendar 2023.

Upon completion of the transaction, the CCM Equity Funds will be reorganized into the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF. The Company is the investment advisor of the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF and Stance Capital, LLC and Vident Investment Advisory, LLC are investment

sub-advisors

to the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF.

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

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 which, or means by which, such performance or results will be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. 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 investors in the Hennessy Funds, taxes, general economic and business conditions, interest rate movements, inflation, the personal savings rate, 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. 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 (a) the identification, completion, and integration of future acquisitions and (b) organic growth, through both the retention of the fund assets we currently manage and the generation of inflows into the funds we manage. The success of our business strategy may be influenced by the factors discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. 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 business activity is providing investment advisory services to a family of 16 open-end mutual funds and one ETF branded as the Hennessy Funds. We manage 12 of the 17 Hennessy Funds internally. For the remaining five funds, we have delegated the day-to-day portfolio management responsibilities to sub-advisors, subject to our oversight. We oversee the selection and continued employment of each sub-advisor, review each fund’s investment performance, and monitor each sub-advisor’s adherence to each applicable fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. In addition, we conduct ongoing reviews of the compliance programs of sub-advisors and make onsite visits to sub-advisors, as feasible. Our secondary business activity is providing shareholder services to investors in the Hennessy Mutual Funds.

We derive our operating revenues from investment advisory fees paid to us by the Hennessy Funds and shareholder service fees paid to us by the Hennessy Mutual Funds. These fees are calculated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Hennessy Fund. The percentage amount of the investment advisory fees varies by fund. The percentage amount of the shareholder service fees is consistent across all of the Hennessy Mutual Funds, but shareholder service fees are charged on Investor Class shares only. The dollar amount of the fees we receive fluctuates with changes in the average net asset value of each Hennessy Fund, 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.

On a total return basis, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 17.09% for the six months ended March 31, 2023. During the most recent quarter, equity prices advanced as investors started to see signs that inflation may be slowing and that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates in the coming months. While the Federal Reserve indicates that it remains vigilant in fighting inflation, investors have turned their attention to slowing economic growth forecasts, as well as the more recent failure of two mid-sized banks. While it appears, at least for the moment, that these bank failures may be isolated in nature, investors have started to look at the broader banking system with more skepticism. Notwithstanding an unemployment rate of 3.5%, the U.S. economy is only forecasted to grow 1.0% in 2023, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Higher interest rate levels combined with the possibility of tighter credit conditions has heightened concerns that an already slowing economy could go into recession at some point in the next year.

Long-term U.S. bond yields decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2023, as weak economic growth prospects coupled with recent bank failures have put investors on notice that interest rate cuts could be a reality at some point in 2023. According to estimates compiled by Bloomberg, the consumer price index, a key measure of inflation, is expected to rise 4.3% on an annualized basis in 2023. While this rate is well below the 8.0% rise in 2022, it is still above the Federal Reserve’s target rate. Despite steady job growth and low unemployment, inflation is expected to moderate, though, in the years ahead. Some investors now expect an interest rate cut as soon as this July.

The Japanese equity market was up 20.39% in U.S. dollar terms over the six months ended March 31, 2023, as measured by the Tokyo Stock Price Index. During the period, Japanese equities traded higher following the surprise announcement that Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda would leave interest rate policy unchanged earlier this year. Investor attention will now be focused on the new governor, Kazuo Ueda, who replaced Kuroda in early April 2023.

In the six months ended March 31, 2023, 15 out of 17 Hennessy Funds generated positive returns. Over the longer term, all Hennessy Funds with at least 10 years of operating history posted positive returns in each of the five-year and ten-year periods ended March 31, 2023. In the three-year period ended March 31, 2023, 14 of the Hennessy Funds posted positive annualized returns, with the exception of the Hennessy Japan Fund, the Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund, and the Hennessy Large Cap Financial Fund.

As always, we are committed to providing superior service to investors and employing a consistent and disciplined approach to investing based on a buy-and-hold philosophy that rejects the idea of market timing. Our goal is to provide products that investors can have confidence in, knowing their money is invested as promised and with their best interests in mind. Accordingly, we continually seek new and improved ways to support investors in the Hennessy Funds, including by providing market insights, sector highlights, and other resources to help them manage their fund investments with confidence. We operate a robust and leading-edge marketing automation and customer relationship management (CRM) system, with a database of over 100,000 financial advisors, in addition to retail investors. We utilize this technology both to help retain assets and drive new purchases into the Hennessy Funds. We employ a comprehensive marketing and sales program consisting of content, digital, social media, and traditional marketing initiatives and proactive meetings. In addition, our consistent annual public relations campaign has resulted in the Hennessy brand name appearing on TV, radio, print, or online media on average once every two to three days.

We provide service to over 137,000 fund accounts nationwide, including accounts held by investors who employ financial advisors to assist them with investing as well as accounts held by retail investors who invest directly with us. We serve approximately 11,600 financial advisors who utilize the Hennessy Funds on behalf of their clients, including approximately 130 who purchased one of our Funds for the first time during the most recent quarter. Approximately 17% of such advisors own two or more Hennessy Funds, and over 350 advisors hold a position of over $500,000. While numbers have declined in recent years, we continue to focus significant efforts on financial advisors who own two or more Hennessy Funds or hold a position of over $500,000 in an effort to build and maintain brand loyalty among our top tier of advisors.

Total assets under management as of March 31, 2023, was $2.8 billion, a decrease of $1.0 billion, or 25.2%, compared to March 31, 2022. The decrease in total assets was attributable to net outflows of the Hennessy Funds and market depreciation.

The following table illustrates the quarter-by-quarter changes in our assets under management since March 31, 2022:


	Fiscal Quarter Ended

	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
	2023			2022			2022			2022			2022

	(In thousands)
Beginning assets under management	$	3,009,458		$	2,895,717		$	3,155,566		$	3,804,028		$	4,072,849
Acquisition inflows		—			43,088			—			—			—
Organic inflows		85,950			130,721			115,526			183,662			209,842
Redemptions		(276,391	)		(314,704	)		(209,600	)		(351,556	)		(346,572	)
Market appreciation (depreciation)		24,946			254,636			(165,775	)		(480,568	)		(132,091	)

Ending assets under management	$	2,843,963		$	3,009,458		$	2,895,717		$	3,155,566		$	3,804,028

As stated above, the fees we receive for providing investment advisory and shareholder services are based on average assets under management. The following table shows average assets under management for each quarter since March 31, 2022:


	Fiscal Quarter Ended
	March 31, 2023		December 31, 2022		September 30, 2022		June 30, 2022		March 31, 2022
					(In thousands)
Hennessy Mutual Funds
Investor Class	$	1,949,124	$	1,949,185	$	2,026,122	$	2,141,224	$	2,265,309
Institutional Class		993,086		1,090,937		1,185,369		1,297,907		1,564,037
Hennessy Stance ESG ETF		43,692		4,125		—		—		—

Average assets under management	$	2,985,902	$	3,044,247	$	3,211,491	$	3,439,131	$	3,829,346

The principal asset on our balance sheet, management contracts, represents the capitalized costs incurred in connection with the purchase of the assets related to the management of investment funds. As of March 31, 2023, this asset had a net balance of $81.1 million, compared to $80.9 million as of September 30, 2022. The increase was due to the purchase of assets related to the management of the Stance ETF.

On October 20, 2021, we completed a public offering of the 2026 Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $40.25 million, which included the full exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option. The 2026 Notes mature on December 31, 2026, and may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at our option on or after December 31, 2023. The 2026 Notes bear interest at 4.875% per annum, payable on the last day of each calendar quarter and at maturity, beginning December 31, 2021. The 2026 Notes are direct unsecured obligations, rank equally in right of payment with any of our future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness, senior to any of our future indebtedness that expressly provides that it is subordinate to the 2026 Notes, effectively subordinate to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of any future subsidiaries of ours.

The 2026 Notes are the principal liability on our balance sheet at $39.0 million, net of issuance costs.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth items in the statements of income as dollar amounts and as percentages of total revenue:


	Three Months Ended March 31,

	2023						2022

	Amount			Percent of Total Revenue			Amount			Percent of Total Revenue

	(In thousands, except percentages)
Revenue
Investment advisory fees	$	5,435			91.9	%	$	7,186			92.8	%
Shareholder service fees		481			8.1			559			7.2

Total revenue		5,916			100.0			7,745			100.0

Operating expenses
Compensation and benefits		1,930			32.6			2,111			27.3
General and administrative		1,276			21.6			1,163			15.0
Fund distribution and other		132			2.2			178			2.3
Sub-advisory fees		930			15.7			1,570			20.3
Depreciation		56			1.0			50			0.6

Total operating expenses		4,324			73.1			5,072			65.5

Net operating income		1,592			26.9			2,673			34.5
Interest expense		562			9.5			490			6.3
Interest income		(580	)		(9.8	)		(1	)		(0.0	)

Income before income tax expense		1,610			27.2			2,184			28.2
Income tax expense		415			7.0			582			7.5

Net income	$	1,195			20.2	%	$	1,602			20.7	%


	Six Months Ended March 31,

	2023						2022

	Amount			Percent of Total Revenue			Amount			Percent of Total Revenue

	(In thousands, except percentages)
Revenue
Investment advisory fees	$	11,089			91.9	%	$	15,124			92.9	%
Shareholder service fees		972			8.1			1,155			7.1

Total revenue		12,061			100.0			16,279			100.0

Operating expenses
Compensation and benefits		3,788			31.4			4,373			26.9
General and administrative		2,845			23.6			2,563			15.7
Fund distribution and other		227			1.9			333			2.0
Sub-advisory fees		1,899			15.7			3,447			21.2
Depreciation		105			0.9			103			0.7

Total operating expenses		8,864			73.5			10,819			66.5

Net operating income		3,197			26.5			5,460			33.5
Interest expense		1,125			9.3			998			6.1
Interest income		(1,047	)		(8.7	)		(3	)		(0.0	)

Income before income tax expense		3,119			25.9			4,465			27.4
Income tax expense		805			6.7			950			5.8

Net income	$	2,314			19.2	%	$	3,515			21.6	%

Revenue – Investment Advisory Fees and Shareholder Service Fees

Total revenue comprises investment advisory fees and shareholder service fees. Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, total revenue decreased by 23.6%, from $7.7 million to $5.9 million, investment advisory fees decreased by 24.4%, from $7.2 million to $5.4 million, and shareholder service fees decreased by 14.0%, from $0.56 million to $0.48 million. Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, total revenue decreased by 25.9%, from $16.3 million to $12.1 million, investment advisory fees decreased by 26.7%, from $15.1 million to $11.1 million, and shareholder service fees decreased by 15.8%, from $1.2 million to $1.0 million.

In both periods, the decrease in investment advisory fees was due mainly to decreased average daily net assets of the Hennessy Funds, and the decrease in shareholder service fees was due to a decrease in the average daily net assets held in Investor Class shares of the Hennessy Mutual Funds. Assets held in Investor Class shares of the Hennessy Mutual Funds are subject to a shareholder service fee, whereas assets held in Institutional Class shares of the Hennessy Mutual Funds are not subject to a shareholder service fee. In each case, the decrease in average daily net assets was attributable primarily to net outflows.

We collect investment advisory fees from each of the Hennessy Funds at differing annual rates. These annual rates range between 0.40% and 1.25% of average daily net assets. Average daily net assets of the Hennessy Funds for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $3.0 billion, which represents a decrease of $0.8 billion, or 22.0%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022, and average daily net assets for the six months ended March 31, 2023, was $3.0 billion, which represents a decrease of $1.0 billion, or 24.0%, compared to the six months ended March 31, 2022. The Hennessy Fund with the largest average daily net assets for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was the Hennessy Focus Fund, with $0.7 billion in each period. We collect an investment advisory fee from the Hennessy Focus Fund at an annual rate of 0.90% of average daily net assets. However, we pay 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 our financial operations. The Hennessy Fund with the second largest average daily assets for the three and six months ended March 31, 2023, was the Hennessy Gas Utility Fund, with $0.5 billion in each period. We collect an investment advisory fee from the Hennessy Gas Utility Fund at an annual rate of 0.40% of average daily net assets.

The Hennessy Funds with the three largest amounts of net inflows were as follows:


Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Fund Name	Amount
Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund	$	10 million
Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund	$	5 million
Hennessy Midstream Fund	$	2 million


Six Months Ended March 31, 2023
Fund Name	Amount
Hennessy Japan Small Cap Fund	$	14 million
Hennessy Cornerstone Mid Cap 30 Fund	$	4 million
Hennessy Midstream Fund	$	1 million

The Hennessy Funds with the three largest amounts of net outflows were as follows:


Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Fund Name	Amount
Hennessy Japan Fund	$	(119) million
Hennessy Gas Utility Fund	$	(27) million
Hennessy Focus Fund	$	(24) million


Six Months Ended March 31, 2023
Fund Name	Amount
Hennessy Japan Fund	$	(140) million
Hennessy Focus Fund	$	(133) million
Hennessy Gas Utility Fund	$	(63) million

Redemptions as a percentage of assets under management were an average of 3.0% per month during both the three months ended March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023. Redemptions as a percentage of assets under management increased from an average of 2.5% per month during the six months ended March 31, 2022, to an average of 3.2% per month during the six months ended March 31, 2023.

Operating Expenses

Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, total operating expenses decreased by 14.7%, from $5.1 million to $4.3 million. As a percentage of total revenue, total operating expenses increased 7.6 percentage points to 73.1%.

Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, total operating expenses decreased by 18.1%, from $10.8 million to $8.9 million. As a percentage of total revenue, total operating expenses increased 7.0 percentage points to 73.5%.

In both periods, the dollar value decrease in operating expenses was due to decreases in all expense categories other than general and administrative expense and depreciation expense, which moderately increased.

Compensation and Benefits Expense: Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, compensation and benefits expense decreased by 8.6%, from $2.1 million to $1.9 million. As a percentage of total revenue, compensation and benefits expense increased 5.3 percentage points to 32.6%.

Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, compensation and benefits expense decreased by 13.4%, from $4.4 million to $3.8 million. As a percentage of total revenue, compensation and benefits expense increased 4.5 percentage points to 31.4%.

In both periods, the dollar value decrease in compensation and benefits expense was due to a decrease in incentive-based compensation.

General and Administrative Expense: Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, general and administrative expense increased by 9.7%, from $1.2 million to $1.3 million. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense increased 6.6 percentage points to 21.6%.

Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, general and administrative expense increased by 11.0%, from $2.6 million to $2.8 million. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense increased 7.9 percentage points to 23.6%.

In both periods, the increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to increased professional services expense.

Fund Distribution and Other Expense: Fund distribution and other expense consists primarily of third-party fees incurred by us for distribution of the Hennessy Funds and also for the operations of the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF. Fund distribution and other expense does not include sub-advisory fees, which are shown separately.

The distribution component of fund distribution and other 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 as a fund distribution expense to the extent paid by us. The Hennessy Mutual Funds, but not the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF, may be purchased directly and when 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. In addition, some financial institutions charge a minimum fee if the average daily net assets of a Hennessy Fund held by such an institution are less than a threshold amount. In such cases, we pay the minimum fee.

The distribution component of fund distribution and other expenses is affected by many factors, including the following:

•

average daily net assets held by financial institutions;

•

the split of average daily net assets held by financial institutions in Institutional Class shares of the Hennessy Mutual Funds versus Investor Class shares of the Hennessy Mutual Funds; and

•

fee minimums at various financial institutions.

The other component of fund distribution and other expense consists of fees incurred by us for the operations of the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF. We receive a unitary investment advisory fee from the Hennessy Stance ESG ETF and then pay all of its operating expenses (with limited exceptions), including fund administration, fund accounting, transfer agency, custody, licensing, audit, and tax services.

Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, fund distribution and other expense decreased by 25.8%, from $0.18 million to $0.13 million. As a percentage of total revenue, fund distribution and other expense decreased 0.1 percentage points to 2.2%.

Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, fund distribution and other expense decreased by 31.8%, from $0.33 million to $0.23 million. As a percentage of total revenue, fund distribution and other expense decreased 0.1 percentage points to 1.9%.

In both periods, the decrease in fund distribution and other expense was primarily due to decreased average daily net assets of the Hennessy Funds.

Sub-Advisory Fees Expense: Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, sub-advisory fees expense decreased by 40.8%, from $1.6 million to $0.9 million. As a percentage of total revenue, sub-advisory expense decreased 4.6 percentage points to 15.7%.

Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, sub-advisory fees expense decreased by 44.9%, from $3.4 million to $1.9 million. As a percentage of total revenue, sub-advisory expense decreased 5.5 percentage points to 15.7%.

In both periods, the decrease in sub-advisory expense was due to decreased average daily net assets of the sub-advised Hennessy Funds, with an additional decrease as a result of us no longer paying sub-advisory fees with respect to the Hennessy Energy Transition Fund and the Hennessy Midstream Fund after January 31, 2022.

Depreciation Expense: Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, depreciation expense increased by 12.0%, from $0.05 million to $0.06 million. As a percentage of total revenue, depreciation expense increased 0.4 percentage points to 1.0%.

Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, depreciation expense increased by 1.9%, from $0.10 million to $0.11 million. As a percentage of total revenue, depreciation expense decreased 0.2 percentage points to 0.9%.

In both periods, the dollar value increase in depreciation expense resulted from new fixed asset purchases, partially offset by the write-off of fully depreciated assets.

Interest Expense

Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, interest expense increased from $0.5 million to $0.6 million. The increase in interest expense was due to the manner in which interest expense is calculated under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The issuance costs related to the 2026 Notes that have been capitalized are amortized over time and therefore increase the carrying amount of the 2026 Notes. As the carrying amount of the 2026 Notes increases, the interest expense on the 2026 Notes for financial statement purposes also increases.

Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, interest expense increased from $1.0 million to $1.1 million. The increase in interest expense was due to a full period of 2026 Notes interest expense in the current period. The 2026 Notes were issued on October 20, 2021, and therefore incurred a partial period of interest expense in the prior comparable period.

Interest Income

Interest income consists of interest earned on cash and cash equivalents. Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, interest income increased from $0.001 million to $0.6 million. Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, interest income increased from $0.003 million to $1.0 million. In both periods, the increase in interest income was due to rising interest rates.

Income Tax Expense

Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, income tax expense decreased by 28.7%, from $0.6 million to $0.4 million. Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2023, income tax expense decreased by 15.3%, from $1.0 million to $0.8 million.

In both periods, the decrease in income tax expense was due primarily to lower net operating income in the current period, partly offset by a lower effective income tax rate in the prior period as previously discussed in the notes to the financial statements.

Net Income

Comparing the three months ended March 31, 2022, to the three months ended March 31, 2023, net income decreased by 25.4%, from $1.6 million to $1.2 million. Comparing the six months ended March 31, 2022, to the six months ended March 31, 2022, net income decreased by 34.2%, from $3.5 million to $2.3 million.

In both periods, the decrease in net income was primarily due to decreased assets under management, which resulted in lower revenues and net operating income.

Critical Accounting Estimates

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 future events affecting them may differ markedly from management’s current judgment. For a discussion of the accounting policies and estimates that we believe are most critical to understanding our results of operations and financial position, see the section titled “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, 2022.

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 March 31, 2023, will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements for one year from the issuance date of this report, as well as our longer-term capital requirements for periods beyond 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 bank financing or accessing the capital markets. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional capital.

On October 20, 2021, we completed a public offering of our 2026 Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $40.25 million, which included the full exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option. The 2026 Notes mature on December 31, 2026, and may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at our option on or after December 31, 2023. The 2026 Notes bear interest at 4.875% per annum, payable on the last day of each calendar quarter and at maturity, beginning December 31, 2021. The 2026 Notes are direct unsecured obligations, rank equally in right of payment with any of our future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness, senior to any of our future indebtedness that expressly provides that it is subordinate to the 2026 Notes, effectively subordinate to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of any future subsidiaries of ours.

Our total assets under management as of March 31, 2023, was $2.8 billion, a decrease of $1.0 billion, or 25.2%, compared to March 31, 2022. 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. Our average assets under management for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $3.0 billion, a decrease of $0.8 billion, or 22.0%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $57.9 million.

The following table summarizes key financial data relating to our liquidity and use of cash:


	For the Six Months Ended March 31,

	2023			2022

	(In thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	1,955		$	3,543
Net cash used in investing activities		(526	)		(100	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(2,047	)		36,556

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	$	(618	)	$	39,999

The decrease in cash provided by operating activities of $1.6 million was mainly due to decreased net income in the current period.

The increase in cash used in investing activities of $0.4 million was due to the purchase of assets related to the management of the Stance ETF in the current period.

The decrease in cash from financing activities of $38.6 million was due to the issuance of the 2026 Notes in the prior comparable period.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023, and that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.

Exhibits

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


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

31.2		Rule 13a-14a Certification of the Principal Financial Officer.

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

32.2		Written Statement of the Principal 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 March 31, 2023, filed on May 10, 2023, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Condensed Balance Sheets; (ii) the Condensed Statements of Income; (iii) the Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity; (iv) the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.

104		The cover page for the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q has been formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.

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: