DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC. ARS
DIAMOND
HILL INVESTMENTS
ANNUAL
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS
March 16, 2007
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
In the long run, delivering excellent investment results for our
clients will help to generate growth for our business and
attract new clients and additional investments for us to manage.
During 2006, we continued to experience strong growth in assets
under management (AUM), reaching $3.7 billion by year end.
With an average AUM of $2.7 billion for the year, resulting
in $32 million in revenue, our operating profit margin was
31% versus 14% in 2005. We believe that building an outstanding
investment management firm is an ongoing effort that requires at
least 10 years to evaluate. At the end of our sixth year,
we are as energized and as dedicated to our investment
philosophy as we were at Diamond Hills inception in May
2000.
Our overall growth in AUM has been led by our long-short
strategies, with the Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund becoming our
largest mutual fund. We also experienced strong growth in AUM
for our private investment funds. Because these funds provide
for an incentive fee for Diamond Hill as the general partner,
economics for this strategy are particularly attractive when our
investment results are good.
Our primary corporate objective is to meet our fiduciary duty
to clients. We measure our success by satisfying
this criterion and are pleased that we continue to achieve this
objective. Also, consistent with our duty to clients, we
continue to reduce administration expenses for our mutual fund
shareholders as the funds have grown and economies of scale are
realized.
From a client return perspective, while each of our investment
strategys absolute return was good in 2006, it was the
first time that not all exceeded their respective benchmarks for
the calendar year. Our focus continues to be five-year returns,
with the goal defined by rolling five-year periods in which:
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Client returns are sufficiently above relevant passive
benchmarks,
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Client returns rank in the top quartile of similar
strategies, and
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Absolute returns are sufficient for the risk associated with the
asset class.
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For our clients, our value proposition is:
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We are experienced investors,
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We employ a proven, intrinsic value discipline for our various
strategies, and
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We have aligned our interests with our clients through our
personal investments in our own mutual funds and private
investment partnership.
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The last point is especially important. Like most of my
colleagues, I have all of my invested net worth (excluding
residential real estate) in either Diamond Hill stock or Diamond
Hill funds. This helps keep us focused on our clients and
shareholders.
Last year we achieved the oft-stated goal of AUM sufficient for
scale, defined by an operating profit margin of 30%, which is
the norm for all investment managers. Our current strategies
have limited capacity, which we estimate at $10 to
$15 billion. To reach that level of AUM, we must continue
to provide excellent investment returns for our clients. At
capacity, our operating profit margin could approximate 40%,
which is the norm for the largest publicly owned investment
management firms and reflects, we believe, a fair split of the
economics of the business between owners and employees.
Human capital is the most important resource in the investment
management business. A balancing of the economics between owners
and employees is always important, especially in an industry
that is not capital-intensive and heavily dependent on talented
individuals. Attracting and retaining people can be more
difficult in our industry, given the high percentage of a
firms value proposition that is attributable to key people.
The balancing effort is particularly challenging for Diamond
Hill. Essentially a
start-up in
May 2000, we had the unusual legacy of being a publicly owned
company, in contrast to the norm of partnership-like structures
for firms of a similar size. Diamond Hill has been able to
attract and retain quality people because of:
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Our investment-centric culture,
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Ownership in the business,
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Our central Ohio location, and
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Compensation now competitive on a national basis.
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The last point is directly related to firm profitability levels,
which in essence represent the balancing of the economics of the
business between owners and employees. Industry norms are
helpful benchmarks for evaluating the balancing effort.
Additionally, it makes sense to enact a thoughtful alignment of
incentives that may pertain more to our firm than others because
of our ownership structure. On a fully diluted basis, employees
and directors own approximately 31% of the firm. In contrast,
many of our competitor firms are owned entirely by their
employees.
Our second corporate objective is to fulfill our fiduciary
duty to shareholders by growing the per share intrinsic value of
the business at an appropriate risk-adjusted
rate. Since May 2000, I estimate that intrinsic
value per share compounded at a 30 to 50% annualized rate (of
course, dependent on the starting and ending estimates used in
such a calculation). Considering the cumulative accomplishments,
a reasonable goal for the next five-year period is in the
neighborhood of 12 to 18% annually. It should be emphasized that
intrinsic value and stock market price rarely move in lock-step.
We are focused on increasing the long-term intrinsic value of
the company; however, we have no direct influence over
short-term stock price levels and movements.
For investors in any business, it is always important to avoid
paying a price higher than estimated intrinsic value, because
doing so can result in an insufficient risk-adjusted return. In
the short term, stock prices change largely based on investor
psychology. Longer term, economics determine an investors
return, specifically:
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The investors purchase price per share,
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The growth in the intrinsic value per share,
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Dividends received during the holding period, and
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The investors selling price per share.
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We currently do not pay a dividend to shareholders, primarily
because it is necessary for Diamond Hill Capital Management, as
the general partner, to have a substantial invested position in
our private investment funds. Current and prospective investors
consider it necessary that the general partner and its employees
have committed capital alongside outside investors. We also have
substantial amounts invested in our mutual funds, which has been
important strategically and also provided excellent returns.
Our stock price recently eclipsed $100 per share, and some
have asked about a stock split. On this point, we reference
Warren Buffett, who believes stock splits are generally not a
good idea because:
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The higher the stock price, the greater the likelihood of that
price approximating intrinsic value per share,
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A company should encourage long-term shareholders so that their
return on investment approximates the return on the underlying
business, and
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There are administrative expenses associated with stock splits,
with no economic benefits.
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The frequently mentioned benefit of a stock split, increased
liquidity, may result because a split could attract less
experienced investors inclined to buy the stock simply because
its price is lower. The resulting increase in turnover, in our
view, serves no useful purpose to the company or its long-term
shareholders.
As we have grown, we have received more inquiries from people
interested in an investment in the stock of Diamond Hill, and
our CFO, Jim Laird, has fielded most of these inquiries. We
believe that we are meeting our obligation for full and fair
disclosure given that our mutual funds report results daily, we
file an AUM report monthly, file all SEC-required documents, and
attempt clear and direct communication in our annual letter to
shareholders. In addition, this year we are making our annual
shareholder meeting accessible by teleconference for
those not able to attend. Going forward, we will not be
available for individual discussions with shareholders. Instead
we suggest that investors write or
e-mail
questions to our CFO, and if appropriate we will address the
question in future disclosures so all investors can benefit from
the information.
Finally, I am confident that we would not have achieved our past
successes, nor will we be successful in the future, without the
ongoing exceptional efforts from our associates. As our firm has
grown, we have added many individuals who bring not only highly
developed skills but also the qualities that we value above all
others: integrity, intelligence and energy. Encouraging a
culture that gives every person the opportunity to enhance their
professional skills and enjoy personal satisfaction are as
important to our success as our investment philosophy.
I would like to thank my colleagues and our Board of Directors
for their efforts and support and re-affirm that all of us at
Diamond Hill Investment Group will continue our mission to build
an excellent investment management firm for clients and owners
alike.
Sincerely,
R. H. Dillon
President and Chief Executive Officer
Diamond Hill Investment Group,
Inc.
325 John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43215
April 7, 2007
Dear Shareholders:
We cordially invite you to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. (the
Company), to be held at the Arena Grand Theater
located at 175 West Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio
43215, on Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Savings Time.
The attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement
describe the formal business to be transacted at the meeting.
During the meeting, we will also report on the operations of the
Company and directors and officers of the Company will be
present to respond to any appropriate questions you may have.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we urge you to sign,
date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible,
even if you currently plan to attend the Annual Meeting.
This will not prevent you from voting in person but will assure
that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the
meeting. Your vote is important, regardless of the number of
shares you own.
Sincerely,
R. H. Dillon
President & CEO
Diamond Hill Investment Group,
Inc.
325 John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43215
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 24,
2007
Notice is hereby given that the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) of Diamond Hill
Investment Group, Inc. (the Company), will be held
at the Arena Grand Theater located at 175 West Nationwide
Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43215, on Thursday, May 24, 2007,
at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time to consider and
act upon the following matters:
1. To elect six directors to serve on the Companys
Board of Directors;
2. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Action may be taken on the foregoing proposals at the Annual
Meeting or on any date or dates to which the Annual Meeting may
be adjourned. Pursuant to the Companys Code of
Regulations, the Board of Directors has fixed the close of
business on April 2, 2007, as the record date for
determination of the shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting and any adjournments thereof. You are requested to
complete and sign the enclosed form of proxy, which is solicited
by the Companys Board of Directors, and to mail it
promptly in the enclosed envelope. Alternatively, you may vote
by phone by using the control number identified on your proxy or
electronically over the Internet in accordance with the
instructions on your proxy. Returning the enclosed proxy card,
or transmitting voting instructions electronically through the
Internet or by telephone, does not affect your right to vote in
person at the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting,
you may revoke your proxy and vote in person if your shares are
registered in your name.
THE PROMPT RETURN OF YOUR PROXY WILL SAVE THE COMPANY THE
EXPENSE OF FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PROXIES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A
QUORUM. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING,
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD
IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. ALTERNATIVELY, REFER TO
THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD TO TRANSMIT YOUR VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.
By order of the Board of Directors
James F. Laird
Secretary
Columbus, Ohio
April 7, 2007
Diamond Hill Investment Group,
Inc.
325 John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43215
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
TO BE HELD ON MAY 24, 2007
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the shareholders of
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc., an Ohio corporation
(we, us or the Company), in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of
Directors (the Board) for use at our 2007 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) to be
held on May 24, 2007, and any adjournment thereof. A copy
of the Notice of Annual Meeting accompanies this Proxy
Statement. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy are first
being mailed to shareholders on or about April 7, 2007.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on
April 2, 2007, the record date for the Annual Meeting (the
Record Date), will be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
The purposes of this Annual Meeting are:
(1) To elect six directors to serve on the Board for
one-year terms;
(2) To transact such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Those common shares represented by properly signed proxy cards
or properly authenticated voting instructions recorded
electronically via the Internet or by telephone that are
received prior to the Annual Meeting and not revoked will be
voted by the proxies at the Annual Meeting as directed by the
shareholders. The common shares represented by all valid proxy
cards or proxies submitted telephonically or via the Internet
received prior to the Annual Meeting which do not specify how
the common shares should be voted on the matters presented at
the Annual Meeting will be voted FOR the election of R. H.
Dillon, David P. Lauer, Dr. James G. Mathias, David R.
Meuse, Diane D. Reynolds and Donald B. Shackelford as directors
of the Company. The proxies will use their best judgment
regarding other matters that properly come before the Annual
Meeting.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Section
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Page
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2
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
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When and where will the Annual Meeting take place? |
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The Annual Meeting will be held at the Arena Grand Theater
located at 175 West Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio
43215, on Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Savings Time. Shareholders will also be able to listen
live to the Annual Meeting via audio conference by calling
800-728-2149
and can also view Presentation materials via web cast by going
to www.diamond-hill.com and click on the link under the News and
Updates Section. |
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What may I vote on? |
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You may vote on the election the six nominees for election to
our Board. |
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How does the Board recommend I vote? |
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The Board recommends that you vote FOR the election of the
six nominees. |
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What do I need to do now? |
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After carefully reading this Proxy Statement, indicate on the
enclosed proxy card how you want your shares to be voted and
sign and mail the proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope.
Alternatively, you may vote by phone by using the control number
identified on your proxy, or vote electronically by Internet in
accordance with the instructions on your proxy. The deadline for
transmitting voting instructions electronically via the Internet
or telephonically is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Savings
Time, on May 23, 2007. The Internet and telephone voting
procedures are designed to authenticate shareholders
identities, to allow shareholders to give their voting
instructions and to confirm that shareholders voting
instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote by phone
or over the Internet you do not need to return a proxy card. You
should be aware that if you vote over the Internet or by phone,
you may incur costs associated with electronic access, such as
usage charges from Internet service providers and telephone
companies. Your proxy will not be used if (i) you are a
record shareholder and you revoke your proxy and attend and vote
at the Annual Meeting in person or (ii) you otherwise
properly revoke your proxy. |
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What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card? |
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If your shares are registered differently and are in more than
one account, you will receive more than one proxy card. If you
intend to vote by mail, sign and return all proxy cards to
ensure that all your shares are voted. If you are a record
holder and intend to vote by telephone or over the Internet, you
must do so in connection with the instructions on each
individual proxy card you receive. |
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What is the difference between holding shares as a
shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner? |
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Many shareholders are beneficial owners in that they hold their
shares in street name through a stockbroker, bank or
other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As
summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares
held of record and those owned beneficially. |
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Shareholder of Record. If your shares are
registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, you
are considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of
record and we are sending this Proxy Statement directly to you.
As a shareholder of record, you have the right to grant your
proxy directly to the Company by completing, signing and
returning the enclosed proxy card, transmitting your voting
instructions via the Internet or by phone or you may vote in
person at the Annual Meeting. |
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Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held in
street name in a stock brokerage account or by a
bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner
of the shares held in street name and this Proxy Statement is
being forwarded to you by your broker or other nominee, who is
considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of
record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct
your broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares. Your
broker or nominee will provide you with information on the
procedures you must follow to instruct the record holder how to
vote your shares or how to revoke previously given voting
instructions. |
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If my shares are held in street name by my
broker, will my broker vote my shares for me? |
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Your broker will vote your shares in the manner you instruct,
and you should follow the directions provided to you by your
broker regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your
shares. However, if you do not provide voting instructions to
your broker, it may vote your shares in its discretion on
certain routine matters. The election of directors
is considered routine and, if you do not submit voting
instructions, your broker may choose, in its discretion, to vote
or not vote your shares on the nominees for director. |
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May I revoke my proxy or change my vote after I have mailed a
proxy card or voted electronically via the Internet or by
telephone? |
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Yes. You can change your vote at any time before your proxy is
voted at the Annual Meeting. If you are the record holder of the
shares, you can do this in three ways: |
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send us a written statement that you would like to
revoke your proxy, which we must receive prior to the start of
voting at the Annual Meeting;
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send our Secretary a newly signed and later-dated
proxy card, which we must receive prior to the start of voting
at the Annual Meeting, or submit later-dated electronic voting
instructions over the Internet or by telephone no later than
11:59 p.m. on May 23, 2007; or
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attend the Annual Meeting and revoke your
proxy in open meeting or vote in person prior to the start of
voting at the Annual Meeting (attending the Annual Meeting
will not, by itself, revoke your proxy or a previous Internet or
telephonic vote).
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If you hold shares beneficially, but not as record holder, you
may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to
your broker or nominee, and you should review the instructions
provided by your broker or nominee to determine the procedures
you must follow. If you are a beneficial owner and wish to
attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, you must obtain a
signed proxy from the record holder of your shares giving you
the right to do so. |
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Can I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting? |
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Shares held directly in your name as the shareholder of record
may be voted in person at the Annual Meeting. If you choose to
attend, please bring the enclosed proxy card or proof of
identification. If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are
not registered in your own name, you will need a signed proxy
from your broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote
your shares at the Annual Meeting. |
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How will my shares be voted if I return a blank proxy card or
submit a proxy by Internet or phone without voting
instructions? |
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If you sign and send in your proxy card or submit a proxy by
Internet or telephone and do not indicate how you want to vote,
your proxy will be voted FOR the election of the six director
nominees. |
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Who can answer my questions about how I can submit or revoke
my proxy or vote by phone or via the Internet? |
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If you have more questions about how to submit your proxy,
please call our Secretary, James F. Laird, at
(614) 255-3353. |
THE
ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting will be held at the Arena Grand Theater
located at 175 West Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43215,
on Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Savings Time. The purposes of the Annual Meeting are
(i) to elect six directors to serve on the Board for
one-year terms; and (ii) to transact such other business as
may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment
thereof. We are not currently aware of any other matters that
will come before the Annual Meeting.
4
PROCEDURAL
MATTERS
Record
Date
Only our shareholders of record at the close of business on
April 2, 2007, the record date for the Annual Meeting (the
Record Date), will be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 2,138,881 of our
common shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
Proxy
Your shares will be voted by the proxies at the Annual Meeting
as you direct on your signed proxy card or in your telephonic or
Internet voting instructions. If you return a signed proxy card
or submit a proxy via the Internet or by telephone without
voting instructions, to the extent permitted by applicable laws
and regulations it will be voted FOR the election of R. H.
Dillon, David P. Lauer, Dr. James G. Mathias, David R.
Meuse, Diane D. Reynolds and Donald B. Shackelford as directors
of the Company. The proxies will vote in their discretion on
other matters that properly come before the Annual Meeting.
Quorum
We can conduct business at the Annual Meeting only if holders of
a majority of our outstanding shares entitled to vote are
present, either in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will be counted in determining whether a quorum is
present. In the event that a quorum is not present at the time
the Annual Meeting is convened, a majority of the shares
represented in person or by proxy may adjourn the Annual Meeting
to a later date and time, without notice other than announcement
at the Annual Meeting. At any such adjournment of the Annual
Meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the Annual
Meeting as originally called.
Voting
Each outstanding share may cast one vote on each separate matter
of business properly brought before the Annual Meeting. A
plurality of the votes duly cast is required for the election of
directors, and the six nominees receiving the most votes will be
elected.
A shareholder voting in the election of directors may cumulate
such shareholders votes and give one candidate a number of
votes equal to (i) the number of directors to be elected
(six), multiplied by (ii) the number of shares held by the
shareholder, or may distribute such shareholders total
votes among as many candidates as the shareholder may select.
However, no shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes
unless the candidates name has been placed in nomination
prior to voting and the shareholder, or any other shareholder,
has given us notice at least 48 hours prior to the Annual
Meeting of the intention to cumulate votes. The proxies we are
soliciting include the discretionary authority to cumulate
votes. If cumulative voting occurs at the Annual Meeting, the
proxies intend to vote the shares represented by proxy in a
manner to elect as many of the six director nominees as
possible. Cumulative voting only applies to the election of
directors; on all other matters each share has one vote.
Abstentions;
Broker Non-Votes; Effect
Boxes and a designated space are provided on the form of proxy
for shareholders to mark if they wish to withhold authority to
vote for one or more nominees for election as a director of the
Company.
Broker-dealers who hold their customers shares in street
name may, under the applicable rules of the self-regulatory
organizations of which they are members, sign and submit proxies
for such shares and may vote the shares on routine matters. The
election of directors is considered routine. Shares held in
street name and not voted by broker-dealers are referred to as
broker non-votes. Because a plurality of the votes
duly cast is required for the election of directors, neither
abstentions nor broker non-votes will have any impact on the
election of directors.
If you hold shares in street name, the Board encourages you to
instruct your broker or other nominee as to how to vote your
shares.
5
Solicitation;
Expenses
We will pay all expenses of the solicitation of the proxies for
the Annual Meeting, including the cost of preparing, assembling
and mailing the Notice, form of proxy, Proxy Statement and
return envelopes, the handling and tabulation of proxies
received, and charges of brokerage houses and other
institutions, nominees or fiduciaries for forwarding such
documents to beneficial owners. We will not pay electronic
access charges associated with Internet or telephone voting. Our
officers, directors and employees may also solicit proxies in
person or by telephone, facsimile or
e-mail.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any
representation not contained in this Proxy Statement, and you
should not rely on any such information or representation. This
Proxy Statement does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy
in any jurisdiction from any person to whom it is unlawful to
make such proxy solicitation in such jurisdiction. The delivery
of this Proxy Statement shall not, under any circumstances,
imply that there has not been any change in the information set
forth herein since the date of this Proxy Statement.
Requests
for Proxy Statement and Annual Report on
Form 10-K
Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, including our audited
financial statements, accompanies this Proxy Statement but is
not a part of the proxy solicitation material. We are delivering
a single copy of this Proxy Statement and the
Form 10-K
to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless we have
received instructions from one or more of the shareholders to
the contrary. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of the
Proxy Statement or
Form 10-K,
at no charge, upon receipt of a written or oral request by a
record shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of
the documents was delivered. Written or oral requests for a
separate copy of the documents, or to provide instructions for
delivery of documents in the future, may be directed to
James F. Laird, Secretary of the Company, at 325 John H.
McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Our only class of voting securities is our common shares. The
following table sets forth, as of April 2, 2007, certain
information concerning share ownership and the percentage of
voting power (assuming exercise of all options which are
currently exercisable or that will be exercisable in the next
60 days) of (a) all persons known by us to own
beneficially more than five percent of our outstanding shares,
(b) each director and director nominee, (c) our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (each, a
Named Executive Officer), and (d) all of our
executive officers and directors, as a group. Unless otherwise
indicated, the named persons exercise sole voting and investment
power over the shares, which are shown as beneficially owned by
them.
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Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
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Common Shares Which
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Common
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Can be Acquired Upon
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|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Exercise of Options or
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Presently
|
|
|
Warrants Exercisable
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent of
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
|
Held(2)
|
|
|
Within 60 Days
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Class(3)
|
|
|
R. H. Dillon
|
|
|
141,431
|
(4)
|
|
|
3,500
|
|
|
|
144,931
|
|
|
|
6.8
|
%
|
James F. Laird
|
|
|
39,865
|
(5)
|
|
|
32,500
|
|
|
|
72,365
|
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
David P. Lauer
|
|
|
3,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,782
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
Dr. James G. Mathias
|
|
|
33,917
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
39,917
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
%
|
David R. Meuse
|
|
|
53,523
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,523
|
|
|
|
2.5
|
%
|
Diane D. Reynolds
|
|
|
1,282
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,282
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
Donald B. Shackelford
|
|
|
5,302
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,302
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
All directors and executive
officers as a group (7 persons)
|
|
|
279,102
|
|
|
|
42,000
|
|
|
|
321,102
|
|
|
|
14.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
** |
|
Represents ownership of less than 1% of our outstanding common
shares. |
|
(1) |
|
Each of our officers and directors may be reached at our address
at 325 John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus,
Ohio 43215. |
6
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has sole voting
and dispositive power as to all common shares reflected in the
table. |
|
(3) |
|
The percent of class is based upon (a) the number of shares
owned by the named person plus the number of shares the named
person has the right to acquire upon the exercise of options or
warrants exercisable within 60 days after April 2 2007,
divided by (b) the total number of shares which are issued
and outstanding as of April 2, 2007 (2,138,881 shares)
plus the total number of shares the named person has the right
to acquire upon the exercise of options or warrants exercisable
within 60 days after April 2, 2007. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 67 shares held in our 401(k) plan, over which the
Trustees of the 401(k) Plan possess the voting power and which
are subject to restrictions on the power to dispose of these
shares. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 1,051 shares held in our 401(k) plan, over which
the Trustees of the 401(k) Plan possess the voting power and
which are subject to restrictions on the power to dispose of
these shares. |
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board guides our strategic direction and oversees our
management. All of our directors are elected annually. The Board
is currently comprised of R. H. Dillon, David P. Lauer,
Dr. James G. Mathias, David R. Meuse, Diane D. Reynolds and
Donald B. Shackelford, each of whom has been nominated for
reelection to the Board to hold office for terms expiring at the
next annual meeting of shareholders and when their successors
are duly elected and qualified. The Board has determined that,
with the exception of Mr. Dillon, all of the directors are
independent under the rules and independence standards of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and The
NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ). There are no family
relationships among the directors or executive officers of the
Company.
A proposal to reelect these six nominees will be presented to
the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. The nominees receiving
the highest number of votes will be elected. Information
regarding the nominees, including their ages, length of service
on the Board and relevant business experience for the past five
years is set forth below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held
|
|
the Company
|
|
|
Nominee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
with the Company and
|
|
Continuously
|
|
|
for Term
|
|
Nominee
|
|
Age
|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
|
Since
|
|
|
Expiring in
|
|
|
R.H. Dillon
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
President and CEO of the Company
since 2000; Director of the Company; Chief Investment Officer of
Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company.
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
David P. Lauer, CPA
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
Director of the Company;
Self-employed Certified Public Accountant since 2001; President
and Chief Operating Officer of Bank One Columbus, NA
from June 1997 until his retirement in January 2001; Certified
Public Accountant since 1968(1)
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
Dr. James G. Mathias
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
Director of the Company;
Veterinarian and owner of Tipp City Veterinary Hospital and
Wellness Center since 1988(2)
|
|
|
1993
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
David R. Meuse
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
Director of the Company; Principal
of Stonehenge Financial Holdings, Inc, Columbus, Ohio,
investment bankers, since 1999(3)
|
|
|
2000
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held
|
|
the Company
|
|
|
Nominee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
with the Company and
|
|
Continuously
|
|
|
for Term
|
|
Nominee
|
|
Age
|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
|
Since
|
|
|
Expiring in
|
|
|
Diane D. Reynolds
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
Director of the Company; Partner
with the law firm of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
since June 2006; General Counsel of Estate Information Services,
LLC and of counsel with Taft, Stettinius & Hollister
LLP from June 2005 to June 2006; Partner with Taft,
Stettinius & Hollister LLP from 2004 to 2005; Partner
with the law firm of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan &
Aronoff, LLP from 2000 to 2004(4)
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
Donald B. Shackelford
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
Director of the Company; Chairman
of the Board of Fifth Third Bank, Central Ohio (successor to
State Savings Bank) since 1998(5)
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Lauer also serves on the boards of Evans Capital Corp.,
Huntington Bancshares, R. G. Barry Corporation, Wendys
International, Inc, Tim Hortons Inc., and W.W. Williams Company
and was formerly a director of AirNet Systems, Inc. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Mathias also serves on the Veterinary Advisory Board of
the Iams Company. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Meuse also serves on the boards of State Auto Financial
Corporation, Central Benefits Mutual Insurance Company, ORIX USA
Corporation, The Columbus Foundation, The Columbus Partnership,
Kenyon College, Project GRAD Columbus, Stonehenge Financial
Holdings, Inc., Stonehenge Securities, Inc. and Skybus Airlines,
Inc. |
|
(4) |
|
Ms. Reynolds also serves on the board of Estate Information
Services, LLC. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Shackelford serves on the boards of The Progressive
Corporation, Granville Golf Course Company, Heads &
Threads International, LLC, Denison University, Lowell Group and
The Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County and
was a director of Limited Brands, Inc. from 1976 to 2005. |
OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF R. H. DILLON, DAVID P. LAUER, DR. JAMES G. MATHIAS,
DAVID R. MEUSE, DIANE D. REYNOLDS AND DONALD B. SHACKELFORD AS
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
The Board held a total of four meetings during the year ended
December 31, 2006. The Board has three standing committees:
the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee and the
Compensation Committee. Each director attended at least 75% of
the aggregate of (a) the total number of Board meetings
held during the period for which he or she has been a director
during the last fiscal year, and (b) the total number of
meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he or she
served during the periods that he or she served during the last
fiscal year.
Director
Independence
The Board has determined that none of our directors, with the
exception of Mr. Dillon, has any relationship with the
Company that would interfere with him or her carrying out the
duties of a director and that all of our directors, other than
Mr. Dillon, are independent under the rules and
independence standards of the SEC and NASDAQ. In making its
determination, there were no relationships between the Company
and any of our independent directors that are not disclosed
under Item 404 of SEC
Regulation S-K.
8
Director
Nomination Process
Given the relatively small size of the Company and our Board, we
do not believe that a standing nominating committee is
necessary. All of our directors participate in the consideration
of director nominees, with nominees recommended for the
Boards selection by a majority of our independent
directors. The Board has determined that, with the exception of
Mr. Dillon, all of the directors are independent under the
rules and independence standards of the SEC and NASDAQ. Although
we do not have a formal charter governing the nomination of
directors, we do have an explicit list of criteria that the
Board uses to assess potential directors. It is our expectation
that Board candidates will at the least possess significant
skill and experience in financial services, accounting,
marketing, operations, legal matters or in other areas that are
important to our success.
The Board has not established a formal process for identifying
and evaluating nominees due to its desire to approach the
nominations process according to the composition of the Board at
the time. However, the process for identifying and evaluating
nominees is generally as follows: In the case of an incumbent
director whose term of office is set to expire, the Board
reviews the directors overall service to the Company
during his or her term, including the number of meetings
attended, level of participation and quality of performance. In
the case of new director candidates, the Board determines
whether the nominee is independent and whether the new director
must be independent for us to remain in compliance with NASDAQ
rules. Incumbent directors will be nominated for reelection or,
if the Board feels a new director is necessary or desirable, it
will use its network of contacts to compile a list of potential
candidates. The Board then meets to discuss and consider each
candidates qualifications, and the independent directors
choose the nominees by majority vote.
The Board does not have any specific policies regarding the
consideration of director candidates recommended by
shareholders. The lack of policies regarding shareholder
recommendations is primarily due to our lack of experience with
such recommendations and the need to evaluate such
recommendations on a
case-by-case
basis. The Board will consider shareholder recommendations for
directors, and does not alter the manner in which it evaluates
candidates, including the minimum criteria set forth above,
based upon the source of the recommendation. Shareholder
recommendations for candidates for the Board must be directed in
writing to the Company at 325 John H. McConnell Boulevard,
Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Attention: Secretary, and
must include the candidates name, home and business
contact information, detailed biographical data and
qualifications, information regarding any relationships between
the candidate and us within the last three years, and evidence
of the recommending persons ownership of our common shares.
Executive
Committee
The Executive Committee is authorized, when it is impractical or
not in the Companys best interest to wait until a Board
meeting for approval, to take any and all actions or incur any
obligations which could be taken or incurred by the full Board.
The members of the Executive Committee as of December 31,
2006, were Mr. Meuse (Chairman) and Dr. Mathias. The
Executive Committee did not meet during the year ended
December 31, 2006.
Audit
Committee
The Audit Committee engages our independent registered public
accounting firm and reviews and approves the scope and results
of any outside audit of the Company and the fees therefore and
generally oversees our auditing and accounting matters. The
Audit Committee also reviews all related person transactions for
potential conflicts of interest situations on an ongoing basis,
and all such transactions are approved by the Audit Committee.
Additional information on the approval of related person
transactions is available under the heading Certain
Relationships and Related Person Transactions below. The
Audit Committees responsibilities are outlined further in
its written charter, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy
Statement as Annex A.
The Audit Committee is comprised of Mr. Lauer,
Dr. Mathias and Ms. Reynolds, each of whom qualifies
as independent under the rules and independence standards of the
SEC and NASDAQ. The Board has determined that Mr. Lauer,
the Chairman of the Audit Committee, is a financial
expert as defined by applicable SEC rules and is
financially sophisticated as defined by applicable
NASDAQ rules. The Audit Committee met four times during the year
ended December 31, 2006, and its report relating to the
Companys 2006 fiscal year appears below under the heading
AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS.
9
Compensation
Committee
On August 11, 2005, the Board established a Compensation
Committee. The members of the committee are Mr. Lauer,
Mr. Shackelford and Ms. Reynolds, each of whom is
independent under NASDAQ and SEC rules, is a
non-employee director for purposes of SEC rules and
is an outside director under applicable tax laws.
The Compensation Committee is organized and conducts its
business pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board, a
copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as
Annex B.
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the
Companys executive compensation policy, evaluates the
performance of our executive officers in light of corporate
goals and objectives approved by the Compensation Committee,
approves the annual salary, bonus, stock options and other
benefits, direct and indirect, of our other senior executives,
makes recommendations to the full Board with respect to
incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans and
determines director and committee member/chair compensation for
non-employee directors. The Compensation Committee also
administers the Companys equity and other incentive plans.
The Compensation Committee met six times during the 2006 fiscal
year. A description of the Companys processes and
procedures for the consideration and determination of executive
officer compensation are discussed under the heading
Compensation Discussion and Analysis below.
Director
Compensation
During the 2006 fiscal year, our non-employee directors received
an annual retainer of $15,000, paid in our shares, and
additional cash retainer payments of $2,000 per quarter.
The Chairman of the Board and the chairs of the Audit Committee
and the Compensation Committee each receive an additional cash
payment of $500 per quarter. Directors are also eligible
for participation in the Companys 2005 Employee and
Director Equity Incentive Plan.
The following table sets forth information regarding the
compensation we paid to our directors during 2006.
Mr. Dillon, our President and Chief Executive Officer, does
not receive any compensation for his service as a director.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Paid in Cash(1)
|
|
|
Awards(2)
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
David P. Lauer
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
David R. Meuse
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
Dr. James G. Mathias
|
|
$
|
8,000
|
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
23,000
|
|
Diane D. Reynolds
|
|
$
|
8,000
|
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
23,000
|
|
Donald B. Shackelford
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Consists of cash retainer fees of $2,000 per quarter and an
additional $500 quarterly retainer payment to each of
Messrs. Meuse, Lauer and Shackelford for their service as
Chairs of the Board, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee,
respectively. |
|
(2) |
|
The amount shown is the expense, determined under Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R
(FAS 123R), incurred by us and recognized in
our financial statements in 2006 for awards granted to our
directors. On January 10, 2006, each director received a
grant of 477 of our shares for service as a non-employee
director. These shares were granted under our 2005 Employee and
Directors Equity Incentive Plan. For more information on the
expensing of these awards, please see note 5 to our
financial statements contained in our
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006. |
Communications
Between Shareholders and the Board
Given our relatively small size, the relatively small number of
record holders of our shares, and the Boards consistent
practice of being open to receiving direct communications from
our shareholders, the Board believes that it is not necessary to
implement, and we do not have, a formal process for shareholders
to send communications to
10
the Board. Our practice is to forward any communication
addressed to the Board or to the director or group of directors
identified in the communication.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Compensation Committee is or has been an
officer or employee of the Company or has had any relationship
requiring disclosure by us under Item 404 of SEC
Regulation S-K.
In addition, no member of the Compensation Committee is employed
by a company whose board of directors includes a member of our
management.
Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics
The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that
applies to all directors, officers and employees. A copy of this
Code was attached to the Proxy Statement for the Companys
2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is also filed as an
exhibit to our
Form 10-K
filed with the SEC.
Director
Attendance at Annual Meetings
We do not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at
annual meetings of shareholders, although all directors are
encouraged to attend. All of our directors attended the 2006
Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Certain
Relationships and Related Person Transactions
Our Board recognizes that related person transactions present a
heightened risk of conflicts of interest. However, we currently
have no related person transactions reportable pursuant to
Item 404(a) of SEC
Regulation S-K,
and have not had any such transactions in the recent past. As
such, we do not believe it is necessary to have a written policy
specifically dealing with related person transactions. Our Audit
Committee reviews any related person transactions as they arise
and are reported to the Board or the Audit Committee, regardless
of whether the transactions are reportable pursuant to
Item 404. No such transactions arose or were reviewed by
the Audit Committee in 2006. For any related person transaction
to be consummated or to continue, the Audit Committee must
approve or ratify the transaction.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS AND COMPENSATION INFORMATION
The following information describes the business experience
during the past five years of our Named Executive Officers and
other significant employees, other than Mr. Dillon whose
experience is described above under the heading
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
We have no executive officers other than our Named Executive
Officers. Each Named Executive Officer and significant employee
devotes his full time efforts to the affairs of the Company, and
each officer is elected annually to serve until his successor is
elected and qualified, or until he resigns or is removed by the
Board. There are no arrangements or understandings between the
persons named below and any other person pursuant to which such
officers were elected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
Age
|
|
|
with the Company
|
|
James F. Laird
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer of the Company since December 2001; President of
Diamond Hill Funds since December 2001; Certified Public
Accountant (inactive) and holder of several NASD licenses,
including Series 7, 24 and 63.
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held
|
Significant Employees
|
|
Age
|
|
|
with the Company
|
|
Charles S. Bath
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
Managing Director of Equities for
Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company, since September 2002; Senior Portfolio Manager
for Gartmore Global Investments, a global investment firm
affiliated with Nationwide Insurance, from 1985 to September
2002.
|
Kent K. Rinker
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
Managing Director of Fixed Income
for Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, since May 2002; Private consultant
and manager of private investments from 1999 to 2002.
|
Compensation
Discussion And Analysis
Background. We are in the investment
management industry. Human capital is the most important
resource in this industry. A balancing of the economics between
owners and employees is always important, especially in an
industry that is not capital-intensive, and heavily dependent on
talented individuals. Attracting and retaining people can be
more difficult, given the high percentage of a firms
value-proposition which is attributable to key people.
The balancing effort is particularly challenging for us because
we were essentially a
start-up in
May 2000, but yet had the unusual legacy of being a publicly
owned company, in contrast to the norm of partnership-like
structures for investment management firms of a similar size. We
have been able to attract and retain quality people due to:
|
|
|
|
|
Our investment-centric culture,
|
|
|
|
Ownership in the business,
|
|
|
|
Our central Ohio location, and
|
|
|
|
Compensation now competitive on a national basis.
|
This last point is directly related to firm profitability
levels, which in essence represents the balancing of the
economics of the business between owners and employees. Industry
norms are helpful benchmarks for evaluating the balancing
effort. Additionally, it makes sense to enact a thoughtful
alignment of incentives that may pertain more so to our firm
than others, because of our ownership structure. On a fully
diluted basis, employees and directors own approximately 31% of
the firm. In contrast, many of our competitor firms are owned
entirely by their employees.
Compensation Program Objectives. We
seek to attract and retain people with integrity, intelligence
and energy. All of our employees are paid a competitive base
salary, provided with competitive benefits and participate in an
annual cash and equity incentive compensation program. The
amount of individual incentive awards is based on an assessment
of individual performance while the amount of the incentive pool
is based on (i) overall firm investment and operating
performance, (ii) market compensation data and
(iii) the profitability of the firm compared to other
investment management firms.
In addition to the annual incentive compensation program certain
key individuals, primarily portfolio managers and research
analysts, were awarded options, warrants, restricted stock or a
combination as an incentive to employment. Generally these
awards were granted at hire or promotion with vesting over five
years. We also seek to increase the ownership percentage of all
employees because we feel that will encourage all employees to
act and think like owners. While compensation amounts will
differ depending upon position, responsibilities, performance
and competitive data, we seek to reward all employees with
similar compensation components.
Rewards Based on Performance. Our
primary business objective is to meet our fiduciary duty to
clients. Specifically, our focus is on long-term, five-year
investment returns, with our goals defined as rolling five-year
periods in which client returns are sufficiently above relevant
passive benchmarks, rank in the top quartile of similar
investment strategies and absolute returns are sufficient for
the risk associated with the asset class. Our compensation
program is designed to reward performance that meets these
objectives. Our second objective is to fulfill our
12
fiduciary duty to shareholders by growing the intrinsic value of
the business at an appropriate rate. To support that objective,
our CEO and CFO are rewarded based on achieving fair and
competitive operating profit margins. For those employees who
are not a part of the investment team objectives vary but are
consistent in that we strive to reward individual performance
that helps us meet our fiduciary duty to clients.
Elements of Compensation. We provide a
base salary paid in cash on a monthly basis; benefits including
health care, dental, disability and 401k; and incentive
compensation paid in a combination of cash and equity grants
made pursuant to the 2005 Employee and Director Equity Incentive
Plan. We do not offer any long-term deferred compensation to any
employee, officer or director.
Rationale for Compensation Elements.
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We choose to offer a competitive base salary and benefits
package to all employees to attract them to join and remain with
the Company. Our incentive plan is based on the operating profit
of the Company and is intended to reward individual performance.
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In 2005 and 2006, the only two years in which incentive
compensation has been significant, we made incentive awards
largely in stock grants that vest immediately but are restricted
from sale for up to three years. This was done in order to
increase employee ownership and ensure all employees interests
were aligned with the firms shareholders.
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We generally choose to make equity awards in the form of fully
vested stock that is restricted from sale for up to three years.
We believe that this approach matches the economic expense of
the award with the period in which it was earned and further
avoids the complex accounting involved with options and other
awards that vest over time.
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We encourage stock ownership by all our employees; in fact our
match in the 401k plan is made in stock vesting over each
employees first six years with the Company. We do not;
however, have a formal policy mandating stock ownership.
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Determination of Incentive Compensation
Amount. The incentive pool is determined by
the Compensation Committee and is agreed to in advance based
upon the target operating profit margin of the Company with an
objective of generating operating profit margins consistent and
competitive with others in the investment management business.
Individual awards are based on assessments of individual
performance with a focus on investment results for the previous
five years for each investment strategy. The CEO and CFO are
rewarded based on achieving competitive operating results. For
those not in the investment area objectives vary but generally
are consistent with performance that helps in meeting the
Companys fiduciary duty to its clients. Awards made to
executives are based on performance-based agreements
(162(m) agreements) and finalized by the
Compensation Committee in executive sessions. Awards made to
non-executives are determined by the CEO and CFO based on the
specific criteria discussed above.
Competitor Compensation Data. We
participate in a comprehensive compensation survey with
approximately 125 other investment management firms and attempt
to make individual compensation competitive with others in the
industry while rewarding individual performance. The cash versus
equity component of the awards are based upon an intent to
increase employee ownership over the long-term and are biased in
favor of stock grants and against stock options. In 2006 stock
grants made up 71% of total incentive awards with the remaining
29% made in cash. Currently 100% of incentive awards are paid on
a current basis although the equity awards, while immediately
vested, are restricted from sale for up to three years. We
believe that incentive awards related to performance in a
particular year, or five years ended in a particular year,
should be paid currently. This approach offers a better matching
of the economics with performance as opposed to paying awards
that vest in the future thus burdening future earnings with
awards earned in the past.
We have no formal policy to adjust prior incentive awards to
reflect restatement or adjustment of financial results. We
believe that due to the nature of our business material
restatements or prior period adjustments to operating results
are highly unlikely. Individual awards made under the plan are
based on the factors discussed above and may increase or
decrease materially from year to year consistent with similar
changes in the relevant
13
factors such as profitability and individual performance. We
give no weight to the economic impact of prior awards in making
current awards. Awards each year stand on their own.
Post Employment Payments. Only our CEO
and CFO have employment contracts and both provide for payments
upon termination of employment. The maximum payment is one
years salary and, in the case of the CEO only, one
years incentive bonus and a prorated bonus the year of
termination. More information on our employment agreements with
our CEO and CFO and termination payments thereunder is set forth
under the heading Employment Agreements and Change in
Control Benefits.
Compensation Committee Processes and
Procedures. The Compensation Committee meets
in December and January each year to review and ultimately to
ratify performance objectives that were established at the
beginning of the year. Additionally the committee meets in
February and March of each year to establish new objectives for
the current year. Management is present for a portion of most
committee meetings; however, the committee always holds an
executive session without management present.
Summary of Compensation Objectives.
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The total incentive award for each individual meets the
Companys objective of paying a competitive total
compensation for each individual.
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The equity awards exceeding 70% of the total incentive award
meet the Companys objective of increasing employee
ownership.
|
Report Of
The Compensation Committee
The Boards Compensation Committee has submitted the
following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement:
The Compensation Committee is composed of three independent
Directors. The committee met multiple times in 2006 and early
2007. In all these meetings there was at least a significant
portion of meeting time where no management was present. The
Committee has obtained survey data for other investment firms
and met with consultants familiar with investment firm
compensation.
The Committee has reviewed the performance of the CEO and CFO as
well as the performance of the firm as a whole. The Committee
established the salary and incentive payments of these two
individuals and reviewed the pay of all other employees.
The Committee reviewed and approved the Compensation Disclosure
and Analysis prepared by management and outside counsel. The
Committee recommended that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in the Companys Proxy Statement for
2007 and incorporated by reference in the Companys Annual
Report on
Form 120-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006.
The foregoing report is provided by the following directors,
who constitute the Compensation Committee:
Donald B. Shackelford, Chairman
David P. Lauer, CPA
Diane D. Reynolds, Esq.
14
Executive
Compensation Information
Summary Compensation Table. The
following table sets forth the compensation paid or payable by
the Company during the calendar year ended December 31,
2006, to Mr. Dillon and Mr. Laird. The Company has no
other executive officers. Additional information on the elements
of compensation set forth in the table below, including a
discussion of the amounts of certain components of compensation
in relation to others, is available under the heading
Compensation Discussion and Analysis above.
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Change in
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Pension
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Value and
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Nonqualified
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Non-Equity
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Deferred
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Stock
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Option
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Incentive Plan
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Compensation
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All Other
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Name and Principal Position
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Year
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Salary
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Bonus
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Awards(1)
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Awards
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Compensation(2)
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Earnings
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Compensation(3)
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Total
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R.H. Dillon
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2006
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$
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360,000
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$
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640,000(4
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$
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2,457,750
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$
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352,250
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$
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26,400
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$
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3,836,400
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President and Chief Executive
Officer
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James F. Laird
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2006
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$
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180,000
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$
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560,000
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$
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160,000
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$
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21,600
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$
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921,600
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Secretary, Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer
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(1) |
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The amount shown is the expense, determined under FAS 123R,
incurred by us and recognized in our 2006 financial statements
for shares awarded to Messrs. Dillon and Laird under our
2005 Employee and Directors Equity Incentive Plan as partial
payment for amounts earned under our 2006 annual incentive plan.
On January 31, 2007, Mr. Dillon was awarded 25,000
fully vested shares that are restricted from sale for three
years. On January 31, 2007, Mr. Laird was awarded
2,797 fully vested shares that are restricted from sale for one
year and on January 31, 2007, and February 14, 2007,
was awarded 1,678 and 1,137 fully vested shares, respectively,
that are restricted from sale for three years. For more
information on the expensing of these awards, please see
note 5 to our financial statements contained in our
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006. |
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(2) |
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Represents cash awards paid to Messrs. Dillon and Laird as
partial payment for amounts earned under our 2006 annual
incentive plan. For more information on this plan and our annual
incentive compensation program, please see the information above
under the heading Compensation Discussion and
Analysis. |
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(3) |
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Consists of the value of our matching contributions to
Mr. Dillons and Mr. Lairds accounts under
our 401(k) plan. This contribution is made only in shares of the
Company and the amount is based on the fair market value of our
shares on the date of contribution. |
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(4) |
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Represents a discretionary cash bonus paid to Mr. Dillon
for 2006. |
Grants of Plan Based Awards. The
following table sets forth information regarding annual
incentive plan awards to each of the Named Executive Officers
for the year ended December 31, 2006.
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All Other
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All Other
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Option
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Stock
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Awards:
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Estimated Future Payouts
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Estimated Future
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Awards:
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Number of
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Exercise or
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Under Non-Equity Incentive
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Payouts Under
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Number of
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Securities
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Base Price
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Grant
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Plan Awards(2)
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Equity Incentive
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Shares of
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Underlying
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of Option
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Name
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Date(1)
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Threshold
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Target
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Maximum
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Plan Awards
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Stock or Units
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Options
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Awards
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Mr. Dillon
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3/31/06
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$
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1(3
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$
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2,810,000(3
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Mr. Laird
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3/31/06
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$
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1(3
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$
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720,000(3
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(1) |
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On March 31, 2006, we entered into participation agreements
with Messrs. Dillon and Laird under our 2006
Performance-Based Compensation Plan. The performance period for
these awards was the 2006 fiscal year. These awards were granted
in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code so amounts paid are deductible by us as compensation. The
performance conditions applicable to these awards are discussed
in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above. |
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(2) |
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Because the bonus is based on performance criteria, partial
satisfaction could result in a payment as little as one dollar,
ranging all the way to the maximum depending on the extent to
which performance goals are met. The maximum is the largest
amount that could have been earned for fiscal 2006, which was
the performance period |
15
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for the awards, upon the satisfaction of all of the performance
goals specified in the participation agreement. Because the
amount of the award earned varies based upon the extent of
satisfaction of the performance goals, there is no specified
target amount. |
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(3) |
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Each of Mr. Dillon and Mr. Laird earned the maximum
amount available to him under our annual incentive plan for
2006. Once earned, this amount is paid, at the discretion of the
Compensation Committee, partially in cash and partially in our
shares. The majority of the award is paid in shares of the
Company. The shares awarded to Messrs. Dillon and Laird
were awarded under our 2005 Employee and Directors Equity
Incentive Plan. The allocation of the payments to
Mr. Dillon and Mr. Laird in cash and shares is
reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above in the columns
Stock Awards and Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Compensation. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31,
2006. The following table sets forth
information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by
Mr. Dillon and Mr. Laird as of December 31, 2006.
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Option/Warrant Awards
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Stock Awards
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Equity
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Equity
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Equity Incentive
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Incentive
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Incentive
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Plan Awards:
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Plan
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Plan Awards:
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Market or Payout
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Number
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Awards:
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Market
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Number of
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Value of
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of
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Number of
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Number
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Number of
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Value of
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Unearned
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Unearned Shares,
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Securities
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Securities
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of Securities
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Shares or
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Shares or
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Shares, Units
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Units or
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Underlying
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Underlying
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Underlying
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Units of
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Units of
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or Other
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Other
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Unexercised
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Unexercised
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Unexercised
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Option
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Option/
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Stock That
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Stock That
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Rights That
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Rights That
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Options/
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Options/
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Unearned
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Exercise
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Warrant
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Have Not
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Have Not
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Have
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Have
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Warrants (#)
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Warrants (#)
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Options
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Price
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Expiration
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Vested
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Vested
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Not Vested
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Not Vested
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Name
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Exercisable
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Unexercisable
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(#)
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($)
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Date
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(#)
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($)
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(#)
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($)
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Mr. Dillon(1)
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200,000
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8.00
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05/11/2010
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20,000
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28.10
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12/20/2010
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Mr. Laird(2)
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60,000
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5.25
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07/16/2011
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2,500
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28.10
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12/20/2010
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(1) |
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As of December 31, 2006, Mr. Dillon held 200,000
warrants to purchase our shares at a price of $8.00 per
share and 20,000 options to purchase our shares at
$28.10 per share. Mr. Dillon exercised 100,000
warrants on January 3, 2007 and 100,000 warrants on
February 20, 2007, and 16,500 options on February 16,
2007. |
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(2) |
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Mr. Laird exercised 15,000 options at an exercise price of
$5.25 on January 3, 2007 and 15,000 options at an exercise
price of $5.25 on February 12, 2007. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested. The
table below sets forth information regarding the vesting during
2006 of stock awards made to Mr. Dillon and Mr. Laird.
Neither Mr. Dillon nor Mr. Laird exercised any options
during 2006.
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Option Awards
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Stock Awards(1)
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Number of Shares
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Value Realized
|
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Number of Shares
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Value Realized
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Name
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Acquired on Exercise
|
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on Exercise
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Acquired on Vesting
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on Vesting
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Mr. Dillon
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25,000
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$
|
2,457,750(2
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Mr. Laird
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|
|
|
|
|
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5,612
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|
$
|
560,000(2
|
)
|
|
|
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(1) |
|
Reflects stock awards under our 2005 Employee and Directors
Equity Incentive Plan to Messrs. Dillon and Laird as
partial payment for amounts earned under our 2006 annual
incentive plan. These awards were immediately vested on the date
of grant, although are restricted from sale for periods of one
or three years. For more information on these awards see the
Summary Compensation Table and the Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Table above. |
|
(2) |
|
Value realized was calculated by multiplying the number of
shares awarded by the closing price of our shares on the date of
the award. |
Pension Plans and Non-Qualified Deferred
Compensation. We do not maintain any pension plans or
non-qualified deferred compensation programs for our executives
or employees.
Employment Agreements and Change In Control
Benefits. We currently have employment
agreements with our Named Executive Officers,
Messrs. Dillon and Laird. Descriptions of their agreements
are set forth below.
16
Employment Agreement with
Mr. Dillon. In August 2006, we entered
into an employment agreement with Mr. Dillon, the
Companys President and Chief Executive Officer. The
agreement has a current expiration date of January 1, 2011,
although it may be extended after such time by the mutual
agreement of us and Mr. Dillon. The agreement provides for
an annual salary of $360,000, which may be increased by the
Board annually, plus participation by Mr. Dillon in our
annual incentive plan and well as health insurance, six weeks
paid vacation annually and participation in other benefit
programs we offer to our employees. The agreement also restricts
Mr. Dillon from competing with us during the term of the
agreement and for one year following termination of his
employment and provides that he will at all times maintain the
confidentiality of our information.
If we terminate Mr. Dillons employment without cause,
he is entitled to the following payments, which are quantified
to reflect the amounts he would have received had his employment
been terminated at December 31, 2006:
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his accrued and unpaid base salary and vacation and unreimbursed
business expenses as of the date of termination ($0 at
December 31, 2006);
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payments, if any, under our benefit plans and programs in effect
at the time. We currently have no benefit plans that would
result in payments upon termination;
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a single lump sum payment equal to six months base salary at his
annual salary rate in effect at the date of termination
($180,000 at December 31, 2006);
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beginning in the seventh month after the date of termination,
six monthly payments of his monthly base salary ($180,000 at
December 31, 2006);
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a pro rata portion of any amounts earned under our annual
incentive plan for the year in which the termination occurs (
$2,810,000 at December 31, 2006 because the year was
complete); and
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a lump sum payment equal to the amount, if any, he received
under our annual incentive plan for the preceding year ($0 at
December 31, 2006, because our annual incentive plan was
not in effect during fiscal 2005).
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Mr. Dillon may terminate his employment with good
reason, which generally includes reduction of his annual
base salary, a reduction in his maximum potential payment under
our annual incentive plan to less than 20% of the available
bonus pool, permanent or consistent assignment to him of duties
inconsistent with his position and authority, no longer having
him report directly to the Board or a breach by us of his
employment agreement. If he terminates his employment for good
reason, Mr. Dillon is entitled to all of the payments
referenced above, except he will not receive a pro rata portion
of amounts earned under our annual incentive plan for the year
in which termination occurs.
If Mr. Dillons employment terminates due to his death
or disability, upon the expiration of the employment agreement
in accordance with its terms or we terminate Mr. Dillon for
cause, he will be entitled to receive the payments
set forth in the first two bullets above. In the event of his
death or disability, he will also receive the payments in the
fifth bullet above. Under the employment agreement,
cause generally includes material violations of our
employment policies, conviction of crime involving moral
turpitude, violations of securities or investment adviser laws,
causing us to violate a law which may result in penalties
exceeding $250,000, materially breaching the employment
agreement or fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence in
carrying out his duties.
Mr. Dillon will not receive any payments solely due to a
change in control. However, if within 24 months after the
occurrence of a change in control Mr. Dillons
employment is terminated for any reason other than his
disability, for cause or by him for good reason, he will be
entitled to the following payment from us or our successor:
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his accrued and unpaid base salary and vacation and unreimbursed
business expenses as of the date of termination ($0 at
December 31, 2006);
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payments, if any, under our benefit plans and programs in effect
at the time. We currently have no benefit plans that would
result in payments upon termination;
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17
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a single lump sum payment equal to his annual base salary and
incentive plan compensation payable to him for our most recently
completed fiscal year ($360,000 at December 31, 2006,
because we did not have our annual incentive plan in effect in
2005); and
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a single lump sum payment equal to 12 months of premium
payments for coverage for Mr. Dillon and his family under
our group health plan ($3,924 at December 31, 2006).
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If any payments to Mr. Dillon in connection with a change
in control would constitute excess parachute payments under
applicable tax laws, the benefits Mr. Dillon will receive
will be reduced to an amount $1 less than the amount that would
be an excess parachute payment.
Employment Agreement with
Mr. Laird. In October 2001, we entered
into an employment agreement with Mr. Laird, our Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer, which, unless
otherwise terminated, automatically renews for a one-year
period. The current expiration date of this agreement is
July 17, 2007. Mr. Lairds current annual salary
under the agreement is $180,000.
If Mr. Lairds employment is terminated for cause or
by him without good reason, he will be entitled to only his
earned but unpaid base salary as of the date of termination. If
Mr. Lairds employment is terminated without
cause or by Mr. Laird for good
reason, (including after a change in control) he is
entitled to the following payments, which are quantified to
reflect the amounts he would have received had his employment
been terminated at December 31, 2006:
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his accrued but unpaid salary as of the termination date ($0 at
December 31, 2006); and
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a payment equal to one years salary ($180,000 at
December 31, 2006), reduced by the amount of any employment
compensation earned by him elsewhere on or after the beginning
of the sixth calendar month following the effective date of the
termination or resignation.
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Under Mr. Lairds agreement, cause
generally includes causing us to violate laws which could result
civil or criminal penalties to us or the Board, violating our
established employment policies, failing to follow the
directions of the Board and competing with us or disclosing out
confidential information. Good reason will generally
arise if Mr. Laird has a reduction in title, experiences a
reduction in or nonpayment of his salary, he becomes disabled.
Additionally, good reason will be deemed to exist for one year
following a change in control.
SECTION 16(a)
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive
officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more
than ten percent of our securities, to file with the SEC initial
reports of ownership on Form 3 and reports of changes in
ownership on Form 4 or Form 5. Executive officers,
directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent
of our securities are required by SEC regulations to furnish us
with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based
solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 furnished to us
and a statement by these persons that no other
Section 16(a) reports were required to be filed by them, we
believe that there were no reports filed late during the year
ended December 31, 2006.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE MATTERS
Report of
the Audit Committee for the Year Ended December 31,
2006
Our Audit Committee is comprised of three independent directors
operating under a written charter adopted by the Board.
Annually, the Audit Committee engages the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm. Plante &
Moran, PLLC (Plante & Moran) served as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended
December 31, 2006.
Management is responsible for preparation of the Companys
financial statements and for designing and maintaining the
Companys systems of internal controls and financial
reporting processes. Our independent registered public
accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the
Companys consolidated financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted auditing principles and issuing reports
on the Companys
18
financial statements and on managements assessment of the
effectiveness of the Companys internal controls. The Audit
Committees responsibility is to provide independent,
objective oversight of these processes.
Pursuant to this responsibility, the Audit Committee met with
management and Plante & Moran throughout the year. The
Audit Committee reviewed the audit plan and scope with
Plante & Moran and discussed with them the matters
required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communication with Audit Committees), as amended. The Audit
Committee also met with Plante & Moran without
management present to discuss the results of their audit work,
their evaluation of the Companys system of internal
controls and the quality of the Companys financial
reporting.
In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with
Plante & Moran their independence from the Company and
its management, including the matters in written disclosures and
letters to the Company from Plante & Moran required by
the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1
(Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as amended.
Management has represented to the Audit Committee that the
Companys consolidated financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2006, were prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit
Committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated
financial statements with management and Plante &
Moran. Based on the Audit Committees discussions with
management and Plante & Moran and review of
Plante & Morans report to the Audit Committee,
the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and
the Board has approved) that the audited consolidated financial
statements be included in the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC.
Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company:
David P.
Lauer, Chairman
Dr. James G. Mathias
Diane D. Reynolds
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Resignation
of Former Auditor and Engagement of New Auditor
On August 11, 2005, BKR Longanbach Giusti, LLC
(BKR) informed the Audit Committee that it would
resign as our independent registered public accounting firm
effective August 12, 2005, following the completion of
their review of our financial statements to be included in our
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-QSB
for the three months ended June 30, 2005. BKR resigned due
to its intention to withdraw its registration from the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) due to a
pending merger of their firm with another firm.
BKRs reports on our financial statements for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004 did not contain an
adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principle. Further, during the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2003 and 2004 and through August 12,
2005, there were no disagreements with BKR on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements,
if not resolved to the satisfaction of BKR would have caused
such firm to make reference thereto in connection with its
reports on our financial statements for such years. During the
two most recent fiscal years and through August 12, 2005,
there were no reportable events as defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of SEC
Regulation S-K.
On November 2, 2005, the Audit Committee engaged
Plante & Moran as our independent registered public
accounting firm. During our fiscal years ended December 31,
2004 and 2003, and during the subsequent interim periods
preceding the resignation of BKR, we had not consulted with
Plante & Moran regarding (i) the application of
accounting principles to a specified transaction, either
completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might
be rendered on our financial statements or (ii) any matter
that was either the subject of a disagreement (as that term is
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of
Regulation S-K)
or a reportable event (as that term is defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K).
19
Selection
of Auditor for 2007
The Audit Committee has selected Plante & Moran as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the 2007
fiscal year and to audit our financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2006. A representative of
Plante & Moran is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make such
statements as he or she may desire.
Fees of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005,
Plante & Moran billed the following fees to us:
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Year Ended
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Year Ended
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12/31/2006
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12/31/2005
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Audit fees(1)
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$
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51,200
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$
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28,250
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Audit-related fees
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2,430
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Tax fees(2)
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7,300
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10,125
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All other fees
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Total Plante & Moran fees
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$
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60,930
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$
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38,375
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(1) |
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The audit fees for the years ended December 31, 2006 and
2005, respectively, were for professional services rendered for
the audit of our annual financial statements, reviews of our
quarterly financial statements, issuance of consents, and
assistance with review of other documents filed with the SEC. |
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The tax fees for the years ended December 31, 2006 and
2005, respectively, were for services related to tax compliance,
tax advice and tax planning including the preparation of tax
returns and assistance with tax audits. |
For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, BKR billed
the following fees to us:
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Year Ended
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Year Ended
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12/31/2006
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12/31/2005
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Audit fees(1)
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$
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$
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2,800
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Audit-related fees(2)
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1,120
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Tax fees(3)
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100
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All other fees
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Total BKR fees
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$
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$
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4,020
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(1) |
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The audit fees for the years ended December 31, 2005, were
for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual
financial statements, reviews of our quarterly financial
statements, issuance of consents, and assistance with review of
other documents filed with the SEC. |
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(2) |
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The audit related fees for the year ended December 31,
2005, were for assurance and related services that are
reasonably related to the performance of the audit of our annual
financial statements and reviews of our quarterly financial
statements, including fees for accounting research. |
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(3) |
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The tax fees for the years ended December 31, 2005, were
for services related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax
planning, including the preparation of tax returns and
assistance with tax audits. |
It is the Audit Committees policy to pre-approve the
services of our independent registered public accounting firm
and present that approval to the Board. For the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005, all of such services were
pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR 2008 ANNUAL MEETING
Shareholders are entitled to submit proposals on matters
appropriate for shareholder action consistent with SEC rules and
our Code of Regulations. Should a shareholder wish to have a
proposal appear in our Proxy Statement for next years
annual meeting, under applicable SEC rules, the proposal must be
received by our Secretary on or
20
before December 8, 2007, and must otherwise comply with the
requirements of
Rule 14a-8
of the Exchange Act. If a shareholder intends to present a
proposal at next years annual meeting but does not intend
to seek the inclusion of such proposal in our Proxy Statement,
such proposal must be received by us prior to February 21,
2008, or our management proxies will be entitled to use
discretionary voting authority should such proposal be raised
without any discussion of the matter in the Proxy Statement. Our
address is 325 John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200,
Columbus, Ohio 43215.
HOUSEHOLDING
OF ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS
The SEC has implemented rules regarding the delivery of proxy
materials (i.e., annual reports, proxy statements, proxy
statements combined with a prospectus or any information
statements provided to shareholders) to households. This method
of delivery, often referred to as householding,
would generally permit us to send a single annual report and a
single proxy statement to any household at which two or more
different shareholders reside if we believe such shareholders
share the same address, unless the shareholder(s) have opted out
of the householding process. Each shareholder would continue to
receive a separate notice of any meeting of shareholders and
proxy card. The householding procedure reduces the volume of
duplicate information you receive and reduces our expenses. We
have instituted householding. If (i) you wish to receive a
separate annual reports or proxy statements, either this year or
in the future, or (ii) if members of your household receive
multiple copies of our annual report and proxy statement and you
wish to request householding, you may contact our transfer
agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company at 17
Battery Place, New York, New York 10004, or write to
Mr. James Laird at our address at 325 John H. McConnell
Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
In addition, many brokerage firms and other holders of record
have instituted householding. If your family has one or more
street name accounts under which our shares are
beneficially owned, you may have received householding
information from your broker, financial institution or other
nominee in the past. Please contact the holder of record
directly if you have questions, require additional copies of
this Proxy Statement or our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the 2006 fiscal year or wish to revoke your decision to
household and thereby receive multiple copies. You should also
contact the holder of record if you wish to institute
householding. These options are available to you at any time.
OTHER
BUSINESS
The Board knows of no other business to be acted upon at the
Annual Meeting. However, if any other business properly comes
before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons
named in the enclosed Proxy to vote on such matters in
accordance with their best judgment.
The prompt completion, execution, and delivery of your proxy
card or your submission of voting instructions electronically
over the Internet or by telephone will be appreciated. Whether
or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete
and sign the Proxy and return it in the enclosed envelope, or
vote your proxy electronically via the Internet or
telephonically.
By Order of the Board of Directors
James F. Laird
Secretary
April 7, 2007
21
Exhibit A
Compensation
Committee Charter
Adopted
August 2005
The Board of Directors of Diamond Hill (the Company)
recognizes its oversight and guidance role within the Company.
The Compensation Committee is a committee utilized by the Board
of Directors in the fulfillment of this oversight and guidance
role.
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II.
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PURPOSE
OF THE COMMITTEE
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The Compensation Committee shall assist the Board of Directors
of the Company in the discharge of its responsibilities relating
to compensation programs of the Company concerning the
Companys executive officers and directors, including
executive compensation, compensation deferral plans, stock
incentive and option plans, performance incentive award
programs, fringe benefit plans of the principal corporate
officers and other employee plans. The Compensation Committee
will fulfill these responsibilities and duties primarily by
carrying out the activities enumerated in this Charter.
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III.
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COMPOSITION
AND ORGANIZATION
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The Compensation Committee shall be comprised of at least three
directors as determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company, each of whom shall be: (i) a non-employee
director within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act); (ii) an
outside director within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended; (iii) independent under prevailing
applicable rules and free from any relationship that, in the
opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the
exercise of independent judgment as a Committee member; and
(iv) selected and retained in compliance with all
applicable rules, regulations and statutes. The Compensation
Committee members shall be appointed for one-year terms at the
annual meeting of the Board of Directors and shall serve until a
replacement for each such member is duly elected and qualified
or until such members resignation or removal from the
Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee shall meet as needed, but no less
than once per year. The Compensation Committee shall be chaired
by one of its members, appointed by the Board of Directors. If
the Board of Directors does not appoint a Chairperson or if the
Chairperson is not present at the meeting, the members of the
Compensation Committee may designate a Chairperson by majority
vote of the full Compensation Committee membership, or those
members present, as the case may be. The Compensation Committee
shall hold executive sessions as necessary
and/or as
convened by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. A
majority of the Compensation Committee members shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business.
The Compensation Committee may act by a majority of its members
at a meeting. The Compensation Committee may also take action by
unanimous written consent or by conference communication by
means of telephone. The Compensation Committee shall keep a
record of its actions and proceedings, and the Chairman of the
Compensation Committee shall make a report thereof from time to
time to the Board of Directors.
The compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) and all other officers (as that term is
defined by
Rule 16a-1(f)
under the Exchange Act) must be determined by the Compensation
Committee voting in executive session. The CEO may not be
present during the Compensation Committees deliberations
regarding his compensation, but may be present during the
Compensation Committees deliberations regarding the
compensation of all other officers of the Company. In any event,
the CEO may not be present during voting on the compensation of
any of the officers of the Company.
A-1
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V.
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RESPONSIBILITIES
AND DUTIES
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To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, as described in
Section II above, the Compensation Committee shall:
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With respect to the determination of executive compensation:
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Recommend to the Board of Directors the salaries, bonuses,
ownership incentives and other significant benefits provided for
the principal corporate officers of the Company.
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Specifically with respect to the CEO, review and approve
corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of
the CEO, evaluate his performance in light thereof, and consider
identified and other factors related to the performance of the
Company in determining a recommendation to the Board of
Directors on the compensation level of such executive;
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Review and recommend to the Board of Directors the overall
compensation of each newly elected principal corporate officer;
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Evaluate on a periodic basis the competitiveness of the
compensation of principal corporate officers and senior
management of the Company; and
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Establish, administer and maintain performance-based
compensation programs under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
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With respect to incentive compensation plans, fringe benefits
plans, deferred compensation plans, supplemental savings plans,
and other equity compensation plans in which the CEO, other
principal corporate officers. and the non-employee directors of
the Company participate (the Plans), to the extent
permitted by law and subject to the terms of the Plans:
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Review, approve and make recommendations to the Board of
Directors regarding functional improvements or changes to the
Plans or adoption of new plans when appropriate;
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Evaluate on a periodic basis the competitiveness of the Plans;
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Specifically with respect to the CEO, review and approve
corporate goals and objectives relevant to the CEO and evaluate
his and the Companys performance taking into account prior
awards and consider identified and other factors related to the
performance of the Company in determining recommendations to the
Board of Directors on the grants and awards to such executive
under the Plans.
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With respect to employee retirement plans and employee welfare
benefit plans (i.e., medical, life insurance, etc. (the
Benefit Plans), evaluate on a periodic basis the
competitiveness of the Benefit Plans and recommend to the Board
of Directors adoption of amendments to the Benefit Plans
involving significant changes or improvements to the extent
permitted by law and subject to the terms of the Benefit Plans.
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Periodically review and approve stock ownership guidelines for,
and review the stock ownership of, principal corporate officers
and senior management of the Company.
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Produce a summary report on executive compensation annually, as
needed, for inclusion in the proxy statement of the Company in
accordance with applicable law, rules and regulations.
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If appropriate, select, retain and, if warranted, replace or
terminate compensation and benefits consultants to provide
independent advice to the Compensation Committee. The
Compensation Committee shall have sole authority to engage any
such consultants, if deemed desirable or beneficial, and shall
approve, in its sole discretion, the consultants fees and
other terms of any such engagement. The Compensation Committee
may, in its discretion, consult with management of the Company
prior to the engagement of any such consultant.
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From time to time, the Compensation Committee, as it deems
appropriate, shall make recommendations to the Board of
Directors regarding other issues related to the principal
corporate officers, senior management,
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A-2
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key employees and directors of the Company, including without
limitation management succession recommendations.
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Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be
assigned to the Compensation Committee, from time to time, by
the Board of Directors of the Company, the Chairman of the Board
of Directors
and/or the
CEO of the Company.
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Review and recommend to the Board of Directors the compensation
for directors, including committee and committee chair fees and
other compensation as appropriate.
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Conduct a review and evaluation annually of the functioning of
the Compensation Committee in such manner as the Compensation
Committee deems appropriate.
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Review and reassess, at least annually, the adequacy of this
Charter and recommend to the Board of Directors for
consideration by the Board of Directors any improvements to this
Charter that the Compensation Committee deems necessary or
appropriate.
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A-3
Audit
Committee Charter
Revised
November 2004
Organization/Purpose
The Audit Committee is a committee of the board of directors.
Its primary function is to assist the Board in fulfilling their
oversight responsibility for the integrity of the Companys
financial statements; the financial reporting process; the
systems of internal accounting and financial controls; and the
independent auditors qualifications and independence. The
Committee shall be members of, and appointed by, the board of
directors and shall comprise directors, each of whom the Board
has determined meet the independence requirements of SEC
regulations and the stock exchange listing standards. All
Committee members shall be financially literate, and at least
one member shall be an audit committee financial
expert, as defined by SEC regulations. The members of the
Committee shall be appointed by the Board and the Board may, at
any time and at its discretion, replace an Audit Committee
member.
In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to
investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access
to all books, records, facilities, and personnel of the Company
and the authority to engage independent counsel and other
advisers as it determines necessary to carry out its duties with
the Company responsible for the expense of such advisors.
Duties
and Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of the Audit Committee is to oversee
the companys financial reporting process on behalf of the
Board and report the results of their activities to the Board.
Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and
integrity of the Companys financial statements and for the
appropriateness of the accounting principles, internal system of
controls, and reporting policies that are used by the Company.
The independent auditors are responsible for auditing the
companys financial statements and for reviewing the
Companys unaudited interim financial statements. The
Committee should take appropriate actions to set the overall
corporate tone for quality financial reporting and sound
business risk practices. The following shall be the principal
duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee. These are
set forth as a guide with the understanding that the committee
may supplement or alter them as appropriate.
1. Provide an open avenue of communication between the
independent accountant and the board of directors.
2. Review and update the Committees charter annually.
3. The Committee shall be directly responsible for the
appointment and termination (subject, if applicable, to
shareholder ratification), compensation, and oversight of the
work of the independent auditors, including resolution of
disagreements between Management and the auditors regarding
financial reporting. The independent auditor shall report
directly to the Audit Committee.
4. The Committee shall pre-approve all audit and non-audit
services provided by the independent auditors and shall not
engage the independent auditors to perform the specific
non-audit services prescribed by law or regulation. The
Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to a member of the
Audit Committee. The decisions of any Audit Committee member to
who pre-approval authority is delegated must be presented to the
full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
5. The Committee shall review the interim financial
statements and disclosures under Managements Discussion
and Analysis or Plan of Operation with Management and the
independent auditors prior to the filing of the Companys
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-QSB.
Also, the Committee shall discuss the results of the quarterly
review and any other matters required to be communicated to the
Committee by the independent auditors under generally accepted
auditing standards. The chair of the Committee may represent the
entire Committee for the purposes of this review.
B-1
6. The Committee shall review with Management and the
independent auditors the financial statements and disclosures
under Managements Discussion and Analysis or Plan of
Operation to be included in the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-KSB,
including their judgment about the quality, not just the
acceptability, of accounting principles, the reasonableness of
significant judgments, and the clarity of the disclosures in the
financial statements. Also, the Committee shall discuss the
results of the annual audit and any other matters required to be
communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors under
generally accepted auditing standards.
7. Confirm and assure the independence of the independent
accountant The audit committee is responsible for ensuring it
receives from the outside auditors, a formal written statement
delineating all relationships between the auditor and the
company, consistent with Independence Standards Board
Standard 1, and the audit committee is responsible for
actively engaging in a dialogue with the auditor with respect to
any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the
objectivity and independence of the auditor and for taking, or
recommending that the full board take, appropriate action to
ensure the independence of the outside auditor.
8. Inquire of management and the independent auditor about
significant risks or exposures and assess the steps management
has taken to minimize such risk to the company.
9. Consider, in consultation with the independent auditor,
the audit plan and scope.
10. Consider and review with the independent auditor:
a) The adequacy of the companys internal controls
including computerized information system controls and security,
b) Managements assertion on its assessment of the
effectiveness of internal controls as of the end of the most
recent fiscal year and the independent auditors report on
Managements assertion, and c) Any related significant
findings and recommendations of the independent auditor together
with managements responses thereto.
11. The Committee shall receive reports on any violations
of the Companys Code of Conduct by members of the Board
and associates of the Company and on any violations of the
Companys Financial Code of Ethics by the Chief Executive
Officer and senior financial officers of the Company.
12. The Committee shall review the CEO and CFOs
disclosure and certifications under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
13. The Committee shall prepare an annual report to be
included in the Companys annual proxy statement as
required by SEC regulations.
14. The Audit Committee will regularly report Committee
actions to the board of directors with such recommendations as
the Committee may deem appropriate.
15. The Committee shall meet at least annually or more
frequently as circumstances require. The Committee may ask
members of management or others to attend the meeting and
provide pertinent information as necessary.
16. The Committee will perform such other functions as
assigned by law, the companys charter or bylaws, or the
board of directors.
17. At least annually, an Executive Session will be held
with the Audit Committee and independent auditors without
management present. This will provide the Audit Committee an
opportunity to ask questions to the independent auditors
independently of management. Upon completion of the Execution
Session, management will join both parties and continue
discussions.
General
In performing their responsibilities, Committee members are
entitled to rely in good faith on information, opinions, reports
or statements prepared or presented by:
1) One or more officers or employees of the Company whom
the committee members reasonable believe to be reliable and
competent in the matters presented; or
2) Counsel, independent auditors, or other persons as to
matters which the Committee member reasonably believes to be
within the professional or expert competence of such person.
B-2
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
Commission file number 000-24498
DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Ohio
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65-0190407 |
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(State or incorporation)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215
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614-255-3333 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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(Registrants telephone number) |
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: None
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Shares, no par value
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act.
Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) 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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K
is contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,
or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Large accelerated filer
o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. Yes o No þ
Aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the
registrant, based on the closing price of $98.99 on March 13, 2007 on the NASDAQ was
$183,057,000. Calculation of holdings by non-affiliates is based upon the assumption, for these
purposes only, that executive officers, directors, and persons holding five percent or more of the
registrants voting and non-voting common shares are affiliates.
2,128,349 Common Shares outstanding as of March 13, 2007 (the latest practical date).
Documents incorporated by reference: In Part III, the Definitive Proxy Statement for the
2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Form 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2006
Index
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35 |
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2
PART I
Item 1. Business
Throughout this Form 10-K, the Company may make forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 relating to such matters as anticipated operating results, prospects for achieving the
critical threshold of assets under management, technological developments, economic trends
(including interest rates and market volatility), expected transactions and acquisitions and
similar matters. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, should and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date thereof. While the
Company believes that the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable,
investors are cautioned that any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and accordingly,
the actual results and experiences of the Company could differ materially from the anticipated
results or other expectations expressed by the Company in its forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause such actual results or experiences to differ from results discussed in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the adverse effect from a decline in
the securities markets; a decline in the performance of the Companys products; changes in interest
rates; a general downturn in the economy; changes in government policy and regulation, including
monetary policy; changes in the Companys ability to attract or retain key employees; unforeseen
costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and
self-regulatory organizations; and other risks identified from time-to-time in the Companys other
public documents on file with the SEC.
General
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. (the Company), an Ohio corporation organized in 1990, derives
its consolidated revenue and net income from investment advisory services provided by its
subsidiary Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc. (DHCM). DHCM is a registered investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 providing investment advisory services to individuals and
institutional investors through the Diamond Hill sponsored mutual funds, separate accounts, and
private investment funds (generally known as hedge funds). The Company was first incorporated in
April 1990.
During 2004, the Company transitioned the operations and services of its broker-dealer subsidiary,
Diamond Hill Securities, Inc. (DHS) to third party broker-dealers and to DHCM in an effort to
solely focus on investment management activities. During the fourth quarter of 2004, DHS
de-registered with the NASD and SEC as a broker-dealer and investment adviser. This transition had
no material impact on the Companys financial statements.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2006, assets under management totaled $3.7 billion, a 142% increase from
December 31, 2005. The following tables show assets under management by product and investment
objective for the dates indicated:
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Assets Under Management by Product |
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As of December 31, |
(in millions) |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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2004 |
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Mutual funds |
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$ |
2,518 |
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$ |
907 |
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$ |
238 |
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Separate accounts |
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875 |
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513 |
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265 |
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Private investment funds |
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315 |
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111 |
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21 |
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Total |
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$ |
3,708 |
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$ |
1,531 |
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$ |
524 |
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3
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Assets Under Management by Objective |
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As of December 31, |
(in millions) |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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2004 |
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Small and Small-Mid Cap |
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$ |
807 |
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$ |
406 |
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$ |
83 |
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Large Cap and Select |
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$ |
919 |
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$ |
437 |
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$ |
169 |
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Long-Short |
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$ |
1,720 |
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$ |
474 |
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$ |
114 |
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Strategic and fixed income |
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$ |
262 |
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$ |
214 |
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$ |
158 |
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Total |
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$ |
3,708 |
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$ |
1,531 |
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$ |
524 |
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Investment Advisory Activities
DHCM executes its investment strategies through fundamental research and valuation disciplines.
Analysts evaluate a companys prospects based upon its current business and financial position,
future growth opportunities, and management capability and strategy. The intended result is a good
estimate of intrinsic value. Intrinsic value is the present value of all future cash flows, which
we estimate the investment will generate, discounted at a rate that reflects the required return
for the investment given the estimated level of risk. In other words, it is the estimated price a
minority shareholder should pay in order to achieve a satisfactory or fair return on the
investment. The estimate of intrinsic value is then compared to the current market price to
evaluate whether, in the opinion of DHCM, an attractive investment opportunity exists. A
proprietary valuation model, which takes into account projected cash flows for five years including
a terminal value (the expected stock price in five years), assists in many of these intrinsic
value estimations. DHCM applies an intrinsic value philosophy to the analysis of fixed income
securities.
DHCM believes that although securities markets are competitive, pricing inefficiencies often exist
allowing for attractive investment opportunities. Furthermore, DHCM believes that investing in
securities whose market prices are significantly below DHCMs estimate of intrinsic value (or
selling short securities whose market prices are above intrinsic value) is a reliable method to
achieve above average returns as well as mitigate risk.
Current portfolio strategies managed include Small Cap, Small-Mid Cap, Large Cap, Select,
Long-Short, Financial Long-Short, and Strategic Income. These strategies are available on a
separately managed basis and/or through a mutual fund. The Small Cap strategy was closed to new
investors as of December 31, 2005.
The Company also manages three private investment funds that utilize the Long-Short strategy.
These funds are offered on a private placement basis to accredited and qualified investors in the
United States and around the world.
Marketing
The Company primarily generates business for all three of its product lines (mutual funds, managed
accounts, and private investment funds) through financial intermediaries including independent
registered investment advisors, brokers, financial planners, investment consultants and third party
marketing firms.
Diamond Hill Funds
The Companys mutual fund portfolios have, we believe, strong investment performance track records
and are highly rated by third party services like Morningstar, Inc. (Morningstar) and Lipper
Analytical, Inc. (Lipper). As of December 31, 2006, 100% of the Diamond Hill Funds (the
Funds), that are eligible for a rating were rated four or five stars by Morningstar. In
addition, all of the Funds with a five year track record were ranked in the top quartile of their
respective Lipper categories. As a result, the Company has had success in raising assets by
focusing on independent registered investment advisors and independent broker/dealers who conduct
their own investment research. During 2006, the Company added resources to mutual fund
distribution through wirehouse broker/dealers and 401k platforms. Below is a summary of the assets
in the Funds by distribution channel as of December 31, 2006 and 2005:
4
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Diamond Hill Funds |
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Assets by Distribution Channel |
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as of December 31, |
(in millions) |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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Independent registered Investment advisors and broker/dealers |
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$ |
1,161 |
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$ |
421 |
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Wirehouse and regional broker/dealers |
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917 |
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392 |
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Defined contribution (401k) |
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157 |
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33 |
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Institutions |
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132 |
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41 |
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Other |
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40 |
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20 |
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Total |
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$ |
2,407 |
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$ |
907 |
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Separate Accounts and Private Investment Funds
The Company continues to develop institutional relationships for separate account management
primarily through consultant relationships, database research screens, and direct marketing. In
June 2006, the Company launched two private investment funds. Both are managed in a similar fashion
to the Companys existing private investment partnership. Diamond Hill Offshore Ltd. is domiciled
in the Cayman Islands for use by foreign entities and qualified U.S. entities. Diamond Hill
Investment Partners II, L.P. is an Ohio limited partnership, similar to the Companys existing
partnership; however, it is designed for institutions and super-accredited investors. The Company
has also engaged a third party placement firm to assist in raising assets in the private investment
funds. To date, efforts by the third party placement firm have been successful. The third party
firm earns 20% of all revenue earned from clients it introduced to the Company.
Growth Prospects
As mentioned the Companys mutual funds, separately managed accounts, and private investment funds,
have strong five year investment returns that we believe compare very favorably to competitors.
Investment returns have been a key driver in the success the Company has achieved in growing assets
under management at a rate in excess of 100% annually in 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
As a result, the Company expects to continue to invest in marketing throughout 2007 in an effort to
expand distribution. Such expenditures are expected to include:
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establishing new selling relationships, |
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adding additional marketing and support staff, |
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attending and sponsoring booths at key industry conferences, and |
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creating additional marketing material for the funds and separately managed accounts. |
The cost of these efforts could be significant but, we believe, will be proportional to the
increase in revenue during 2007 and future years. There can be no assurance that these efforts will
prove successful; however, given the investment results of the Funds and separately managed
accounts, we believe the additional resources devoted to marketing are warranted.
Also recognizing that the Companys primary responsibility is to investors in our Funds and our
separate account clients, we will continue to invest in our investment team and close investment
strategies to new investors when appropriate. For example, our Small Cap strategy was closed to
new investors effective December 31, 2005. In 2006, the company substantially increased its equity
investment team adding two portfolio managers, four equity research analysts and trading and
technology support. A full year cost for those additions will be reflected in 2007.
We believe that one of the most important characteristics exhibited by the best investment firms is
excellent investment returns for their clients over a long period of time. We are pleased that in
our history as an investment advisory firm we have delivered what we believe are excellent
investment returns for our clients. However, we are mindful that if we fail to do so in the
future, our business growth will be negatively impacted. There are certain additional business
risks that may prevent the Company from achieving the above growth prospects. These risks are
detailed in Item 1A.
5
Competition
Competition in the area of investment management services and mutual funds is intense and the
Companys competitors include investment management firms, broker-dealers, banks and insurance
companies, some of whom offer various investment alternatives. Many competitors are better known
than the Company, are better capitalized, offer a broader range of investment products and have
more offices, employees and sales representatives. The Company competes primarily on the basis of
investment philosophy, performance and customer service.
Corporate Investment Portfolio
The Company holds investment positions in Diamond Hill Funds and its private investment funds.
Regulation
DHCM is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act) and operates in a highly regulated environment. The
Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on registered investment advisers, including fiduciary
duties, recordkeeping requirements, operational requirements and disclosure obligations. All
Diamond Hill Funds are registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Each fund
is also required to make notice filings with all states where it is offered for sale. Virtually
all aspects of the Companys investment management business are subject to various federal and
state laws and regulations. Generally, these laws and regulations are primarily intended to
benefit shareholders of the funds and separate account investment clients and generally grant
supervisory agencies and bodies broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or
restrict the Company from carrying on its investment management business in the event that it fails
to comply with such laws and regulations. In such event, possible sanctions which may be imposed
include the suspension of individual employees, business limitations on DHCM engaging in the
investment management business for specified periods of time, the revocation of DHCMs registration
as an investment adviser, and other censures or fines.
Contractual Relationships with the Diamond Hill Funds
The Company is very dependent on its contractual relationships with the Funds. In the event the
advisory or administration agreements with Funds are canceled or not renewed pursuant to the terms
thereof, the Company would be materially and adversely affected. The Company considers its
relationship with the Funds and their Board of Trustees to be good, and it has no reason to believe
that these advisory or administration contracts will not be renewed in the future; however, there
is no assurance that Funds will choose to continue their relationships with the Company. The
Company generated approximately 54% of its 2006 revenues from its advisory and administrative
contracts with Diamond Hill Funds.
Employees
As of December 31, 2006 the Company employed 32 full-time employees and one part-time employee.
The Company generally believes that its relationship with its employees is good and does not
anticipate any material change in the number of employees.
SEC Filings
This Form 10-K includes financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004.
The Company files Forms 10-K annually with the SEC and files Forms 10-Q after each of the first
three fiscal quarters. Prior to this year, the Company was a small business issuer making its
annual 10-K filing on Form 10-KSB and its quarterly filings on Form 10-QSB. A copy of the Form
10-K, as filed with the SEC, will be furnished without charge to any shareholder who contacts the
Companys Secretary at 325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43215 or 614.255.3333.
The Company also makes its SEC filings available, free of charge, on its web site at
www.diamond-hill.com.
6
ITEM 1A: Risk Factors
An investment in the Companys common shares involves various risks, including those
mentioned below and those that are discussed from time-to-time in our other periodic filings with
the SEC. Investors should carefully consider these risks, along with the other information
contained in this report, before making an investment decision regarding the Companys common
shares. There may be additional risks of which we are currently unaware, or which we currently
consider immaterial. All of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition, results of operations, and value of our common stock.
Investment Performance.
If we fail to deliver excellent performance for our clients, both in the short and long term, we
will likely experience diminished investor interest and potentially a diminished level of AUM.
The Companys assets under management, which impact revenue, are subject to significant
fluctuations.
Substantially all revenue for the Company is calculated as percentages of assets under management
or is based on the general performance of the equity securities market. A decline in securities
prices or in the sale of investment products or an increase in fund redemptions generally would
reduce fee income. Financial market declines or adverse changes in interest rates would generally
negatively impact the level of the Companys assets under management and consequently its revenue
and net income. A recession or other economic or political events could also adversely impact the
Companys revenue if it led to a decreased demand for products, a higher redemption rate, or a
decline in securities prices.
The Companys success depends on its key personnel, and its financial performance could be
negatively affected by the loss of their services.
The Companys success depends on highly skilled personnel, including portfolio managers, research
analysts, and management, many of whom have specialized expertise and extensive experience in the
industry. Financial services professionals are in high demand, and the Company faces significant
competition for qualified employees. With the exception of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, key employees do not have employment contracts, and generally can terminate
their employment at any time. We cannot assure that we will be able to retain or replace key
personnel. In order to retain or replace our key personnel, we may be required to increase
compensation, which would decrease net income. The loss of key personnel could damage our
reputation and make it more difficult to retain and attract new employees and investors. Losses of
assets from our client investors would decrease our revenues and net income, possibly materially.
The Company is subject to substantial competition in all aspects of its business.
The Companys investment products compete against an ever-increasing number of investment products
and services from:
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asset management firms, |
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mutual fund companies, |
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commercial banks and thrift institutions, |
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insurance companies, |
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hedge funds, and |
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brokerage and investment banking firms. |
Many of these financial institutions have substantially greater resources than the Company and may
offer a broader range of products or operate in more markets. Some operate in a different
regulatory environment which may give them certain competitive advantages in the investment
products and portfolio structures that they offer. The Company competes with other providers of
investment advisory services primarily based our investment performance. Some institutions have
proprietary products and distribution channels that make it more difficult for us to compete with
them. If current or potential customers decide to use one of our competitors, we could face a
significant decline in market share, assets under management, revenues, and net income. If we are
required to lower our fees in order to remain competitive, our net income could be significantly
reduced because some of our expenses are fixed, especially over shorter periods of time, and others
may not decrease in proportion to the decrease in revenues.
7
A significant portion of the Companys revenues are based on contracts with the Diamond Hill
Funds that are subject to termination without cause and on short notice.
We provide investment advisory and administrative services to the Diamond Hill Funds under various
agreements. The board of each Diamond Hill Fund must annually approve the terms of the investment
management and administration agreements and can terminate the agreement upon 60-day notice. If a
Diamond Hill Fund seeks to lower the fees that we receive or terminate its contract with us, we
would experience a decline in fees earned from the Diamond Hill Funds, which could have a material
adverse effect on our revenues and net income. The Company derived 54% of its 2006 revenue from
investment advisory and administration agreements with Diamond Hill Funds.
The Companys business is subject to substantial governmental regulation.
The Companys business is subject to variety of federal securities laws including the Investment
Advisors Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the U.S. Patriot Act of 2001. In addition, the Company is subject
to significant regulation and oversight by the SEC and NASD. Changes in legal, regulatory,
accounting, tax and compliance requirements could have a significant effect on the Companys
operations and results, including but not limited to increased expenses and reduced investor
interest in certain funds and other investment products offered by the Company. The Company
continually monitors legislative, tax, regulatory, accounting, and compliance developments that
could impact its business.
We will continue to seek to understand, evaluate and when possible, manage and control these and
other business risks.
ITEM 1B: Unresolved Staff Comments - None
ITEM 2: Description of Property
The Company leases approximately 14,187 square feet of office space at 325 John H. McConnell
Blvd, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215 under an operating lease agreement which terminates on July
31, 2013.
The Companys current policy is not to invest in real estate or interests in real estate primarily
for possible capital gain or primarily for income. We do not invest in real estate mortgages or
securities of entities primarily engaged in real estate activities.
ITEM 3: Legal Proceedings
The Company is currently not engaged in any litigation or other legal proceedings.
ITEM 4: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There were no matters submitted during the most recent quarter to a vote of security
holders.
PART II
ITEM 5: Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
The Companys common shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol DHIL. The
following table sets forth the high and low sale and closing prices each quarter since during 2006
and 2005:
8
The following performance graph compares the total shareholder return of an investment in
Diamond Hills Common Stock to that of the Russell MicrocapTM Index, and to two
separate peer group indexes of publicly traded asset management firms for the five-year period
ending on December 31, 2006. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in Diamond Hills
Common Stock and each index was $100 on December 31, 2001. Total return includes reinvestment of
all dividends. According to Russell, the MicrocapTM Index makes up less than 3% of the
U.S. equity market and is a market-value-weighted index of the smallest 1,000 securities in the
small-cap Russell 2000 Index plus the next 1,000 securities. Peer Group returns are weighted by
the market capitalization of each firm at the beginning of each measurement period. The historical
information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Diamond Hill does
not make or endorse any predictions as to future stock performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/31/01 |
|
|
12/31/02 |
|
|
12/31/03 |
|
|
12/31/04 |
|
|
12/31/05 |
|
|
12/31/06 |
|
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
98 |
|
|
|
174 |
|
|
|
419 |
|
|
|
783 |
|
|
|
2,093 |
|
Russell Microcap TM Index |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
84 |
|
|
|
140 |
|
|
|
159 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
190 |
|
Peer Group * |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
The following companies are included in the Peer Group: Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.; U.S.
Global Investors, Inc.; GAMCO Investors, Inc.; Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.; Affiliated Managers
Group, Inc.; Federated Investors, Inc.; Janus Capital Group, Inc.; Eaton Vance Corp. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
High Price |
|
Low Price |
|
Close Price |
|
High Price |
|
Low Price |
|
Close Price |
Quarter ended: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31 |
|
$ |
46.33 |
|
|
$ |
29.75 |
|
|
$ |
41.22 |
|
|
$ |
20.40 |
|
|
$ |
16.41 |
|
|
$ |
18.48 |
|
June 30 |
|
$ |
52.00 |
|
|
$ |
36.38 |
|
|
$ |
47.03 |
|
|
$ |
22.00 |
|
|
$ |
14.01 |
|
|
$ |
17.50 |
|
September 30 |
|
$ |
67.44 |
|
|
$ |
44.00 |
|
|
$ |
63.25 |
|
|
$ |
30.50 |
|
|
$ |
17.00 |
|
|
$ |
25.85 |
|
December 31 |
|
$ |
89.30 |
|
|
$ |
56.25 |
|
|
$ |
83.73 |
|
|
$ |
37.75 |
|
|
$ |
24.78 |
|
|
$ |
31.30 |
|
Due to the relatively low volume of traded shares, quoted prices cannot be considered
indicative of any viable market for such shares. During the years ended December 31, 2006, and
2005, approximately 1,079,800 and 653,700, respectively, of the Companys Common Shares were
traded.
The approximate number of registered holders of record of the Companys common shares at December
31, 2006 was 250. Many of the shares are held in street nominee name and management believes the
number of beneficial holders of the Companys common shares as of December 31, 2006 were
approximately 2,100. The Company has not paid any dividends during the last two fiscal years and
has no present intention of paying dividends.
The Company did not repurchase any of its common shares during 2006 or 2005.
9
ITEM 6: Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the Companys
Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes and Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in this Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
2002 |
|
Income Statement Data (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues |
|
$ |
31,905 |
|
|
$ |
10,246 |
|
|
$ |
2,774 |
|
|
$ |
1,161 |
|
|
$ |
669 |
|
Net operating income (loss) |
|
|
9,769 |
|
|
|
1,394 |
|
|
|
(664 |
) |
|
|
(1,394 |
) |
|
|
(2,397 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
|
8,065 |
|
|
|
3,651 |
|
|
|
(177 |
) |
|
|
(994 |
) |
|
|
(2,464 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings Per Share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.21 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.68 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.73 |
) |
Diluted |
|
|
3.63 |
|
|
|
1.83 |
|
|
|
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
(0.68 |
) |
|
|
(1.73 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
|
1,787,390 |
|
|
|
1,654,935 |
|
|
|
1,566,385 |
|
|
|
1,458,264 |
|
|
|
1,424,602 |
|
Diluted |
|
|
2,219,580 |
|
|
|
1,996,176 |
|
|
|
1,566,385 |
|
|
|
1,458,264 |
|
|
|
1,424,602 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, |
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
2002 |
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
37,236 |
|
|
$ |
12,748 |
|
|
$ |
3,968 |
|
|
$ |
3,314 |
|
|
$ |
3,893 |
|
Long-term debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders equity |
|
|
20,483 |
|
|
|
10,861 |
|
|
|
3,566 |
|
|
|
3,175 |
|
|
|
3,637 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets Under Management (in millions): |
|
$ |
3,708 |
|
|
$ |
1,531 |
|
|
$ |
524 |
|
|
$ |
250 |
|
|
$ |
128 |
|
10
ITEM 7: Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation
In this section we discuss and analyze the consolidated results of operations for the past
three fiscal years and other factors that may affect future financial performance. This discussion
should be read in conjunction with the consolidated Financial Statements, Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements, and Selected Financial Data.
The Companys revenue is derived primarily from investment advisory and administration fees
received from Diamond Hill Funds and investment advisory and performance incentive fees received
from separate accounts and private investment funds. Investment advisory and administration fees
paid to the Company are based primarily on the value of the investment portfolios managed by the
Company and fluctuate with changes in the total value of the assets under management. Such fees are
recognized in the period that the Company manages these assets. Performance incentive fees are
earned in the amount 20% annually on the amount of client investment performance in excess of a 5%
annual return hurdle. Because performance incentive fees are based primarily on the performance of
client accounts, they can be volatile from period to period. The Companys major expense is
employee compensation and benefits.
The following is a summary of the firms assets under management (AUM) for each of the prior
three years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets Under Management by Product |
|
|
As of December 31, |
(in millions) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
Mutual funds |
|
$ |
2,518 |
|
|
$ |
907 |
|
|
$ |
238 |
|
Separate accounts |
|
|
875 |
|
|
|
513 |
|
|
|
265 |
|
Private investment funds |
|
|
315 |
|
|
|
111 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
3,708 |
|
|
$ |
1,531 |
|
|
$ |
524 |
|
|
|
|
11
Consolidated Results of Operations
The following is a discussion of the consolidated results of operations of the Company and a
detailed discussion of the Companys revenues and expenses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
% Change |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
% Change |
|
Net income (in thousands) |
|
$ |
8,065 |
|
|
$ |
3,651 |
|
|
|
121 |
% |
|
$ |
3,651 |
|
|
$ |
(176,500 |
) |
|
|
n.m |
|
Pro-forma net income (in thousands) |
|
$ |
8,065 |
|
|
$ |
1,208 |
|
|
|
568 |
% |
|
$ |
1,208 |
|
|
$ |
(176,500 |
) |
|
|
n.m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.21 |
|
|
|
104 |
% |
|
$ |
2.21 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
n.m |
|
Pro-forma Basic |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
$ |
0.73 |
|
|
|
518 |
% |
|
$ |
0.73 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
n.m |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
|
$ |
1.83 |
|
|
|
98 |
% |
|
$ |
1.83 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
n.m |
|
Pro-forma Diluted |
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
|
|
495 |
% |
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
n.m |
|
Weighted average shares
outstanding (in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
|
1,787 |
|
|
|
1,655 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,655 |
|
|
|
1,566 |
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted |
|
|
2,220 |
|
|
|
1,996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,996 |
|
|
|
1,566 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
n.m. - not meaningful |
Pro-forma net income illustrates the Companys 2005 earnings adjusted for the impact of
federal income taxes. Under GAAP, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $1.66 million
reflecting the likelihood that tax loss carryforwards would be utilized in future years.
Therefore, under GAAP, the Company did not incur income tax expense in 2005 despite $1.989 million
in net income before tax and, instead, recorded an income tax benefit for the year. Pro forma
earnings, which the Company believes are useful for readers of the financial statements to
ascertain the underlying profitability of the Company, do not include the tax benefit of $1.66
million but instead reflect income tax expense of $781 thousand assuming the Company paid federal
and city income tax on taxable income. The Company does not use the pro-forma net income or
pro-forma earnings amounts for any other purpose.
Year ended December 31, 2006 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2005
The Company posted net income of $8,065,133 ($3.63 per diluted share) for the year ended
December 31, 2006, compared with pro-forma net income of $1,208,206 ($0.61 per diluted share) for
the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in profitability is primarily attributable to the
following factors:
|
|
|
The Companys investment advisory fee and mutual fund administration fee increase is
substantially due an increase in AUM of $2.2 billion during 2006. |
|
|
|
|
Performance incentive fees increased by 172% due to increase AUM and strong investment
performance. |
|
|
|
|
Investment income grew by $1.9 million due to a larger investment in the private
investment funds and strong investment performance. |
Operating expenses increased by 150% in 2006 primarily driven by the following:
|
|
|
Employee compensation expense increased by 163%, or $11.3 million primarily due to
higher incentive compensation and an overall staff increase of 52%, primarily on the
investment team. |
|
|
|
|
Consistent with continued growth in mutual fund assets under management, mutual fund
administration expense increased by 104%, or $860,496. |
|
|
|
|
Consistent with higher investment advisory and performance incentive fees, third party
distribution expenses increased by 252%, or $559,385. A large portion of this increase was
related to the new third party placement firm hired during 2006 to focus on distribution of
the private investment funds. |
Year ended December 31, 2005 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2004
The Company posted pro-forma net income of $1,208,206 ($0.61 per diluted share) for the year
ended December 31, 2005, compared with a net loss of $176,500 (($0.11) per diluted share) for the
year ended December 31, 2004. The increase in profitability is primarily attributable to increased
investment advisory and performance incentive fees due to $1 billion in additional AUM. The
profitability increase was offset by an increase in incentive compensation.
12
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in Thousands) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
% Change |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
% Change |
|
Investment advisory |
|
|
20,247 |
|
|
|
6,489 |
|
|
|
212 |
% |
|
|
6,489 |
|
|
|
2,290 |
|
|
|
183 |
% |
Performance incentive |
|
|
7,947 |
|
|
|
2,916 |
|
|
|
173 |
% |
|
|
2,916 |
|
|
|
195 |
|
|
|
1395 |
% |
Mutual fund administration, net |
|
|
3,710 |
|
|
|
841 |
|
|
|
341 |
% |
|
|
841 |
|
|
|
289 |
|
|
|
191 |
% |
Total |
|
|
31,904 |
|
|
|
10,246 |
|
|
|
211 |
% |
|
|
10,246 |
|
|
|
2,774 |
|
|
|
269 |
% |
|
As a percent of total 2006 revenues, investment advisory fees account for 63%, performance
incentive fees account for 25%, and mutual fund administration makes up the remaining 12%.
Investment Advisory Fees. Investment advisory fees are calculated as a percent of average net
assets under management at various levels depending on the investment product. The Companys
average advisory fee rate for the year ended December 31, 2006 was 0.76% compared to 0.72% for the
year ended December 31, 2005. This increase was mainly due to the increase in assets under
management in the long-short products, which have a higher advisory fee. The overall increase in
investment advisory fees was primarily due to an increase in AUM of $2.2 billion in 2006 and $1
billion in 2005. The largest increase in 2006 came from the Diamond Hill Long-Short fund which
increased $924 million, or 300% over 2005. The largest increase in 2005 came from the Diamond Hill
Small Cap fund which increased $315 million, or 445% over 2004.
Performance Incentive Fees. Performance incentive fees are equal to 20% of the performance
increase in client accounts after a 5% annual hurdle is achieved. The fees are dependent on both
assets under management and absolute investment performance in client accounts and can be volatile
from period to period. Incentive fee AUM totaled $374 million at December 31, 2006 compared to
$117 million at the end of 2005. Strong investment performance coupled with a 220% increase in
incentive fee AUM contributed to the $5 million increase in fees for 2006 compared to 2005. In
June 2006, the Company launched two private investment funds, which provide for an incentive fee.
In conjunction with the launch of these two funds, a third party placement firm was hired to market
the new funds as well as the Companys existing private investment fund. To date efforts by the
third party placement firm have been successful.
Mutual Fund Administration Fees. Mutual fund administration fees are calculated as a percent of
average net assets under administration in the Diamond Hill Funds. The Company earns 0.36% on
Class A and Class C shares and 0.18% on Class I shares. As assets in the Funds have grown the
Company has realized certain economies of scale; and as a result, the Company has lowered its
administration fees by approximately 10% in each of the last two years to pass on those economies
of scale to fund shareholders. The Company expects to lower its administration fees again
effective April 30, 2007. Despite lowering fees by 10% during 2006, fund administration revenues
increased by $2.9 million over 2005.
13
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in Thousands) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
% Change |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
% Change |
|
Compensation and related costs |
|
|
18,148 |
|
|
|
6,878 |
|
|
|
164 |
% |
|
|
6,878 |
|
|
|
2,277 |
|
|
|
202 |
% |
General and administrative |
|
|
1,137 |
|
|
|
679 |
|
|
|
67 |
% |
|
|
679 |
|
|
|
501 |
|
|
|
36 |
% |
Sales and marketing |
|
|
384 |
|
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
55 |
% |
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
191 |
|
|
|
30 |
% |
Third party distribution |
|
|
781 |
|
|
|
222 |
|
|
|
252 |
% |
|
|
222 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
1288 |
% |
Mutual fund administration |
|
|
1,686 |
|
|
|
825 |
|
|
|
104 |
% |
|
|
825 |
|
|
|
453 |
|
|
|
82 |
% |
Total |
|
|
22,136 |
|
|
|
8,852 |
|
|
|
150 |
% |
|
|
8,852 |
|
|
|
3,438 |
|
|
|
157 |
% |
|
Compensation and Related Costs. Employee compensation and benefits increased by $11.3
million, or 164%, in 2006 and $4.6 million, or 202% in 2005, primarily due to incentive bonuses
associated with strong long-term investment performance and a 52% increase in staff, primarily on
the investment team.
General and Administrative. The increase in general and administrative expenses of $458 thousand,
or 67%, resulted from increased legal and audit fees related to Sarbanes-Oxley, additional
investment research costs, and additional rent expense associated with the larger office space the
Company moved into during 2006.
Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $136 thousand, or 55% during 2006.
This increase was primarily due to increased expense related to marketing materials and additional
travel expense incurred related to new business attained during the year. Meals and entertainment
were flat year over year.
Third Party Distribution. Third party distribution expense represents payments made to third party
intermediaries directly related to sales made by those parties of the Companys investment
products. Substantially all of this expense in 2006, 2005, and 2004 is related to new client
investments in the Companys private investment funds. The year over year increases directly
correspond to the increase in investment advisory and performance incentive fees earned by the
Company.
Mutual Fund Administration. Mutual fund administration expense increased by $860 thousand and $372
thousand in 2006 and 2005, respectively. A large portion of mutual fund administration expense is
calculated based on a percent of assets under administration in the Diamond Hill Funds. The year
over year increases are consistent with the continued growth in assets under administration.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Companys entire investment portfolio is in readily marketable securities, which provide
for cash liquidity, if needed, within three business days. Investments in mutual funds are valued
at their current net asset value. Investments in private investment funds are valued based on
readily available market quotations. Inflation is expected to have no material impact on the
Companys performance.
As of December 31, 2006, the Company had working capital of approximately $19.1 million compared to
$8.4 million at December 31, 2005. Working capital includes cash, securities owned and accounts
and notes receivable, net of all liabilities. The Company has no debt and its available working
capital is expected to be sufficient to cover current expenses. The Company does not expect any
material capital expenditures during 2007; however, capital levels are expected to be impacted by
future stock-based option and warrant exercises.
14
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our revenues and net income are based primarily on the value of assets under our management.
Accordingly, declines in financial market values directly and negatively impact our investment
advisory revenues and net income.
The Company invests in Diamond Hill Funds and its private investment funds, which are market risk
sensitive financial instruments. These investments have inherent market risk in the form of equity
price risk; that is, the potential future loss of value that would result from a decline in the
fair value. Each equity fund and its underlying net assets are also subject to market risk, which
may arise from changes in equity prices. The bond fund is also subject to market risk which may
arise from changes in equity prices, credit ratings and interest rates. Market prices fluctuate
and the amount realized upon subsequent sale may differ significantly from the reported market
value.
The table below summarizes the Companys market risks as of December 31, 2006, and shows the
effects of a hypothetical 10% increase and decrease in equity and bond fund investments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value Assuming a |
|
|
Fair Value Assuming a |
|
|
|
Fair Value as of |
|
|
Hypothetical 10% |
|
|
Hypothetical 10% |
|
|
|
December 31, 2006 |
|
|
Increase |
|
|
Decrease |
|
|
Equity fund investments |
|
$ |
16,192,613 |
|
|
$ |
17,811,874 |
|
|
$ |
14,573,352 |
|
Bond fund investments |
|
|
2,916,069 |
|
|
|
3,207,676 |
|
|
|
2,624,462 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
19,108,682 |
|
|
$ |
21,019,550 |
|
|
$ |
17,197,814 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm on Consolidated Financial Statements
The Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc:
We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. and its
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statement of income,
changes in shareholders equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated
financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. The financial
statements of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004,
were audited by other auditors whose report dated January 20, 2005, expressed an unqualified
opinion on those statements.
We have conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating
the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. and
its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the consolidated results of their operations
and cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated
March 6, 2007, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Plante & Moran, PLLC
Columbus, Ohio
March 6, 2007
16
The report that appears below is a copy of the report issued by the Companys previous
independent auditor, BKR Longanbach Giusti, LLC. That firm has discontinued performing
auditing and accounting services and is no longer registered with the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the shareholders and Board of Directors of
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
We have audited the consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders equity and
cash flows of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries for the year ended December
31, 2004. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements
based on our audit.
We have conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating
the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Diamond Hill Investment
Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ BKR Longanbach Giusti, LLC
Columbus, Ohio
January 20, 2005
17
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
9,836,989 |
|
|
$ |
2,532,334 |
|
Investment portfolio |
|
|
19,108,682 |
|
|
|
5,855,370 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
6,924,008 |
|
|
|
1,897,701 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
869,501 |
|
|
|
580,109 |
|
Fixed assets, net of depreciation, and other assets |
|
|
497,297 |
|
|
|
111,863 |
|
Deferred taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,770,132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
37,236,477 |
|
|
$ |
12,747,509 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
|
1,217,114 |
|
|
|
336,497 |
|
Accrued incentive compensation |
|
|
13,637,000 |
|
|
|
1,550,000 |
|
Deferred taxes |
|
|
1,899,106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities |
|
|
16,753,220 |
|
|
|
1,886,497 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, no par value
7,000,000 shares authorized; 1,848,472 issued
1,838,435 outstanding at December 31, 2006
1,755,899 outstanding at December 31, 2005 |
|
|
16,515,256 |
|
|
|
13,199,444 |
|
Preferred stock, undesignated, 1,000,000 shares
authorized and unissued |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Treasury stock, at cost
10,037 shares at December 31, 2006
72,073 shares at December 31, 2005 |
|
|
(95,736 |
) |
|
|
(412,370 |
) |
Deferred compensation |
|
|
(2,355,499 |
) |
|
|
(292,381 |
) |
Retained earnings / (Accumulated deficit) |
|
|
6,419,236 |
|
|
|
(1,633,681 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders equity |
|
|
20,483,257 |
|
|
|
10,861,012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
|
$ |
37,236,477 |
|
|
$ |
12,747,509 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
18
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
REVENUES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment advisory |
|
$ |
20,246,624 |
|
|
$ |
6,488,767 |
|
|
$ |
2,290,324 |
|
Performance incentive |
|
|
7,947,434 |
|
|
|
2,915,771 |
|
|
|
194,524 |
|
Mutual fund administration, net |
|
|
3,710,141 |
|
|
|
841,527 |
|
|
|
288,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenue |
|
|
31,904,199 |
|
|
|
10,246,065 |
|
|
|
2,773,808 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING EXPENSES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation and related costs |
|
|
18,147,526 |
|
|
|
6,877,929 |
|
|
|
2,276,797 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
1,137,319 |
|
|
|
678,939 |
|
|
|
500,507 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
|
383,994 |
|
|
|
247,972 |
|
|
|
190,869 |
|
Third party distribution |
|
|
781,256 |
|
|
|
221,871 |
|
|
|
16,358 |
|
Mutual fund administration |
|
|
1,685,536 |
|
|
|
825,040 |
|
|
|
453,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
22,135,631 |
|
|
|
8,851,751 |
|
|
|
3,437,595 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) |
|
|
9,768,568 |
|
|
|
1,394,314 |
|
|
|
(663,787 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Return |
|
|
2,526,620 |
|
|
|
594,777 |
|
|
|
487,287 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES |
|
|
12,295,188 |
|
|
|
1,989,091 |
|
|
|
(176,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax (provision) / benefit |
|
|
(4,230,055 |
) |
|
|
1,661,675 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCOME (LOSS) |
|
$ |
8,065,133 |
|
|
$ |
3,650,766 |
|
|
$ |
(176,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.21 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
|
$ |
1.83 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
|
1,787,390 |
|
|
|
1,654,935 |
|
|
|
1,566,385 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted |
|
|
2,219,580 |
|
|
|
1,996,176 |
|
|
|
1,566,385 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
19
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Common |
|
|
Treasury |
|
|
Deferred |
|
|
Earnings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding |
|
|
Stock |
|
|
Stock |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
(Deficit) |
|
|
Total |
|
Balance at January 1, 2004 |
|
|
1,523,999 |
|
|
$ |
10,025,711 |
|
|
$ |
(1,739,206 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,744 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,107,947 |
) |
|
$ |
3,174,814 |
|
Deferred compensation |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
55,200 |
|
|
|
85,800 |
|
|
|
(141,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recognition of current year
deferred compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,194 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,194 |
|
Sale of treasury stock |
|
|
74,061 |
|
|
|
123,803 |
|
|
|
424,028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
547,831 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(176,500 |
) |
|
|
(176,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2004 |
|
|
1,613,060 |
|
|
$ |
10,204,714 |
|
|
$ |
(1,229,378 |
) |
|
$ |
(124,550 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,284,447 |
) |
|
$ |
3,566,339 |
|
Deferred compensation |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
143,700 |
|
|
|
85,800 |
|
|
|
(229,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recognition of current year
deferred compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,669 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,669 |
|
FAS 123R compensation expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
634,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
634,712 |
|
Tax benefit from options and
warrants exercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
108,457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
108,457 |
|
Sale of treasury stock |
|
|
127,839 |
|
|
|
2,107,861 |
|
|
|
731,208 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,839,069 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,650,766 |
|
|
|
3,650,766 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2005 |
|
|
1,755,899 |
|
|
$ |
13,199,444 |
|
|
$ |
(412,370 |
) |
|
$ |
(292,381 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,633,681 |
) |
|
$ |
10,861,012 |
|
Deferred compensation |
|
|
44,482 |
|
|
|
2,246,503 |
|
|
|
160,101 |
|
|
|
(2,406,604 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recognition of current year
deferred compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
343,486 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
343,486 |
|
FAS 123R compensation expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,597 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,597 |
|
Tax benefit from options and
warrants exercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
426,419 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
426,419 |
|
Sale of treasury stock |
|
|
34,054 |
|
|
|
525,293 |
|
|
|
156,533 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,216 |
) |
|
|
669,610 |
|
Exercise of 4,000 warrants
for common stock |
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,065,133 |
|
|
|
8,065,133 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2006 |
|
|
1,838,435 |
|
|
$ |
16,515,256 |
|
|
$ |
(95,736 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,355,499 |
) |
|
$ |
6,419,236 |
|
|
$ |
20,483,257 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
20
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income (loss) |
|
$ |
8,065,133 |
|
|
$ |
3,650,766 |
|
|
$ |
(176,500 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation on property and equipment |
|
|
69,165 |
|
|
|
39,950 |
|
|
|
40,847 |
|
Amortization of deferred compensation |
|
|
343,486 |
|
|
|
61,669 |
|
|
|
20,194 |
|
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable |
|
|
(5,026,307 |
) |
|
|
(532,201 |
) |
|
|
(1,192,201 |
) |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
4,071,965 |
|
|
|
(1,661,675 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Stock option expense |
|
|
27,597 |
|
|
|
634,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
(Increase) decrease in unrealized gains |
|
|
(2,110,524 |
) |
|
|
(487,300 |
) |
|
|
(352,411 |
) |
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities |
|
|
12,991,309 |
|
|
|
1,485,277 |
|
|
|
263,974 |
|
Other changes in assets and liabilities |
|
|
(289,392 |
) |
|
|
(330,237 |
) |
|
|
(34,631 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities |
|
|
18,142,432 |
|
|
|
2,860,961 |
|
|
|
(1,430,728 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property and equipment |
|
|
(454,599 |
) |
|
|
(28,322 |
) |
|
|
(24,138 |
) |
Investment portfolio activity |
|
|
(11,142,788 |
) |
|
|
(3,241,940 |
) |
|
|
958,616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by investing
activities |
|
|
(11,597,387 |
) |
|
|
(3,270,262 |
) |
|
|
934,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sale of treasury stock |
|
|
669,610 |
|
|
|
2,839,069 |
|
|
|
547,831 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
759,610 |
|
|
|
2,839,069 |
|
|
|
547,831 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change during the period |
|
|
7,304,655 |
|
|
|
2,429,768 |
|
|
|
51,581 |
|
At beginning of period |
|
|
2,532,334 |
|
|
|
102,566 |
|
|
|
50,985 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At end of period |
|
$ |
9,836,989 |
|
|
$ |
2,532,334 |
|
|
$ |
102,566 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the period for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,874 |
|
Income taxes |
|
|
91,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
21
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 Organization
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. (the Company) was incorporated as a Florida
corporation in April 1990 and in May 2002 merged into an Ohio corporation formed for the purpose
of reincorporating in Ohio, where the Companys principal place of business is located. The
Company has two operating subsidiaries.
Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc. (DHCM), an Ohio corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company and a registered investment advisor. DHCM is the investment adviser to the Diamond
Hill Funds (the Funds), a series of open-end mutual funds, private investment funds (the
Private Funds), and also offers advisory services to institutional and individual investors.
Diamond Hill GP (Cayman) Ltd. (DHGP) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted
company on May 18, 2006 for the purpose of acting as the general partner of a Cayman Islands
exempted limited partnership, which partnership will act as a master fund for Diamond Hill
Offshore Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company; and Diamond Hill Investment Partners II, L.P.,
an Ohio limited partnership. Diamond Hill GP (Cayman) Ltd. has no operating activity.
Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods.
Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of the Companys
significant accounting policies:
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year financial
presentation.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the operations of the Company, DHCM,
and DHGP. All material inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Segment Information
SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, establishes
disclosure requirements relating to operating segments in annual and interim financial statements.
Management has determined that the Company operates in one business segment, namely as an
investment adviser managing mutual funds, separate accounts, and private investment funds.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and money market funds.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded when they are due and are presented in the balance sheet, net of
any allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable are written off when they are determined
to be uncollectible. Any allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on the Companys
historical losses, existing conditions in the industry, and the financial stability of those
individuals or entities that owe the receivable. No allowance for doubtful accounts was deemed
necessary at December 31, 2006 and 2005.
22
Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Valuation of Investment Portfolio
Investments in mutual funds are valued at their current net asset value. Investments in Private
Funds are valued based on readily available market quotations. The market value adjustments on
the investments are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income as investment returns.
Limited Partnership Interests
DHCM is the managing member of Diamond Hill General Partner, LLC, the General Partner of Diamond
Hill Investment Partners, LP (DHIP) and Diamond Hill Investment Partners II, LP (DHIP II),
each a limited partnership whose underlying assets consist of marketable securities. DHCMs
investment in DHIP and DHIP II is accounted for using the equity method, under which DHCMs share
of the net earnings or losses from the partnership is reflected in income as earned and
distributions received are reflected as reductions from the investment. Several board members,
officers and employees of the Company invest in DHIP and DHIP II through Diamond Hill General
Partner, LLC. These individuals receive no remuneration as a result of their personal investment
in DHIP or DHIP II. The capital of Diamond Hill General Partner, LLC is not subject to a
management fee or an incentive fee.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, consisting of computer equipment, furniture, and fixtures, is carried at
cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method
over estimated lives of three to seven years.
Treasury Stock
Treasury stock purchases are accounted for under the cost method. The subsequent issuances
of these shares are accounted for based on their weighted-average cost basis.
Revenue Recognition
The Company earns substantially all of its revenue from investment advisory and fund
administration services. Mutual fund investment advisory and administration fees, calculated as a
percentage of assets under management, are recorded as revenue as services are performed. Managed
account and private investment fund clients provide for monthly or quarterly management fees, in
addition to quarterly or annual performance fees.
EITF Abstract Topic No. D-96, Accounting for Management Fees Based on a Formula, identifies two
methods by which incentive revenue may be recorded. Under Method 1, incentive fees are recorded
at the end of the contract period; under Method 2, the incentive fees are recorded periodically
and calculated as the amount that would be due under the formula at any point in time as if the
contract was terminated at that date. Management has chosen the more conservative method (Method
1), in which incentive fees are recorded at the end of the contract period for the specific
client in which the incentive fee applies. All clients have a contractual period that ends on
December 31. Some clients also have a contractual period that ends on each calendar quarter end.
23
Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
Revenue Recognition Mutual Fund Administration
DHCM has an administrative, fund accounting and transfer agency services agreement with Diamond
Hill Funds, an Ohio business trust, under which DHCM performs certain services for each series of
the trust. These services include mutual fund administration, accounting, transfer agency and
other related functions. For performing these services, each series of the trust compensates DHCM
a fee at an annual rate of 0.36% for Class A and Class C shares and 0.18% for Class I shares times
each series average daily net assets. In fulfilling its role under this agreement, DHCM has
engaged several third-party providers, and the cost for their services is paid by DHCM. A portion
of these expenses could, and are typically, paid for directly by the Funds and are classified
below as fund related. These expenses include, among others, fund custody, registration fees,
legal and audit fees. DHCMs agreement, however, requires that DHCM pay for all fund
administration expenses, including those that could be paid directly by the Funds. In addition,
DHCM finances the up-front commissions paid to brokers who sell C shares of the Diamond Hill
Funds. As financer, DHCM advances the commission to the selling broker at the time of sale. This
commission advance is capitalized and amortized off over 12 months to correspond with the payments
DHCM receives from the principal underwriter to recoup this commission payment. Mutual fund
administration (admin) gross and net revenue are summarized below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
Mutual fund admin revenue, gross |
|
$ |
5,795,110 |
|
|
$ |
1,736,346 |
|
|
$ |
619,835 |
|
Mutual fund admin, fund related expense |
|
|
2,183,599 |
|
|
|
927,043 |
|
|
|
340,510 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mutual fund admin revenue, net of fund related expenses |
|
|
3,611,511 |
|
|
|
809,303 |
|
|
|
279,325 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C-Share broker commission advance repayments |
|
|
1,210,697 |
|
|
|
579,285 |
|
|
|
226,661 |
|
C-Share broker commission amortization |
|
|
1,112,067 |
|
|
|
547,061 |
|
|
|
217,026 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C-Share financing activity, net |
|
|
98,630 |
|
|
|
32,224 |
|
|
|
9,635 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mutual fund administration revenue, net |
|
$ |
3,710,141 |
|
|
$ |
841,527 |
|
|
$ |
288,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income Taxes
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability (or balance sheet)
method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax
effects of the various temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the various balance
sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws.
In June 2006, the FASB issued interpretation No. 48, Accounting for the Uncertainty in Income
Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies certain aspects of
accounting for uncertain tax positions, including issues related to the recognition and
measurement of those tax positions. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2006. Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of the
adoption of this interpretation.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss)
by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects
the potential dilution of EPS that could occur if options, warrants, and restricted stock units to
issue common stock were exercised.
24
Note 3 Investment Portfolio
As of December 31, 2006, the Company held investments worth $19.1 million and a cost basis
of $16.0 million. The following table summarizes the market value of these investments over the
last two fiscal years:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Diamond Hill Small Cap Fund |
|
$ |
65,371 |
|
|
$ |
60,817 |
|
Diamond Hill Small-Mid Cap Fund |
|
|
330,546 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund |
|
|
292,369 |
|
|
|
58,918 |
|
Diamond Hill Select Fund |
|
|
342,121 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund |
|
|
295,953 |
|
|
|
60,405 |
|
Diamond Hill Financial Long-Short Fund |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Diamond Hill Strategic Income Fund |
|
|
2,916,069 |
|
|
|
1,024,171 |
|
Diamond Hill Investment Partners, L.P. |
|
|
9,744,285 |
|
|
|
4,051,059 |
|
Diamond Hill Investment Partners II, L.P. |
|
|
4,821,968 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Investment Portfolio |
|
$ |
19,108,682 |
|
|
$ |
5,855,370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DHCM is the managing member of the General Partner of DHIP and DHIP II, whose underlying
assets consist primarily of marketable securities. The General Partner is contingently liable for
all of the partnerships liabilities. Summary financial information, including the Companys
carrying value and income from these partnerships is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
Total assets |
|
$ |
357,375,152 |
|
|
$ |
176,442,538 |
|
|
$ |
40,934,365 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
146,918,057 |
|
|
|
69,122,518 |
|
|
|
20,194,401 |
|
Net assets |
|
|
210,457,095 |
|
|
|
107,320,020 |
|
|
|
20,739,964 |
|
Net income |
|
|
35,961,019 |
|
|
|
20,215,378 |
|
|
|
4,519,117 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DHCMs portion of net assets |
|
|
14,566,253 |
|
|
|
4,051,059 |
|
|
|
1,078,302 |
|
DHCMs portion of net income |
|
|
6,515,194 |
|
|
|
2,972,757 |
|
|
|
614,852 |
|
DHCMs income from these partnerships includes its pro-rata capital allocation and its
share of an incentive allocation from the limited partners.
25
Note 4 Capital Stock
Common Shares
The Company has only one class of securities, Common Shares.
Authorization of Preferred Shares
The Companys Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of blank
check preferred shares with such designations, rights and preferences, as may be determined from
time to time by the Companys Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is empowered, without
shareholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting, or
other rights, which could adversely affect the voting or other rights of the holders of the Common
Shares. There were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding at December 31, 2006.
Note 5 Stock-Based Compensation
Equity Incentive Plans
2005 Employee and Director Equity Incentive Plan
At the Companys annual shareholder meeting on May 12, 2005, shareholders approved the 2005
Employee and Director Equity Incentive Plan (2005 Plan). The 2005 Plan is intended to
facilitate the Companys ability to attract and retain staff, provide additional incentive to
employees, directors and consultants, and to promote the success of the Companys business. The
Plan authorizes the issuance of Common Shares of the Company in various forms of stock or option
grants. As of December 31, 2006 shares available for issuance under the Plan are 412,197. The
Plan provides that the Board of Directors, or a committee appointed by the Board, may grant awards
and otherwise administer the Plan.
1993 Non-qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan
The Company adopted a Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan in 1993 that authorized the
grant of options to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock. The
Plan provides that the Board of Directors, or a committee appointed by the Board, may grant
options and otherwise administer the Option Plan. This Plan expired by its terms in November
2003. Options outstanding under this Plan are not affected by the Plans expiration.
Equity Compensation Grants
On May 13, 2004 the Companys shareholders approved terms and conditions of certain equity
compensation grants to three key employees. Under the approved terms a total of 75,000 shares of
restricted stock and restricted stock units were issued to the key employees on May 31, 2004. The
restricted stock and restricted stock units are restricted from sale and do not vest until May 31,
2009.
401(k) Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan whereby all employees participate in the plan. Employees may
contribute a portion of their compensation subject to certain limits based on federal tax laws.
The Company makes matching contributions of Common Shares of the Company with a value equal to 200
percent of the first six percent of an employees compensation contributed to the plan. Employees
become fully vested in the matching contributions after six plan years of employment. For the
years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, expense attributable to the plan were $327,090,
$238,073 and $134,478, respectively.
26
Note 5 Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)
Effective October 1, 2005, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation (SFAS 123R). SFAS 123R requires all share-based payments to employees and
directors, including grants of stock options, to be recognized as expense in the income statement
based on their fair values. The amount of compensation is measured at the fair value of the
options when granted, and this cost is expensed over the required service period, which is
normally the vesting period of the options. SFAS 123R applies to the Company for options granted
or modified after October 1, 2005. SFAS 123R also requires compensation cost to be recorded for
prior option grants that vest after the date of adoption.
Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company applied Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25
(APB 25) and related Interpretations in accounting for stock options and warrants issued to
employees and directors. Under APB 25, only certain pro forma disclosures of fair value were
required. Had compensation cost for all of the Companys stock-based awards been determined in
accordance with FAS 123R, the Companys net income and earnings per share would have been reduced
to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
Net income (loss), as reported |
|
$ |
8,065,133 |
|
|
$ |
3,650,766 |
|
|
$ |
(176,500 |
) |
Add: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based employee
compensation expense
included in reported
net income, net of
related tax effects |
|
|
27,597 |
|
|
|
523,505 |
|
|
|
|
|
Deduct: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stock-based
employee
compensation expense
determined under
fair value based
methods for all
awards net of
related tax effects |
|
|
(27,597 |
) |
|
|
(559,139 |
) |
|
|
(103,091 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net income (loss) |
|
$ |
8,065,133 |
|
|
$ |
3,615,132 |
|
|
$ |
(279,591 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic as reported |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.21 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
Basic pro forma |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.18 |
|
|
$ |
(0.18 |
) |
Diluted as reported |
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
|
$ |
1.83 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
Diluted pro forma |
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
|
$ |
1.81 |
|
|
$ |
(0.18 |
) |
The fair value of options granted in 2005 was $8.84. No options were granted in 2006 or 2004.
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model with following weighted-average assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
Dividend yield: |
|
|
0.0 |
% |
Expected volatility: |
|
|
28 |
% |
Expected life: |
|
5 years |
Risk-free interest rate: |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
27
Note 5 Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)
Stock option and warrant transactions under the various plans for the past three fiscal
years are summarized below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
Warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
Outstanding December 31, 2003 |
|
|
260,202 |
|
|
$ |
10.58 |
|
|
|
280,400 |
|
|
$ |
12.90 |
|
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired / Forfeited |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding December 31, 2004 |
|
|
260,202 |
|
|
|
10.58 |
|
|
|
280,400 |
|
|
|
12.90 |
|
Exercisable December 31, 2004 |
|
|
154,202 |
|
|
|
14.52 |
|
|
|
280,400 |
|
|
|
12.90 |
|
Granted |
|
|
71,800 |
|
|
|
28.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired / Forfeited |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
14.38 |
|
Exercised |
|
|
29,000 |
|
|
|
13.21 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
14.38 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding December 31, 2005 |
|
|
303,002 |
|
|
|
14.48 |
|
|
|
259,400 |
|
|
|
12.78 |
|
Exercisable December 31, 2005 |
|
|
231,002 |
|
|
|
17.53 |
|
|
|
259,400 |
|
|
|
12.78 |
|
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired / Forfeited |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
|
19,900 |
|
|
|
12.79 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
17.88 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding December 31, 2006 |
|
|
283,102 |
|
|
$ |
14.60 |
|
|
|
249,400 |
|
|
$ |
12.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable December 31, 2006 |
|
|
243,102 |
|
|
$ |
16.26 |
|
|
|
249,400 |
|
|
$ |
12.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options and warrants outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2006 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
Warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
Life |
|
|
Number |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
Life |
|
|
Number |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding |
|
|
In Years |
|
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
|
Outstanding |
|
|
In Years |
|
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
|
|
|
16,202 |
|
|
|
1.36 |
|
|
|
16,202 |
|
|
$ |
73.75 |
|
|
|
11,000 |
|
|
|
0.18 |
|
|
|
11,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.63 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
3.61 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
7.95 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
1.36 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
73.75 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
3.97 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
8.44 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
22.20 |
|
|
|
|
66,900 |
|
|
|
3.97 |
|
|
|
66,900 |
|
|
|
28.10 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
2.37 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
22.50 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
4.25 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
8.45 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
3.16 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
11.25 |
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
4.54 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
5.25 |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
3.36 |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
8.75 |
|
|
|
|
110,000 |
|
|
|
6.43 |
|
|
|
70,000 |
|
|
|
4.50 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
3.36 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
8.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
283,102 |
|
|
|
4.90 |
|
|
|
243,102 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
249,400 |
|
|
|
3.06 |
|
|
|
249,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The aggregate intrinsic value of options and warrants outstanding and exercisable as of
December 31, 2006 are:
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding |
|
$ |
37,317,475 |
|
Exercisable |
|
$ |
34,148,275 |
|
28
Note 6 Operating Leases
The Company leases approximately 14,187 square feet of office space at 325 John H.
McConnell Blvd, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215 under an operating lease agreement which
terminates on July 31, 2013. Total lease and operating expenses for year ended December 31, 2006,
2005, and 2004 were $206,917, $139,250, and $120,000, respectively. The future minimum lease
payments under the operating lease are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2008 |
|
2009 |
|
2010 |
|
2011 |
|
2012 |
|
2013 |
$216,777 |
|
$ |
223,870 |
|
|
$ |
230,964 |
|
|
$ |
238,057 |
|
|
$ |
245,151 |
|
|
$ |
254,018 |
|
|
$ |
129,669 |
|
In addition to the above rent, the Company will also be responsible for normal operating expenses
of the property. Such operating expenses were approximately $8.75 per square foot in 2006, are
expected to be $9.04 in 2007 and may increase by no more than 5% annually thereafter.
29
Note 7 INCOME TAXES
The Company files a consolidated Federal income tax return. It is the policy of the Company to
allocate the consolidated tax provision to subsidiaries as if each subsidiarys tax liability or
benefit were determined on a separate company basis. As part of the consolidated group,
subsidiaries transfer to the Company their current Federal tax liability or assets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
Current city income tax provision (benefit) |
|
$ |
158,090 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Deferred federal income tax provision (benefit) |
|
|
4,071,965 |
|
|
|
(1,661,675 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
$ |
4,230,055 |
|
|
$ |
(1,661,675 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A reconciliation of income tax expense at the statutory federal rate to the Companys
income tax expense is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
Income tax computed at statutory rate |
|
$ |
4,180,364 |
|
|
$ |
676,291 |
|
|
$ |
(60,010 |
) |
City income taxes, net of federal benefit |
|
|
104,339 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
(54,648 |
) |
|
|
104,594 |
|
|
|
|
|
Valuation allowance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,442,560 |
) |
|
|
60,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
$ |
4,230,055 |
|
|
$ |
(1,661,675 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following at December 31, 2006 and 2005:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Deferred tax benefit of NOL Carryforward |
|
$ |
248,686 |
|
|
$ |
2,627,282 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
$ |
111,207 |
|
|
$ |
111,207 |
|
Unrealized (gains) losses |
|
|
(2,264,114 |
) |
|
|
(964,277 |
) |
Other assets and liabilities |
|
|
5,115 |
|
|
|
(4,080 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) |
|
$ |
(1,899,106 |
) |
|
$ |
1,770,132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company received federal tax benefits
from the exercise of stock-based compensation of $402,727 and $108,457 respectively, which
resulted in an increase to equity.
As of December 31, 2006, the Company and its subsidiaries had net operating loss (NOL) carry
forwards for tax purposes of approximately $731,000. These NOLs will expire from 2016 to 2024.
Any future changes in control may limit the availability of NOL carryforwards.
30
Note 8 Earnings Per Share
The following table sets for the computation for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per
share (EPS):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2004 |
|
Basic and Diluted net income (loss) |
|
$ |
8,065,133 |
|
|
$ |
3,650,766 |
|
|
$ |
(176,500 |
) |
Weighted average number of outstanding shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
|
1,787,390 |
|
|
|
1,654,935 |
|
|
|
1,566,385 |
|
Diluted |
|
|
2,219,580 |
|
|
|
1,996,176 |
|
|
|
1,566,385 |
|
Earnings (loss) per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.21 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
|
$ |
1.83 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The diluted EPS calculation excludes the effect of stock options when their exercise prices
exceed the average market price for the period. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005,
stock options and warrants for 30,202 were excluded from diluted EPS. Due to the net loss in
2004, diluted shares in 2004 exclude the effect of un-exercised options and warrants because the
effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies
The Company indemnifies its directors and certain of its officers and employees for certain
liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Company. Additionally,
in the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements that contain a variety of
representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. Certain agreements do
not contain any limits on the Companys liability and would involve future claims that may be made
against the Company that have not yet occurred, therefore, it is not possible to estimate the
Companys potential liability under these indemnities. Further, the Company maintains insurance
policies that may provide coverage against certain claims under these indemnities.
Note 10 Subsequent Event 2007 Tax Deduction
On January 3, 2007, February 16, 2007, and February 20, 2007 Roderick H. Dillon, Jr., the
Companys Chief Executive Officer, exercised Options and Warrants to purchase 216,500 shares of
the Companys common stock. As a result of the exercises, the Company will receive a 2007 tax
deduction in the amount of $18,273,950.
31
ITEM 9: Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants or Accounting and Financial Disclosures - None
ITEM 9A: Controls and Procedures
Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, has
conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on the
evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the
end of the period covered by this annual report, the disclosure controls and procedures are
effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that
it files or submits under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified by the Securities and Exchange
Commissions rules and forms. There were no significant changes in the Companys internal controls
which materially affect, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, the Companys internal
controls over financial reporting.
Managements report on our internal control over financial reporting and the related attestation
report of Plante & Moran PLLC follow.
Managements Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. (the Company) is responsible for
establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule
13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Companys internal
control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of its consolidated financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or
detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are
subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief
Financial Officer, management assessed the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 based on criteria established in Internal Control
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO). Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Companys internal control over
financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2006.
Managements assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2006 has been audited by Plante & Moran, PLLC, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ R. H. Dillon
R. H. Dillon
|
|
/s/ James F. Laird
James F. Laird
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
March 6, 2007
|
|
March 6, 2007 |
|
|
32
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc:
We have audited managements assessment, included in the accompanying Managements Report on
Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. maintained
effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria
established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Companys management is responsible for
maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on managements assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal
control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was
maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, evaluating managements assessment, testing and evaluating the
design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we
considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A
companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company
are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company;
and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or
detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are
subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, managements assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on
criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also, in our opinion, the Company
maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued
by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2006 and
2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders equity, and cash
flows for the years then ended, of the Company and our report dated March 6, 2007 expressed an
unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Plante & Moran, PLLC
Columbus, Ohio
March 6, 2007
33
ITEM 9B: Other Information None
PART III
ITEM 10: Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Information regarding this Item 10 is incorporated by reference to our proxy statement for
our 2007 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (the 2007 Proxy Statement), under the Captions:
Proposal 1 Election of Directors, Executive Officers and Compensation Information, Corporate Governance, and Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
ITEM 11: Executive Compensation
Information regarding this Item 11 is incorporated by reference to our 2007 Proxy Statement
under the Captions: Executive Officers and Compensation Information and Corporate Governance.
ITEM 12: Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
Information regarding this Item 12 is incorporated by reference to our 2007 Proxy Statement
under the Captions: Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
Executive Offices and Compensation Information.
ITEM 13: Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Information regarding this Item 13 is incorporated by reference to our 2007 Proxy Statement
under the Caption: Corporate Governance.
ITEM 14: Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information regarding this Item 14 is incorporated by reference to our 2007 Proxy Statement
under the Caption: Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms.
34
PART IV:
ITEM 15: Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(1) Financial Statements: See Part II. Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data
(2) Financial Statement Schedules are omitted because they are not required or the required
information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
|
3.1 |
|
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (Incorporated by reference
from Form 8-K Current Report for the event on May 2, 2002 filed with the SEC on May 7,
2002; File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
3.2 |
|
Code of Regulations of the Company. (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K Current
Report for the event on May, 2002 filed with the SEC on May 7, 2002; File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
10.1 |
|
Representative Investment Management Agreement between Diamond Hill Capital Management,
Inc. and the Diamond Hill Funds. (Incorporated by reference from Form N1-A filed with the
SEC on December 30, 2005; File No. 811-08061.) |
|
|
10.2 |
|
Fourth Amended and Restated Administrative, Fund Accounting, and Transfer Agency Services
Agreement between Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc. and the Diamond Hill Funds.
(Incorporated by reference from Form N1-A filed with the SEC on May 2, 2006; File No.
811-08061.) |
|
|
10.3 |
|
1993 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference from Form
DEF 14A filed with the SEC on July 21, 1998; File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
10.4 |
|
Employment Agreement between the Company and Roderick H. Dillon, Jr. dated August 10,
2006. (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K Current Report filed with the SEC on
August 10, 2006; file No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
10.5 |
|
Employment Agreement between the Company and James F. Laird dated October 24, 2001.
(Incorporated by reference from Form 10-KSB for 2002 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2003;
File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
10.6 |
|
Form of Subscription Agreement for Common Shares of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
executed by subscribers as part of the private placement on July 21, 2004. (Incorporated
by reference from Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 filed with the SEC
on November 15, 2004; File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
10.7 |
|
2005 Employee and Director Equity Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference from Form
DEF 14A filed with the SEC on April 5, 2005; File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
10.8 |
|
2006 Performance-Based Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from Form 8-K
Current Report filed with the SEC on May 16, 2006; File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
10.9 |
|
Amendment to the 1993 non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan dated November 9, 2006 |
|
|
10.10 |
|
Amendment to Warrant Agreement between the Registrant and Roderick H. Dillon dated
November 9, 2006 |
|
|
14.1 |
|
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. (Incorporated by reference from Form DEF 14A filed
with the SEC on April 9, 2004; File No. 000-24498.) |
|
|
21.1 |
|
Subsidiaries of the Company. |
|
|
23.1 |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Plante & Moran, PLLC. |
|
|
31.1 |
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). |
|
|
31.2 |
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). |
|
|
32.1 |
|
Section 1350 Certifications. |
35
SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized:
DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
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By: /S/R. H. Dillon |
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R. H. Dillon, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director
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March 16, 2007
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In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/S/R. H. Dillon
R. H. Dillon and a Director
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President, Chief Executive Officer,
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March 16, 2007 |
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/S/James F. Laird
James F. Laird
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Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer,
and Secretary
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March 16, 2007 |
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/S/ David P. Lauer
David P. Lauer
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Director
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March 16, 2007 |
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/S/James G. Mathias
James G. Mathias
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Director
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March 16, 2007 |
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/S/ David R. Meuse
David R. Meuse
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Director
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March 16, 2007 |
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/S/ Diane D. Reynolds
Diane D. Reynolds
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Director
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March 16, 2007 |
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/S/ Donald B. Shackelford
Donald B. Shackelford
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Director
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March 16, 2007 |
36