Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Segment Information

Management has determined that the Company operates in one business segment, namely providing investment management and administration services to mutual funds, institutional accounts, and private investment funds. Therefore, no disclosures relating to operating segments are required in the annual financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and money market mutual funds.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded when they are due and are presented on 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 Company’s 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, 2014 or 2013.

Valuation of Investment Portfolio

Investments held by the Company are classified as trading securities and are valued based upon the definition of Level 1 inputs and Level 2 inputs. Level 1 inputs are defined as fair values which use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are defined as quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, and inputs other than quoted prices that are directly observable or that may be corroborated indirectly with observable market data. The following table summarizes the values of the Company’s investments based upon Level 1 and Level 2 inputs as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:



	As of December 31,
	2014		2013
Level 1 Inputs	$	62,595,546	$	32,528,367
Level 2 Inputs	$	14,652,589	3,001,461

Level 1 investments are all registered investment companies (mutual funds) and include $31.8 million and $16.8 million, respectively, of money market mutual funds that the Company classifies as cash equivalents. Level 2 investments are all limited partnerships who are valued independently. Equity securities in limited partnerships are based on readily available market quotations. Debt securities in limited partnerships are valued using pricing techniques which take into account factors such as trading activity, readily available market quotations, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, call features, credit rates and other observable inputs. The Company determines transfers between fair value hierarchy levels at the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers in or out of the levels.

The changes in fair values on the investments are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as investment income.

Limited Partnership Interests

DHCM is the managing member of Diamond Hill General Partner, LLC (the “General Partner”), the general partner of Diamond Hill Investment Partners, L.P. (“DHIP”), Diamond Hill Global Fund, L.P. ("DHGF"), formerly Diamond Hill Research Partners – International, L.P., and Diamond Hill Valuation-Weighted 500, L.P. (“DHVW”) collectively (the “Partnerships”), each a limited partnership whose underlying assets consist of marketable securities.

DHCM, in its role as managing member of the General Partner, has the power to direct each Partnerships’ economic activities and the right to receive investment advisory and performance incentive fees that may be significant to the Partnerships. The Company evaluated these Partnerships to determine whether or not to consolidate the entities in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification ("FASB ASC") 810, Consolidation. Certain of these Partnerships are considered to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”) while others are considered to be voting rights entities (“VREs”), both of which are subject to consolidation consideration. The Company would consolidate VIEs where the Company is considered the primary beneficiary or VREs where the General Partner is considered to control the Partnership. For the Partnerships that were considered VIEs, the Company was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary. For the Partnerships that were considered VREs, it was determined that the DHCM in its role of managing member of the General Partner did not control the Partnerships. Therefore, the investments are accounted for under the equity method rather than being consolidated in the accompanying financial statements.

DHCM’s investments in these Partnerships are reported as a component of the Company’s investment portfolio, valued at DHCM’s proportionate interest in the net asset value of the marketable securities held by the Partnerships. The Partnerships are not subject to lock up periods and can be redeemed on demand. Gains and losses attributable to changes in the value of DHCM’s interests in the Partnerships are included in the Company’s reported investment income. The Company’s exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Partnerships is limited to the amount of its investments. DHCM is not obligated to provide financial or other support to the Partnerships, other than its investments to date and its contractually provided investment advisory responsibilities, and has not provided such support. The Company has not provided liquidity arrangements, guarantees or other commitments to support the Partnerships’ operations, and the Partnerships’ creditors and interest holders have no recourse to the general credit of the Company.

Certain board members, officers and employees of the Company invest in DHIP and are not subject to a management fee or an incentive fee. These individuals receive no remuneration as a result of their personal investment in DHIP. The capital of the General Partner is not subject to a management fee or an incentive fee.

Furniture and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, consisting of leasehold improvements, computer equipment, furniture and fixtures, are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated life of the assets.

Deferred Compensation Liability

Deferred compensation liability represents compensation that will be paid out upon satisfactory completion of certain performance-based and time-based criteria specified in employee award agreements issued pursuant to the 2014 and 2011 Equity and Cash Incentive Plans. See Note 5.

Revenue Recognition - General

Revenue Recognition – General

The Company earns substantially all of its revenue from investment advisory and fund administration services. Investment advisory and administration fees, generally calculated as a percentage of AUM, are recorded as revenue as services are performed. In addition to fixed fees based on a percentage of AUM, certain client accounts also provide periodic variable incentive fees.

Revenue Recognition - Incentive Revenue

Revenue Recognition – Variable Incentive Fees

The Company manages certain client accounts that provide for variable incentive fees. These fees are calculated based on client investment results over rolling five year periods. The Company records variable incentive fees at the end of the contract measurement period. No variable incentive fees were earned during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. The table below shows AUM subject to variable incentive fees and the amount of variable incentive fees that would be recognized if the contracts were terminated as of the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:



	As Of December 31,
	2014		2013
AUM subject to variable incentive fees	$	562,613,027	$	470,726,000



	For the Year Ended
	2014		2013
Contractual Period Ends:
Quarter Ended June 30, 2017	$	2,427,031	$	3,900,649
Quarter Ended December 31, 2018	—		—
Quarter Ended September 30, 2019	31,049		—
Total variable incentive fees that would be recognized if contract terminated	$	2,458,080	$	3,900,649

The contractual end dates highlight the time remaining until the variable incentive fees are scheduled to be earned. The amount of variable incentive fees that would be recognized if the contracts were terminated as of December 31, 2014 or 2013 will increase or decrease based on future client investment results through the contractual period end, and there is no assurance that the above amounts will ultimately be earned.

Revenue Recognition - Mutual Fund Administration

Revenue Recognition – Mutual Fund Administration

DHCM has an administrative and transfer agency services agreement with the Funds, under which DHCM performs certain services for each Fund. These services include mutual fund administration, fund accounting, transfer agency and other related functions. For performing these services, each fund pays DHCM a fee, which is calculated using an annual rate of 0.25% for Class A, C, and I shares and 0.10% for Class Y shares, times the average daily net assets of each respective series and share class.

The Funds have selected and contractually engaged certain vendors to fulfill various services to benefit the Funds’ shareholders or to satisfy regulatory requirements of the Funds. These services include, among others, required shareholder mailings, federal and state registrations, and legal and audit services. DHCM, in fulfilling a portion of its role under the administration agreement with the Funds, acts as agent to pay these obligations of the Funds. Each vendor is independently responsible for fulfillment of the services it has been engaged to provide and negotiates fees and terms with the management and board of trustees of the Funds. The fee that each Fund pays to DHCM is reviewed annually by the Funds’ board of trustees and specifically takes into account the contractual expenses that DHCM pays on behalf of the Funds. As a result, DHCM is not involved in the delivery or pricing of these services and bears no risk related to these services. Revenue has been recorded net of these Fund related expenses, in accordance with FASB ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition – Principal Agent Considerations. In addition, DHCM finances the upfront commissions which are paid to brokers who sell Class C shares of the Funds. As financer, DHCM advances the commission amount to be paid to the selling broker at the time of sale. These advances are capitalized and amortized over 12 months to correspond with the repayments DHCM receives from the principal underwriter to recoup this commission advancement.

Beacon Hill has underwriting and administrative service agreements with certain clients, including registered mutual funds. The fee arrangements vary from client to client based upon services provided and are recorded as revenue under mutual fund administration on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Part of Beacon Hill’s role as underwriter is to act as an agent on behalf of its mutual fund clients to receive 12b-1/service fees and commission revenue and facilitate the payment of those fees and commissions to third parties who provide services to the funds and their shareholders. The majority of 12b-1/service fees are paid to independent third parties and the remainder are retained by the Company as a reimbursement of expenses the Company has incurred. The amount of 12b-1/service fees and commissions are determined by each mutual fund client, and Beacon Hill bears no financial risk related to these services. As a result, 12b-1/service fees and commission revenue has been recorded net of the expense payments to third parties, in accordance with the appropriate accounting treatment for this agency relationship.

Mutual fund administration gross and net revenue are summarized below:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Mutual fund administration:
Administration revenue, gross	$	22,968,369		$	16,692,093		$	13,074,707
12b-1/service fees and commission revenue received from fund clients	10,514,242			8,481,442			6,868,974
12b-1/service fees and commission expense payments to third parties	(9,102,565		)	(7,404,361		)	(5,597,757		)
Fund related expense	(9,753,359		)	(6,321,374		)	(5,469,023		)
Revenue, net of related expenses	14,626,687			11,447,800			8,876,901
DHCM C-Share financing:
Broker commission advance repayments	878,105			365,380			217,227
Broker commission amortization	(846,861		)	(347,853		)	(219,951		)
Financing activity, net	31,244			17,527			(2,724		)
Mutual fund administration revenue, net	$	14,657,931		$	11,465,327		$	8,874,177

Contractual Expense Reimbursement

Contractual Expense Reimbursements

During the fourth quarter of 2013, BHIL entered into an agreement with an investment adviser that is part of the umbrella trust sponsored by BHFS to provide staff to support the wholesaling functions and sales support services to distribute shares of the registered investment companies managed by the investment adviser and distributed by BHIL. Under the agreement, the investment adviser is obligated to reimburse BHIL for all expenses incurred in association with these efforts. The amount of expense incurred and reimbursed for the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $1,849,786, $375,825, and $0, respectively. In addition, the third party investment adviser is obligated to reimburse BHIL for any contractual obligations entered into by BHIL as a result of this arrangement. BHIL is not involved in the delivery or pricing of these services and bears no risk related to these services. Revenue has been recorded net of these expenses in accordance with FASB ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition - Principal Agent Considerations.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for current and deferred income taxes through an asset and liability approach. Deferred taxes are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment.

The Company is subject to examination by various federal, state and local jurisdictions for various tax periods. The Company’s income tax positions are based on research and interpretations of the income tax laws and rulings in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company does business. Due to the subjectivity of interpretations of laws and rulings in each jurisdiction, the differences and interplay in tax laws between those jurisdictions, as well as the inherent uncertainty in estimating the final resolution of complex tax audit matters, the Company’s estimates of income tax liabilities may differ from actual payments or assessments. The Company regularly assesses its position with regard to tax exposures and records liabilities for these uncertain tax positions and related interest and penalties, if any, according to the principles of FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has not recorded any liability for uncertain tax positions. The Company records interest and penalties, if any, within the income tax provision on the income statement.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding for the period, which includes participating securities. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution of EPS due to unvested restricted stock grants with forfeitable rights to dividends. For the periods presented, the Company has unvested stock-based payment awards that contain both forfeitable and nonforfeitable rights to dividends. See Note 8.