News
June 06, 2012
June 6, 2012 – Novato, CA - Hennessy Advisors, Inc. (OTCBB: HNNA) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with FBR Fund Advisers, Inc. to purchase the assets related to the management of the entire family of ten FBR Funds. The FBR Funds currently have assets exceeding $1.9 billion, which would bring total assets managed by Hennessy Advisors to over $2.7 billion after the acquisition. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2012.
Upon completion of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory review and the approval of the Hennessy Funds Board of Trustees, the FBR Funds Board of Trustees and the FBR Funds’ shareholders, Hennessy Advisors will become the investment manager of the FBR Funds. The assets related to the FBR Large Cap Fund, the FBR Small Cap Fund and the FBR Mid Cap Fund will merge into the Hennessy Cornerstone Large Growth Fund, the Hennessy Cornerstone Growth Fund and the Hennessy Focus 30 Fund, respectively, with shareholders of these Funds becoming shareholders of the applicable Hennessy Fund. The remaining seven Funds will move under the Hennessy investment management umbrella, but will continue to be managed by the same portfolio managers that oversee the portfolios today. Dave Ellison, FBR President and CIO, and Winsor Aylesworth, FBR Portfolio Manager, will join the Hennessy team of employees and continue the day to day management of the FBR Gas Utility Index Fund, the FBR Small Cap Financial Fund, the FBR Large Cap Financial Fund and the FBR Technology Fund. The FBR Focus Fund will continue to be managed by David Rainey, Brian McCauley and Ira Rothberg, who will serve as sub-advisors to the Fund, with Hennessy Advisors as the investment manager. The FBR Balanced Fund and the FBR Core Bond Fund will retain their current sub-advisory relationships, with Hennessy Advisors as the investment manager. In addition to members of the portfolio management team, members of the current FBR distribution, marketing, trading, compliance and trading departments will also join the Hennessy team.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to be joining the Hennessy family,” said Dave Ellison, President and CIO of FBR Fund Advisers, Inc. “We believe there is great synergy between our firms, and we look forward to continuing to provide excellent portfolio management under the leadership of Hennessy Advisors, Inc.,” noted Mr. Ellison.
Richard J. Hendrix, President and CEO of FBR & Co. (NASDAQ: FBRC), the parent company of FBR Fund Advisers commented, “Hennessy Advisors is committed to the asset management business and has a solid reputation in the mutual fund industry. With the addition of key FBR Fund Advisers personnel to the Hennessy team, I am confident these fund shareholders will be well served by Neil Hennessy and Hennessy Advisors.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to have the world-class FBR portfolio management team join our ranks and we look forward to strengthening our marketing and distribution, trading and compliance efforts through the addition of these FBR employees,” said Neil Hennessy, Chairman, CEO and President of Hennessy Advisors. “We look forward to welcoming FBR shareholders into the Hennessy family, and we are committed to a smooth transition. At Hennessy, we strive to deliver strong investment management and performance, quality customer service and a high standard of business ethics to our shareholders, and we are very proud of our track record in each of these areas,” added Hennessy.
About Hennessy Advisors, Inc.
Hennessy Advisors, Inc. is a publicly traded investment manager of a wide range of both domestic and international equity products. Hennessy Advisors, Inc. is committed to its consistent and repeatable investment process, combining proven stock selection strategies with a highly disciplined, team-managed approach, and to superior service to shareholders.
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