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Diamond Hill Investment Group Inc.

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Employees 51-200
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FY2021 Annual Report · Diamond Hill Investment Group Inc.
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Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. 

2021 Annual Report

Notice of 2022 Annual Meeting

And Proxy Statement

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)

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1

DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
ANNUAL LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

March 11, 2022 

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

At Diamond Hill, we are fiercely committed to improving the lives of our clients and those they serve through exceptional 
investment results. Doing so requires discipline, patience, and a passion for what we do and who we serve. It’s that passion 
that  drives  us  to  develop  outstanding,  long-term  partnerships  with  our  clients,  because  we  know  that  great  investment 
outcomes enable our clients to achieve their goals. 

We are pleased with our strong 2021 investment and financial results, and we remain focused on the long-term impact we 
have on our clients. Broadly speaking, we aim to deliver exceptional results for clients over a full market cycle. We believe 
we are one of few in our industry with a truly long-term focus—in our client partnerships, in our investment approach, and in 
the way we manage our business. 

Market cycles don’t follow a set schedule. Since the global financial crisis, investors have experienced more than a decade of 
strong  returns,  while  perpetually  low  interest  rates  were  a  tailwind  to  both  equities  and  fixed  income.  Considering  broad 
market cap-weighted indices, equity valuations are elevated by any historical standard. For the most part, market leadership 
has been driven by large-cap growth and momentum, which has created historically wide valuation spreads between value 
and growth. 

In  this  environment,  absolute  returns  have  been  strong  over  the  past  decade—a  market  dynamic  that  has  made  our  job  as 
valuation-disciplined investors more challenging. Looking forward, we believe a shift in market leadership is underway that 
can favor active investors with the discipline to identify mispriced investments. We believe high market valuations, combined 
with reasonably high operating margins in a rising interest rate environment, likely mean absolute returns will be harder to 
come  by  in  the  period  ahead.  We  are  confident  in  our  ability  to  navigate  such  an  environment  well,  especially  given  our 
ability to be selective in the more concentrated strategies we manage and their differentiation from core benchmarks.

Great Outcomes Require Great Partnerships
Our commitment to developing enduring client partnerships is demonstrated by the care we take in aligning our interests with 
our  clients  through  capacity  discipline,  by  investing  alongside  them,  and  by  keeping  fees  reasonable  so  clients  hold  on  to 
more  of  their  returns.  To  ensure  we  have  a  disciplined  platform  that  allows  us  to  deliver  for  clients,  our  investment  team 
aligns on our foundational, shared principles.

• We invest with a valuation discipline, which goes beyond investing according to common industry definitions of growth
versus  value.  Instead,  we  believe  in  taking  an  ownership  stake  in  an  investment  at  a  discount  to  what  we  believe  it  is
worth and waiting patiently for value to be realized.

• We believe we can add the most value with an active, fundamentally driven process.
• We  emphasize  an  ownership  mindset.  Our  investment  professionals  approach  each  investment  as  long-term  owners.
Further, our portfolio managers invest heavily alongside our clients. Every employee owns shares in our company from
their first day and has the opportunity to build further ownership in our company and invest in our strategies along with
our clients, promoting an ownership mentality throughout the firm.

• We are long-term oriented. We believe in the rigor of our research and the power of time-horizon arbitrage. As bottom-
up, benchmark-agnostic investors, we expect to outperform over the long term. We are comfortable with shorter periods
where our portfolios’ performance may meaningfully differ from benchmarks or peers, and we endeavor to partner with
clients who understand this well.

• We are committed to capacity discipline. We believe prudent capacity management puts our clients’ interests first by

ensuring the size of a strategy never becomes an impediment to delivering investment performance.

As investment managers, we are constantly focused on delivering great investment returns for clients. However, we recognize 
that  excellent  investment  results,  while  a  critical  part  of  our  success,  are  not  enough.  Our  clients  benefit  from  our 
commitment to transparency, accountability, and targeted communication—a client experience that addresses their specific 
needs  from  a  long-term  partner  they  can  trust,  helping  instill  the  confidence  to  remain  invested  through  varying  market 
environments. 

Partnering To Do More
We  are  thoughtful  in  developing  partnerships  with  a  diverse  set  of  clients  who  share  our  long-term  discipline,  including 
institutions  (endowments,  foundations,  government  entities,  health  care  systems,  etc.),  financial  intermediaries,  family 
offices, and other institutionally oriented investors. We are committed to staying true to who we are, rather than trying to be 
all things to all people, using our shared investment principles as the foundation.

Great  investment  outcomes  require  alignment  on  a  long-term  time  horizon.  When  we  form  partnerships,  the  impact  our 
investment outcomes can have becomes clear. An example is our long-term partnership with the nonprofit LifeCare Alliance, 
a  client  since  2002.  LifeCare  Alliance  was  central  Ohio’s  first  in-home  health  care  agency,  Ohio’s  first  agency  to  provide 
visiting  nurses,  and  is  the  nation’s  largest  non-profit  Meals-on-Wheels  providers.  Our  investment  results  mean  LifeCare 
Alliance can provide for more patients, hire more health care professionals, and deliver more meals—in general, do more to 
fulfill its mission. 

We  are  motivated  knowing  our  passion  for  deep,  fundamental  research  can  translate  over  time  into  more  hospital  beds, 
scholarship funds, innovation funding, and more secure retirements. 

Long-Term Goals Driving Strategic Initiatives
Creating lasting value requires alignment in how we assess and define our success for our key stakeholder groups—clients, 
associates,  and  shareholders.  For  our  clients,  we  want  to  deliver  excellent  investment  outcomes  that  result  in  partnerships 
where  our  clients  fundamentally  believe  in  what  we  do  and  how  we  invest.  For  our  associates,  we  aim  to  cultivate  a 
workplace where we can thrive doing our best work in a culture that enables success. For our shareholders, we aim to build a 
business  that  is  positioned  to  succeed  over  the  long  run—one  in  which  we  remain  constantly  focused  on  improving  our 
investment and operational excellence.  

Our long-term goals include continuing to enhance our ability to outperform for clients, further diversifying our business so 
we can continue to weather any market environment, and thoughtfully growing the business—to bolster our firm’s long-term 
viability  for  the  benefit  of  each  of  our  stakeholders.  We  believe  an  innovative  mindset  focused  on  growing  strategies  to 
capacity and developing new capabilities will enable us to drive future growth.

In 2021, we developed a new strategic plan to specifically address our long-term goals. As part of that plan, we will continue 
our never-ending focus on delivering excellent client results. We plan to grow our unconstrained strategies and build on the 
early success of our international team. We will continue expanding our fixed income strategies, including offering strategies 
that  match  clients’  needs  with  our  expertise.  Success  in  these  areas  will  expand  our  institutional  market  presence,  helping 
elongate our average client tenure and further diversify our client base. 

Enabling Great Investment Results and Client-Centric Growth
Our  focus  on  long-term  performance  rather  than  asset  growth  incentivizes  our  portfolio  managers  to  prioritize  existing 
clients and close strategies before they reach a size that could limit their ability to deliver value-added returns. In that vein, 
we  soft-closed  our  Large  Cap  strategy  in  March  2021,  and  our  Small-Mid  Cap  strategy  remains  closed  to  most  new 
investors.  We  also  refined  our  strategy  line-up  in  2021  to  ensure  continued  alignment  on  delivering  valuation-
disciplined,  long-term oriented  investment  outcomes,  while  providing  us  flexibility  to  develop  new,  capacity-disciplined 
offerings that meet client objectives and capitalize on our investment team’s research capabilities. 

We  believe  ample  growth  opportunity  exists  across  our  portfolio  of  open  strategies.  In  2021,  the  International,  Core 
Bond, and  Short  Duration  Securitized  Bond  strategies  reached  their  five-year  track  records.  All  three  have  shown  the 
ability  to  exceed  their  investment  goals  and  serve  important  strategic  roles  in  client  portfolios.  We  also  believe  there  is 
opportunity  for  us  to  reach  new  markets  with  our  Micro  Cap  strategy.  Lastly,  we  made  our  long-standing  Large  Cap 
Concentrated strategy more broadly accessible by launching it as a mutual fund in 2021. 

Financial Results
We were pleased to deliver record financial results in 2021. Our results benefited from strong investment performance and 
positive  net  flows,  in  addition  to  a  tailwind  from  market  returns.  Assets  under  management  ("AUM")  finished  the  year  at 
$31.0 billion, an increase of $4.6 billion, which is particularly meaningful given we sold $3.5 billion in AUM in Q3 with the 
sale  of  our  Corporate  Credit  and  High  Yield  strategies.  We  had  a  second  consecutive  year  of  strong  net  client  inflows, 
totaling $2.1 billion in 2021. Revenue increased 44% to an all-time high of $182 million, which included $12 million from a 
performance-based fee that reached its first five-year measurement term in 2021. 

We generated net operating income of $76 million and an operating margin of 42% in 2021. In managing our business, we 
focus on net operating income as adjusted, after tax (adjusted "NOPAT"), which excludes the gains and losses on deferred 
compensation  plan  investments  that  flow  through  operating  income.[1]  Adjusted  NOPAT  increased  76%  to  $62  million  in 
2021—$19.40  per  share.[1]  Our  operating  profit  margin,  as  adjusted,  was  46%  in  2021,  up  from  38%  in  2020.[1]  To  have 
appropriate flexibility to deliver for each of our stakeholders, we target an adjusted operating margin of 30%-40% over the 
long term. Over shorter periods, we have periodically seen that number deviate significantly from our target range. While we 
are pleased when we can deliver above-expected margin, we continue to believe 30%-40% is the appropriate average annual 
expectation. 

As  stewards  of  our  business,  we  seek  to  grow  the  long-term  intrinsic  value  of  our  firm,  and  we  typically  evaluate  our 
performance over rolling five-year periods. Over the last five years, important fundamental indicators of our intrinsic value 
per share have increased. AUM increased 60% from $19 billion at the end of 2016 to $31 billion at the end of 2021. Revenue 
increased 34% from $136 million in 2016 to $182 million in 2021. Revenue grew less than AUM due primarily to a shift in 
our asset mix from higher fee to lower fee strategies. We were able to grow adjusted NOPAT at a faster rate than revenue 
over this same five-year period, with adjusted NOPAT up 49% from $41 million in 2016 to $62 million in 2021.

Capital Allocation
Our  capital  allocation  approach  is  designed  to  grow  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  business  by  investing  in  new  and  existing 
strategies and ensuring we have sufficient capital to operate the business in any market environment. When we believe we 
have more capital than is necessary to achieve those aims, we return capital to shareholders. 

We  may  repurchase  shares  when  our  shares  are  trading  below  our  estimate  of  the  firm’s  intrinsic  value.  We  first  initiated 
share repurchases in Q4 2018. Since then, we have repurchased approximately 525,000 shares totaling $72 million, which 
represents approximately 15% of our shares outstanding when we began making repurchases. Share repurchases in 2021 were 
approximately 46,000 shares totaling $7.8 million. Repurchases since Q4 2018 have been partially offset by the net issuance 
of  approximately  150,000  shares  in  the  form  of  compensation  to  our  associates  over  that  period.  We  believe  share-based 
compensation is an important way to align our interests with shareholders. 

After considering strategic uses of capital and share repurchases, we evaluate any excess capital for payment of shareholder 
dividends. Based on our strong financial results during the year, coupled with a reduction in share repurchases compared to 
the  prior  two  years,  we  significantly  increased  our  dividends  in  2021.  Dividends  included  a  $1  per  share  regular  quarterly 
dividend  and  a  $19  per  share  special  dividend  in  Q4,  totaling  approximately  $73  million,  or  $23  per  share.  We  have  paid 
dividends in each of the past five years cumulatively totaling $59 per share. 

Given  our  history  of  consistently  generating  excess  cash  flow,  in  October  we  announced  plans  to  increase  our  regular 
quarterly  dividend  from  $1.00  to  $1.50  per  share  starting  in  Q1  2022.  Each  year  we  will  continue  to  consider  paying  an 
additional special dividend in Q4 after assessing our strategic capital deployment and share repurchases during the year.

Conclusion
We firmly believe the best way to generate strong long-term shareholder returns is to deliver for our clients. Our investment 
team is intensely focused on generating great long-term investment results for our clients, and our entire firm is committed to 
developing  and  maintaining  partnerships  that  help  instill  the  confidence  required  to  remain  invested  through  full  market 
cycles.  This  perspective  has  enabled  us  to  grow  new  and  existing  client  relationships,  which  ultimately  helps  us  deliver 
returns to our shareholders. 

The last few years have been heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and all the related impacts it has had on markets 
and society. Through this period, I’m proud of the commitment our associates demonstrated to remain focused on delivering 
for clients. Over the last several years, we have put in place strong leadership and streamlined our strategies to focus on our 
competitive advantages—strategies where we are confident in our long-term ability to deliver strong investment returns for 
clients.  We  have  also  invested  in  our  ability  to  effectively  communicate  with  clients  through  our  distribution  technology 

project and updating our approach to marketing. As part of that, shareholders may notice our annual documents include a new 
logo.  In  the  coming  months  we  are  rolling  out  an  updated  look  for  our  brand  and  an  improved  digital  experience  that  we 
believe will improve the client experience and help convey our discipline and focus on great investment outcomes. 

2022  is  starting  out  with  heightened  market  volatility,  even  when  compared  to  the  last  few  years.  We  believe  this 
environment presents opportunities for those focused on actively managing concentrated portfolios with a valuation discipline 
and long-term ownership mindset, and we look forward to delivering for our clients and shareholders in the years to come. 

Sincerely,

Heather Brilliant
Chief Executive Officer

[1] Net operating income, as adjusted, after tax, net operating income, as adjusted, after tax per share, and operating profit
margin, as adjusted, are non-GAAP performance measures. Reconciliations to GAAP measures are provided in the following
Annex.

ANNEX - RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

As  supplemental  information,  we  are  providing  performance  measures  that  are  based  on  methodologies  other  than  U.S. 
generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”).  We believe the non-GAAP measures below are useful measures of 
our core business activities, are important metrics in estimating the value of an asset management business and may enable 
more  appropriate  comparison  to  our  peers.    These  non-GAAP  measures  should  not  be  a  substitute  for  financial  measures 
calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and may be calculated differently by 
other companies.  The following schedule reconciles GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures for the years ended December 
31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 respectively.  

(in thousands, except percentages and per share 
data)
Total revenue

2021
$182,194

2020
$ 126,388 

2019
$ 136,624 

2018
$ 145,628 

2017
$ 145,202 

2016
$ 136,103 

Year Ended December 31,

Net operating income, GAAP basis

$  76,258 

$  45,538 

$  47,935 

$  71,256 

$  67,001 

$  63,069 

Non-GAAP adjustments:

Gains (losses) on deferred 
compensation plan investments, 
net(1)

Net operating income, as adjusted, 
non-GAAP basis(2)

Non-GAAP adjustments:

Tax provision on net operating 
income, as adjusted, non-GAAP 
basis(3)

Net operating income, as adjusted, 
after tax, non-GAAP basis(4)

Net operating income, as adjusted after 
tax per diluted share, non-GAAP 
basis(5)
Diluted weighted average shares 
outstanding, GAAP basis

7,082 

2,219 

5,977 

(2,122) 

2,382 

1,837 

83,340 

47,757 

53,912 

69,134 

69,383 

64,906 

(21,656) 

(12,668) 

(13,680) 

(19,542) 

(25,704) 

(23,626) 

$  61,684 

$  35,089 

$  40,232 

$  49,592 

$  43,679 

$  41,280 

$  19.40 

$  10.91 

$  11.71 

$  14.11 

$  12.65 

$  12.09 

3,179 

3,215 

3,437 

3,515 

3,452 

3,413 

Operating profit margin, GAAP basis
Operating profit margin, as adjusted, 
non-GAAP basis(6)

 42 %

 46 %

 36 %

 38 %

 35 %

 39 %

 49 %

 47 %

 46 %

 48 %

 46 %

 48 %

(1) Gains  (losses)  on  deferred  compensation  plan  investments,  net:  The  gain  (loss)  on  deferred  compensation  plan
investments,  which  increases  (decreases)  deferred  compensation  expense  included  in  operating  income,  is  removed  from
operating income in the calculation because it is offset by an equal amount in investment income (loss) below net operating
income on the income statement, and thus has no impact on net income attributable to us.

(2) Net operating income, as adjusted: This non-GAAP measure represents the Company’s net operating income adjusted to
exclude the impact on compensation expense of gains and losses on investments in the deferred compensation plan.

(3) Tax provision on net operating income, as adjusted: This non-GAAP measure represents the tax provision, excluding the
impact  of  investment  related  activity,  and  the  gain  on  sale  of  high  yield-focused  advisory  contracts,  and  is  calculated  by
applying the unconsolidated effective tax rate to net operating income, as adjusted.

(4) Net operating income, as adjusted, after tax: This non-GAAP measure deducts from the net operating income, as adjusted,
the tax provision on net operating income, as adjusted.

(5) Net operating income, as adjusted after tax per diluted share: This non-GAAP measure was calculated by dividing the net
operating income, as adjusted after tax, by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

(6) Operating profit margin, as adjusted: This non-GAAP measure was calculated by dividing the net operating income, as
adjusted, by total revenue.

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
325 John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43215

March 11, 2022

Dear Shareholders:

We cordially invite you to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc., to be 
held at Nationwide Arena, Activity Center, 200 W. Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43215, on Wednesday, April 27, 
2022 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time.

The attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement describe the formal business to be transacted at the meeting.  
Immediately following the meeting, we will hold our customary management presentation to report on our operations, and 
our  directors  and  officers  will  be  present  to  respond  to  any  appropriate  questions  you  may  have.    For  the  management 
presentation  only,  there  will  be  the  option  to  participate  virtually  and  the  link  will  be  made  available  on  our  website, 
ir.diamond-hill.com.  

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. Returning the enclosed proxy card will not prevent you from 
voting  in  person,  but  will  ensure  that  your  vote  is  counted  if  you  are  unable  to  attend  the  Annual  Meeting.  Your  vote  is 
important, regardless of the number of shares you own. 

Sincerely, 

Heather E. Brilliant 
Chief Executive Officer 

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 APRIL 27, 2022 

Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Diamond Hill Investment 
Group, Inc. (the “Company”), will be held at Nationwide Arena, Activity Center, 200 W. Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, 
Ohio  43215,  on  Wednesday,  April  27,  2022  at  10:00  a.m.  Eastern  Daylight  Saving  Time,  to  consider  and  act  upon  the 
following matters: 

1)

2)

3)
4)
5)

The  election  of  seven  directors  to  serve  on  the  Company’s  Board  of  Directors  until  the  Company’s  2023  Annual 
Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified;
The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm 
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022;
A non-binding, advisory resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;
The approval and adoption of the Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan; and
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 at any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.  The 
Board  of  Directors  has  fixed  the  close  of  business  on  March  1,  2022,  as  the  record  date  for  determining  the  shareholders 
entitled  to  vote  at  the  Annual  Meeting  and  any  adjournments  thereof.    Please  complete,  sign,  and  date  the  enclosed  proxy 
card, which is solicited by the Company’s Board of Directors, and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope. Alternatively, 
you  may  vote  by  phone  or  electronically  over  the  Internet  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  on  the  enclosed  proxy  card.  
Returning the enclosed proxy card, or voting 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.

COVID-19 Protocols

In light of the continuing uncertainty created by the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, the Company strongly encourages 
shareholders to return the enclosed proxy card or vote by phone or electronically prior to the Annual Meeting. The Company 
asks that you register in advance if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting by contacting Carlotta D. King, Secretary, at (614) 
255-3333 no later than Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time.  At the Annual Meeting, you 
will  be  asked  to  present  the  enclosed  proxy  card  (or,  if  you  hold  your  shares  in  “street  name”,  a  signed  proxy  from  your 
broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting) and a form of identification. 

Additional  protocols  will  also  be  in  place  at  the  Annual  Meeting  to  protect  the  safety  and  well-being  of  the  Company's 
directors, employees, and guests. Guests must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (as provided by then-applicable CDC 
guidance) and attest to their vaccination status upon check-in. Additionally, guests should be prepared to follow the protocols 
of the City of Columbus, as required.  The Company reserves the right to refuse entrance to anyone who refuses to comply 
with these safety protocols.

In the event that, prior to the meeting, any orders, guidance, or limitations are issued or imposed by applicable authorities that 
would limit or otherwise affect meeting attendance or the Company's safety protocols, the Company will comply with any 
such  orders,  guidance,  or  limitations.  The  Company  urges  all  attendees  to  check  in  advance  for,  and  all  attendees  will  be 
expected to comply with, any such orders, guidance, or limitations that may have been imposed prior to attending the Annual 
Meeting in person.

PROMPTLY RETURNING YOUR PROXY CARD WILL SAVE THE COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF MAKING 
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, 

Carlotta D. King, Secretary 

Columbus, Ohio 
March 11, 2022 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE 
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 27, 2022: 
The Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available without charge at the 
following location:
https://www.diamond-hill.com/proxy

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 APRIL 27, 2022 

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the shareholders of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc., an Ohio corporation 
(the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors (the “Board”) 
for use at our 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at Nationwide Arena, Activity Center, 
200 W. Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43215, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on April 27, 2022, 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 March 11, 2022.  Only our shareholders of record at 
the close of business on March 1, 2022, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the 
Annual Meeting.

The purposes of this Annual Meeting are:

1) 

2) 

3) 

4) 

5) 

To  elect  seven  directors  to  serve  on  our  Board  until  our  2023  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  and  until  their 
successors have been duly elected and qualified;

To consider and vote upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public 
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022; 

To consider and vote upon a non-binding, advisory resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive 
officers; 

To approve and adopt the Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan; and

To transact such other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Those  common  shares  represented  by:  (i)  properly  signed  proxy  cards  received  by  us  prior  to  the  Annual  Meeting,  or  (ii) 
properly  authenticated  voting  instructions  recorded  electronically  over  the  Internet  or  by  telephone  prior  to  11:59  p.m., 
Central Time on April 26, 2022 and, in each case, that are not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting as directed by the 
shareholders.  If a shareholder submits a valid proxy and does not specify how the common shares should be voted, 
they  will  be  voted  as  recommended  by  the  Board.    The  proxy  holders  will  use  their  best  judgment  regarding  any  other 
matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

MAJORITY VOTING
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
THE NOMINEES
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND COMPENSATION INFORMATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE
GRANT OF PLAN BASED AWARDS FOR 2021
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2021
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED FOR 2021
PENSION PLANS AND NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT 

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S 

NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

PROPOSAL 4 - APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT 
GROUP, INC. 2022 EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2023 ANNUAL MEETING
SHAREHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME ADDRESS
OTHER BUSINESS

APPENDIX A - 2022 EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

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Q: 

A: 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

When and where will the Annual Meeting take place? 

The Annual Meeting will be held at Nationwide Arena, Activity Center, 200 W. Nationwide Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 
43215, on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time. 

Q:         How do I attend the Annual Meeting? 

A: 

We will hold the Annual Meeting in person as scheduled.  Immediately following the Annual Meeting, we will hold our 
customary management presentation to report on our operations, and our directors and officers will be present to respond 
to any appropriate questions you may have.  For the management presentation only, there will be the option to participate 
virtually and the link will be made available on our website, ir.diamond-hill.com.  

Due to the uncertainty created by the COVID_19 pandemic, in-person attendees will need to follow certain protocols.  If 
you  plan  to  attend  the  Annual  Meeting  in  person,  we  ask  that  you  register  in  advance  by  contacting  Carlotta  D.  King, 
Secretary, at (614) 255-3333 no later than Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time. 

To protect the safety and well-being of our directors, employees, and guests, all attendees must be fully vaccinated against 
COVID-19  (as  provided  by  then-applicable  CDC  guidance)  and  attest  to  their  vaccination  status  upon  check-in.  
Additionally, guests should be prepared to follow the protocols of the City of Columbus, as required. We reserve the right 
to refuse entrance to anyone who refuses to comply with any required safety protocols.

In the event that, prior to the meeting, any orders, guidance, or limitations are imposed by applicable authorities that would 
limit  or  otherwise  affect  meeting  attendance  or  the  safety  protocols,  the  Company  will  comply  with  any  such,  orders, 
guidance, or limitations. We urge you to check whether any such orders, guidance, or limitations have been imposed prior 
to attending the Annual Meeting in person.

What may I vote on at the Annual Meeting?

At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon:
•
•

The election of seven directors to serve on the Board until our 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders;
The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 
fiscal year ending December 31, 2022;
A non-binding, advisory resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers;
The approval and adoption of the Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan; 
and
Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

•
•

•

What do I need to do now? 

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 card promptly in the enclosed envelope. Alternatively, you may vote by phone or over the 
Internet in accordance with the instructions on your proxy card.  The deadline for transmitting voting instructions over the 
Internet  or  telephonically  is  11:59  p.m.  Central  Time  on  Tuesday,  April  26,  2022.  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. 

What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card?

If your shares are registered in more than one account, you will receive more than one proxy card. If you intend to vote by 
mail, please sign, date, 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 for each individual proxy card you receive.  

What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner? 

Many shareholders are beneficial owners of our shares, meaning they hold their shares in “street name” through a broker, 
bank,  or  other  nominee.    As  summarized  below,  there  are  some  distinctions  between  shares  held  of  record  and  shares 
owned beneficially. 

1

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Shareholder  of  Record.    For  shares  registered  directly  in  your  name  with  our  transfer  agent,  you  are  considered  the 
shareholder of record and we are sending this Proxy Statement and related materials directly to you. As a shareholder of 
record, you have the right to vote in person at the Annual Meeting or you may grant your proxy directly to the Board’s 
designees by completing, signing, and returning the enclosed proxy card, or voting over the Internet or by phone.

Beneficial Owner.  For shares held in “street name”, you are considered the beneficial owner and this Proxy Statement and 
related materials are being forwarded to you by your broker, bank, or other nominee, who is 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 them how to vote your shares or 
how to revoke previously given voting instructions. 

If my shares are held in “street name” by my broker, will my broker vote my shares for me? 

Your broker will vote your shares in the manner you instruct, and you should follow the voting instructions your broker 
has  provided  to  you.    However,  if  you  do  not  provide  voting  instructions  to  your  broker,  it  may  vote  your  shares  in  its 
discretion on certain “routine” matters.  The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered 
public accounting firm for the 2022 fiscal year is considered a routine matter, and if you do not submit voting instructions, 
your broker may choose, in its discretion, to vote or not vote your shares on the ratification.  None of the other matters to 
be voted on at the Annual Meeting are routine, and your broker may not vote your shares on those matters without your 
instructions.

May  I  revoke  my  proxy  or  change  my  vote  after  I  have  mailed  a  proxy  card  or  voted  electronically  over  the 
Internet or by telephone? 

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 any one of three ways: 

•

•

•

Send a written statement to Carlotta D. King, the Company's Secretary, at Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc., 325 
John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215, stating that you would like to revoke your proxy, 
which must be received prior to the Annual Meeting; 

Send a newly signed and later-dated proxy card, which must be received prior to the Annual Meeting, or submit later-
dated  electronic  voting  instructions  over  the  Internet  or  by  telephone  no  later  than  11:59  p.m.,  Central  Time  on 
April 26, 2022; or 

Attend the Annual Meeting and either revoke your proxy in person prior to the start of voting at the Annual Meeting 
or vote in person at the Annual Meeting.  Attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy or a 
prior Internet or telephone vote. 

If you are a beneficial owner, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker or nominee.  
You should review the instructions provided by your broker or nominee to determine the procedures that you must follow.  

Can I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting? 

You may vote shares for which you are the record holder in person at the Annual Meeting. If you choose to attend, please 
bring the enclosed proxy card and a form of identification, even if you have registered to attend the Annual Meeting.  If 
you are a beneficial owner and you wish to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, you will need to bring a signed 
proxy from your broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting and a form of 
identification,  even  if  you  have  registered  to  attend  the  Annual  Meeting.    To  obtain  directions  to  attend  the  Annual 
Meeting and vote in person, please call Carlotta D. King, Secretary, at (614) 255-3333 or visit the Company’s website, 
https://www.diamond-hill.com/contact/. 

How will my shares be voted if I submit a proxy without voting instructions? 

If you submit a proxy and do not indicate how you want your shares voted, your proxy will be voted on the proposals as 
recommended by the Board.  The Board’s recommendations are set forth in this Proxy Statement. 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

2

Q: 

A: 

Who can answer my questions about how I can submit or revoke my proxy or vote by phone or via the Internet? 

If  you  are  a  record  holder  and  have  more  questions  about  how  to  submit  your  proxy,  please  call  Carlotta  D.  King,  the 
Company's Secretary, at (614) 255-3333.  If you are a beneficial owner, you should contact your broker or other nominee 
to determine the procedures that you must follow.

Record Date 

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

Only our shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2022, the record date, will be entitled to vote at the Annual 
Meeting.    As  of  the  record  date,  there  were 3,221,140  of  our  common  shares  outstanding  and  entitled  to  be  voted  at  the  Annual 
Meeting. 

Proxy 

Your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting as you direct on your signed proxy card or in your telephonic or Internet voting 
instructions.  If you submit a proxy card without voting instructions, it will be voted as recommended by the Board.  The Board's 
recommendations are set forth in this Proxy Statement.  The duly appointed proxy holders will vote in their discretion on any other 
matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. 

Voting

A shareholder may cast one vote for each outstanding share held by the shareholder on each separate matter of business properly 
brought before the Annual Meeting.  If you hold shares in street name, we encourage you to instruct your broker or other nominee 
as to how to vote your shares. 

Director  elections.    Votes  that  shareholders  cast  "FOR"  a  director-nominee  must  exceed  the  votes  that  shareholders  cast 
"AGAINST" a director-nominee for the individual to be elected.  Please also see the discussion of our "Majority Voting" provisions 
within Proposal 1.

Ratification of selection of KPMG.  The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares cast on the proposal is required 
to  ratify  the  selection  of  KPMG  LLP  ("KPMG")  as  the  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  for  fiscal  year 
2022.

Advisory approval of named executive officer compensation.  The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares cast on 
the  proposal  is  required  for  non-binding  shareholder  advisory  approval  of  the  compensation  of  the  Company’s  named  executive 
officers.

Approval and adoption of the Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan.  The affirmative vote 
of the holders of a majority of the shares cast on the proposal is required to approve and adopt the Diamond Hill Investment Group, 
Inc. 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan.

Effect  of  broker  non-votes  and  abstentions.    Under  the  applicable  regulations  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the 
“SEC”) and the rules of the exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations of which the brokers are members, brokers who hold 
common  shares  in  street  name  for  beneficial  owners  may  sign  and  submit  proxies  and  may  vote  our  common  shares  on  certain 
“routine”  matters.    The  ratification  of  KPMG  is  considered  routine.    Under  applicable  stock  exchange  rules,  brokers  are  not 
permitted to vote without instruction on the election of directors. In addition, SEC regulations prohibit brokers from voting without 
customer instruction on the approval of named executive officer compensation.  Proxies that are signed and submitted by brokers 
that have not been voted on certain matters are referred to as “broker non-votes”. 

Neither  broker  non-votes  nor  abstentions  will  have  any  effect  on  the  election  of  directors,  the  ratification  of  the  appointment  of 
KPMG,  the  advisory  approval  of  named  executive  officer  compensation,  or  the  approval  and  adoption  of  the  Diamond  Hill 
Investment Group, Inc. 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan. 

Quorum 

Business  can  be  conducted  at  the  Annual  Meeting  only  if  a  quorum,  consisting  of  the  holders  of  at  least  a  majority  of  our 
outstanding  shares  entitled  to  vote,  is  present,  either  in  person  or  by  proxy.    Abstentions  and  broker  non-votes  will  be  counted 
toward  establishing  a  quorum.    If  a  quorum  is  not  present  at  the  time  the  Annual  Meeting  is  convened,  a  majority  of  the  shares 

3

 
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. 

Solicitation; Expenses

We  will  pay  all  expenses  of  the  Board’s  solicitation  of  the  proxies  for  the  Annual  Meeting,  including  the  cost  of  preparing, 
assembling, and mailing the Notice, proxy card, and Proxy Statement, postage for return envelopes, the handling and expenses for 
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  any  electronic  access  charges  associated  with  Internet  or  telephonic  voting 
incurred  by  a  shareholder.    We  may  solicit  proxies  in  person  or  by  telephone,  facsimile,  or  e-mail.    Our  officers,  directors,  and 
employees may also assist with solicitation, but will receive no additional compensation for doing so. 

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 does 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; Internet Availability 

Our  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021  (the  "Form  10-K"),  including  audited  consolidated 
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 these shareholders to the contrary.  However, each shareholder will continue to receive a separate 
proxy card.  We will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Proxy Statement and/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  Carlotta  D.  King,  Secretary,  at  Diamond  Hill  Investment  Group,  Inc.,  325  John  H.  McConnell  Boulevard,  Suite  200, 
Columbus, Ohio 43215 or by phone at (614) 255-3333.  Additionally, this Proxy Statement and our Form 10-K are available on the 
internet free of charge at: https://www.diamond-hill.com/proxy.

4

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth beneficial ownership of our common shares as of the record date, March 1, 2022, by: (a) all 
persons  known  by  us  to  beneficially  own  5%  or  more  of  the  Company’s  outstanding  shares,  (b)  each  director  of  the 
Company,  (c)  the  Company's  named  executive  officers,  and  (d)  all  of  the  Company's  executive  officers,  directors,  and 
director  nominees  as  a  group.    Although  not  required,  we  have  also  voluntarily  disclosed  all  common  shares  beneficially 
owned  by  all  other  employees  of  the  Company,  excluding  its  executive  officers.    Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the  named 
persons exercise sole voting and dispositive power over the shares listed.  None of the named persons hold any outstanding 
options to acquire our common shares, and none of the named persons have pledged any common shares of the Company as 
security.

Name of Beneficial Owner
Heather E. Brilliant

Richard S. Cooley

Randolph J. Fortener

James F. Laird

Thomas E. Line

Paula R. Meyer

Nicole R. St. Pierre

L'Quentus Thomas

Directors, nominees, and executive officers as a group (8 persons)

All other employees of the Company (125 persons)

5% Beneficial Owners
BlackRock, Inc.(4)

Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership

(2)

(2)

38,180 

5,279 

8,600    

34,000 

21,429 

2,379 

2,379 

— 

Percent of
Class(1)

 1.2 %

*

*

 1.1 %

*

*

*

*

112,246    

465,079 

(3)

 3.5 %

 14.4 %

269,754    

 8.4 %

_______________
(1)  Beneficial ownership of less than 1% is represented by an asterisk (*).  The percent of class is based upon the number of 
common shares beneficially owned by the named person divided by 3,221,140, which was the total number of shares that 
were issued and outstanding as of March 1, 2022.

(2)  Includes 473 and 1,294 shares for Ms. Brilliant, and Mr. Line, respectively, that are held in the Diamond Hill Investment 
Group 401(k) Plan and Trust (the "401(k) Plan"), over which the Trustee of the 401(k) Plan possesses the voting power. 
(3)  Includes  all  other  employees  of  the  Company,  other  than  executive  officers,  as  of  March  1,  2022.  Each  employee  has 
sole voting power over the shares of such employee reflected in the table, except for the 65,221 shares that are held in the 
401(k) Plan, over which the Trustee of the 401(k) Plan possesses voting power. Certain shares are subject to restrictions 
on  the  power  to  dispose  of  the  shares.    The  employees  do  not  constitute  a  "Group"  as  defined  by  Rule  13d-1  of  the 
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

(4) Based on information contained in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 1, 2022, by BlackRock, Inc. to report 
beneficial  ownership  by  its  subsidiaries  (BlackRock  Life  Limited,  BlackRock  Advisors,  LLC,  Aperio  Group,  LLC, 
BlackRock  Investment  Management  (UK)  Limited,  BlackRock  Asset  Management  Canada  Limited,  BlackRock  Fund 
Advisors,  BlackRock  Asset  Management  Ireland  Limited,  BlackRock  Institutional  Trust  Company,  National 
Association,  BlackRock  Financial  Management,  Inc.,  BlackRock  Fund  Managers  Ltd,  BlackRock  Asset  Management 
Schweiz AG, and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC) of shares as of December 31, 2021.  This Schedule 13G/A 
reported that BlackRock, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had sole voting power over 253,160 shares and sole dispositive 
power over 269,754 shares.  The address for BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY  10055.

PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The  Board  guides  the  strategic  direction  of  the  Company  and  oversees  its  management.    All  of  our  directors  are  elected 
annually. 

Pursuant  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee,  the  Board  has  nominated  the  seven 
nominees  listed  below  for  election,  all  of  whom  are  current  directors,  to  hold  office  until  the  2023  Annual  Meeting  of 
Shareholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified.  If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to 

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
serve  between  the  date  of  this  Proxy  Statement  and  the  Annual  Meeting,  proxies  will  be  voted  FOR  the  election  of  a 
replacement recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee and approved by the Board.

Majority Voting

In an uncontested election, a nominee must receive more “FOR” votes than “AGAINST” votes to be elected.  In addition, 
pursuant to the Board's Corporate Governance Guidelines, any director who fails to obtain the required vote in an uncontested 
election will be expected to promptly submit their resignation to the Board. The Board will then decide, after considering the 
Nominating  and  Governance  Committee's  recommendation,  whether  to  accept  or  decline  the  resignation,  or  decline  the 
resignation  with  conditions.    The  Board  will  make  any  such  decision  within  90  days  following  the  date  of  the  Annual 
Meeting of Shareholders at which such uncontested election occurred.  Plurality voting will apply to any contested elections.

Director Independence

The Board has determined that each of Richard S. Cooley, Randy J. Fortener, James F. Laird, Paula R. Meyer, Nicole R. St. 
Pierre, and L'Quentus Thomas qualifies as independent under the rules and independence standards of The NASDAQ Stock 
Market (“NASDAQ”), as well as applicable SEC requirements.  The Board has determined that Heather E. Brilliant is not 
independent.  There are no family relationships among our directors and executive officers.

The Nominees

The Board has determined that all of our director nominees are qualified to serve as directors of the Company.  In addition to 
their  specific  business  experience  listed  below,  each  of  our  director  nominees  has  the  tangible  and  intangible  skills  and 
attributes  that  we  believe  are  required  to  be  an  effective  director  of  the  Company,  including  experience  at  senior  levels  in 
areas of expertise helpful to the Company, a willingness and commitment to assume the responsibilities required of a director, 
and the character and integrity that we expect of our directors.  The specific qualifications of each individual nominee are set 
forth under such nominee's name below.

Heather  E.  Brilliant,  CFA,  age  45,  was  appointed  as  a  director,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  ("CEO")  of  the 
Company effective September 3, 2019.  Ms. Brilliant previously served as Chief Executive Officer, Americas with First State 
Investments from 2017 until joining the Company. Prior to that role, she spent almost 14 years with Morningstar where she 
served as Global Head of Equity & Credit Research before advancing to Chief Executive Officer, Morningstar Australasia. 
Earlier in her career, she held several roles analyzing both credit and equity at firms including Driehaus Capital Management, 
Coghill Capital Management, and Bank of America. 

Ms.  Brilliant  received  her  Bachelor's  degree  from  Northwestern  University  and  an  MBA  from  the  University  of  Chicago.  
Ms. Brilliant also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is past chair and served as a member of the CFA 
Institute Board of Governors from 2013-2020.

Ms. Brilliant's qualifications to serve on the Board include her prior experience as CEO of a division of an investment firm as 
well as her in depth knowledge of the investment management industry through her more than 20 years of experience as an 
investment professional and industry executive.

Richard S. Cooley, age 53, was appointed a director in October 2020, is the Chair of the Audit Committee, and currently 
serves on the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee.  Mr. Cooley has been determined 
by the Board to be an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC and is a non-executive director.  Since 2021, 
Mr.  Cooley  has  been  a  full-time  Teaching  Fellow  at  the  University  of  Chicago,  and  during  the  preceding  five  years,  Mr. 
Cooley  primarily  and  intermittently  served  as  a  teaching  assistant  at  the  University  of  Chicago.    From  2007  to  2013,  Mr. 
Cooley served as Morningstar, Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer, and was responsible for the firm’s investor relations, financial 
reporting, corporate finance, tax, corporate communications, and U.S. national sales teams. Prior to becoming Chief Financial 
Officer ("CFO"), from 2003 to 2007 Mr. Cooley was CEO of Morningstar’s operations in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. 
Cooley also established Morningstar’s government affairs function. 

Mr. Cooley holds a Bachelor of the Arts and Master of the Arts degrees from Illinois State University, a Master of the Arts 
degree from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago. 

6

Mr. Cooley's qualifications to serve on the Board include his substantial experience in accounting and financial matters due to 
serving as CFO of a global, publicly-traded financial services firm, his experience as CEO of a division of a large financial 
services firm, as well as his experience serving as a board member for numerous for-profit companies.

Randolph J. Fortener, age 68, has been a director of the Company since 2013, currently serves on the Audit Committee, the 
Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Compensation Committee.  Mr. Fortener has been determined by the Board 
to be an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC and is a non-executive director.  Since 2014, Mr. Fortener 
has been the CEO of Cozzins Road Capital, a private investment firm.  As its CEO, Mr. Fortener directs all investment and 
acquisition activity for Cozzins Road Capital.  Previously, Mr. Fortener worked at the Crane Group, a private holding and 
management  company,  based  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  from  1990  to  2014  and  served  as  the  president  of  Crane  Investment 
Company from 2007 to 2014.  Prior to joining the Crane Group, Mr. Fortener was a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, a big 
four  accounting  firm,  providing  services  to  investment  banking  firms.    Mr.  Fortener  also  specialized  in  estate  and  tax 
planning for privately held businesses while with Deloitte.  Mr. Fortener has over 40 years of business experience, with an 
emphasis on corporate acquisitions and investments.

Mr. Fortener received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from The University of Findlay and his MBA in finance from the 
University of Dayton and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Mr.  Fortener’s  qualifications  to  serve  on  the  Board  include  his  substantial  experience  in  accounting  and  financial  matters, 
including his significant experience as a certified public accountant and his experience on other corporate boards.

James F. Laird, CPA, age 65, has been a director of the Company since 2011 and Chair of the Board since 2019, and also 
serves on the Compensation Committee, Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.  Mr. Laird has been 
determined by the Board to be an audit committee financial expert, as defined by the SEC and is a non-executive director.  
Mr. Laird served as CFO and Treasurer of the Company from 2001 until his retirement from the Company on December 31, 
2014 and served as Secretary of the Company from 2001 to 2017.  He also served as President of Diamond Hill Funds from 
2001 to 2014.   Mr. Laird has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry.

Mr. Laird received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from The Ohio State University, is a Certified Public Accountant, 
and previously held the Series 7, 24, 26, 27 and 63 securities licenses with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Mr.  Laird’s  qualifications  to  serve  on  the  Board  include  his  13  years  of  experience  as  CFO  of  the  Company,  his  in-depth 
knowledge  of,  and  involvement  in,  our  operations  and  his  more  than  30  years  of  experience  in  the  financial,  operational, 
administrative, and distribution aspects of the investment management industry.

Paula R. Meyer, age 67, was appointed as a director of the Company on February 20, 2019, is the Chair of the Nominating 
and  Governance  Committee,  currently  serves  on  the  Audit  Committee  and  the  Compensation  Committee,  and  is  a  non-
executive director.  Since 2007, Ms. Meyer has served as  a professional, non-executive director.  Prior to 2007, she worked 
in variety of roles within the investment management industry, most recently serving as President of RiverSource Funds, the 
proprietary fund complex of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. from 1998 to 2006.  She currently serves as a director for Mutual of 
Omaha and First Command Financial Services.  She also served as a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines 
from 2007 to 2016 and on the Investment Company Institute's Board of Governors from 2000 to 2006.

Ms.  Meyer  received  her  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  Luther  College,  an  MBA  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  Wharton 
School  of  Business,  and  is  a  National  Association  of  Corporate  Directors  Board  Leadership  Fellow.    She  has  also  been 
awarded  the  Certificate  in  Cybersecurity  Oversight  from  the  Software  Engineering  Institute  in  association  with  Carnegie 
Mellon University (2020)

Ms. Meyer's qualifications to serve on the Board include her over 25 years of leadership experience in the financial services 
and mutual fund industries as well as her significant governance experience as a board member on numerous for-profit and 
non-profit companies.

Nicole  R.  St.  Pierre,  age  49,  was  appointed  as  a  director  of  the  Company  on  February  20,  2019,  is  the  Chair  of  the 
Compensation Committee, currently serves on the Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee, and is a 
non-executive director.  Prior to her retirement, Ms. St. Pierre served in a variety of roles within the Asset Management group 
at  J.P.  Morgan  from  1994  to  2018,  including  as  Managing  Director;  Head  of  Client  Services  and  Business  Platform  & 
Americas Regional Lead.

7

Ms.  St.  Pierre  received  her  Bachelor  of  Science  in  Marketing  from  Rutgers  University  and  an  MBA  from  Fordham 
University.  She has also been awarded the Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight from the Software Engineering Institute in 
association with Carnegie Mellon University (2020).

Ms. St. Pierre's qualifications to serve on the Board include her over 20 years of experience in the investment management 
industry.

L'Quentus Thomas, age 46, was appointed as a director of the Company on September 15, 2021.  Mr. Thomas currently 
serves  on  the  Audit  Committee,  the  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee,  and  the  Compensation  Committee.    Mr. 
Thomas has been determined by the Board to be an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC and is a non-
executive director.  Since 2021, Mr. Thomas has served as a Senior Managing Director at Stonehenge Capital, and currently 
manages  the  operations  of  Stonehenge  Community  Development,  the  firm’s  community  banking  subsidiary.  Under  his 
leadership,  the  firm  has  increased  assets  under  management  and  the  availability  of  term  credit  products  in  underserved 
markets.  Prior  to  his  current  role,  from  2005  to  2009,  Mr.  Thomas  worked  in  the  firm’s  principal  investing  division, 
Stonehenge Growth Capital, where he focused on providing debt and equity capital solutions to privately held firms. 

Mr.  Thomas  has  served  on  numerous  boards  of  non-profit  organizations,  including  as  a  Trustee  of  Kenyon  College.  Mr. 
Thomas  earned  a  Bachelor  of  Arts  degree  from  Amherst  College  and  a  Master  of  Business  Administration  from  the  Stern 
School of Business at New York University.

Mr.  Thomas's  qualifications  to  serve  on  the  Board  include  his  experience  in  accounting  and  financial  matters,  his  over  20 
years of experience in the financial services industry, and his experience serving as a board member for numerous non-profit 
companies.

THE  BOARD  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS  THAT  YOU  VOTE  FOR  THE  ELECTION  OF  HEATHER  E. 
BRILLIANT, RICHARD S. COOLEY, RANDY J. FORTENER, JAMES F. LAIRD, PAULA R. MEYER, NICOLE 
R. ST. PIERRE, AND L'QUENTUS THOMAS AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. 

8

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

The Board held a total of seven meetings during the year ended December 31, 2021, and each director attended at least 75% 
of all Board and applicable committee meetings. Consistent with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the directors met in 
executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting in 2021.  

Although we do not have a formal policy requiring directors’ attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders, our Corporate 
Governance Guidelines provide that all directors are expected to attend each annual meeting of shareholders.  However, due 
to applicable health orders issued in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate risks to the health and well-
being  of  our  employees,  shareholders,  communities  and  other  stakeholders,  the  Company  limited  attendance  at  the  2021 
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to a small contingent of the Company’s officers to carry out the legal requirements of the 
meeting and a proxy to cast ballots in accordance with submitted proxy votes. Given these unusual circumstances, none of 
our then-current directors attended the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Corporate Governance

The  Board  has  three  standing  committees:  the  Audit  Committee,  the  Compensation  Committee,  and  the  Nominating  and 
Governance Committee.  The Board has adopted a written charter for each Committee.  Current copies of each committee 
charter  and  our  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  are  available  on  our  website,  ir.diamond-hill.com,  under  the  heading 
“Corporate Governance”.

The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for principal executive and senior financial officers of the 
Company.    This  Code  is  intended  to  deter  wrongdoing  and  promote  honest  and  ethical  conduct,  full,  timely,  and  accurate 
reporting, compliance with laws, and accountability for adherence to the code, including internal reporting of code violations. 

We also have a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is applicable to all of our employees and directors.  It is our policy 
to require all employees to participate annually in continuing education and training related to the Code of Business Conduct 
and Ethics.

Personal Trading and Hedging Policy

We  have  established  a  policy  prohibiting  our  employees  and  directors  from  purchasing  or  selling  shares  of  the  Company 
while in possession of material nonpublic information, or otherwise using such information for their personal benefit or in 
any manner that would violate applicable laws and regulations.  The policy also prohibits all employees and directors from 
purchasing or selling any derivative arrangement related to securities of the Company or engaging in any speculative, short 
selling, or hedging activities related to securities of the Company that may have a similar economic effect.

Audit Committee

Mr.  Cooley  (Chair),  Mr.  Fortener,  Mr.  Laird,  Ms.  Meyer,  Ms.  St.  Pierre,  and  Mr.  Thomas  serve  on  the  Audit  Committee, 
which met four times during 2021.  The Board has determined that each of these committee members meets the independence 
and financial literacy rules and standards of the SEC and NASDAQ. The Board also has concluded that each of Mr. Cooley, 
Mr. Fortener, Mr. Laird, and Mr. Thomas meet the criteria to be an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC.  

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to 
the  retention  of  our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  including  appointing  and  overseeing  the  terms  of  its 
engagement  and  its  performance,  qualifications,  and  independence,  and  the  integrity  of  our  financial  statements,  other 
financial  information  provided  to  shareholders,  and  our  internal  control  structure.    The  Audit  Committee  also  reviews  all 
related person transactions for potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis, and all such transactions must be 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  report  of  the  Audit  Committee  appears  below  the 
heading “AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT”.

9

Compensation Committee

Mr.  Cooley,  Mr.  Fortener,  Mr.  Laird,  Ms.  Meyer,  Ms.  St.  Pierre  (Chair),  and  Mr.  Thomas  serve  on  the  Compensation 
Committee, which met four times during 2021.  The Board has determined that each of these committee members meets the 
independence criteria of the SEC and NASDAQ.

The primary purpose of the Compensation Committee is to: (i) review and approve the Company’s executive compensation 
policies,  (ii)  evaluate  the  performance  of  our  executive  officers  in  light  of  corporate  goals  and  objectives  approved  by  the 
Compensation Committee, (iii) approve the annual salaries, bonuses, stock grants, and other benefits, direct and indirect, of 
our executive officers, (iv) make recommendations to the full Board with respect to incentive compensation plans and equity-
based  plans,  and  (v)  determine  director  and  committee  member/chair  compensation  for  non-employee  directors.  The 
Compensation  Committee  also  administers  the  Company’s  equity  compensation  plans.    The  Compensation  Committee  has 
delegated to management the ability to make stock grants to non-executive employees within specific parameters to align the 
interests of our shareholders and our employees and to promote employee retention and long-term employee ownership.  A 
description  of  the  Company’s  processes  and  procedures  for  the  consideration  and  determination  of  executive  officer 
compensation are discussed under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below.

Nominating and Governance Committee

Mr.  Cooley,  Mr.  Fortener,  Mr.  Laird,  Ms.  Meyer  (Chair),  Ms.  St.  Pierre,  and  Mr.  Thomas  serve  on  the  Nominating  and 
Governance  Committee,  which  met  seven  times  during  2021.    The  Board  has  determined  that  each  of  these  committee 
members meets the independence criteria of NASDAQ. 

The  primary  purpose  of  the  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  is  to  maintain  and  cultivate  the  effectiveness  of  the 
Board  and  oversee  the  Company’s  governance  policies.    Among  the  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee's 
responsibilities are Board and committee composition, director qualifications, director orientation and education, and Board 
evaluations.    The  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee:  (i)  identifies,  evaluates,  and  nominates  Board  candidates,  (ii) 
reviews  compliance  with  director  stock  ownership  guidelines,  and  (iii)  oversees  procedures  regarding  shareholder 
nominations  and  other  shareholder  communications  to  the  Board.  The  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  is  also 
responsible  for  monitoring  compliance  with  and  recommending  any  changes  to  the  Company’s  Corporate  Governance 
Guidelines.    Additional  information  regarding  the  committee’s  activities  can  be  found  under  the  heading  “Corporate 
Governance”.   

Board Committee Membership

The following table summarizes the membership of the Board and each of its committees, and the number of times each met 
during 2021.

Director 
Heather E. Brilliant

Richard S. Cooley

Randolph J. Fortener

James F. Laird

Paula R. Meyer

Nicole R. St. Pierre

L'Quentus Thomas

Number of Meetings in 2021

Compensation of Directors

Audit

—
Chair

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

4

Compensation

Nominating and
Governance

—
Member

Member

Member

Member

Chair

Member

4

—
Member

Member

Member

Chair

Member

Member

7

The Compensation Committee is responsible for periodically reviewing and recommending to the Board the compensation of 
our non-employee directors.  

Prior to 2021, directors received long-term, cliff-vested, restricted stock awards as their sole form of compensation for the 
entirety of their service as directors. In 2020, the Compensation Committee considered changes to our director compensation 

10

that are more consistent with current industry practices, while continuing to align the interests of our directors with the long-
term interests of our shareholders. The Compensation Committee determined that the use of long-term, cliff-vested, restricted 
stock awards as the sole form of compensation for the entirety of directors’ service needed to be reconsidered. As a result, in 
2020, the Compensation Committee recommended that, beginning January 1, 2021, our compensation structure for directors 
be changed to include both an annual cash award and an annual stock award with a one-year vesting period, and annual chair 
fees, where applicable.  

The  Board  approved  the  Compensation  Committee’s  recommendation  and  compensation  arrangements  for  directors  with 
partial-year  service  as  well  as  the  appropriate  transition  of  compensation  for  existing  directors  from  the  current  to  new 
structure. The Board concluded that the transition to the new annual grant structure for directors in 2021 should exclude Mr. 
Fortener and Mr. Laird given their longer tenure as directors and limited time remaining in their director term limit.  

Mr.  Thomas  was  appointed  to  the  Board  in  September  2021.  Given  his  part-year  service  in  2021  and  the  change  in  our 
director compensation structure, the Compensation Committee and the Board approved a cash payment to Mr. Thomas in the 
amount of $38,750 for his service in the fourth quarter of 2021. 

The  following  table  sets  forth  information  regarding  the  compensation  earned  by,  or  paid  to,  non-employee  directors  who 
served on our Board during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. 

Name

Heather E. Brilliant

Richard S. Cooley

Randolph J. Fortener

James F. Laird

Paula R. Meyer

Nicole St. Pierre

L'Quentus Thomas

2021 Director Compensation(1)

Fees Earned or 
Paid in Cash

Stock Awards

Total

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

— 

51,250 

13,750 

40,000 

50,000 

50,000 

38,750 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

— 

115,000 

— 

— 

115,000 

115,000 

— 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

— 

166,250 

13,750 

40,000 

165,000 

165,000 

38,750 

_______________
(1)  The above table omits certain columns where no compensation was awarded or earned. 

Outstanding Stock Grants to Directors

The below table shows the amount of unvested restricted stock awards outstanding to directors as of December 31, 2021 and 
the service period covered by the grant.  All of these awards vest in full at the conclusion of the applicable service period.

Name

Richard S. Cooley(1)

Randolph J. Fortener

James F. Laird
Paula R. Meyer(1)
Nicole R. St. Pierre(1)
L'Quentus Thomas(2)

Shares
Granted

Approximate 
Service Period

Service Period
Covered

Grant-
Date Fair 
Value

Grant
Date

779

One Year

1/1/21 – 1/1/22

  $115,000 

1/1/21

Vesting
Date

1/1/22

3,600

8,000

779

779

—

Five Years

5/2/18 – 4/30/23

  $694,800 

5/2/18

4/30/23

Ten Years

4/30/15 – 4/30/25  $1,125,760  2/27/15

4/30/25

One Year

One Year

—

1/1/21 – 1/1/22

  $115,000 

1/1/21

1/1/21 – 1/1/22

  $115,000 

1/1/21

—

—

—

1/1/22

1/1/22

—

11

 
 
 
 
 
_______________
(1) 

In  connection  with  the  approved  changes  to  the  director  compensation  structure,  1,600  shares  granted  to  each  of  Ms. 
Meyer  and  Ms.  St.  Pierre,  which  represented  a  pro-rated  portion  of  their  original  long-term  cliff-vested  awards,  were 
vested  on  January  1,  2021,  with  the  remainder  forfeited.    In  addition,  on  January  1,  2021,  each  of  Mr.  Cooley,  Ms. 
Meyer, and Ms. St. Pierre received a grant of shares with a fair value on the grant date of $115,000, and which vested on 
January 1, 2022. Beginning in April 2022, each of Mr. Cooley, Ms. Meyer, Ms. St. Pierre, and Mr. Thomas will receive 
an annual grant of shares with an approximate fair value of $115,000 that will vest the following year.

(2) Beginning in April 2022, Mr. Thomas will receive an annual grant of shares with an approximate fair value of $115,000 

that will vest the following year consistent with the compensation structure for other directors.

Ownership and Retention Guidelines 

Our  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  prohibit  shares  granted  to  our  directors  as  compensation  from  being  sold  while  the 
director remains on the Board, except for sales of shares in an amount necessary to pay taxes due upon vesting.  Therefore, 
aside  from  this  exception,  we  expect  each  non-employee  director  to  hold  all  of  the  shares  granted  to  the  director  as 
compensation for their entire term of service on the Board.

12

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  has  general  oversight  responsibility  for  assessment  and  recruitment  of  new 
director candidates, evaluation of director and Board performance, oversight of our governance matters. The Nominating and 
Governance Committee has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines ("Guidelines") and reviews them annually. The most 
current version of the Guidelines is available on our website, ir.diamond-hill.com, under “Corporate Governance”. 

Board Leadership and Composition

We believe that separating the roles of Chair of the Board and CEO provides for a strong governance and oversight structure. 
The  Chair  of  the  Board  approves  Board  agendas  and  schedules,  chairs  all  executive  sessions  of  the  directors,  acts  as  the 
liaison  between  the  directors  and  management,  is  available  to  the  Secretary  to  discuss  and,  as  necessary,  respond  to 
shareholder communications to the Board, and calls meetings of the directors.

Currently, six of our seven director nominees qualify as independent under NASDAQ standards, with Ms. Brilliant, our CEO, 
being  our  only  non-independent  director.    The  Audit  Committee,  the  Compensation  Committee,  and  the  Nominating  and 
Governance Committee are all comprised entirely of independent directors.  In 2021, NASDAQ amended its listing rules to 
encourage diverse board composition and require disclosure of specified diversity metrics, subject to certain exceptions and 
transition periods (the “Diversity Rule”). In accordance with the Diversity Rule, the diversity statistics of the Board and the 
seven  director  nominees  are  below.  Each  of  the  categories  listed  in  the  below  table  has  the  meaning  as  it  is  used  in  the 
NASDAQ rules and related guidance and instructions.    

13

Overall,  we  believe  that  our  Board  structure  is  designed  to  foster  critical  oversight,  good  governance  practices,  and  the 
interests of the Company and its shareholders. 

Among other things, the Guidelines address term limits of each non-employee director.  Although we have a 10-year service 
limit for non-employee directors, the Guidelines provide that, notwithstanding that limitation, a director may be re-elected if: 
(1) such person is currently the Board Chair, and has not served as Board Chair for five consecutive years, or (2) the Board in 
its discretion agrees to allow such person to be eligible for re-election for an additional year.  The Board has not made any 
exceptions to the term limits for non-employee directors during the last five years.

Board Leadership and Role in Risk Oversight 

The Board’s role in our risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from members of management on areas of 
material  risk  to  the  Company,  including  client  investment  results,  and  operational,  financial,  legal,  regulatory  information 
security,  and  strategic  risks.    The  Audit  Committee  is  responsible  for  overseeing  risks  relating  to  our  accounting  matters, 
financial  reporting,  and  legal  and  regulatory  compliance.  To  satisfy  these  oversight  responsibilities,  the  Audit  Committee 
meets  regularly  with  management  and  the  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm.    The  Compensation 
Committee is responsible for overseeing risks relating to employment policies and our compensation and benefits programs. 
To satisfy these oversight responsibilities, the Compensation Committee meets regularly with management to understand the 
implications  of  compensation  decisions,  particularly  the  risks  that  our  compensation  policies  pose  to  our  finances  and  our 
relationship with our employees.

Director Orientation and Continuing Education and Development 

When a new non-employee director joins the Board, the Company provides a formal orientation program to provide the new 
director with an understanding of our operations and financial condition. In addition, each director is expected to maintain the 
necessary level of expertise to perform their responsibilities as a director.  To assist our directors in maintaining such level of 
expertise,  we  may,  from  time  to  time,  offer  continuing  education  programs  in  addition  to  briefings  during  Board  meetings 
relating to the competitive and industry environment in which the Company operates and the Company’s goals and strategies.

Director Qualifications and the Nominations Process 

The Nominating and Governance Committee believes that the nominees presented in this Proxy Statement currently, and will 
continue  to,  constitute  a  Board  with  an  appropriate  level  and  diversity  of  experience,  education,  skills,  and  independence.  
The Nominating and Governance Committee routinely considers the composition of the Board and whether changes should 
be made or additional directors should be added. 

The  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  supervises  the  nomination  process  for  directors.    In  selecting  nominees,  the 
Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  considers,  as  applicable,  independence,  judgment,  skills,  diversity,  character, 
community  involvement,  financial  expertise,  business  experience,  experience  with  similarly-sized  companies  and  with 
publicly-traded companies, experience and skills relative to other Board members, ability to meet long-term interests of the 
Company  and  its  shareholders,  and  any  additional  criteria  deemed  appropriate  by  the  Nominating  and  Governance 
Committee.    In  the  event  of  a  vacancy,  including  upon  an  increase  in  the  number  of  directors,  the  Nominating  and 
Governance  Committee  will  identify,  interview,  examine,  and  make  recommendations  to  the  Board  regarding  appropriate 
candidates  to  fill  such  vacancy.  When  identifying  potential  director  nominees,  we  consider  diversity  among  the  various 
factors relevant to any particular nominee and the overall needs of the Board.  

The  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  identifies  potential  candidates  for  the  Board  through  principally  suggestions 
from our directors and senior management and will also consider recommendations from shareholders.  The Nominating and 
Governance Committee may also seek candidates through informal discussions with third parties. We have not historically 
retained search firms to help identify director candidates.

Generally, the Nominating and Governance Committee will identify potential candidates who at a minimum:

•
•
•

Demonstrate strong character and integrity; 
Have sufficient time to carry out their duties; 
Have relevant experience in areas of expertise helpful to the Company; and 

14

 
•

Have the ability to meet the expectations of a director of the Company as set forth in the Guidelines. 

In addition, candidates expected to serve on the various Board committees must meet applicable independence and financial 
literacy qualifications required by NASDAQ, the SEC, and other applicable laws and regulations.  The evaluation process of 
potential candidates also includes personal interviews and discussions with appropriate references.  Once the Nominating and 
Governance  Committee  has  selected  a  candidate,  it  recommends  the  candidate  to  the  full  Board  for  election  if  a  vacancy 
occurs or is created by an increase in the size of the Board during the course of the year, or for nomination if the director is to 
be first elected by our shareholders.  All of our directors serve for one-year terms and must stand for re-election annually.

All director candidates recommended by shareholders are evaluated using the same criteria as individuals nominated by the 
Board,  the  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee,  management,  and  other  sources.  Shareholder  recommendations  for 
Board candidates should be directed in writing to the Company at 325 John H. McConnell Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, 
Ohio  43215,  Attention:  Secretary,  and  include  the  candidate’s  name,  home  and  business  contact  information,  detailed 
biographical data and qualifications, information regarding any relationships between the candidate and the Company within 
the last three years, and evidence of the recommending person’s ownership of our common shares.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

The  Board  recognizes  that  related  person  transactions  present  a  heightened  risk  of  conflicts  of  interest.  There  has  been  no 
transaction since the beginning of fiscal 2021, and there is no currently proposed transaction, in which the Company was or is 
to be a participant that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.  The Company has no 
policies or procedures for the review, approval, or ratification of any transaction required to be reported under Item 404(a) of 
Regulation S-K, because, in the last 10 years, the Company has only been a party to one transaction that was required to be 
considered under Item 404(a).  The Audit Committee will review any potential 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(a) of Regulation S-K.  For any related person transaction to be consummated or to continue, the Audit Committee must 
approve or ratify the transaction.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The members of the Compensation Committee during 2021 were Mr. Cooley, Mr. Fortener, Mr. Laird, Ms. Meyer, Ms. St. 
Pierre, and Mr. Thomas.  No director who served on the Compensation Committee during 2021 currently is, or during 2021 
was, an officer, employee, or former officer of the Company.  However, Mr. Laird served as the Company’s CFO until his 
retirement in 2014. No member of the Compensation Committee has or had any relationship during 2021 requiring disclosure 
by us under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.  During 2021, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board of 
directors or compensation committee of any other company that has an executive officer serving as a member of our Board or 
Compensation Committee.

15

Executive Officers and Compensation Information

During  2021,  Heather  E.  Brilliant,  and  Thomas  E.  Line  were  the  Company’s  executive  officers.    Ms.  Brilliant's  business 
experience and qualifications are described above under the heading "Proposal 1 - Election of Directors, The Nominees", and 
Mr.  Line's  business  experience  and  qualifications  are  described  below.    Each  executive  officer  devotes  their  full  time  and 
effort to the affairs of the Company.  

Thomas E. Line, age 54, has served as the CFO and Treasurer of the Company since 2015 and is currently the President of 
the Diamond Hill Funds.  Previously, Mr. Line served as an Independent Trustee and Chair for Diamond Hill Funds from 
2005 to 2014.  From 2012 to 2014, Mr. Line was Chief Operating Officer for Lancaster Pollard & Company.  Mr. Line was 
Managing  Director  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  for  Red  Capital  Group  from  2005  to  2012  and  was  Vice  President  and 
Treasurer  from  2004  to  2005.    From  1989  to  2004,  Mr.  Line  held  various  positions  in  the  financial  services  industry, 
including seven years in various roles at KPMG.  Mr. Line has over 30 years of experience in the investment management 
industry.

Mr.  Line  has  a  Bachelor  of  Science  in  Accounting  from  Wake  Forest  University  and  is  a  Certified  Public  Accountant 
(inactive).

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

In our Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we:

•

•

Describe  our  compensation  program  objectives  and  how  compensation  for  our  named  executive  officers  is 
determined; and
Explain the tables and disclosures that follow.

This  Compensation  Discussion  and  Analysis  presents  compensation  information  for  the  following  individuals  (each,  a 
"named executive officer"):

•
•

Heather E. Brilliant, who served as our CEO and President in 2021; and
Thomas E. Line, who served as our CFO and Treasurer in 2021.

Background

In the investment management industry, human capital is our most important resource.  Attracting and retaining talent is a 
sustainable competitive advantage that allows us to deliver on our purpose and vision. We have been able to attract and retain 
high-quality employees due to: 

•

•
•

•

Our client-centric culture, which is emphasized through our alignment of interest, ensures we only succeed when our 
clients succeed;

◦
◦
◦

Significant employee ownership in all our investment strategies;
Portfolio Manager incentives that align with long-term investment results; and
Capacity discipline that protects our ability to add value;

Our investment teams share a core set of investment principles;
Our  strong  corporate  values  –  curiosity,  ownership,  trust,  and  respect  –  that  guide  our  behaviors  and  support  an 
inclusive workplace culture; and
The nationally-competitive compensation and benefits we offer to our employees.

Competitive compensation and benefits are fundamental to sustain a business dependent on talented employees, and have a 
significant  impact  on  profitability.    Achieving  profitability  while  retaining  high-quality  talent  requires  balancing  the 
economics between our operating profit margin and compensating employees for their contributions. 

At  our  2021  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders,  our  shareholders  voted  upon,  and  by  97%  of  the  votes  cast  on  the  matter 
approved,  an  advisory  resolution  to  approve  the  compensation  of  our  named  executive  officers.    The  Compensation 
Committee  of  the  Board  (the  “Compensation  Committee”)  believes  that  the  results  of  the  advisory  vote  on  executive 
compensation support our previous compensation practices and the Compensation Committee's overall judgment related to 
our  executive  compensation  practices.    The  Compensation  Committee  considered  that  endorsement  in  establishing  the 
compensation of our named executive officers for 2021.  

16

Compensation Program Objectives

Since our founding, aligning our interests directly with the clients we serve has been imperative. Inherent in this alignment is 
a  passion  for  excellence  enabling  us  to  exceed  client  expectations.  To  achieve  this  vision,  it  is  important  that  our 
compensation philosophy attract, retain, and motivate employees who embody our values, act like owners, and advocate for 
client outcomes.

We maintain a long-term approach to managing our business and we aim to invest in our employees throughout their careers. 
We  believe  employees  should  be  paid  competitively  and  fairly  for  their  contributions  and  have  confidence  that  we  are 
investing in them for the long term. 

Our employees are paid a competitive base salary, provided with various benefits, and participate in an annual performance 
incentive program.  We are committed to ensuring our shareholders’ and employees’ interests align by giving each permanent 
employee  a  new  hire  equity  grant  to  inspire  an  ownership  mentality  from  their  first  day  of  employment.  These  new  hire 
grants cliff vest after five years to promote long-term employee ownership and employee retention. Employees have further 
opportunities  to  grow  their  ownership  stake  through  the  new  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan,  by  electing  to  receive  their 
401(k) match in company stock and, for certain roles, eligibility to receive additional shares of restricted stock through the 
new long-term equity incentive program. 

Performance-Focused Incentives

Our primary business objective is to meet our fiduciary duty to clients.  We seek to fulfill our fiduciary duty to shareholders 
by managing the firm and its assets to increase shareholder value over time. Specifically, our focus is on long-term, five-year 
investment  returns,  with  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 exceed a sufficient absolute return for the 
risk  associated  with  the  asset  class.    As  it  relates  to  our  investment  professionals,  investment  performance  is  the  primary 
quantitative measurement that directly aligns their annual cash incentive compensation with client and firm outcomes.  The 
compensation program for employees who are not a part of our investment team predominantly considers individual, team, 
and company performance as the main drivers of incentive compensation determinations.  

Long-Term Incentives – Restricted Stock Grants with Three-Year Graded Vesting

In  2021,  we  made  our  first  grants  under  our  long-term  equity  incentive  (“LTI”)  program,  which  has  a  three-year  vesting 
schedule with one-third vesting each year.  This program makes up part of the compensation for certain roles, in addition to 
the annual performance incentive. This program is designed to incentivize employees who have a significant impact on client 
outcomes and future business results. 

Compensation Setting Process

Role of the Compensation Committee.  The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to oversee and assist the Board in the 
discharge of its responsibilities relating to succession planning for, and compensation programs of, the Company’s executive 
officers  and  directors,  including  executive  compensation,  compensation  deferral  plans,  stock  incentive  and  option  plans, 
performance incentive award programs, fringe benefit plans, other employee plans and executive employment contracts. The 
Compensation Committee is specifically required to fulfill certain duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to:

•

•

•

Conduct an annual performance review of our CEO, review and approve corporate goals and objectives relevant to 
the compensation of our CEO, evaluate the CEO's performance in light thereof, and consider other factors related to 
the performance of the Company in determining our CEO’s compensation;
Review  management’s  recommendations  and  approve  the  salaries,  bonuses,  ownership  incentives,  and  other 
significant benefits and arrangements provided for other executive officers of the Company; 
Review and recommend to the Board the compensation for directors, including committee and committee chair fees 
and other compensation as appropriate; 

• With respect to employee retirement plans and employee benefit plans (i.e., medical, life insurance, etc.), evaluate 
on a periodic basis the competitiveness of our benefit plans and adopt necessary amendments to the extent permitted 
by law and subject to the terms of the benefit plans; 
Review management’s recommendations and make recommendations to the Board with respect to incentive-based 
compensation and equity-based compensation plans and programs that are subject to Board approval, and that may 
be applicable to all or any portion of the employees of the Company and/or its subsidiaries; 

•

17

•

•

Evaluate  whether  the  Company’s  compensation  policies,  plans,  and  practices  are  reasonably  designed  in 
coordination with the Company’s risk oversight policies are reasonably designed so as not to create incentives for 
unnecessary or excessive risk taking; and
Oversee management’s engagement and communications with shareholders and proxy advisory firms on executive 
compensation matters, including with respect to shareholder votes on executive compensation.

The Compensation Committee considers the sum of all pay elements when reviewing annual compensation recommendations 
for  the  named  executive  officers.    Although  the  framework  for  compensation  decision-making  is  tied  to  the  Company’s 
overall  financial  performance  and  the  creation  of  long-term  shareholder  value,  the  Compensation  Committee  retains  the 
discretion  to  approve  individual  executive  compensation  based  on  other  performance  factors,  such  as  demonstrated 
management  and  leadership  capabilities  and  the  achievement  of  certain  investment  results  for  client  accounts  and  other 
strategic operating results.

Role  of  Management.  The  Company’s  CEO  evaluates  the  CFO  as  part  of  our  annual  review  process  and  makes 
recommendations  to  the  Compensation  Committee  regarding  all  elements  of  CFO  compensation.  The  CEO  may  propose 
changes  to  the  CFO's  compensation  based  on  the  CFO's  performance,  the  compensation  of  individuals  with  comparable 
responsibilities  in  competing  or  similar  organizations,  and  the  business  results  of  the  Company.  At  the  Compensation 
Committee’s  request,  management  attends  Compensation  Committee  meetings  to  provide  general  employee  compensation 
and  other  information  to  the  Compensation  Committee,  including  information  regarding  the  design,  implementation,  and 
administration  of  our  compensation  plans.    The  Compensation  Committee  also  meets  in  executive  sessions  without  the 
presence of any executive officer whose compensation the Compensation Committee is scheduled to discuss.

Use  of  Compensation  Consultants  and  Surveys  in  Determining  Executive  Compensation.    The  Compensation  Committee’s 
charter gives it the authority to retain an independent outside executive compensation consulting firm to assist in evaluating 
policies and practices regarding executive compensation and provide objective advice regarding the competitive landscape.  
The  Committee  periodically  obtains  an  asset  management  industry  pay  analysis  prepared  by  McLagan  or  another 
compensation  specialist  focusing  on  the  asset  management  industry.  This  analysis  provides  the  Compensation  Committee 
with a general overview of compensation trends in the asset management industry. The Compensation Committee does not 
define  a  specific  peer  group  but,  instead,  takes  a  broad  view  of  the  analysis  across  our  industry,  including  the  types  and 
amounts  of  compensation  paid  generally  by  the  companies  surveyed.  The  Compensation  Committee  does  not  set  any 
compensation elements or levels based on targeting a certain percentile from the survey. The Compensation Committee sets 
compensation that it believes to be both competitive and based on the executive’s value to the Company  and the analysis is 
just  one  of  many  factors  that  the  Compensation  Committee  considers  when  determining  executive  compensation.  
Management and the Compensation Committee believe this broad view of the analysis is appropriate because we compete 
with both public and private asset management firms, regardless of their size, location, or scope of operations.

Elements of Compensation 

Base Salary.  Base salaries for our named executive officers are designed to compensate knowledge and experience and are 
intended  to  provide  a  fixed  level  of  cash  compensation  that  is  appropriate  given  the  executive’s  role  in  the  organization.  
Generally, base salaries are determined by: (i) scope of responsibility and complexity of position, (ii) performance history, 
(iii) tenure of service, (iv) internal equity within the Company’s salary structure, and (v) relative salaries of persons holding 
similar positions at other companies within the investment management industry.  Based on these criteria, the Compensation 
Committee set Ms. Brilliant's base salary at $400,000 and Mr. Line's base salary at $250,000. Consistent with our desire to 
have the majority of total compensation paid to our named executive officers at risk in the form of incentive compensation, a 
significant majority of total compensation of our named executive officers was paid in the form of either cash bonuses and/or 
equity grants.

Annual Incentive Compensation. Under her employment agreement, Ms. Brilliant is entitled to receive an annual incentive 
award (“Incentive Award”) with a target fair market value equal to $1,750,000, and subject to a minimum annual incentive 
award of at least $600,000.  The Incentive Award may be paid in cash, vested stock, or a combination of cash and vested 
stock as determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee to ensure alignment with shareholders.  

As part of Ms. Brilliant’s 2021 compensation, the Compensation Committee awarded to Ms. Brilliant a total Incentive Award 
of $2,300,000, of which $1,400,000 was a cash Incentive Award and $900,000 was a stock Incentive Award to compensate 
her for her strong performance and overall contributions to the Company during the year.  The stock portion of Ms. Brilliant’s 
Incentive Award vested immediately upon grant and is not subject to any service-based or time-based conditions.  

18

In  determining  the  amounts  and  ratio  of  cash  to  stock  for  Ms.  Brilliant’s  annual  incentive,  the  Compensation  Committee 
considered  the  Company’s  overall  operating  results  for  2021,  general  industry  compensation  practices,  and  the  target 
compensation levels detailed in Ms. Brilliant's employment agreement. The Compensation Committee believes that having 
discretion  on  the  amount  and  composition  of  the  Incentive  Award  (subject  to  the  minimum)  provides  the  Compensation 
Committee with the flexibility to consider all aspects of Ms. Brilliant’s performance and her contributions to the Company as 
CEO and President.

As part of Mr. Line’s 2021 compensation, the Compensation Committee also awarded a discretionary cash Incentive Award 
to Mr. Line of $750,000 to compensate him for his performance and overall contributions to the Company in fiscal year 2021. 
The  Compensation  Committee  believes  that  a  discretionary  cash  Incentive  Award  provided  the  Compensation  Committee 
with the flexibility to consider all aspects of Mr. Line's performance and contributions to the Company.  In determining the 
amount  of  Mr.  Line's  cash  Incentive  Award,  the  Compensation  Committee  considered  the  Company’s  overall  operating 
results for 2021, contributions by Mr. Line that were not reflected in our operating results, and general industry compensation 
practices.

Long-Term  Equity  Incentive  Compensation.  As  part  of  Ms.  Brilliant’s  2020  compensation,  the  Compensation  Committee 
granted an LTI award (“LTI Award”) to Ms. Brilliant of $300,000 in recognition of her contributions to, and future impact 
on, the Company. This restricted stock award was granted on March 31, 2021 and is subject to a scheduled vesting of one-
third per year on each April 1 from 2022 through 2024, and thus, none of this LTI Award has yet vested. The Compensation 
Committee believes offering annual LTI Awards with staged vesting strongly aligns Ms. Brilliant's long-term interests with 
the interests of the Company and its shareholders. As such, as part of Ms. Brilliant’s 2021 compensation, she received an LTI 
Award of $750,000 in February 2022 that will vest one-third each year over a three-year period. 

As part of Mr. Line’s 2020 compensation, the Compensation Committee granted an LTI Award to Mr. Line of $250,000 in 
recognition of his contributions to, and future impact on, the Company. This restricted stock award was granted on March 31, 
2021 and is subject to a scheduled vesting of one-third per year on each April 1 from 2022 through 2024, and thus, none of 
this  LTI  Award  has  yet  vested.  The  Compensation  Committee  believes  offering  annual  LTI  Awards  with  staged  vesting 
strongly aligns Mr. Line's long-term interests with the interests of the Company and its shareholders. As such, as part of Mr. 
Line’s 2021 compensation, he received an LTI award of $350,000 in February 2022 that will vest one-third each year over a 
three-year period.

Retirement Plan Benefits.  We provide retirement benefits to our named executive officers through our 401(k) Plan.  Each 
named executive officer is entitled to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the same terms and conditions as all other employees.  
The  401(k)  Plan  does  not  involve  any  guaranteed  minimum  or  above-market  returns,  as  plan  returns  depend  on  actual 
investment results.

Deferred  Compensation  Plans.    We  have  two  Deferred  Compensation  Plans:  the  Diamond  Hill  Fixed  Term  Deferred 
Compensation  Plan  and  the  Diamond  Hill  Variable  Term  Deferred  Compensation  Plan  (together,  the  “Deferred 
Compensation Plans”).  Each named executive officer is eligible to participate in one of the Deferred Compensation Plans, 
along with other employees of the Company.  The terms and conditions of the Deferred Compensation Plans are described in 
more detail under the heading “Pension Plans and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation” below.  

Other Benefits and Perquisites.  We do not provide supplemental retirement plan benefits to our named executive officers.  
As a general rule, we do not provide any perquisites or other personal benefits to our named executive officers that are not 
offered on an equal basis to all other employees.  Our named executive officers are entitled to participate in benefit programs 
that entitle them to the same medical, dental, and short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage that are available to 
all employees.  

Post-Employment Payments. Ms. Brilliant has an employment agreement, which provides for payments upon termination of 
employment.  More information on Ms. Brilliant's employment agreement and termination payments thereunder is set forth 
under the heading "Employment Agreements and Change in Control Benefits". 

Risks Related to Compensation Policies and Practices 

As part of its oversight of our compensation program, the Compensation Committee considers how our current compensation 
programs,  including  the  incentives  created  by  compensation  awards,  affect  the  Company’s  risk  profile.    In  addition,  the 
Compensation Committee reviews our compensation policies, and particularly the incentives that they create, to determine 
whether  they  encourage  an  appropriate  level  of  risk-taking  and  do  not  present  a  significant  risk  to  the  Company.    The 
Compensation Committee also considers risk mitigating factors, including but not limited to, the following:

19

•

•
•
•

•

•

Our  current  compensation  programs  reward  portfolio  managers  on  trailing  five-year  investment  performance  in 
client accounts;
Our portfolio managers have meaningful ownership in the strategies they manage;
A portion of incentive compensation is in the form of long-term equity-based awards; 
The  Compensation  Committee's  discretionary  authority  to  adjust  annual  incentive  awards  for  named  executive 
officers;
The  Company's  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  and  other  financial,  operational  and  compliance  policies 
and practices; and
The  consistency  of  base  salaries  with  executives’  responsibilities  so  that  they  are  not  motivated  to  take  excessive 
risks to achieve a reasonable level of financial security.

Based  on  this  review,  the  Compensation  Committee  has  concluded  that  our  compensation  policies  and  procedures  are 
reasonably designed to not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Compensation Recoupment and Restitution Policy

Upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Compensation  Committee,  the  Board  has  adopted  a  compensation  recoupment  and 
restitution  policy  that  applies  to  all  incentive  compensation  received  by  all  employees,  including  our  named  executive 
officers.    Under  the  policy,  we  may  recover  all  or  a  portion  of  incentive  compensation  (or  pay  out  additional  incentive 
compensation) related to awards made after the adoption of the policy, in three general situations:

•

•

•

If, due to error or malfeasance, the previously determined incentive pool, or an individual award, is either too large 
(or  too  small),  then  any  overpayment  made  to  an  employee  may,  in  the  sole  discretion  of  the  Compensation 
Committee and the Board, be returned to the Company, or an additional payment may be made to an employee;
If an employee engages in fraud or misconduct that contributes to the need for a financial restatement, or violates 
any  law  or  regulation  or  any  policy  or  procedure  of  the  Company,  then  we  may,  in  the  sole  discretion  of  the 
Compensation Committee and the Board, recoup all or a portion of the employee’s incentive compensation; and 
If the Compensation Committee determines that the Company's previously issued financial statements are restated as 
a result of error, omission, fraud, or non-compliance with financial reporting requirements, then we may recoup, in 
the  sole  discretion  of  the  Compensation  Committee  and  the  Board,  all  or  a  portion  of  the  employee’s  incentive 
compensation.

The policy is intended to provide enhanced safeguards against certain types of employee misconduct and provide enhanced 
protection to, and alignment with, shareholders.  These provisions are in addition to any policies or recovery rights that are 
provided  under  applicable  laws,  including  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  of  2002  and  the  Dodd-Frank  Wall  Street  Reform  and 
Consumer Protection Act of 2010, each as amended.

20

Stock Ownership Guidelines 

The Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines for our named executive officers to further align their interests with those 
of our shareholders.  The below table provides the target ownership level reflected in the guidelines and actual shares owned 
as of December 31, 2021.  Each named executive officer currently holds shares well in excess of the amounts required under 
the guidelines.

Name

Heather E. Brilliant

Thomas E. Line

Title

CEO and President

Chief Financial Officer

Target
Ownership
Level

5x Salary

3x Salary

Target
Number of
Shares (1)

Number of
Shares
Owned (2)

Ownership
Guideline Met

10,297 

3,861 

31,193 

19,448 

Yes

Yes

_______________
(1)  Based on a per share price of $194.23, which was the closing price of our common shares on December 31, 2021, and 

the respective base salaries of our named executive officers as of that date.
Includes any unvested restricted stock and any shares held in the 401(k) Plan.

(2) 

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the total compensation paid to, or earned by, our named executive officers for services rendered 
in the years indicated. Additional information on the elements of compensation included in the table below is available under 
the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section.  

Name
and Principal
Position
Heather E. Brilliant

Chief Executive Officer
and President

Thomas E. Line

Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

Year
2021
2020
2019

2021
2020
2019

Salary

Bonus(1)

Stock Awards  

$  400,000  $ 1,400,000  $ 
$  400,000  $  600,000  $ 
$  133,333  $  230,000  $ 

1,200,000 
1,000,000 
3,380,000 

$  250,000  $  750,000  $ 
$  250,000  $  450,000  $ 
$  250,000  $  250,000  $ 

250,000 
— 
1,545,600 

(2)
(3)
(4)

(5)

(6)

Total

All Other
Compensation(7)
$ 
$ 
$ 

46,174  $ 3,046,174 
46,174  $ 2,046,174 
1,020,656  $ 4,763,989 

$ 
$ 
$ 

43,100  $ 1,293,100 
43,100  $  743,100 
43,100  $ 2,088,700 

___________________________________
(1)  The  amount  reported  represents  a  discretionary  cash  bonus  award.  These  awards  were  not  based  upon  any  pre-

established performance goals.

(2)  The amount reported includes the grant date fair value of Ms. Brilliant's discretionary stock bonus award of $900,000, 
which  immediately  vested  upon  grant  and  without  any  resale  restriction.  The  amount  reported  also  includes  the  grant 
date fair value of Ms. Brilliant's LTI Award of restricted stock of $300,000, which was made as part of Ms. Brilliant's 
2020  compensation  determination,  and  was  granted  on  March  31,  2021.  The  grant  will  vest  over  a  three-year  period 
beginning April 1, 2022.  Neither of these grants were based upon any pre-established performance goals.

(3)  The amount reported includes the grant date fair value of Ms. Brilliant's discretionary stock bonus award of $1,000,000, 
which  immediately  vested  upon  grant  and  without  any  resale  restriction.  This  grant  was  not  based  upon  any  pre-
established performance goals.  

(4)  The amount reported includes the grant date fair value of Ms. Brilliant's discretionary stock bonus award of $380,000, 
which immediately vested upon grant. The amount reported also includes the grant date fair value of $3,000,000 for Ms. 
Brilliant's  initial  equity  award  of  21,719  restricted  shares,  which  were  awarded  to  her  in  2019  pursuant  to  her  then-
employment  agreement.  Subject  to  Ms.  Brilliant's  continued  employment,  these  restricted  shares  will  cliff  vest  on 
October 1, 2024. Neither of these grants were based upon any pre-established performance goals.

(5)  The amount reported includes the grant date fair value of Mr. Line's LTI Award of restricted stock of $250,000, which 
was made as part of Mr. Line's 2020 compensation determination, and was granted on March 31, 2021. The grant will 
vest over a three-year period beginning April 1, 2022. This grant was not based upon any pre-established performance 
goals.

(6)  The amount reported includes the grant date fair value of Mr. Line's discretionary stock bonus award of $300,000, which 
immediately vested upon grant. The amount reported also includes the grant date fair value of $1,245,600 for Mr. Line's 
discretionary  grant  of  8,000  restricted  shares,  which  were  awarded  to  him  in  2019.  Subject  to  Mr.  Line's  continued 
employment, these restricted shares will cliff vest on January 1, 2024. This grant was not based upon any pre-established 
performance goals.  

21

 
 
 
 
(7)  The following types of compensation are included in the “All Other Compensation” column:

Contributions to
401k Plan(1)

Contributions to Health
Savings Account(1)

Name
Heather E. Brilliant

Thomas E. Line

Year

2021

2020

2019

2021

2020

2019

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

41,429  $ 

40,174  $ 

18,769  $ 

37,500  $ 

37,500  $ 

37,500  $ 

Supplemental 
Payment(2)
—

—

Total

$ 

$ 

47,029 

45,774 

5,600 

5,600 

1,867  $ 1,000,000  $ 1,020,656 

5,600 

5,600 

5,600 

—

—

—

—

$ 

$ 

$ 

43,100 

43,100 

43,100 

(1)  Company contributions to the 401(k) Plan and employee Health Savings Accounts are offered to all employees of 

the Company and its affiliates.

(2)  Represents an initial cash payment made pursuant to Ms. Brilliant's employment agreement and in conjunction with 

the commencement of her employment with the Company.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

The below table shows the ratio of the median annual total compensation of all Company employees (excluding the CEO) to 
the annual total compensation of the Company's CEO.  In determining the median employee, a listing was prepared of all 
current employees as of December 31, 2021.  To determine the median employee, we included 2021 base salary and incentive 
compensation (annualized for those employees that were not employed for the full year of 2021).  Once the median employee 
was identified, for purposes of comparison to the CEO, we then calculated the compensation for that employee in the same 
manner as the Total Compensation shown for our CEO in the Summary Compensation Table.

Median Employee total annual compensation

Heather E. Brilliant, CEO, total annual compensation

$ 

$ 

321,450 
3,046,174  (1)

Ratio of CEO to Median Employee Compensation
(1)  The compensation shown for the CEO reflects the total annual compensation for Ms. Brilliant for 2021 as shown in the 

9.5 : 1

Summary Compensation Table.

Voluntary Supplemental Pay Ratio Disclosure - GAAP Accounting
The compensation numbers presented in the below table use the actual compensation expense recorded by the Company on 
its financial statements contained in Form 10-K ("GAAP Accounting").  Under GAAP Accounting, in the below table, long-
term restricted stock awards are amortized over the vesting period of the award, as opposed to the above table, which includes 
the entire grant date value in the year the award is granted.  The below table shows the same median employee as the above 
table.  

Median Employee total annual compensation (1)
Heather E. Brilliant, CEO, total annual compensation (1)

$ 

$ 

337,330 

3,721,174 

Ratio of CEO to Median Employee Compensation
(1)  The  compensation  shown  above  includes  $16,000  and  $675,000,  respectively  in  GAAP  Accounting  compensation 

11.0 : 1

expense related to long-term restricted stock awards.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2021 

The following table sets forth information regarding the awards granted to each of the named executive officers during the 
year ended December 31, 2021 under the 2014 Plan.

22

Name
Heather E. Brilliant (1)

Thomas E. Line (1)

Grant Date

03/31/2021

02/11/2021

03/31/2021

Compensation Committee 
Action Date(2) 

# of Shares

Grant Date Fair Value 
of Stock Award

01/27/2021

01/27/2021

01/27/2021

1,923 

6,947 

1,603 

300,000 

1,000,000 

250,000 

____________________
(1)   The Compensation Committee granted the above awards to Ms. Brilliant and Mr. Line pursuant to the 2014 Plan.  These 
awards are intended to represent a portion of their total compensation.  The shares granted to Ms. Brilliant on February 
11,  2021  were  fully  vested  upon  issuance.  The  shares  granted  to  Ms.  Brilliant  and  Mr.  Line  on  March  31,  2021  were 
unvested and will vest over a three-year period beginning on April 1, 2022.

(2)  The  Compensation  Committee  Action  Date  represents  the  date  on  which  the  Compensation  Committee  authorized  the 

award. 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2021 

The  following  table  summarizes  all  outstanding  equity  awards  held  by  our  named  executive  officers  as  of  December  31, 
2021. 

Name
Heather E. Brilliant

Thomas E. Line

Stock Awards

Equity Incentive Plan  
Awards:
Number of Unearned Shares
That have Not Vested (1)

Equity Incentive Plan  Awards:
Market or Payout Value of
Unearned Shares That Have
Not Vested(2)

23,642 

9,603 

$ 

$ 

4,591,986 

1,865,191 

_______________
(1) These shares represent grants of restricted shares to Ms. Brilliant and Mr. Line pursuant to the 2014 Plan.  Subject to 
their  continued  employment  with  the  Company:  (a)  21,719  of  Ms.  Brilliant’s  restricted  shares  will  vest  on  October  1, 
2024, (b) 8,000 of Mr. Line’s restricted shares will vest on January 1, 2024, and (c) 1,923 of Ms. Brilliant’s restricted 
shares and 1,603 of Mr. Line’s restricted shares granted under the LTI program will vest over a three-year period with 
34% vesting on April 1, 2022, 33% vesting on April 1, 2023, and 33% vesting on April 1, 2024.

(2)  The  amount  in  this  column  represents  the  value  of  the  awards  shown,  calculated  as  the  product  of  the  number  of 
restricted  shares  underlying  the  award  multiplied  by  $194.23,  the  closing  market  price  of  our  common  shares  as  of 
December 31, 2021.

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option Exercises and Stock Vested for 2021 

No  options  have  been  granted  to  the  named  executive  officers  pursuant  to  the  2014  Plan.    The  following  table  sets  forth 
information with respect to stock awards held by our named executive officers that vested in 2021.

Name
Heather E. Brilliant (1)
Thomas E. Line

Stock Awards

Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting

Value Realized
on Vesting

6,947 

$  1,000,000 

— 

$ 

— 

(1)  These shares relate to the discretionary vested stock bonus that the Compensation Committee granted to Ms. Brilliant on 

February 11, 2021.

Pension Plans and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation  

We do not maintain any pension plans for named executive officers or other employees.  We offer to our named executive 
officers and all other employees the opportunity to participate in one of the two Deferred Compensation Plans. 

Deferrals of Incentive Compensation.

Pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plans, participants may elect to defer up to 50% of the vested stock portion of their 
annual incentive compensation and up to 100% of the cash portion of their annual incentive compensation for a plan year (the 
calendar year). Generally, the participant must submit a deferral election by December 31 of the year before the services are 
to  be  performed.  After  the  applicable  deadline,  a  deferral  election  is  irrevocable  for  that  plan  year,  except  under 
circumstances set forth in the Deferred Compensation Plans.

None of the named executive officers contributed to the Deferred Compensation Plans, and none had a balance under such 
plans as of December 31, 2021. 
Employment Agreements and Change in Control Benefits

We currently have an employment agreement with Ms. Brilliant. A description of the agreement is set forth below. We are 
not a party to an employment agreement with any other employee and are not obligated to provide change in control benefits 
to any employee other than Ms. Brilliant.

On October 26, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), we entered into a new employment agreement with Ms. Brilliant to align Ms. 
Brilliant’s compensation more closely with the Company’s employee compensation program changes that were approved in 
2020.  The  agreement  will  expire  on  December  31,  2026,  but  will  automatically  renew  for  one-year  periods  unless  the 
Company or Ms. Brilliant provides advance notice that it will not be renewed. The agreement superseded and replaced the 
employment agreement entered into between the Company and Ms. Brilliant dated July 5, 2019 (the "Initial Agreement").

The  agreement  provides  for  an  annual  base  salary  of  $400,000,  which  may  be  increased  (but  not  reduced)  by  the  Board 
annually. Ms. Brilliant also receives reimbursement for certain travel and other expenses, insurance, and fringe benefits at the 
levels available to all the Company’s employees. As long as she remains employed with the Company, Ms. Brilliant will be 
eligible to receive: (i) an annual Incentive Award, with a target fair market value equal to $1,750,000, and a minimum of at 
least $600,000, and (ii) an annual LTI Award with a target fair market value equal to $600,000 for each calendar year prior to 
the  full  vesting  of  the  initial  five-year  cliff-vested  award  of  restricted  stock  on  October  1,  2024  that  was  granted  to  Ms. 
Brilliant under the Initial Agreement (“Initial Equity Award”) and a target annual LTI Award of $1,200,000 thereafter.  The 
Board retains complete flexibility to pay meaningfully more or less than these target amounts.

The  Incentive  Awards  and  LTI  Awards  will  be  determined  based  upon  Ms.  Brilliant’s  satisfaction  of  certain  performance 
criteria established by the Board and eligibility requirements under the Company’s Equity and Cash Incentive Plan in effect 
at that time. The Incentive Awards will also be subject to the Company’s performance during the relevant calendar year. Any 
such  Incentive  Award  may  be  paid  in  cash,  Company  stock,  or  a  combination  thereof,  except  that  at  least  40%  of  any 
Incentive  Award  must  be  paid  in  cash.  The  agreement  also  contains  customary  non-competition,  non-solicitation, 
confidentiality,  and  non-disparagement  covenants  that  apply  during  the  term  of  the  agreement  and  for  one  year  following 
termination of Ms. Brilliant’s employment with the Company.

24

 
 
 
If  we  terminate  Ms.  Brilliant’s  employment  without  "Cause"  (as  defined  in  the  agreement),  she  would  be  entitled  to  the 
following  payments,  which  are  quantified  to  reflect  the  amounts  she  would  have  received  had  her  employment  been 
terminated at December 31, 2021:

1. Her accrued but unpaid base salary and vacation and unreimbursed business expenses as of the date of termination 

($0 at December 31, 2021);

2. Payments, if any, under other benefit plans and programs in effect at the time ($0 at December 31, 2021; we have no 

benefit plans that would result in payments upon termination);

3. Any Incentive Award for a completed year that has not yet been paid as of the date of termination ($2,300,000 at 

December 31, 2021); 

4. A single lump sum payment equal to her base salary in effect at the date of termination ($400,000 at December 31, 

2021); 

5. A pro-rated single lump sum payment based upon the amount of the Incentive Award made to Ms. Brilliant for the 

calendar year preceding termination of employment ($1,600,000 at December 31, 2021); and

6. A single lump sum payment equal to the fair market value of the portion of any LTI Award that would have vested 

for the calendar year in which termination of employment occurs ($0 at December 31, 2021).

Ms.  Brilliant  may  terminate  her  employment  for  “Good  Reason”  (as  defined  in  the  agreement),  which  generally  includes 
reduction of her annual base salary, requiring her to relocate her principal place of business to a location more than 50 miles 
from its current location, assignment to her of duties inconsistent with her position and authority, a requirement that she no 
longer report directly to the Board, or a breach by the Company of the agreement. If she terminates her employment for Good 
Reason, Ms. Brilliant is entitled to all of the payments described in numbers 1 through 6 above.

If Ms. Brilliant terminates the employment agreement voluntarily other than for Good Reason or we terminate Ms. Brilliant 
for “Cause” (as defined in Ms. Brilliant’s employment agreement), she will be entitled to receive the payments set forth in 
numbers 1 and 2 above.  If the employment agreement expires in accordance with its terms, Ms. Brilliant will be entitled to 
receive the payments set forth in numbers 1 through 3 above. 

If Ms. Brilliant’s employment terminates due to her death, she or her estate, as applicable, will be entitled to receive: (i) the 
payments set forth in numbers 1 through 3 above, and (ii) any LTI Award and Initial Equity Award for a completed year that 
has been granted but not yet vested ($0 at December 31, 2021), which grant shall then vest in accordance with the terms of 
the relevant compensation plan or award agreement, as applicable.  Under the agreement, “Cause” generally includes material 
violations of our employment policies, conviction of crime involving moral turpitude, violations of securities or investment 
adviser laws, causing the Company to violate a law which may result in penalties exceeding $250,000, materially breaching 
the agreement, or fraud, willful misconduct, or gross negligence in carrying out her duties.

In the event of Ms. Brilliant’s permanent disability (as defined in the agreement), she will be entitled to receive the payments 
set forth in numbers 1 through 3 above.

In  the  event  that  a  “Change  in  Control”  (as  defined  in  the  agreement)  occurs  and,  within  six  months  prior  or  24  months 
following such Change in Control, Ms. Brilliant's employment is terminated by the Company or its successor without Cause, 
or  Ms.  Brilliant  terminates  her  employment  for  Good  Reason,  she  will  be  entitled  to  the  following  payments  from  the 
Company or its successor, in addition to the applicable payments set forth in numbers 1 through 3 above:

•

•

•

•

•

A single lump sum payment equal to the greater of: (1) her base salary in effect at termination of employment; or (2) 
the base salary paid to her for the most recently completed calendar year ($400,000 at December 31, 2021); 
A  single  lump  sum  payment  equal  to  her  Incentive  Award  for  the  calendar  year  preceding  termination  of 
employment ($1,600,000  at December 31, 2021); 
A pro-rated single lump-sum payment equal to the target annual Incentive Award for the calendar year in which the 
termination of employment occurs ($1,750,000 at December 31, 2021); 
Full vesting of her previously granted LTI Award of 1,923 shares, to the extent not previously vested in a Change in 
Control transaction ($373,504 at December 31, 2021); and
Full vesting of her Initial Equity Award of 21,719 shares, to the extent not previously vested in a Change in Control 
transaction ($4,218,481 at December 31, 2021).

The Board’s Compensation Committee has submitted the following report for inclusion in this Proxy Statement:

Compensation Committee Report

25

We have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Proxy Statement as required 
by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management.  Based on that review and discussion, we recommended to the Board 
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report on 
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.  

Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors: 

Richard S. Cooley
Randolph J. Fortener
James F. Laird
Paula R. Meyer
Nicole R. St. Pierre, Chair
L'Quentus Thomas

26

PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTING FIRM 

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the independent 
registered  public  accounting  firm  retained  to  audit  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements.  To  carry  out  this 
responsibility, the Committee engages in an evaluation of the independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications, 
performance,  and  independence.    The  Committee  also  periodically  considers  whether  the  independent  registered  public 
accounting  firm  should  be  rotated  and  the  advisability  and  potential  impact  of  selecting  a  different  independent  registered 
public accounting firm.

The Audit Committee has reappointed KPMG to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 
2022.  KPMG  was  first  appointed  to  serve  as  our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  on  October  24,  2012,  and 
served as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2021. 

The  Audit  Committee  and  the  Board  believe  that  the  continued  retention  of  KPMG  as  our  independent  registered  public 
accounting firm is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders, and we are asking our shareholders to ratify the 
selection of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2022.

Representatives  of  KPMG  are  expected  to  be  present  at  the  Annual  Meeting  and  will  have  the  opportunity  to  make  a 
statement, if they so desire, and respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

THE  BOARD  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS  THAT  YOU  VOTE  “FOR”  THE  RATIFICATION  OF  THE 
APPOINTMENT  OF  KPMG  AS  OUR  INDEPENDENT  REGISTERED  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTING  FIRM  FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2022. 

If Proposal 2 is not approved, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered 
public accounting firm for fiscal year 2022, and may or may not make any changes to such appointment.

Fees Charged by the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

The following table summarizes the fees billed by KPMG for services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries during 
2021 and 2020. 

Audit Fees(1)
Audit-Related Fees
Tax Fees (2)
All Other Fees

Total Fees

Year  Ended

Year  Ended

12/31/2021

12/31/2020

$ 

245,000  $ 

235,000 

— 

52,885 
— 

— 

51,360 
— 

$ 

297,885  $ 

286,360 

____________________
(1)  Audit  Fees  include  professional  services  rendered  for  the  audit  of  annual  financial  statements,  reviews  of  quarterly 

financial statements, issuance of consents, and assistance with review of other documents filed with the SEC. 

(2)  Tax Fees include professional services rendered for tax preparation and compliance.

Pre-approval by Audit Committee 

The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures which set forth the manner in which the committee will review 
and  approve  all  audit  and  non-audit  services  to  be  provided  by  the  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  (the 
“Services”) to ensure that the provision of the Services does not impair the firm’s independence.  The pre-approval policies 
and procedures are as follows:

•

The Audit Committee has established a pre-approval fee cap of $25,000, under which any Services in excess of the 
$25,000 fee cap must be submitted to the Audit Committee for review and pre-approval, and any Services less than 
the $25,000 fee cap must be approved by the CFO and then reported to the Audit Committee at its next regularly 
scheduled meeting; and

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
•

Pre-approval actions taken during Audit Committee meetings are recorded in the minutes of the meetings.

All of the services related to audit-related fees, tax fees, or all other fees described above were pre-approved by the Audit 
Committee.

28

Audit Committee Report

During 2021, the Audit Committee was comprised of six independent directors operating under a written charter adopted by 
the  Board,  the  most  current  version  of  which  is  available  on  our  website,  ir.diamond-hill.com,  under  “Corporate 
Governance”.  Annually,  the  Audit  Committee  engages  the  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm.  
KPMG served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. 

Management  is  responsible  for  preparation  of  the  Company’s  financial  statements  and  for  designing  and  maintaining  the 
Company’s  systems  of  internal  controls  and  financial  reporting  processes.  The  Company’s  independent  registered  public 
accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with 
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and issuing reports on the Company’s financial 
statements  and  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting.  The  Audit  Committee’s 
responsibility is to provide independent, objective oversight of these processes. 

Pursuant to this responsibility, the Audit Committee met and held discussions with management and KPMG regarding the 
audited  consolidated  financial  statements  of  the  Company  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,  2021.  The  Audit 
Committee  reviewed  the  audit  plan  and  scope  with  KPMG  and  discussed  with  KPMG  the  applicable  requirements  of  the 
PCAOB and the SEC.  The Audit Committee also met with KPMG without management present to discuss the results of their 
audit  work,  their  evaluation  of  the  Company’s  system  of  internal  controls  and  the  quality  of  the  Company’s  financial 
reporting. 

The Committee also discussed with KPMG its independence from management and the Company, and received its written 
disclosures  and  the  letter  from  KPMG  required  by  applicable  requirements  of  the  PCAOB  regarding  the  independent 
accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence.

Management  has  represented  to  the  Audit  Committee  that  the  Company’s  consolidated  financial  statements  for  the  year 
ended December 31, 2021, were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.  Based 
on  the  Audit  Committee’s  discussions  with  management  and  KPMG  and  its  review  of  KPMG’s  report  to  the  Audit 
Committee,  the  Audit  Committee  recommended  to  the  Board  (and  the  Board  has  approved)  that  the  audited  consolidated 
financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed 
with the SEC. 

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors: 

Richard S. Cooley, Chair
Randolph J. Fortener
James F. Laird
Paula R. Meyer
Nicole R. St. Pierre
L'Quentus Thomas

29

PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE 
OFFICERS

As  described  in  the  section  entitled,  “Executive  Officers  and  Compensation  Information”,  we  believe  that  executive 
compensation  should  be  linked  with  the  Company’s  performance  and  significantly  aligned  with  the  interests  of  the 
Company’s shareholders. In addition, our executive compensation program is designed to allow us to retain, and recognize 
the  contributions  of,  employees  who  play  a  significant  role  in  our  current  and  future  success.  We  urge  you  to  read  the 
Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table, and the other related tables and disclosure for a 
detailed description of the fiscal year 2021 compensation of our named executive officers. 

The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of compensation. Rather, the advisory vote relates 
to  the  overall  compensation  of  our  named  executive  officers.    This  vote  is  advisory,  and  therefore,  not  binding  on  the 
Company. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results and will take into account the 
outcome of the vote when determining future compensation for the Company’s named executive officers. 

Accordingly, we ask our shareholders to vote on the following resolution: 

RESOLVED,  that  the  Company’s  shareholders  approve,  on  an  advisory  basis,  the  compensation  of  the 
named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of 
Shareholders  pursuant  to  Item  402  of  Regulation  S-K,  including  the  Compensation  Discussion  and 
Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.

THE  BOARD  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS  THAT  YOU  VOTE  “FOR”  THE  ADVISORY  APPROVAL  OF 
THE  COMPENSATION  OF  OUR  NAMED  EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS  AS  DISCLOSED  IN  THIS  PROXY 
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO ITEM 402 OF REGULATION S-K.  

30

PROPOSAL  4  -  APPROVAL  AND  ADOPTION  OF  THE  DIAMOND  HILL  INVESTMENT  GROUP,  INC.  2022 
EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

Summary of the 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  material  terms  of  the  Diamond  Hill  Investment  Group,  Inc.  2022  Equity  and  Cash 
Incentive Plan ("2022 Plan"), which summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2022 Plan, the complete text of 
which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.  We urge you to read the 2022 Plan. 

Purpose.  The purpose of the 2022 Plan is to promote the Company’s long-term financial success and increase shareholder 
value by motivating performance through incentive compensation.  The 2022 Plan also is intended to encourage participants 
to acquire ownership interests in the Company, attract and retain talented employees and directors, and enable participants to 
participate in the Company’s long-term growth and financial success.

Effect on Other Plans.  The 2022 Plan will replace the Company’s existing equity-based incentive plan (the “2014 Plan”).  As 
of March 1, 2022, under the 2014 Plan, zero shares were subject to outstanding stock options, 263,537 shares of restricted 
stock  were  outstanding,  and  111,550  shares  remained  available  for  new  award  grants.    If  the  2022  Plan  is  approved,  the 
263,537 shares of restricted stock outstanding will continue to vest according to the award agreements.  The 111,550 shares 
that have not yet been awarded under the 2014 Plan will no longer be available. All future awards will be made under the 
2022 Plan and no additional awards will be made under the 2014 Plan.  

Administration.  The Compensation Committee will administer the 2022 Plan and will have full power and authority to:

•
•
•
•

Interpret the 2022 Plan and any award agreement issued thereunder;
Establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the 2022 Plan; 
Select participants; 
Establish the terms and conditions of any award consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2022 Plan, including 
when the award may vest and, if applicable, exercised, the acceleration of any such dates, and the expiration of the 
award; and 

• Make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2022 Plan.   

To the extent permitted by law, the Compensation Committee may delegate: (1) any ministerial duties associated with awards 
made  to  directors  and  executive  officers  under  the  2022  Plan,  and  (2)  any  and  all  duties  associated  with  the  granting  of 
awards made to non-directors and employees who are not executive officers to management.  

Eligibility.  The Compensation Committee may select any employees of the Company and its affiliates and any non-employee 
directors  to  receive  awards  under  the  2022  Plan.    As  of  March  1,  2022,  there  were  six  non-employee  directors  of  the 
Company and 125 employees of the Company and its affiliates who are eligible to receive awards under the 2022 Plan.  

Types of Awards 

In  General.    When  an  award  is  granted  under  the  2022  Plan,  the  Compensation  Committee  will  establish  the  terms  and 
conditions of that award.  These terms and conditions will be contained in an award agreement.

Stock  Options.    A  stock  option  gives  a  participant  the  right  to  acquire  a  specified  number  of  shares  at  an  exercise  price 
determined at the time of grant.  Stock options may be granted as “incentive stock options” or “nonqualified stock options”.  
The exercise price of a stock option must be at least equal to the fair market value of a share (i.e., the closing price of the 
Company’s shares on NASDAQ) on the date the stock option is granted.  The exercise price of a stock option may be paid in 
any  method  approved  by  the  Compensation  Committee,  including  in  cash,  by  tendering  previously-acquired  shares,  by  a 
cashless exercise,  any combination of the foregoing, or any other method approved by the Compensation Committee. The 
Compensation  Committee  will  determine  the  term  of  the  stock  option  (which  may  not  exceed  ten  years),  the  vesting 
conditions  and  any  other  terms  and  conditions  of  the  stock  option,  all  of  which  will  be  stated  in  the  award  agreement.  
Incentive  stock  options  may  only  be  granted  to  employees  and  must  comply  with  other  requirements,  including  those 
contained in Section 422 of the Code. 

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right gives the participant a right to receive the difference between the fair 
market value of a share on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the stock appreciation right.  The exercise price of 
any stock appreciation right will be at least equal to the fair market value of a share on the date the stock appreciation right is 
granted.  The  Compensation  Committee  will  determine  the  term  of  the  stock  appreciation  right  (which  may  not  exceed  ten 

31

years), the vesting conditions, and any other terms and conditions of the stock appreciation right, all of which will be stated in 
the related award agreement. 

Restricted  Stock.  Restricted  stock  consists  of  a  number  of  shares  granted  to  a  participant  subject  to  limitations  on 
transferability  and  a  risk  of  forfeiture  if  certain  terms  and  conditions  are  not  met.  These  restrictions  may  include  time-  or 
performance-based  restrictions,  as  determined  by  the  Compensation  Committee  and  stated  in  the  related  award  agreement.  
Unless otherwise provided in the award agreement, a participant who has been granted restricted stock will have the right to 
vote the restricted stock during the restriction period and receive dividends.

Other  Stock-Based  Awards.  Other  stock-based  awards  are  awards  valued  in  whole  or  in  part  by  reference  to,  or  otherwise 
based on, the fair market value of a share.  Other stock-based awards may include unrestricted shares and stock units, which 
are  notional  shares  that  entitle  the  participant  to  receive  the  value  of  a  share  if  certain  terms  and  conditions  are  satisfied.  
These  terms  and  conditions  (if  any)  may  include  time-  or  performance-based  terms  and  conditions,  as  determined  by  the 
Compensation Committee and stated in the related award agreement.  Other stock-based awards may be granted with rights to 
receive dividends paid on the shares to which the award relates; provided, that, the right to receive such dividends will be 
subject to the same limitations as the award to which they relate.

Cash-Based Awards. Long-term cash awards represent the right to receive a cash payment if certain terms and conditions are 
satisfied.  These terms and conditions may include time- or performance-based terms and conditions, as determined by the 
Compensation Committee and stated in the related award agreement. 

Performance-Based  Awards.    Awards  granted  under  the  2022  Plan  may  be  granted  subject  to  satisfaction  or  attainment  of 
performance criteria. For employees, the Compensation Committee may select any performance criteria it deems appropriate. 

Different performance criteria may be applied to individual participants or to groups of participants and may be based on the 
results achieved individually or collectively by the Company, by any related entity, or by any combination of our segments, 
products,  divisions,  or  related  entities.  In  addition,  performance  objectives  may  be  measured  on  an  absolute  or  cumulative 
basis or measured relative to selected peer companies or a market index. 

The Compensation Committee may issue a performance-based award to any participant. 

Shares Available for Awards

Share Pool.  Subject to the adjustments discussed below, the aggregate number of shares available for the grant of awards 
under  the  2022  Plan  will  be  300,000.    Shares  issued  under  the  2022  Plan  may  consist  of  treasury  shares,  authorized  but 
unissued shares, or shares purchased on the open market. 

Share Usage.  When an award is granted, the number of shares available for issuance under the 2022 Plan will be reduced by 
the number of shares subject to such award. Notwithstanding the reduction described in the preceding sentence, the following 
shares may be again available for issuance as awards: 

•

•
•

Shares covered by an award that expires or is forfeited, cancelled, surrendered, or otherwise terminated without the 
issuance of shares; 
Shares covered by an award that is settled in cash or for less than the full number of shares subject to the award; and
Shares  granted  through  the  assumption  of,  or  in  substitution  for,  outstanding  awards  granted  by  a  company  to 
individuals who become participants in the 2022 Plan as the result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or other 
corporate transaction involving such company and the Company or any of its affiliates.

Adjustments.    In  the  event  of  any  share  dividend,  share  split,  recapitalization,  merger,  reorganization,  consolidation, 
combination, spin-off, distribution of assets to shareholders, exchange of shares, or any other change affecting the shares, the 
Compensation  Committee  will  make  such  substitutions  and  adjustments  as  it  deems  equitable  and  appropriate  to  the 
aggregate number of shares that it may issue under the 2022 Plan, any share-based limits imposed under the 2022 Plan and 
the exercise price, number of shares and other terms or limitations applicable to outstanding awards. 

Share Price. On March 1, 2022, the closing price of the Company’s shares on NASDAQ was $197.10. 

Effect of Termination of Employment or Service 

Death; Disability or Retirement.  Except as otherwise specified in the related award agreement, in the event of a participant’s 
death, disability, and/or retirement (as such terms are defined in the 2022 Plan): (1) all exercisable awards may be exercised 

32

for the remainder of the term of such award; provided, however, that any incentive stock option that is not exercised within 
twelve  (12)  months  following  the  participant’s  death,  disability,  and/or  retirement  will  be  treated  as  a  nonqualified  stock 
option; (2) a pro rata portion of all unvested awards shall vest, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, based on 
the amount of time elapsed during the vesting period prior to the date of death, disability, and/or retirement, or the attainment 
of the performance criteria over the portion of the performance period elapsed as of the date of death, disability or retirement; 
and (3) all awards that do not vest as described in (1) and (2), above, shall terminate and be forfeited as of the date of death, 
disability or retirement.

Termination for Cause.  Except as otherwise specified in the related award agreement, if a participant is terminated for Cause 
(as  such  term  is  defined  in  the  2022  Plan),  all  awards,  whether  or  not  vested  and/or  exercisable,  shall  terminate  and  be 
forfeited as of the date of termination.

Other Terminations.  Except as otherwise specified in the related award agreement, if a participant terminates for any other 
reason: (1) all exercisable awards may be exercised for the remainder of the term of such award; provided, however, that any 
incentive stock option that is not exercised within three months following the participant’s termination will be treated as a 
nonqualified stock option; and (2) all unvested awards shall terminate and be forfeited as of the date of termination.

Change in Control 

Except as otherwise provided in the related award agreement, in the event of a change in control (as such term is defined in 
the 2022 Plan), all outstanding awards shall become immediately vested and exercisable, and the Compensation Committee 
may  take  such  actions,  if  any,  as  it  deems  necessary  or  desirable  with  respect  to  any  such  awards,  including,  without 
limitation:  (1)  the  payment  of  a  cash  amount  in  exchange  for  the  cancellation  of  an  award,  and/or  (2)  the  issuance  of 
substitute awards that substantially preserve the value, rights and benefits of any awards affected by the change in control.

Other Terms and Conditions

Transferability. Except as otherwise provided in a related award agreement, a participant may not sell, transfer, pledge, or 
assign an award, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In no event may an award be transferred for value.  
During a participant’s lifetime, only the participant or their guardian or legal representative may exercise an award. 

No Rights as a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided in the 2022 Plan or in a related award agreement, a participant will 
not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to shares covered by an award unless and until the participant becomes the 
record holder of such shares. 

Repricing.  Except  for  adjustments  due  to  recapitalization,  etc.  as  discussed  above,  the  2022  Plan  expressly  prohibits  the 
Board  or  Compensation  Committee  from  amending  the  terms  of  an  outstanding  award  to  reduce  the  exercise  price  of  an 
outstanding  stock  option  or  stock  appreciation  right  or  cancel  an  outstanding  stock  option  or  stock  appreciation  right  in 
exchange for cash or other awards (including stock options or stock appreciation rights) having an exercise price less than the 
exercise price of the original stock option or stock appreciation right, without shareholder approval. 

Effective  Date  and  Term.  The  2022  Plan  will  become  effective  upon  its  approval  by  the  shareholders  and,  unless  earlier 
terminated,  will  continue  until  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the  date  of  its  approval  by  the  shareholders  (except  that  the 
Compensation  Committee  may  not  grant  any  incentive  stock  options  after  February  24,  2032,  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the 
date the 2022 Plan was approved by the Board). 

Amendment or Termination 

The Board or Compensation Committee may amend or terminate the 2022 Plan at any time, except that no amendment or 
termination  may  be  made  without  shareholder  approval  if  the  amendment  materially  increases  the  benefits  accruing  to 
participants,  the  amendment  materially  increases  the  aggregate  number  of  shares  authorized  for  grant  under  the  2022  Plan 
(except  for  adjustments  due  to  recapitalization,  etc.  as  discussed  above),  the  amendment  materially  modifies  the  eligibility 
requirements for participation, or shareholder approval is required by any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule. 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences 

The following is a brief summary of the general U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to participation in the 2022 
Plan. This summary is based on U.S. federal tax laws and Treasury Regulations in effect on the date of this Proxy Statement 
and does not purport to be a complete description of the U.S. federal income tax laws. In addition, this summary does not 
constitute  tax  advice  or  describe  federal  employment,  state,  local  or  foreign  tax  consequences.  Each  participant  should 

33

consult with their tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of participating in the 2022 
Plan. 

Incentive Stock Options. Incentive stock options are intended to qualify for special treatment available under Section 422 of 
the Code. A participant will not recognize taxable income when an incentive stock option is granted and the Company will 
not receive a deduction at that time. A participant will not recognize ordinary income upon the exercise of an incentive stock 
option provided that the participant was, without a break in service, an employee of the Company or an affiliate during the 
period  beginning  on  the  grant  date  of  the  incentive  stock  option  and  ending  on  the  date  three  months  prior  to  the  date  of 
exercise (one year prior to the date of exercise if the participant’s employment is terminated due to disability).  

If  the  participant  does  not  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of  the  shares  acquired  upon  the  exercise  of  an  incentive  stock  option 
within two years from the grant date of the incentive stock option or within one year after the participant receives the shares, 
then, upon disposition of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the exercise price will be taxed to the participant as a 
capital gain, and the Company will not be entitled to a corresponding deduction. The participant generally will recognize a 
capital loss to the extent that the amount realized is less than the exercise price. 

If the foregoing holding period requirements are not met, the participant generally will recognize ordinary income at the time 
of the disposition of the shares in an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the 
date of exercise over the exercise price, and (2) the excess, if any, of the amount realized upon disposition of the shares over 
the exercise price, and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. Any amount realized in excess of the value 
of the shares on the date of exercise will be capital gain. If the amount realized is less than the exercise price, the participant 
generally will recognize a capital loss equal to the excess of the exercise price over the amount realized upon the disposition 
of the shares. 

The rules that generally apply to incentive stock options do not apply when calculating any alternative minimum tax liability. 
The  rules  affecting  the  application  of  the  alternative  minimum  tax  are  complex,  and  their  effect  depends  on  individual 
circumstances, including whether a participant has items of adjustment other than those derived from incentive stock options. 

Nonqualified Stock Options. A participant will not recognize any income when a nonqualified stock option is granted, and the 
Company will not receive a deduction at that time. However, when a nonqualified stock option is exercised, a participant will 
recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares that the participant purchased on 
the date of exercise over the exercise price. If a participant uses shares or a combination of shares and cash to pay the exercise 
price of a nonqualified stock option, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the value of the excess of the 
number of shares that the participant purchases over the number of shares that the participant surrenders, less any cash the 
participant uses to pay the exercise price. When a nonqualified stock option is exercised, the Company will be entitled to a 
deduction equal to the ordinary income that the participant recognizes. 

Stock Appreciation Rights. A participant will not recognize taxable income when a stock appreciation right is granted, and the 
Company will not receive a deduction at that time. When a stock appreciation right is exercised, a participant will recognize 
ordinary income equal to the excess of the cash and/or the fair market value of the shares the participant receives over the 
aggregate  exercise  price  of  the  stock  appreciation  right,  if  any,  and  the  Company  will  be  entitled  to  a  corresponding 
deduction. 

Restricted Stock. Unless a participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (a “Section 83(b) Election”), the 
participant generally will not recognize taxable income when restricted stock is granted, and the Company will not receive a 
deduction at that time. Instead, a participant will recognize ordinary income when the restricted stock vests (i.e., when the 
underlying shares are either freely transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture) equal to the fair market value 
of the shares that the participant receives when the terms, conditions and restrictions have been met, less any consideration 
paid for the restricted stock, and the Company generally will be entitled to a deduction equal to the ordinary income that the 
participant recognizes. 

If a participant makes a Section 83(b) Election, the participant will recognize ordinary income on the grant date equal to the 
fair market value of the shares subject to the restricted stock award on the grant date, and the Company will be entitled to a 
deduction equal to the ordinary income that the participant recognizes at that time.  The participant will not recognize income 
when (and if) the restricted stock vests. 

Other  Stock-Based  Awards.  Generally,  a  participant  will  not  recognize  taxable  income  when  another  stock-based  award  is 
granted,  and  the  Company  will  not  receive  a  deduction  at  that  time.  However,  upon  the  settlement  of  another  stock-based 
award,  the  participant  will  recognize  ordinary  income  equal  to  the  cash  and/or  fair  market  value  of  the  shares  that  the 
participant receives, less the aggregate exercise price of the other stock-based award, if any. The Company generally will be 
entitled to a deduction equal to the ordinary income that the participant recognizes. 

34

Cash Awards. A participant will not recognize taxable income at the time a cash award is granted, and the Company will not 
be entitled to a deduction at that time. In general, a participant will recognize ordinary income when the cash award is settled 
equal to the amount of the cash received, and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. 

Sections  280G  and  4999  of  the  Code.    Sections  280G  and  4999  of  the  Code  impose  penalties  on  “excess  parachute 
payments”. An excess parachute payment occurs when payments are made to a “disqualified individual” (as defined under 
Section  280G  of  the  Code)  in  connection  with  a  change  in  control  in  an  amount  equal  to  or  greater  than  three  times  the 
disqualified individual’s taxable compensation averaged over the five calendar years ending before the change in control (or 
over  the  entire  period  of  employment  if  the  participant  has  been  employed  less  than  five  calendar  years).  This  average  is 
called the “base amount”. The excess parachute payment is the amount by which the payments exceed the participant’s base 
amount.

Excess parachute payments subject the disqualified individual to a 20% excise tax.  This tax is in addition to other federal, 
state  and  local  income,  wage  and  employment  taxes.  The  Company  may  not  deduct  the  amount  of  any  excess  parachute 
payment.  Generally, any payments under the 2022 Plan that may be subject to the loss of deduction or excise tax imposed by 
Sections  280G  or  4999  of  the  Code  are  reduced  to  the  maximum  amount  that  can  be  paid  without  resulting  in  a  loss  of 
deduction or the imposition of an excise tax.

Section  409A  of  the  Code.    Section  409A  of  the  Code  imposes  rules  for  amounts  deferred  under  nonqualified  deferred 
compensation  plans.  Section  409A  includes  a  broad  definition  of  "nonqualified  deferred  compensation  plans",  which  may 
extend to various types of awards granted under the 2022 Plan. The proceeds of any award that is subject to Section 409A are 
subject to a 20% excise tax if those proceeds are distributed before the recipient separates from service with the Company or 
before  the  occurrence  of  other  specified  events,  such  as  death,  disability,  or  a  change  in  control,  all  as  defined  in  Section 
409A. The 2022 Plan has been drafted to comply with Section 409A of the Code.  The 2022 Plan is intended to comply with 
the  requirements  of  Section  409A  of  the  Code  and  the  Compensation  Committee  intends  to  administer  the  2022  Plan  to 
minimize the impact of Section 409A of the Code.

New Plan Benefits 

There have been no grants authorized by the Compensation Committee under the 2022 Plan to date.  Because awards under 
the 2022 Plan will be discretionary, no awards are determinable at this time.

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL AND ADOPTION 
OF THE DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC. 2022 EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN.  

35

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Given  the  Company’s  relatively  small  size,  limited  number  of  record  shareholders,  and  the  Board’s  consistent  practice  of 
being open to receiving direct communications from 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 the Board.  Our practice is to forward any 
communication addressed to the full Board, to the Board Chair; addressed to a group of directors, to a member of the group; 
or addressed to an individual director, to that person. 

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2023 ANNUAL MEETING

Shareholders are entitled to submit proposals on matters appropriate for shareholder action consistent with SEC rules and our 
Code of Regulations (the "Regulations").  Should a shareholder wish to have a proposal appear in the proxy statement for 
next  year’s  annual  meeting,  under  applicable  SEC  rules,  the  proposal  must  be  received  by  the  Company’s  Secretary  on  or 
before  November  11,  2022,  and  must  otherwise  comply  with  the  requirements  of  Rule  14a-8  of  the  Exchange  Act.    The 
Company will not be required to include in its proxy statement a shareholder proposal that is received after that date or that 
otherwise fails to meet the requirements for shareholder proposals established by applicable SEC rules.

Our  Regulations  govern  the  submission  of  director  nominations  and  other  business  proposals  that  a  shareholder  wishes  to 
have considered at an annual meeting of shareholders, but which are not included in our proxy statement for that meeting. 
Under our Regulations, director nominations or other business proposals to be addressed at our next annual meeting may be 
made by a shareholder entitled to vote who has delivered a notice to the Secretary of the Company not later than the close of 
business on January 27, 2023 and not earlier than December 28, 2022. To be eligible for consideration at an annual meeting 
of shareholders, a shareholder's proposal and notice thereof must otherwise comply with the procedures and requirements of 
our Regulations. 

These advance notice provisions in our Regulations are in addition to, and separate from, the requirements that a shareholder 
must  meet  in  order  to  have  a  proposal  included  in  the  proxy  statement  under  the  rules  of  the  SEC.  A  proxy  granted  by  a 
shareholder will give discretionary authority to the proxies to vote on any matters introduced pursuant to the above advance 
notice  provisions  in  our  Regulations,  subject  to  applicable  SEC  rules.  A  copy  of  our  Regulations  may  be  obtained  from 
Carlotta  D.  King,  Secretary,  at  Diamond  Hill  Investment  Group,  Inc.,  325  John  H.  McConnell  Boulevard,  Suite  200, 
Columbus, Ohio 43215 or by phone at (614) 255-3333.

SHAREHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME ADDRESS

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”, generally permits the Company to send a single annual report and a single 
proxy  statement  to  any  household  at  which  two  or  more  different  shareholders  reside  if  the  Company  believes  such 
shareholders are members of the same family, 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  expenses.  The  Company  has  instituted 
householding.  If: (i) you wish to receive separate annual reports or proxy statements, either this year or in the future, or (ii) 
members  of  your  household  receive  multiple  copies  of  the  annual  report  and  proxy  statement  and  you  wish  to  request 
householding,  you  may  contact  the  Company’s  transfer  agent,  Equiniti  Trust  Company  at  P.O.  Box  64874,  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota 55164-0874,  or by phone  at (800) 401-1957, or write to Carlotta D. King, Secretary, at 325 John H. McConnell 
Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or by phone at (614) 255-3333.

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 Annual Report on Form 10-K 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.

36

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 card to vote on such matters 
in accordance with their best judgment.

We appreciate your prompt completion, execution, and delivery of your proxy card or your submission of voting instructions 
electronically over the Internet or by telephone.  Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete 
and  sign  the  proxy  card  and  return  it  in  the  enclosed  envelope,  or  vote  your  proxy  electronically  via  the  Internet  or 
telephonically.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Carlotta D. King
Secretary

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
APPENDIX A - 2022 EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
2022 EQUITY AND CASH INCENTIVE PLAN

The  purpose  of  the  Plan  is  to  promote  the  Company’s  long-term  financial  success  and  increase  shareholder  value  by 
motivating  performance  through  incentive  compensation.  The  Plan  also  is  intended  to  encourage  Participants  to  acquire 
ownership interests in the Company, attract and retain talented employees and directors, and enable Participants to participate 
in the Company’s long-term growth and financial success.

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

When  used  in  the  Plan,  the  following  capitalized  words,  terms  and  phrases  shall  have  the  meanings  set  forth  in  this 
Article I.  For purposes of the Plan, the form of any word, term, or phrase shall include any and all of its other forms and the 
terms  “including”  and  “include”  shall  in  all  cases  mean  “including,  without  limitation”  and  “include,  without  limitation”, 
respectively.

1.1 

“Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.

1.2 

“Affiliate”  shall  mean  any  entity  with  whom  the  Company  would  be  considered  a  single  employer  under 
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, but modified as permitted under Treasury Regulations promulgated under any Code section 
relevant to the purpose for which the definition is applied.

1.3 

“Award”  shall  mean  any  Nonqualified  Stock  Option,  Incentive  Stock  Option,  Stock  Appreciation  Right, 

Restricted Stock, Other Stock-Based Award, or Cash-Based Award granted pursuant to the Plan. 

1.4 

“Award  Agreement”  shall  mean  any  written  or  electronic  agreement,  notice,  or  instrument  (in  such  form  as 
approved by the Committee) evidencing an Award.  If there is a conflict between the terms of the Plan and the terms of an 
Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.

1.5 

1.6 

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cash-Based Award” shall mean a long-term Award granted pursuant to Article IX of the Plan.

1.7 

“Cause”  shall  mean,  unless  otherwise  provided  in  the  related  Award  Agreement  or  in  any  employment 
agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate or in any other agreement between the Participant and 
the  Company  or  any  Affiliate,  a  Participant’s:  (a)  willful  and  continued  failure  to  substantially  perform  the  Participant’s 
assigned duties; (b) gross misconduct; (c) breach of any term of any agreement with the Company or any Affiliate, including 
the  Plan  and  any  Award  Agreement;  (d)  conviction  of  (or  plea  of  no  contest  or  nolo  contendere  to):  (i)  a  felony  or  a 
misdemeanor  that  originally  was  charged  as  a  felony  but  which  was  subsequently  reduced  to  a  misdemeanor  through 
negotiation with the charging entity, or (ii) a crime other than a felony, which involves a breach of trust or fiduciary duty 
owed to the Company, any Affiliate, or  any client of the Company or any Affiliate; or (e) violation of the Company’s code of 
conduct,  Code  of  Ethics,  Insider  Trading  Policy  or  any  other  policy  of  the  Company  or  any  Affiliate  that  applies  to  the 
Participant.    Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  “Cause”  will  not  arise  solely  because  the  Participant  is  absent  from  active 
employment during periods of vacation, consistent with the Company’s applicable vacation policy, or other period of absence 
approved by the Company.

1.8 

“Change  in  Control”  shall  mean,  unless  otherwise  provided  in  any  employment  agreement  between  the 
Participant  and  the  Company  or  any  Affiliate  or  in  any  other  agreement  between  the  Participant  and  the  Company  or  any 
Affiliate, the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) 

Any transaction or series of transactions, whereby any person (as that term is used in Section 13 and 
14(d)(2)  of  the  Act),  is  or  becomes  the  beneficial  owner  (as  that  term  is  used  in  Section  13(d)  of  the  Act),  directly  or 
indirectly,  of  securities  of  the  Company  representing  fifty  percent  (50%)  or  more  of  the  combined  voting  power  of  the 
Company’s then outstanding securities; provided, that for purposes of this paragraph, the term “person” will exclude: (i) a 
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or an Affiliate, (ii) a corporation 
owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership in 
the Company, and (iii) any venture capital firm or other investor in securities of the Company that first purchases any such 
securities within the thirty (30) day period following the effective date of the Plan;

1

(b) 

Any merger, consolidation, other corporate reorganization, or liquidation of the Company in which the 
Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity or pursuant to which Shares would be converted into cash, 
securities, or other property, other than: (i) a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, (ii) a reincorporation 
of  the  Company  in  a  different  jurisdiction,  or  (iii)  any  other  transaction  in  which  there  is  no  substantial  change  in  the 
stockholders of the Company;

(c) 

Any  merger  or  consolidation  of  the  Company  with  or  into  another  entity  or  any  other  corporate 
reorganization,  if  more  than  fifty  percent  (50%)  of  the  combined  voting  power  of  the  continuing  or  surviving  entity’s 
securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation, or other reorganization is owned by persons who were 
not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, or other reorganization; 

(d) 

The sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in one 

transaction or a series of transactions; or

(e) 

A change or series of related or unrelated changes in the composition of the Board, during any twenty-
four (24) month period beginning on the first anniversary of the effective date of the Plan, as a result of which fewer than 
fifty  percent  (50%)  of  the  incumbent  directors  are  directors  who  either  (i)  were  Original  Directors,  or  (ii)  were  elected,  or 
nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of a least a majority of the aggregate of the Original Directors 
who  were  still  in  office  at  the  time  of  the  election  or  nomination  and  the  directors  whose  election  or  nomination  was 
previously so approved.

Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  following  transactions  will  not  constitute  a  “Change  in  Control”:    (i)  any 
transaction the sole purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company or to create a holding company 
that  will  be  owned  in  substantially  the  same  proportions  by  the  persons  who  held  the  Company’s  securities  immediately 
before  such  transaction;  or  (ii)  with  respect  to  any  Award  that  is  subject  to  Section  409A  of  the  Code  and  for  which  no 
exception applies, any transaction or event described above that does not also constitute a “change in control event” within 
the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

1.9 

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.  
Where appropriate, a reference to the Code shall also include the applicable Treasury Regulations and other official guidance 
promulgated thereunder.

1.10 

“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, which will be comprised of at least: (a) 
two (2) directors, each of whom is a “non-employee” director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Act, and (b) one 
“independent director” under the rules of the exchange on which the Shares are then listed.

1.11 

“Company” shall mean Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc., an Ohio corporation, and any successor thereto.

1.12 

“Director” shall mean a person who is a member of the Board, excluding any member who is an Employee. 

1.13 

“Disability” shall mean:

(a)       With respect to an Incentive Stock Option, “disability” as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code; and

(b)       With respect to any other Award, unless otherwise provided in the related Award Agreement: (i) the 
Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental 
impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve 
(12)  months;  (ii)  the  Participant  is,  by  reason  of  any  medically  determinable  physical  or  mental  impairment  that  can  be 
expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving 
income  replacement  benefits  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  three  (3)  months  under  an  accident  and  health  plan  covering 
Employees of the Company or any Affiliate; or (iii) the Participant is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security 
Administration or Railroad Retirement Board.

1.14 

“Effective Date” shall mean the effective date of the Plan as set forth in Article XVI.  

1.15 

“Employee”  shall  mean  any  person  who  is  a  common  law  employee  of  the  Company  or  any  Affiliate.    A 
person  who  is  classified  as  other  than  a  common  law  employee  but  who  is  subsequently  reclassified  as  a  common  law 
employee of the Company or any Affiliate for any reason and on any basis shall be treated as a common law employee only 
from the date that reclassification occurs and shall not retroactively be reclassified as an Employee for any purpose under the 
Plan.

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1.16 

“Fair Market Value” shall mean the value of one Share on any relevant date, determined under the following 

rules:

(a)       If the Shares are traded on an exchange, the reported “closing price” on the relevant date if it is a trading 

day, otherwise on the next trading day;

(b)       If the Shares are traded over-the-counter with no reported closing price, the mean between the lowest bid 
and the highest asked prices on that quotation system on the relevant date if it is a trading day, otherwise on the next trading 
day; or

(c)       If neither (a) nor (b) applies: (i) with respect to Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and any Award that 
is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the value as determined by the Committee through the reasonable application of a 
reasonable valuation method, taking into account all information material to the value of the Company, within the meaning of 
Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) with respect to all other Awards, the 
fair market value as determined by the Committee in good faith.

1.17 

“Grant  Date”  shall  mean  the  date  on  which  any  Nonqualified  Stock  Option,  Incentive  Stock  Option,  Stock 

Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Other Stock-Based Award, or Cash-Based Award is granted pursuant to the Plan.  

1.18 

“Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the 

Code. 

1.19 

“Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

1.20 

“Option” shall mean an option to purchase Shares that is granted pursuant to Article V of the Plan.  An Option 

may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

1.21 

“Original  Director”  shall  mean  a  person  who  was  a  director  of  the  Company  on  the  later  of:  (a)  such  first 
anniversary of the effective date of the Plan, or (b) the date twenty-four (24) months prior to the date of an event that may 
constitute a Change in Control.  

1.22 

“Other Stock-Based Award” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Article VIII of the Plan.

1.23 

“Participant” shall mean an Employee or Director who is granted an Award under the Plan.

1.24 

“Performance-Based Award” shall mean an Award described in Article X of the Plan.

1.25 
discretion.

“Performance  Criteria”  shall  mean  any  performance  criteria  determined  by  the  Committee  in  its  sole 

1.26 

“Plan” shall mean the Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. 2022 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan, as set forth 

herein and as may be amended from time to time.

1.27 

“Pre-existing Plan” shall mean the Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. 2014 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan. 
Upon  approval  of  the  Plan  by  the  Company’s  shareholders,  no  further  awards  will  be  issued  under  the  Pre-existing  Plan, 
although  the  Pre-existing  Plan  will  remain  in  effect  after  the  Company’s  shareholders  approve  the  Plan  for  purposes  of 
determining any Participant’s right to awards issued under the Pre-existing Plan before that date.

1.28 

“Restricted Stock” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Article VII of the Plan.

1.29 

“Retirement”  shall  mean,  unless  otherwise  provided  in  the  related  Award  Agreement  or  in  any  employment 
agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate or in any other agreement between the Participant and 
the  Company  or  any  Affiliate,  a  Participant’s  voluntary  termination  of  employment  that  is  determined  to  constitute  a 
“retirement” by the Committee. 

1.30 

“Shares” shall mean the common shares, without par value, of the Company or any security of the Company 

issued in satisfaction, exchange or in place of these shares.

1.31 

“Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Article VI of the Plan.

3

1.32 

“Subsidiary” shall mean: (a) with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, a “subsidiary corporation” as defined 
under Section 424(f) of the Code; and (b) for all other purposes under the Plan, any corporation or other entity in which the 
Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting stock or economic interests of 
such corporation or entity.

ARTICLE II
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

2.1 

Number  of  Shares  Available  for  Awards.    Subject  to  this  Article  II,  the  aggregate  number  of  Shares  with 
respect  to  which  Awards  may  be  granted  under  the  Plan  shall  be  300,000,  all  of  which  may  be  granted  with  respect  to 
Incentive Stock Options.  The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of treasury Shares, authorized but unissued Shares not 
reserved for any other purpose, or Shares purchased by the Company or an independent agent in the open market for such 
purpose.  Subject to this Article II, upon a grant of an Award, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall 
be reduced by an amount equal to the number of Shares subject to such Award.  Any Shares underlying such an Award that 
become available for future grant under the Plan pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Plan shall be added back to the Plan in an 
amount equal to such number of Shares.  

2.2 

Share Usage.  In addition to the number of Shares provided for in Section 2.1 of the Plan, the following Shares 
shall  be  available  for  Awards  under  the  Plan:  (a)  Shares  covered  by  an  Award  that  expires  or  is  forfeited,  canceled, 
surrendered, or otherwise terminated without the issuance of such Shares; (b) Shares covered by an Award that is settled in 
cash in lieu of Shares; and (c) Shares granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards granted by 
a company to individuals who become Employees or Directors as the result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or other 
corporate  transaction  involving  such  company  and  the  Company  or  any  of  its  Affiliates.    Notwithstanding  anything  in  the 
Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the following Shares again become available for issuance as Awards under the Plan: (a) 
Shares not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right that is settled in 
Shares;  (b)  Shares  tendered  or  withheld  to  pay  the  exercise  price  of  an  Award;  (c)  Shares  tendered  or  withheld  to  pay  the 
withholding  taxes  related  to  an  Award;  and  (d)  Shares  repurchased  on  the  open  market  with  the  proceeds  of  an  Option 
exercise.

2.3 

Fiscal Year Limits.  Subject to Section 2.5 of the Plan, during any fiscal year of the Company, a Participant 
may not be granted: (a) Options covering more than 25,000 Shares; (b) Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than 25,000 
Shares; (c) more than 25,000 Shares of Restricted Stock; (d) Other Stock-Based Awards covering more than 25,000 Shares; 
(e) Cash-Based Awards with a value in excess of $5,000,000; (f) Performance-Based Awards that are to be settled in Shares 
covering more than 25,000 Shares; and (g) Performance-Based Awards that are to be settled in cash in excess of $5,000,000.

2.4 

Exception to Minimum Vesting Requirements.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary: (a) the 
Committee may grant Awards covering up to five percent (5%) of the Shares available for issuance pursuant to Section 2.1 of 
the Plan, without regard to the minimum vesting requirements of Sections 5.5, 6.5, 7.3(a), and 8.1 of the Plan, and (b) for 
purposes of Awards to Directors, the vesting period will be deemed to be one (1) year if such vesting period runs from the 
date  of  one  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  of  the  Company  to  the  next  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  of  the  Company; 
provided that, such annual meetings are at least fifty (50) weeks apart. 

2.5 

Adjustments.    In  the  event  of  any  Share  dividend,  Share  split,  recapitalization  (including  payment  of  an 
extraordinary dividend), merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, spin-off, distribution of assets to shareholders, 
exchange of Shares, or any other change affecting the Shares, the Committee shall make such substitutions and adjustments, 
if any, as it deems equitable and appropriate to: (a) the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan; (b) any 
Share-based  limits  imposed  under  the  Plan;  and  (c)  the  exercise  price,  number  of  Shares,  and  other  terms  or  limitations 
applicable to outstanding Awards.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an adjustment pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be made 
only to the extent such adjustment complies, to the extent applicable, with Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION

3.1 

In  General.    The  Plan  shall  be  administered  by  the  Committee.    The  Committee  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  to:  (a)  interpret  the  Plan  and  any  Award  Agreement;  (b)  establish,  amend,  and  rescind  any  rules  and  regulations 
relating to the Plan; (c) select Participants; (d) establish the terms and conditions of any Award consistent with the terms and 
conditions of the Plan; and (e) make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of 
the Plan.  The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any 
Award  Agreement  in  the  manner  and  to  the  extent  the  Committee  deems  necessary  or  desirable.    Any  decision  of  the 
Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion 
and shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all Participants.

4

3.2 

Delegation of Duties.  The Committee may delegate its authority to the management of the Company to grant 
Awards  to  eligible  Employees  who  are  not  subject  to  Section  16  of  the  Act.    In  its  sole  discretion,  the  Committee  may 
delegate any ministerial duties associated with the Plan to any person (including Employees) it deems appropriate; provided, 
however, that the Committee may not delegate: (a) any duties that it is required to discharge to comply with any applicable 
law; and (b) its authority to grant Awards to any Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Act.

ARTICLE IV
ELIGIBILITY

4.1 

Eligibility.  The Committee may designate any Employee or Director as a Participant for purposes of receiving 
an Award under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) any Non-Qualified Stock Option or Award subject to Section 
409A of the Code may be granted to Employees or Directors of Affiliates only to the extent consistent with Section 409A of 
the Code; and (b) only Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary may be granted an Incentive Stock Option. 

4.2 

Actual Participation.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from 
among all eligible individuals, those individuals to whom Awards will be granted and will determine the nature and amount 
of each Award.  No individual will have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to this Plan.

ARTICLE V
OPTIONS

5.1        Grant of Options.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in 

such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

5.2        Award Agreement.  Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise 
price,  the  term  of  the  Option,  the  number  of  Shares  covered  by  the  Option,  the  conditions  upon  which  the  Option  shall 
become  vested  and  exercisable,  and  such  other  terms  and  conditions  as  the  Committee  shall  determine  and  which  are 
consistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.  The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended 
to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

5.3        Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share of an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time the 
Option is granted and set forth in the related Award Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the exercise price 
of any Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.

5.4 

Term.    The  term  of  an  Option  shall  be  determined  by  the  Committee  and  set  forth  in  the  related  Award 

Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Option exceed ten (10) years from its Grant Date.

5.5        Exercisability.  Options shall become exercisable at such times and upon such terms and conditions as shall be 
determined  by  the  Committee  and  set  forth  in  the  related  Award  Agreement.    Such  terms  and  conditions  may  include  the 
satisfaction of (a) performance goals based on one or more Performance Criteria; and (b) time-based vesting requirements.  
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  subject  to  Section  2.4  and  Article  XII  of  the  Plan  or  as  otherwise  described  in  the  related 
Award Agreement in connection with a Participant’s death, termination due to Disability, and/or Retirement, no Option shall 
vest, in full or in part, prior to the one (1) year anniversary of its Grant Date.

5.6        Exercise of Options.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in a related Award Agreement, an Option may 
be exercised for all or any portion of the Shares for which it is then exercisable.  An Option shall be exercised by the delivery 
of a notice of exercise to the Company or its designee in a form specified by the Committee that sets forth the number of 
Shares  with  respect  to  which  the  Option  is  to  be  exercised  and  full  payment  of  the  exercise  price  for  such  Shares.    The 
exercise price of an Option shall be paid in cash or its equivalent or in such other form, if and to the extent permitted by the 
Committee,  in  its  sole  discretion,  including:  (a)  by  tendering  (either  by  actual  delivery  or  attestation)  previously  acquired 
Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price; (b) by a cashless 
exercise (including by withholding Shares deliverable upon exercise and through a broker-assisted arrangement to the extent 
permitted by applicable law); or (c) by a combination of cash (or its equivalent) and the methods described in clauses (a) and/
or (b).  Subject to the terms of the Plan, as soon as practicable after receipt of the notification of exercise and full payment of 
the exercise price on an Option, the Company shall cause the appropriate number of Shares to be issued to the Participant.

5.7                Dividends.    Notwithstanding  anything  in  the  Plan  to  the  contrary,  in  no  event  will  dividends  or  dividend 

equivalents be payable or credited in respect of Options.  

5

5.8        Special Rules Applicable to Incentive Stock Options.  Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the 

contrary:

(a)              The  terms  and  conditions  of  Incentive  Stock  Options  shall  be  subject  to,  and  comply  with,  the 

requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

(b)       The aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares (determined as of the Grant Date) with respect to which 
Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the 
Company and its Subsidiaries) may not be greater than $100,000 (or such other amount specified in Section 422 of the Code), 
as calculated under Section 422 of the Code.

(c)              No  Incentive  Stock  Option  shall  be  granted  to  any  Participant  who,  at  the  time  the  Incentive  Stock 
Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of 
stock  of  the  Company  or  of  any  Subsidiary,  unless:  (i)  the  exercise  price  of  such  Incentive  Stock  Option  is  at  least  one 
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date of the Incentive Stock Option, and (ii) the 
date on which such Incentive Stock Option will expire is not later than five (5) years from the Grant Date of the Incentive 
Stock Option.

ARTICLE VI
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 

Grant  of  Stock  Appreciation  Rights.    Subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  Plan,  Stock  Appreciation 
Rights may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the 
Committee in its sole discretion.

6.2 

Award  Agreement.    Each  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall  be  evidenced  by  an  Award  Agreement  that  shall 
specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation 
Right, the conditions upon which the Stock Appreciation Right shall become vested and exercisable, and such other terms 
and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are consistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

6.3 

Exercise  Price.    The  exercise  price  per  Share  of  a  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall  be  determined  by  the 
Committee  at  the  time  the  Stock  Appreciation  Right  is  granted  and  set  forth  in  the  related  Award  Agreement;  provided, 
however, that in no event shall the exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Right be less than one hundred percent (100%) of 
the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.

6.4 

Term.    The  term  of  a  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall  be  determined  by  the  Committee  and  set  forth  in  the 
related Award Agreement; provided however, that in no event shall the term of any Stock Appreciation Right exceed ten (10) 
years from its Grant Date.

6.5 

Exercisability of Stock Appreciation Rights.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall become exercisable at such 
times  and  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Committee  and  set  forth  in  the  related  Award 
Agreement.    Such  terms  and  conditions  may  include  the  satisfaction  of:  (a)  performance  goals  based  on  one  or  more 
Performance  Criteria,  and  (b)  time-based  vesting  requirements.    Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  subject  to  Section  2.4  and 
Article XII of the Plan or as otherwise described in the related Award Agreement in connection with a Participant’s death, 
termination due to Disability, and/or Retirement, no Stock Appreciation Right shall vest, in full or in part, prior to the one (1) 
year anniversary of its Grant Date.

6.6 

Exercise  of  Stock  Appreciation  Rights.    Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  the  Plan  or  in  a  related  Award 
Agreement, a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for all or any portion of the Shares for which it is then exercisable.  
A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or its designee in a 
form specified by the Committee that sets forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is to 
be exercised.  Upon exercise, a Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle a Participant to an amount equal to: (a) the excess of (i) 
the Fair Market Value of a Share on the exercise date over (ii) the exercise price per Share, multiplied by (b) the number of 
Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.  A Stock Appreciation Right may be settled in full 
Shares, cash, or a combination thereof, as specified by the Committee in the related Award Agreement.

6.7 

Dividends.    Notwithstanding  anything  in  the  Plan  to  the  contrary,  in  no  event  will  dividends  or  dividend 

equivalents be credited or payable in respect of Stock Appreciation Rights.

6

ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTED STOCK

7.1 

Grant of Restricted Stock.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Shares of Restricted Stock may be 
granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the Committee in its 
sole discretion.

7.2 

Award  Agreement.    Each  Restricted  Stock  Award  shall  be  evidenced  by  an  Award  Agreement  that  shall 
specify  the  number  of  Shares  of  Restricted  Stock,  the  restricted  period(s)  applicable  to  the  Shares  of  Restricted  Stock,  the 
conditions upon which the restrictions on the Shares of Restricted Stock will lapse, and such other terms and conditions as the 
Committee shall determine and which are consistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.

7.3 

Terms, Conditions and Restrictions.

(a)       The Committee shall impose such other terms, conditions, and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted 
Stock as it may deem advisable, which may include a requirement that the Participant pay a purchase price for each Share of 
Restricted Stock, restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals (which may be based on one or more 
Performance  Criteria),  time-based  restrictions,  or  holding  requirements  or  sale  restrictions  placed  on  the  Shares  by  the 
Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 2.4 and Article XII of the 
Plan or as described in the related Award Agreement in connection with a Participant’s death, termination due to Disability, 
and/or Retirement, no Restricted Stock Award shall vest, in full or in part, prior to the one (1) year anniversary of its Grant 
Date.

(b)              To  the  extent  deemed  appropriate  by  the  Committee,  the  Company  may  retain  the  certificates 
representing  Shares  of  Restricted  Stock  in  the  Company’s  possession  until  such  time  as  all  terms,  conditions,  and/or 
restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse.

(c)              Unless  otherwise  provided  in  the  related  Award  Agreement  or  required  by  applicable  law,  the 
restrictions imposed on Shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse upon the expiration or termination of the applicable restricted 
period and the satisfaction of any other applicable terms and conditions.

7.4 

Rights Associated with Restricted Stock during Restricted Period.  During any restricted period applicable 

to Shares of Restricted Stock:

(a)       Such Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated 

or hypothecated.

(b)              Unless  otherwise  provided  in  the  related  Award  Agreement:  (i)  the  Participant  shall  be  entitled  to 
exercise  full  voting  rights  associated  with  such  Shares  of  Restricted  Stock;  and  (ii)  the  Participant  shall  be  entitled  to  all 
dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares of Restricted Stock during the restricted period.  

ARTICLE VIII
OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

8.1 

Grant  of  Other  Stock-Based  Awards.    Subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  Plan,  Other  Stock-Based 
Awards may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be determined by the 
Committee in its sole discretion.  Other Stock-Based Awards are Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, 
or  otherwise  based  on  the  Fair  Market  Value  of,  the  Shares,  and  shall  be  in  such  form  as  the  Committee  shall  determine, 
including: (a) unrestricted Shares, or (b) time-based or performance-based restricted stock units that are settled in Shares and/
or cash.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 2.4 and Article XII of the Plan or as otherwise described in the 
related Award Agreement in connection with a Participant’s death, termination due to Disability, and/or Retirement, no Other 
Stock-Based Award shall vest, in full or in part, prior to the one (1) year anniversary of its Grant Date.

8.2 

Award  Agreement.    Each  Other  Stock-Based  Award  shall  be  evidenced  by  an  Award  Agreement  that  shall 
specify  the  number  of  Other  Stock-Based  Awards,  terms  and  conditions  upon  which  the  Other  Stock-Based  Award  shall 
become vested, the form of settlement, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and which are 
consistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan.  

8.3 

Form  of  Settlement.    An  Other  Stock-Based  Award  may  be  settled  in  full  Shares,  cash,  or  a  combination 

thereof, as specified by the Committee in the related Award Agreement.

7

8.4 

Dividend  Equivalents.    Awards  of  Other  Stock-Based  Awards  may  provide  the  Participant  with  dividend 
equivalents, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the related Award Agreement; provided, 
however,  that  notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  payment  of  any  such  dividend  equivalents  will  be  subject  to  the  same  terms, 
conditions, and restrictions (including risk of forfeiture (if applicable)) as the Other Stock-Based Award with respect to which 
they are paid and, in no event, will any such dividend equivalents be paid unless and until the Other Stock-Based Award to 
which they relate has vested.  

ARTICLE IX
CASH-BASED AWARDS

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, long-term Cash-Based Awards may be granted to Participants in such 
amounts and upon such other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Each such 
long-term Cash-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the payment amount or payment 
range,  the  time  of  settlement,  and  the  other  terms  and  conditions,  as  applicable,  of  such  Award  which  may  include 
performance objectives and that the Cash-Based Award is a Performance-Based Award under Article X.

ARTICLE X
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS

10.1 

In General.  Any Award may be granted as a Performance-Based Award.  As determined by the Committee in 
its sole discretion, the grant, vesting, exercisability, and/or settlement of any Performance-Based Award shall be conditioned 
on  the  attainment  of  performance  goals  based  upon  one  or  more  Performance  Criteria  during  a  performance  period 
established by the Committee.  

10.2 

Performance Criteria.

(a) 
sole discretion. 

The Performance Criteria for Performance-Based Awards shall be established by the Committee in its 

(b) 

The  Performance  Criteria  may  relate  to  the  individual  Participant,  the  Company,  one  or  more  of  its 
Affiliates,  one  or  more  of  their  respective  divisions  or  business  units,  or  any  combination  of  the  foregoing,  and  may  be 
applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, 
in each case, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(c) 

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide amounts relating to, or arising from, extraordinary 
items,  unusual  or  non-recurring  events,  and/or  changes  in  applicable  tax  laws  or  accounting  principles  be  included  or 
excluded from the Performance Criteria.  

10.3 

Establishment  of  Performance  Goals.    With  respect  to  Performance-Based  Awards,  the  Committee  shall 
establish: (a) the applicable performance goals and performance period, and (b) the formula for computing the Performance-
Based Award.  

10.4 

Determination of Performance.  With respect to Performance-Based Awards, the Committee shall determine, 
in its sole discretion, whether the applicable performance goals and other material terms imposed on such Performance-Based 
Awards have been satisfied, and, if they have, ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award.  

10.5 

Increases Prohibited.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, none 
of  the  Committee,  the  Board,  the  Company,  or  any  Affiliate  may  increase  the  amount  of  compensation  payable  under  a 
Performance-Based Award.  The Committee may adjust downward, but not upward, the amount payable pursuant to such an 
Award,  and  the  Committee  may  not  waive  the  achievement  of  the  applicable  performance  goal,  except  in  the  case  of  a 
Change in Control, or the death, Disability, and/or Retirement of the Participant. 

10.6 

Dividends  and  Dividend  Equivalents.    Performance-Based  Awards  may  provide  the  Participant  with 
dividends or dividend equivalents, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the related Award 
Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of any such dividends or dividend equivalents 
will be subject to the same terms, conditions, and restrictions, as are applicable to such underlying Awards, as specified in 
either Section 5.7, 6.7, 7.4(b), or 8.4 of the Plan.  

8

ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE

11.1 

Effect of Termination of Employment or Service.  With respect to each Award granted under the Plan, the 
Committee shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, determine the extent to which the Award shall vest and the 
extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise and/or receive settlement of the Award on or following the 
Participant’s termination of employment or services with the Company and/or any of its Affiliates.  Such provisions shall be 
determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the related Award Agreement, need not be uniform 
among all Participants or Awards granted under the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.  
Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  the  Plan,  the  vesting  conditions  of  an  Award  may  only  be  accelerated  upon  the  death, 
termination due to Disability, and/or Retirement of the Participant.  

11.2 

Default  Provisions.    If  the  Award  Agreement  does  not  specify  the  effect  of  a  Participant’s  termination  of 
employment  or  services  with  the  Company  and/or  any  of  its  Affiliates  on  the  vesting,  exercisability  and/or  settlement  of 
Awards, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) 

Death, Disability or Retirement.  In the event of a Participant’s death, Disability, and/or Retirement: 
(i)  all  exercisable  Awards  may  be  exercised  for  the  remainder  of  the  term  of  such  Award  (provided,  however,  that  any 
Incentive Stock Option that is not exercised within twelve (12) months following the Participant’s death, Disability, and/or 
Retirement  will  be  treated  as  a  Nonqualified  Stock  Option);  (ii)  a  pro  rata  portion  of  all  unvested  Awards  shall  vest,  as 
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, based on the amount of time elapsed during the vesting period prior to the 
date  of  death,  Disability,  and/or  Retirement,  or  the  attainment  of  the  Performance  Criteria,  over  the  portion  of  the 
performance period elapsed as of the date of death, Disability, and/or Retirement; and (iii) all unvested Awards that do not 
vest pursuant to this Section 11.2(a) shall terminate and be forfeited as of the date of death, Disability, and/or Retirement.

(b) 

Termination for Cause.  If a Participant is terminated for Cause, all Awards, whether or not vested 

and/or exercisable, shall terminate and be forfeited as of the date of termination.

(c) 

Other Termination.  If a Participant terminates for any other reason: (i) all exercisable Awards may 
be  exercised  for  the  remainder  of  the  term  of  such  Award;  provided,  however,  that  any  Incentive  Stock  Option  that  is  not 
exercised within three (3) months following the Participant’s termination will be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option; and 
(ii) all unvested Awards shall terminate and be forfeited as of the date of termination.

ARTICLE XII
CHANGE IN CONTROL

12.1 

In  General.    Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  the  related  Award  Agreement,  in  the  event  of  a  Change  in 
Control, all outstanding Awards shall become immediately vested and exercisable and the Committee, in its sole discretion, 
may  take  such  actions,  if  any,  as  it  deems  necessary  or  desirable  with  respect  to  any  such  Awards,  including,  without 
limitation: (a) by providing for a cash payment in exchange for the cancellation of an Award; or (b) the issuance of substitute 
Awards that substantially preserve the value, rights, and benefits of any affected Awards.  Any action relating to an Award 
that is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be consistent with the requirements thereof. 

12.2 

Effect of Section 280G of the Code.  Unless specified otherwise in the related Award Agreement or in another 
written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate, if the Company concludes that any payment or 
benefit due to a Participant under the Plan, when combined with any other payment or benefit due to the Participant from the 
Company or any of its Affiliates (collectively, the “Payor”), would be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning 
of Section 280G of the Code, the Payor will reduce the payments and benefits due to the Participant under the Plan to $1.00 
less than the amount that would otherwise be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the 
Code.  Any reduction pursuant to this Section 12.2 of the Plan shall be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code 
and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

13.1 

In General.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Board or the Committee may amend or terminate the 
Plan or any Award Agreement at any time; provided, however, that no amendment or termination shall be made without the 
approval of the Company’s shareholders to the extent that: (a) the amendment materially increases the benefits accruing to 
Participants under the Plan, (b) the amendment increases the aggregate number of Shares authorized for grant under the Plan 
(excluding an increase in the number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan as a result of Section 2.5 of the Plan), (c) 

9

the  amendment  materially  modifies  the  requirements  as  to  eligibility  for  participation  in  the  Plan,  or  (d)  such  approval  is 
required by any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule.

13.2 

Awards  Previously  Granted.    No  amendment  or  termination  of  the  Plan  or  an  Award  Agreement  shall 
adversely affect in any material way any outstanding Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of 
the  Participant  holding  such  Award,  provided  that,  no  such  consent  shall  be  required  with  respect  to  any  amendment  or 
termination  that  the  Board  or  the  Committee  determines,  in  its  sole  discretion,  is  necessary  or  advisable  in  order  for  the 
Company, the Plan, or an Award to satisfy or conform to any applicable law or regulation or to meet the requirements of any 
applicable accounting standard. 

13.3 

Repricing.  Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Plan, in no event may the Board or the 
Committee,  without  approval  of  the  Company’s  shareholders:  (a)  amend  the  terms  of  an  outstanding  Option  or  Stock 
Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (b) cancel an outstanding Option 
or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for a new Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price that is less than 
the  exercise  price  of  the  original  Option  or  Stock  Appreciation  Right,  or  (c)  at  any  time  when  the  exercise  price  of  an 
outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right is greater than the Fair Market Value of a Share, cancel such Option or Stock 
Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or other Awards.  

ARTICLE XIV
TRANSFERABILITY

14.1 

Non-Transferability.    Except  as  described  in  Section  14.2  of  the  Plan  or  as  provided  in  a  related  Award 
Agreement, an Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, except by will 
or the laws of descent and distribution and, during a Participant’s lifetime, may be exercised only by the Participant or the 
Participant’s guardian or legal representative.  

14.2 

Beneficiary.  Unless otherwise specifically designated by the Participant in writing, a Participant’s beneficiary 

under the Plan shall be the Participant’s spouse or, if no spouse survives the Participant, the Participant’s estate.

ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS

15.1 

No Right to Continued Service or to Awards.  Neither the Plan nor the granting of an Award under the Plan 
shall  impose  any  obligation  on  the  Company  or  any  Affiliate  to  continue  the  employment  or  services  of  a  Participant  or 
interfere with or limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the services of any Participant at any time.  In 
addition, no Participant shall have any right to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of 
Participants.    The  terms  and  conditions  of  Awards  and  the  Committee’s  interpretations  and  determinations  with  respect 
thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

15.2 

Tax Withholding.

(a) 

The Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, shall have the power and the right to deduct, withhold, or 
collect  any  amount  required  by  applicable  law  or  regulation  to  be  withheld  with  respect  to  any  taxable  event  arising  with 
respect to an Award granted under the Plan.  This amount may, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, be: (i) 
withheld from other amounts due to the Participant, (ii) withheld from the value of any Award being settled or any Shares 
being transferred in connection with the exercise or settlement of an Award, (iii) collected directly from the Participant, or 
(iv) withhold using any combination of the methods described in (i), (ii), or (iii).

(b) 

Subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Committee,  a  Participant  may  elect  to  satisfy  the  withholding 
requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable, withhold Shares having a Fair Market 
Value  on  the  date  the  tax  is  to  be  determined  equal  to  the  statutory  total  tax  that  could  be  imposed  on  the  transaction; 
provided  that,  such  Shares  would  otherwise  be  distributable  to  the  Participant  at  the  time  of  the  withholding.    All  such 
elections shall be irrevocable and made in writing and shall be subject to any terms and conditions that the Committee, in its 
sole discretion, deems appropriate.

15.3 

Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code. In any case in which a Participant is permitted to make an election 
under  Section  83(b)  of  the  Code  in  connection  with  an  Award,  the  Participant  shall  notify  the  Company  of  such  election 
within  ten  (10)  days  of  filing  notice  of  the  election  with  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  or  other  governmental  authority,  in 
addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to Treasury Regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code or 
other applicable provision.

10

15.4 

Requirements  of  Law.    The  Plan,  the  grant  and  exercise  of  Awards  thereunder,  and  the  issuance  of  Shares 
under  such  Awards  shall  be  subject  to  all  applicable  federal,  state,  and  local  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  (including  all 
applicable federal and state securities laws) and to all required approvals of any governmental agencies or stock exchange, 
market, or quotation system on which the Shares are then listed or traded.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall 
have no obligation to issue Shares under the Plan prior to: (a) receipt of any approvals from any governmental agencies or 
stock  exchange,  market,  or  quotation  system  on  which  the  Shares  are  then  listed  or  traded  that  the  Committee  deems 
necessary; and (b) completion of registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable federal, state, or local 
law or ruling of any governmental agency that the Committee deems necessary.

15.5 

Legends.  Certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan may be subject to such stock transfer orders and other 
restrictions  that  the  Committee  deems  advisable  under  the  rules,  regulations,  and  other  requirements  of  the  Securities  and 
Exchange Commission, any stock exchange, market, or quotation system upon which the Shares are then listed or traded, or 
any  other  applicable  federal,  state,  or  local  law.    The  Committee  may  cause  a  legend  or  legends  to  be  placed  on  any 
certificates  issued  under  the  Plan  to  make  appropriate  reference  to  restrictions  within  the  scope  of  this  Section  15.5  of  the 
Plan.

15.6 

Uncertificated  Shares.    To  the  extent  that  the  Plan  provides  for  the  issuance  of  certificates  to  reflect  the 
transfer of Shares, the transfer of Shares may be effected on an uncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable 
law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange, market, or quotation system on which the Shares are then listed or traded.

15.7 

Compensation  Recovery.    To  the  extent  that  any  applicable  law,  rule,  regulation,  or  policy  requires  the 
repayment of incentive-based compensation received by a Participant, whether paid pursuant to an Award under the Plan or 
any other incentive-based compensation maintained in the past or adopted in the future by the Company or any Affiliate, by 
accepting an Award under this Plan, the Participant agrees to the repayment of such amounts to the extent required by such 
applicable law, rule, regulation, or policy.

15.8 

Governing Law.  The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be governed by and construed in accordance with 

the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.

15.9 

No Impact on Benefits.  Awards are not compensation for purposes of calculating a Participant’s rights under 

any employee benefit plan that does not specifically require the inclusion of Awards in calculating benefits.

15.10  Rights  as  a  Shareholder.    Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  the  Plan  or  in  a  related  Award  Agreement,  a 
Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares covered by an Award unless and until the 
Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

15.11  Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan, and the Committee shall determine, in 
its  sole  discretion,  whether  cash  shall  be  given  in  lieu  of  fractional  Shares  or  whether  such  fractional  Shares  shall  be 
eliminated by rounding up or down.

15.12  Successors  and  Assigns.    The  Plan  shall  be  binding  on  all  successors  and  assigns  of  the  Company  and  each 
Participant, including the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator, or trustee of such estate, or any receiver 
or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors. 

15.13  Compliance With Section 409A of the Code. Awards shall be designed, granted, and administered in such a 
manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. 
The Plan and each Award Agreement under the Plan that is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the 
Code shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. If the Committee determines that an Award, Award 
Agreement,  payment,  distribution,  deferral  election,  transaction,  or  any  other  action  or  arrangement  contemplated  by  the 
provisions of the Plan would, if undertaken, cause a Participant to become subject to additional taxes under Section 409A of 
the Code, then unless the Committee specifically provides otherwise, such Award, Award Agreement, payment, distribution, 
deferral election, transaction, or other action or arrangement shall not be given effect to the extent it causes such result and 
the related provisions of the Plan and Award Agreement shall be deemed modified, or, if necessary, suspended in order to 
comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to the extent determined appropriate by the Committee, in each 
case without the consent of or notice to the Participant. The exercisability of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right shall 
not be extended to the extent that such extension would subject the Participant to additional taxes under Section 409A of the 
Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if an Award is not exempt 
from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 
409A of the Code) and a payment under the Award is due as a result of such individual’s “separation from service” (as that 
term is defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code using the default rules), then no payment shall be made under the 

11

Award due to such separation from service before the date that is six (6) months after the date on which the Participant incurs 
such separation from service, except as otherwise allowed by Section 409A of the Code.

15.14  Savings Clause.  In the event that any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the 
illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if 
the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

ARTICLE XVI
EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

The Effective Date of the Plan is _______________, 2022.  No Incentive Stock Options shall be granted under the Plan 
after _______________, 2032 and no other Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the 
Effective Date or, if earlier, the date the Plan is terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the termination of the Plan shall 
not preclude the Company from complying with the terms of Awards outstanding on the date the Plan terminates.  After the 
Effective Date, no grants of awards shall be made under the Pre-existing Plan
.

12

United States
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K 

(Mark One)

☒

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 

or

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

For the transition period from  

to  

Commission file number 000-24498 

DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio

(State of
incorporation)

65-0190407

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

325 John H. McConnell Blvd, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (614) 255-3333

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

Title of each class
Common shares, no par value

Trading Symbol
DHIL

Name of each exchange on which registered
The NASDAQ Stock Market 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate  by  check  mark  if  the  registrant  is  a  well-known  seasoned  issuer,  as  defined  in  Rule  405  of  the  Securities 
Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

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  ☐    No  ☒

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 
pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period 
that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

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

Large accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

  ☐   

  ☐   

Accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

  ☒

  ☐

  ☐

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of
the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.
7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.☒

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

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common shares (the only common equity of the registrant) held by non-affiliates 
on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $519,454,719, based on the closing price of $167.31 on June 30, 2021. For these 
purposes  only,  calculation  of  holdings  by  non-affiliates  is  based  upon  the  assumption,  that  the  registrant’s  executive  officers 
and directors are affiliates.

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common stock, as of February 25, 2022, is 3,221,140 shares.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions  of  the  registrant’s  definitive  Proxy  Statement  for  the  2022  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  to  be  filed  pursuant  to 
Regulation  14A  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  are  incorporated  by  reference  into  Part  III  of  this 
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Form 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021 
Index

Required Information
Part I

Item 1. Business

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 2. Properties

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Part II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity 
Securities
Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Item 9B. Other Information

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections

Part III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Part IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

Signatures

Page

3

3

10

15

15

15

15

16

16

18
18

33

35

56

56

57

57

58

58

58

58

58

58

59

59

60

61

2

 
Item 1.

Business

PART I

Forward-Looking Statements
Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated herein by reference, Diamond Hill Investment 
Group,  Inc.  (“Diamond  Hill”)  may  make  forward-looking  statements  within  the  meaning  of  the  U.S.  Private  Securities 
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and Section 21E of the 
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  “Exchange  Act”).    Such  statements  are  provided  under  the  “safe  harbor” 
protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, 
statements  regarding  anticipated  operating  results,  prospects  and  levels  of  assets  under  management,  technological 
developments, economic trends (including interest rates and market volatility), expected transactions and similar matters.  The 
words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “project,” “estimate,” “would,” “will,” “continue,” “should,” “hope,” “seek,” 
“plan,” “intend,” and variations of such words and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements, which speak 
only as of the date made.  While we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, 
investors  are  cautioned  that  any  of  the  assumptions  could  prove  to  be  inaccurate  and,  accordingly,  our  actual  results  and 
experiences  could  differ  materially  from  the  anticipated  results  or  other  expectations  expressed  in  our  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: (i) any reduction in our assets under management (“AUM”); (ii) withdrawal, renegotiation, or 
termination of investment advisory agreements; (iii) damage to our reputation; (iv) failure to comply with investment guidelines 
or other contractual requirements; (v) challenges from the competition we face in our business; (vi) adverse regulatory and legal 
developments;  (vii)  unfavorable  changes  in  tax  laws  or  limitations;  (viii)  interruptions  in  or  failure  to  provide  critical 
technological service by us or third parties; (ix) adverse civil litigation and government investigations or proceedings; (x) risk 
of loss on our investments; (xi) lack of sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; (xii) losses or costs not covered by insurance;  
(xiii) a decline in the performance of our products; (xiv) changes in interest rates; (xv) changes in national and local economic 
and  political  conditions;  (xvi)  the  continuing  economic  uncertainty  in  various  parts  of  the  world;  (xvii)  the  effects  of  the 
COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken in connection therewith; (xviii) political uncertainty caused by, among other things, 
political  parties,  economic  nationalist  sentiments,  tensions  surrounding  the  current  socioeconomic  landscape,  and  other  risks 
identified from time-to-time in other public documents on file with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), 
including those discussed below in Item 1A. 

We do not undertake or plan to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in plans, 
assumptions,  estimates  or  projections,  or  other  circumstances  occurring  after  the  date  of  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K, 
even if such results, changes, or circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be realized. If there 
are any future public statements or disclosures by us which modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained 
in or accompanying this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such statements or disclosures will be deemed to modify or supersede 
such statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, when we use the terms 
the “Company,” “management,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” we mean Diamond Hill and its subsidiaries.

Overview

Diamond Hill, an Ohio corporation organized in April 1990, derives its consolidated revenue and net income from investment 
advisory and fund administration services provided by its wholly owned subsidiary, Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc., 
an  Ohio  corporation  (“DHCM”).  DHCM  is  a  registered  investment  adviser  under  the  Investment  Advisers  Act  of  1940,  as 
amended (the “Advisers Act”).  DHCM sponsors, distributes, and provides investment advisory and related services to clients 
through  pooled  investment  vehicles,  including  the  Diamond  Hill  Funds  (each  a  “Fund”,  and  collectively,  the  “Funds”), 
separately managed accounts, and model delivery programs.

DHCM  is  committed  to  generating  excellent,  long-term  investment  outcomes  and  building  enduring  client  partnerships.  By 
committing to shared investment principles, including valuation-disciplined active portfolio management, fundamental bottom-
up research, and a long-term business owner mindset, DHCM has created a suite of investment strategies designed for long-
term strategic allocations from institutionally-oriented investors. DHCM’s core values of curiosity, ownership, trust, and respect 
create an environment where investment professionals focus on results and all teammates focus on the overall client experience. 
The combination of these investment principles and core values creates an aligned boutique model ensuring our associates have 
a vested interest in our clients’ success. This alignment with clients is emphasized through: (i) personal investment by Diamond 
Hill  employees  in  the  strategies  managed,  (ii)  a  fee  philosophy  focused  on  a  fair  sharing  of  the  economics  among  clients, 
employees, and shareholders, (iii) a strict adherence to capacity discipline ensuring the ability to add value for existing clients, 
and (iv) compensation driven by the value created for clients. 

3

Our primary objective is to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our clients.  We believe this focus on generating excellent, long-term 
investment  outcomes  and  building  enduring  client  partnerships  will  enable  us  to  grow  our  intrinsic  value  to  achieve  a 
compelling, long-term return for our shareholders.

Investment Advisory Activities

Investment Advisory Fees

Our  principal  source  of  revenue  is  investment  advisory  fee  income  earned  from  managing  client  accounts  under  investment 
advisory and sub-advisory agreements.  The fees earned depend on the type of investment strategy, account size, and servicing 
requirements.  Revenues depend on the total value and composition of AUM.  Accordingly, net cash flows from clients, market 
fluctuations  in  client  portfolios,  and  the  composition  of  AUM  impact  our  revenues  and  results  of  operations.    We  also  have 
certain agreements that allow us to earn performance-based fees if investment returns exceed targeted amounts over a specified 
measurement period.

Assets Under Management

The following tables show AUM by product and investment objective, as well as net client cash flows, for each of the past five 
years ended December 31, 2021:

(in millions)

Proprietary funds

Sub-advised funds

Separately managed accounts

Total AUM

Assets Under Management
As of December 31,

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

19,802  $ 

17,615  $ 

16,148  $ 

13,440  $ 

15,974 

3,994 

7,232 

3,185 

5,611 

2,029 

5,222 

1,358 

4,310 

1,518 

4,825 

$ 

31,028  $ 

26,411  $ 

23,399  $ 

19,108  $ 

22,317 

4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)

U.S. Equity

Large Cap

Small-Mid Cap

Mid Cap

Small Cap
All Cap Select

Large Cap Concentrated

Micro Cap

Total U.S. Equity

Alternatives

Long-Short

Total Alternatives

Global/International Equity

International
Global(a)

Total Global/International Equity

Fixed Income

Short Duration Securitized Bond

Core Fixed Income

Long Duration Treasury
Corporate Credit(b)
High Yield(b)

Total Fixed Income

Assets Under Management
by Investment Strategy
As of December 31,

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

21,285  $ 

15,075  $ 

12,316  $ 

9,611  $ 

10,864 

3,183 

1,165 

597 

438 

64 

16 

2,810 

3,243 

992 

556 

446 

27 

— 

569 

795 

528 

28 

— 

2,770 

143 

1,048 

432 

26 

— 

3,528 

130 

1,525 

444 

3 

— 

26,748 

19,906 

17,479 

14,030 

16,494 

1,998 

1,998 

2,056 

2,056 

3,605 

3,605 

3,767 

3,767 

4,980 

4,980 

56 

— 

56 

1,613 

622 

51 

— 

— 

2,286 

17 

16 

33 

1,132 

541 

62 

2,020 

724 

4,479 

13 

22 

35 

809 

300 

52 

1,147 

135 

2,443 

3 

15 

18 

579 

55 

52 

757 

54 

4 

2 

6 

313 

44 

— 

668 

31 

1,497 

1,056 

Total-All Strategies

  (Less: Investments in affiliated funds)(c)
Total AUM

31,088 

26,474 

23,562 

19,312 

(60)   
31,028  $ 

(63)   
26,411  $ 

(163)   
23,399  $ 

(204)   
19,108  $ 

$ 

22,536 

(219) 
22,317 

(a) The Diamond Hill Global Fund was liquidated on December 17, 2021.  
(b) The Diamond Hill Corporate Credit and High Yield investment advisory contracts (the “High Yield-Focused Advisory Contracts”) 
were sold to Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (“Brandywine Global”) effective July 30, 2021.
(c) Certain of the Funds own shares of the Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund.  The Company reduces the total AUM by the 
investments held in this affiliated Fund.  

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)

AUM at beginning of the year

Net cash inflows (outflows)

proprietary funds

sub-advised funds

separately managed accounts

Sale of high yield-focused advisory contracts

Net market appreciation/(depreciation) and income

Increase (decrease) during the year

AUM at end of the year

Change in Assets Under Management
For the Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

26,411  $ 

23,399  $ 

19,108  $ 

22,317  $ 

19,381 

2,009 

(54)   

168 

2,123 

(3,456)   

5,950 

4,617 

879 

713 

(63)   

1,529 

— 

1,483 

3,012 

(499)   

(978)   

216 

(394)   

(677)   

— 

4,968 

4,291 

(25)   

(99)   

(1,102)   

— 

(2,107)   

(3,209)   

843 

(164) 

(254) 

425 

— 

2,511 

2,936 

$ 

31,028  $ 

26,411  $ 

23,399  $ 

19,108  $ 

22,317 

Model Delivery Programs - Assets Under Advisement

DHCM provides strategy-specific model portfolios to sponsors of model delivery programs. DHCM does not have discretionary 
investment authority over individual client accounts in model delivery programs, and therefore, these assets are not included in 
the Company’s AUM.  Rather, we refer to these model delivery assets as assets under advisement (“AUA”). DHCM is paid for 
its services by the program sponsors at a pre-determined rate based on assets in the programs.

(in millions)

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Model delivery program AUA

$ 

2,098  $ 

1,099  $ 

933  $ 

476  $ 

445 

Assets Under Advisement
As of December 31,

Capacity

Our ability to retain and grow our AUM and AUA has been, and will continue to be, primarily driven by delivering attractive 
long-term investment results, which requires strict adherence to capacity discipline.  If we determine the size of a strategy could 
impede  our  ability  to  meet  investment  return  goals,  we  will  close  that  strategy  to  new  clients.    Our  commitment  to  capacity 
discipline  inherently  impacts  our  ability  to  grow  our  AUM.    Investment  results  will  always  be  prioritized  over  asset 
accumulation.  As of December 31, 2021, our Large Cap and Small-Mid Cap strategies are closed to most new investors.  

Today, our existing capacity is estimated to be $40 – 50 billion in domestic equities, $15 – 20 billion in international equities, 
and $50 – 65 billion in fixed income. Our firm level capacity increases with the development of new products or strategies.

Growth Strategy

As  a  deliberately  capacity  constrained  organization,  growth  is  intentional  and  centers  first  and  foremost  on  delivering  an 
investment and client experience enabling investors to have better outcomes over the long term. Our core values and aligned 
boutique model encourage development of strategies and vehicles that are designed to meet clients’ objectives and embody our 
shared investment principles.  

In 2021, we increased our ability to meet client needs by expanding our domestic equity line-up and the vehicles available for 
many of our strategies. As an example, Large Cap Concentrated is now available as a new mutual fund in the Funds lineup, as a 
separate  account,  and  through  model  delivery.  Small  Cap,  Small  Mid,  Mid  Cap,  and  All  Cap  Select  are  newly  available  as 
collective  investment  trusts  in  addition  to  Large  Cap  and  Core  Bond.  We  launched  a  private  fund  focused  on  micro-cap 
companies  allowing  us  to  leverage  our  experience  evaluating  small  publicly-traded  businesses.  We  continue  to  monitor 
developments with exchange-traded funds yet remain focused on entering that market only if we are able to manage client flows 
and  investment  capacity  to  ensure  we  can  protect  our  ability  to  generate  alpha  for  clients.  We  will  continue  to  evaluate  and 
explore  ways  to  deliver  our  intellectual  capital  to  clients  in  ways  that  allow  us  to  meet  client  objectives  and  align  with  our 
investment principles. 

In 2021, the International, Core Bond, and Short Duration Securitized Bond strategies reached their five-year track records. All 
three strategies have shown the ability to exceed their investment goals and serve important strategic roles in client portfolios. 
Building  on  the  strength  of  our  fixed  income  team,  we  also  manage  those  strategies  with  custom  duration  and  credit  risk, 

6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
including our Short Duration Investment Grade strategy. We pared our product offerings through the liquidation of the Global 
strategy and the strategic sale of our High Yield-Focused Advisory Contracts to Brandywine Global.   

We look to attract like-minded, long-term focused clients across all our offerings. We have dedicated resources to develop our 
distribution technology and content-led marketing efforts. These initiatives supplement and make our business development and 
relationship management efforts more efficient. We believe the combination of these efforts will lead to a deeper understanding 
of our investment strategies, and ultimately, longer holding periods for investors.  

Distribution Channels

Our investment advisory services are distributed through multiple channels.  Below is a summary of AUM by distribution 
channel for each of the five years ended December 31, 2021:

(in millions)

Proprietary funds:

Registered investment adviser

Independent broker-dealer

Wirehouse

Bank trust

Defined contribution

Other

Total proprietary funds

Sub-advised funds

Separately managed accounts:

Institutional consultant

Financial intermediary

Direct

Total separately managed accounts

Total AUM

Fund Administration Activities

AUM by Distribution Channel
As of December 31,

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

4,633  $ 

4,315  $ 

3,603  $ 

3,243  $ 

5,304 

4,195 

2,256 

3,249 

165 

19,802 

3,994 

2,960 

3,594 

678 

7,232 

4,274 

3,529 

2,546 

2,716 

235 

17,615 

3,185 

2,504 

2,371 

736 

5,611 

3,563 

3,026 

2,907 

2,723 

326 

16,148 

2,029 

2,397 

1,777 

1,048 

5,222 

2,900 

2,319 

2,672 

1,904 

402 

13,440 

1,358 

2,122 

1,506 

682 

4,310 

4,010 

3,581 

2,660 

3,456 

1,840 

427 

15,974 

1,518 

2,357 

1,691 

777 

4,825 

$ 

31,028  $  26,411  $  23,399  $  19,108  $ 

22,317 

We  provide  fund  administration  services  to  the  Funds.    Fund  administration  services  are  broadly  defined  to  include  the 
following  services:  portfolio  and  regulatory  compliance,  treasury  and  financial  oversight,  oversight  of  back-office  service 
providers, such as the custodian, fund accountant, and transfer agent, and general business management and governance of the 
Fund complex. 

Competition

Competition  in  the  investment  management  industry  is  intense,  and  our  competitors  include  investment  management  firms, 
broker-dealers, banks, and insurance companies, some of whom offer various investment alternatives, including passive index 
strategies.  Many of our competitors are better known, offer a broader range of investment products, and have more dedicated 
resources for business development and marketing.  

Regulation

Our firm and business are subject to various federal, state, and non-U.S. laws and regulations.  As a matter of public policy, 
regulatory bodies are charged with safeguarding the integrity of the securities and other financial markets, and with protecting 
the interests of participants in those markets, including investment advisory clients and shareholders of investment funds.  If an 
adviser fails to comply with these laws and regulations, these regulatory bodies have broad administrative powers, including the 
power  to  limit,  restrict,  or  prohibit  an  investment  adviser  from  carrying  on  its  business.    Possible  sanctions  that  regulatory 
bodies  may  impose,  include  civil  and  criminal  liability,  the  suspension  of  individual  employees,  limitations  on  engaging  in 
certain lines of business for specified periods of time, revocation of investment adviser, broker-dealer, and other registrations, 
censures, and fines.

7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DHCM is registered with the SEC under 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  of  the  Funds  are  registered  with  the  SEC  under  the  Investment 
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and are required to make notice filings with all states where the Funds are 
offered for sale.  Virtually all aspects of DHCM’s investment advisory and fund administration business are subject to various 
federal and state laws and regulations. 

DHCM is a “fiduciary” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), with respect to 
benefit plan clients, and therefore, is subject to ERISA regulations.  ERISA and applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended, impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries, prohibit certain transactions involving ERISA 
plan  clients,  and  provide  monetary  penalties  for  violations  of  these  prohibitions.    The  U.S.  Department  of  Labor,  which 
administers  ERISA,  has  been  increasingly  active  in  proposing  and  adopting  regulations  affecting  the  asset  management 
industry. 

Our  trading  activities  for  client  accounts  are  regulated  by  the  SEC  under  the  Exchange  Act,  which  includes  regulations 
governing  trading  on  inside  information,  market  manipulation,  and  a  broad  number  of  trading  and  market  regulation 
requirements in the United States (e.g., volume limitations and reporting obligations).

The preceding descriptions of the regulatory and statutory provisions applicable to us are not exhaustive or complete and are 
qualified  in  their  entirety  by  reference  to  the  respective  statutory  or  regulatory  provisions.    Failure  to  comply  with  these 
requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Contractual Relationships with the Funds

We are highly dependent on our contractual relationships with the Funds.  If any of our advisory or administration agreements 
with  the  Funds  were  terminated  or  not  renewed,  or  were  amended  or  modified  to  reduce  fees,  we  would  be  materially  and 
adversely affected.  We generated approximately 69%, 75%, and 77% of our 2021, 2020, and 2019 revenues, respectively, from 
our advisory and administration agreements with the Funds. We believe that we have strong relationships with the Funds and 
their board of trustees, and we have no reason to believe that these advisory or administration contracts will not be renewed in 
the  future.    However,  there  is  no  assurance  that  the  Funds  will  choose  to  continue  their  relationships  with  us.    Please  see 
Item 1A for risk factors regarding this relationship.

Human Capital

Our  people  are  our  greatest  asset,  and  each  role  within  our  firm  contributes  to  our  mission  to  deliver  outstanding  client 
outcomes. We are a boutique firm with an important purpose, and we rely on each other and our positive culture to preserve the 
environment which allows us to deliver on our mission.  

Workforce Data 

Attracting, developing, and retaining talented employees is an integral aspect of our human capital strategy and critical to our 
success.  We  depend  on  highly  skilled  personnel,  with  specialized  expertise  and  extensive  experience  in  the  investment 
management industry. As of December 31, 2021, we employed 128 full-time equivalent employees. As of December 31, 2020, 
our number of full-time equivalent employees was 126.   

Our average employee tenure is approximately seven years, and more than 20% of our employees have more than 10 years of 
service.  Our  five-year  average  employee  turnover  rate  is  less  than  9%.  Our  employees  are  based  in  11  states  although 
approximately 81% of our employees reside in Ohio.  

Competitive Pay and Benefits 

Our  compensation  philosophy  attracts,  retains,  and  motivates  employees  who  embody  our  values.  We  align  our  employees’ 
compensation  with  client  outcomes,  individual  and  team  results,  and  company  performance.  Some  of  our  most  notable 
compensation and benefits offerings are: 

•

•

•

Competitive  annual  compensation  comprised  of  a  base  salary,  discretionary  cash  incentive  compensation  and,  for 
certain roles, a long-term equity incentive;  

An equity grant in the first year of joining our firm; 

A  401k match of 250% of the first 6% of employee contributions; and 

8

•

Payment  of  the  majority  of  health  insurance  premiums  and  monthly  contributions  into  employee  heath  savings 
accounts. 

Employees are also eligible for dental and vision insurance, employee assistance programs, flexible time off, paid and unpaid 
leave, life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, fertility benefits, and professional development opportunities, including 
reimbursement for job-related professional designations such as the CFA program.  

Our Culture 

Our  culture  emphasizes  four  key  values:  curiosity,  ownership,  trust  and  respect.  The  way  our  employees  embody  our  core 
values creates an exceptional corporate culture that differentiates our business from other firms.  Our culture allows us to attract 
and  retain  employees  who  share  our  commitment  to  client  alignment,  are  motivated  by  investment  excellence,  and  are 
committed to delivering superior outcomes.  

Employees who are curious focus on continuous self-improvement and have a passion for learning. They are open-minded, seek 
differing perspectives, and go beyond surface-level assumptions. Employees who think and act like business owners naturally 
embrace  a  long-term  mindset.  They  lead  by  example  and  accept  accountability  for  ensuring  excellent  client  outcomes. 
Employees who embrace trust act with integrity, are authentic and honest in interactions with others, and put client interests 
ahead of all others. Employees who are motivated by giving and receiving respect communicate and provide feedback candidly, 
transparently,  and  with  positive  intent.  They  are  humble  in  their  assumptions  and  listen  to  better  understand  others.  They 
embrace, value, and celebrate diversity, inclusion, and differences in all forms.  

Our culture revolves around the fact that Diamond Hill is a fiduciary first and foremost. Our primary focus is serving our clients 
and this mindset permeates our organization.  We intentionally staff our team to ensure a high level of service to our clients, and 
we believe our client-centric approach is difficult for competitors to replicate.  Our long-term, valuation-disciplined investment 
philosophy and process, are foundational to who we are as an organization and have been consistently implemented since the 
firm’s inception.  All members of the investment team believe in, and adhere to, the same philosophy.

Our  employees  invest  alongside  our  clients  and  portfolio  managers  have  significant  personal  investments  in  the  strategy  or 
strategies  they  manage.    In  addition,  DHCM’s  Code  of  Ethics  states  that  all  Diamond  Hill  employees  are  prohibited  from 
investing in individual securities or with competing firms in segments of the market in which Diamond Hill has an investment 
strategy.    This  approach  ensures  strong  alignment  with  clients  with  a  continuous  focus  on  finding  the  best  opportunities  for 
client portfolios while avoiding the conflicts of interest inherent in managing personal accounts. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

We view diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) as essential parts of our business and operating model. Diversity, equity, and 
inclusion are embedded in our policies, practices, and strategic initiatives and are linked to our firm’s core values. We believe 
clients are best served by decision making that engages and encourages varied perspectives.   

DEI is a continuous journey, and we recognize that transparency and accountability are critical to driving real change within our 
firm, in the industry, and within our community. Our DEI initiatives are driven by employees on cross-functional teams who are 
enthusiastic  about  leading  sustainable  efforts  under  four  areas  of  focus:  Workforce  Diversity,  Inclusive  Culture,  Vendor  & 
Policy, and Philanthropy & Community. Highlights of our 2021 DEI initiatives include:   

•

In  support  of  increased  transparency,  we  began  disclosing  our  demographic  data  publicly  on  our  website.  As  of 
December 31, 2021, females represented 42% of our Board of Directors (the “Board”), 66% of our management team, 
and 30% of our employees. As of December 31, 2021, racial or ethnic minorities represented approximately 14% of 
our workforce. 

• We continued to partner with organizations that assist people of color and women to achieve inclusion in the financial 

services industry and support financial and investment literacy;   

• We continued to partner with third parties to improve diversity in our candidate pools;  

• We implemented a DEI vendor questionnaire to understand better how our vendors embrace DEI; 

•

Through  our  charitable  giving  and  philanthropic  initiatives,  we  allocated  $225,000  to  DEI  and/or  financial  literacy-
focused causes and expanded our charitable giving employer match to offer an additional $1,000 for employee DEI-
related donations, up to $3,000 per employee;  

9

• We enhanced our summer internship program by including a rotational track and a robust educational component. We 
extended invitations to diversity-focused programs at partnering universities to allow students to participate virtually in 
some of our intern educational sessions; 

• We engaged a DEI consultant to share best practices and identify opportunities to improve our processes, including 

promotion of inclusion in our policies and handbook; 

• We implemented a new employee assistance program to strengthen mental health support for employees; and 

•

Through  our  DEI  Resource  Group,  we  hosted  a  series  of  internal  trainings  on  topics  such  as  inclusive  hiring  and  
language. 

Employee Development / Training 

We  offer  both  formal  and  informal  training  programs  to  keep  our  employees’  skills  sharp,  foster  inclusion,  and  satisfy 
employees’  desires  to  be  lifelong  learners.  Our  business  continues  to  adopt  new  technologies  and  collaboration  tools.  We 
continue to fully cover the cost of job-related certifications and memberships.    

SEC Filings

We maintain an Internet website at www.diamond-hill.com.  Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 
10-Q,  Current  Reports  on  Form  8-K,  and  amendments  to  those  reports  that  we  file  or  furnish  from  time-to-time  pursuant  to 
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are made available free of charge, on or through our website, as soon as reasonably 
practicable  after  such  material  is  electronically  filed  with,  or  furnished  to,  the  SEC.    These  filings  are  also  available  free  of 
charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

Our  future  results  of  operations,  financial  condition,  liquidity,  and  capital  resources,  as  well  as  the  market  price  of  our 
common  stock,  are  subject  to  various  risks,  including  those  risks  mentioned  below  and  those  risks  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  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  before  making  an  investment  decision  regarding  our  common 
shares.  There may be additional risks of which we are currently unaware, or which we currently consider immaterial.  The 
occurrence  of  any  of  these  risks  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  financial  condition,  results  of  operations, 
liquidity, capital resources and the value of our common stock.  Please see “Forward Looking Statements” within Part I, Item 
1, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

Business Risks

Poor  investment  results  or  adverse  ratings  of  our  products  could  affect  our  ability  to  attract  new  clients  or  could  reduce  our 
AUM, potentially negatively impacting revenue and net income.

If  we  fail  to  deliver  acceptable  investment  results  for  our  clients,  both  in  the  short  and  long  term,  we  could  experience 
diminished investor interest and a decreased level of AUM. 

Investment  strategies  are  assessed  and  rated  by  independent  third  parties,  including  rating  agencies,  industry  analysts,  and 
publications.  Investors can be influenced by such ratings.  If a strategy receives an adverse report, it could negatively impact 
our AUM and our revenue. 

Our  success  depends  on  our  key  personnel,  and  our  financial  performance  could  be  negatively  affected  by  the  loss  of  their 
services.

Our success depends on highly skilled personnel, including portfolio managers, research analysts, and management, many of 
whom  have  specialized  expertise  and  extensive  experience  in  the  investment  management  industry.    Financial  services 
professionals are in high demand, and we face significant competition for qualified employees.  Other than our Chief Executive 
Officer, our employees do not have employment contracts and generally can terminate their employment at any time.  We may 
not 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 our net income.  The loss of key personnel could damage our reputation and make it more 
difficult to retain and attract new employees and clients.  A loss of client assets resulting from the departure of key personnel 
may materially decrease our revenues and net income.

10

Our investment results and/or growth in our AUM may be constrained if appropriate investment opportunities are not available 
or if we close certain of our investment strategies to new investors.

Our  ability  to  deliver  strong  investment  results  depends  in  large  part  on  our  ability  to  identify  appropriate  investment 
opportunities in which to invest client assets.  If we are unable to identify sufficient investment opportunities for existing and 
new client assets on a timely basis, our investment results could be adversely affected.  The risk that appropriate investment 
opportunities  may  be  unavailable  is  influenced  by  a  number  of  factors,  including  general  market  conditions,  and  is  likely  to 
increase if our AUM increases rapidly.  In addition, if we determine that sufficient investment opportunities are not available 
for  an  investment  strategy,  or  we  believe  that  it  is  necessary  in  order  to  continue  to  produce  attractive  returns  from  an 
investment strategy, we will consider closing the investment strategy to new investors.  As of December 31, 2021, we have two 
investment strategies closed to new investors.  If we misjudge the point at which it would be optimal to close an investment 
strategy, the investment results of the strategy could be negatively impacted.

We are subject to substantial competition in all aspects of our business.

Our investment products compete against investment products and services from:

•

Asset management firms;

• Mutual fund companies;

•

•

•

•

•

Commercial banks and thrift institutions;

Insurance companies;

Exchange-traded funds;

Private funds, including hedge funds and private equity funds; and

Brokerage and investment banking firms.

Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources and may operate in more markets or offer a broader range of 
products,  including  passively  managed  or  “index”  products.  Some  of  these  institutions  operate  in  a  different  regulatory 
environment, which may give them certain competitive advantages in the investment products and portfolio structures that 
they offer.  We compete with other providers of investment services primarily based upon our philosophy, performance, and 
client service.  Some institutions have a broader array of products and distribution channels, which makes it more difficult for 
us to compete.  If current or potential customers decide to use one of our competitors, we could face a significant decline in 
market share, AUM, revenues, and net income.  If we are required to lower our fees to remain competitive, our net income 
could  be  significantly  reduced  because  some  of  our  expenses  are  fixed,  especially  over  shorter  periods  of  time,  and  our 
expenses may not decrease in proportion to the decrease in revenues.  Additionally, over the past several years, investors have 
generally shown a preference for passive investment products over actively managed strategies.  If this trend continues, our 
AUM may be negatively impacted. 

Market  and  competitive  pressures  in  recent  years  have  created  a  trend  towards  lower  management  fees  in  the  asset 
management industry and there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our current fee structure.  As a result, a 
shift in our AUM from higher to lower fee generating clients and strategies could result in a decrease in profitability even if 
our AUM increases or remains unchanged.

The  loss  of  access  to,  or  increased  fees  required  by,  third-party  distribution  sources  to  market  our  portfolios  and  access  our 
client base could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our  ability  to  attract  additional  AUM  is  dependent  on  our  relationship  with  third-party  financial  intermediaries.    We 
compensate some of these intermediaries for access to investors and for various marketing services provided. These distribution 
sources and client bases may not continue to be accessible to us for reasonable terms, or at all.  If such access is restricted or 
eliminated, it could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.  Fees paid to financial intermediaries for investor access 
and  marketing  services  have  generally  increased  in  recent  years.    If  such  fee  increases  continue,  refusal  to  pay  them  could 
restrict our access to those client bases while paying them could adversely affect our profitability.

A significant portion of our revenues are based on advisory and administration agreements with our Funds that are subject to 
termination without cause and on short notice.

We are highly dependent on our contractual relationships with the Funds.  If our advisory or administration agreements with the 
Funds  were  terminated  or  not  renewed,  or  were  amended  or  modified  to  reduce  fees,  we  would  be  materially  and  adversely 
affected.  Generally, these agreements are terminable by either party upon 60 days’ prior written notice without penalty.  The 
Funds’ agreements are subject to annual approval by either: (i) the board of trustees of the Funds, or (ii) a vote of the majority 

11

of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund.  These agreements automatically terminate in the event of their assignment by 
either us or the Funds.  We generated approximately 69%, 75%, and 77% of our 2021, 2020, and 2019 revenues, respectively, 
from  our  advisory  and  administration  agreements  with  the  Funds,  including  30%,  10%,  and  9%  from  the  advisory  contracts 
with  the  Diamond  Hill  Large  Cap  Fund,  the  Diamond  Hill  Long-Short  Fund,  and  the  Diamond  Hill  Small-Mid  Cap  Fund, 
respectively, during 2021.  The loss of any of the Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund, the Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund, or the 
Diamond  Hill  Small-Mid  Cap  Fund  contracts  would  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  us.    We  believe  that  we  have  strong 
relationships with the Funds and their boards of trustees, and we have no reason to believe that these advisory or administration 
contracts will not be renewed in the future.  However, there can be no assurance that the Funds will choose to continue their 
relationships with us.

Negative Public opinion of us could cause us to lose clients and adversely affect our stock price.

Negative public opinion can result from our actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including trading practices, 
corporate  governance  and  acquisitions,  social  media  and  other  marketing  activities,  and  actions  taken  by  governmental 
regulators and community organizations in response to any of the foregoing. Negative public opinion could adversely affect our 
ability  to  attract  and  maintain  clients,  could  expose  us  to  potential  litigation  or  regulatory  action,  and  could  have  a  material 
adverse effect on our stock price or result in heightened volatility.

Operational Risks

Cybersecurity  attacks  could  prevent  us  from  managing  client  portfolios  or  cause  the  unauthorized  disclosure  of  sensitive  or 
confidential client information, both of which could severely harm our business.

As  part  of  our  business,  we  collect,  process,  and  transmit  sensitive  and  confidential  information  about  our  clients  and 
employees, as well as proprietary information about our business.  We have policies and procedures pursuant to which we take 
numerous security measures to prevent cyberattacks of various kinds as well as fraudulent and inadvertent activity by persons 
who have been granted access to such confidential information.  Nevertheless, our systems, like all technology systems, remain 
vulnerable  to  unauthorized  access,  which  can  result  in  theft  or  corruption  of  information.    In  addition,  we  share  information 
with  third  parties  upon  whom  we  rely  for  various  functions.    The  systems  of  such  third  parties  also  are  vulnerable  to  cyber 
threats.  Unauthorized access can come from unrelated third parties through the internet, from access to hardware removed from 
our premises or those of third parties or from employees acting intentionally or inadvertently. 

Cybersecurity incidents can involve, among other things: (i) deliberate attacks designed to corrupt our information systems and 
make them unusable by us to operate our business; (ii) theft of information used by the perpetrators for financial and other gain; 
or (iii) inadvertent releases of information by employees or third parties with whom we do business.

Cyberattacks that corrupt our information systems and make them unusable could impair our ability to trade securities in our 
clients’ accounts. Corruption of the systems of our third-party vendors could impact us to the same extent as corruption of our 
own systems.  If information about our employees is intentionally stolen or inadvertently made public, that information could 
be  used  to  commit  identity  theft,  obtain  credit  in  an  employee’s  name,  or  steal  from  an  employee.    If  information  about  our 
business  is  obtained  by  unauthorized  persons,  whether  through  intentional  attacks  or  inadvertent  releases  of  information,  it 
could be used to harm our competitive position.

Whether information is corrupted, stolen, or inadvertently disclosed, and regardless of the type and nature of the information 
(e.g.,  proprietary  information  about  our  business  or  personal  information  about  clients  or  employees),  the  results  could  be 
multiple and materially harmful to us, including the following:  

•

•

•

•

Our  reputation  could  be  harmed,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  clients,  vendors,  and  employees  or  making  payments  or 
concessions to such persons to maintain our relationships with them; 

Our inability to operate our business fully, even if temporarily, and thus, fulfill contracts with clients or vendors, could 
result in terminations of contracts and loss of revenue;

Harm suffered by clients or vendors whose contracts have been breached, or by clients, vendors, or employees whose 
information is compromised, could result in costly litigation against us;

Our need to focus attention on remediation of a cyber issue could take our attention away from the operation of our 
business, resulting in lost revenue;

• We could incur costs to repair systems made inoperable by a cyberattack and to make changes to our systems to reduce 
future cyber threats.  Those changes could include, among other things, obtaining additional technologies as well as 
employing additional personnel and training employees; and  

12

•

The interruption of our business or theft of proprietary information could harm our ability to compete. 

Any of the above potential impacts of a cybersecurity incident could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition, and results of operations.

We may not be able to adapt to technological change.

The  financial  services  industry  is  continually  undergoing  rapid  technological  change  with  frequent  introductions  of  new 
technology-driven products and services.  The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions 
to better serve customers while reducing costs.  Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to address customer needs 
by  using  technology  to  provide  products  and  services  that  will  satisfy  customer  demands,  as  well  as  to  create  additional 
efficiencies in our operations.  We may not be able to implement effectively new technology-driven products and services or be 
successful  in  marketing  these  products  and  services  to  our  customers.    Failure  to  successfully  keep  pace  with  technological 
changes affecting the financial services industry could negatively affect our growth, revenue, and profit.

Operational risks may disrupt our business, result in losses, or limit our growth.

We are dependent on the capacity and reliability of the communications, information, and technology systems supporting our 
operations, whether developed, owned, or operated internally by us or by third parties.  Operational risks, such as trading or 
operational errors, interruption of our financial, accounting, trading, compliance, and other data processing systems, the loss of 
data  contained  in  such  systems,  or  compromised  systems  due  to  cyberattack,  could  result  in  a  disruption  of  our  business, 
liability to clients, regulatory intervention, or reputational damage, and thus, adversely affect our business.

Trading in our common shares is limited, which may adversely affect the time and the price at which you can sell your shares.

Although our common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the shares are held by a relatively small number 
of shareholders, and trading in our common shares is relatively inactive.  The spread between the bid and the ask prices is often 
wide.  As a result, shareholders may not be able to sell their shares on short notice, and the sale of a large number of shares at 
one time could temporarily depress the market price.  In addition, certain shareholders, including certain of our directors and 
officers, own a significant number of shares.  The sale of a large number of shares by any such individual could temporarily 
depress the market price of our shares.

Natural disasters, global pandemics and other unpredictable events could adversely affect our operations.

Natural disasters, outbreaks of epidemics or pandemics, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other unpredictable events 
could adversely affect our revenues, expenses, and net income by:

•

•

•

•

•

•

decreasing  investment  valuations  in,  and  returns  on,  the  investment  portfolios  that  we  manage  and  our  corporate 
investments, thus causing reductions in revenue,

causing disruptions in national or global economies that decrease investor confidence and make investment products 
generally less attractive,

reducing the availability of key personnel necessary to conduct our business activities,

interrupting the Company’s business operations or those of critical service providers,

triggering technology delays or failures, and

requiring substantial capital expenditures and operating expenses to restore our operations.

The Company has developed various backup systems and contingency plans but cannot be assured that those preparations will 
be adequate in all circumstances that could arise, or that material interruptions and disruptions will not occur. The Company 
also  relies  to  varying  degrees  on  outside  vendors  for  service  delivery  in  addition  to  technology  and  disaster  contingency 
support, and there is a risk that these vendors will not be able to perform in an adequate and timely manner. If the Company 
loses  the  availability  of  employees,  or  if  it  is  unable  to  respond  adequately  to  such  an  event  in  a  timely  manner,  revenues, 
expenses, and net income could be negatively impacted.

Specifically,  the  effects  of  the  outbreak  of  the  novel  coronavirus  (COVID-19)  since  early  2020  have  negatively  affected  the 
global  economy,  the  United  States  economy  and  the  global  financial  markets,  and  may  disrupt  the  Company’s  operations, 
which  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  the  Company’s  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  Although  the 
long-term effects of the current pandemic cannot currently be predicted, previous occurrences of other pandemic and epidemic 
diseases  had  an  adverse  effect  on  the  economies  of  those  countries  in  which  they  were  most  prevalent.  A  recurrence  of  an 

13

outbreak of any kind of epidemic, communicable disease or virus or major public health issue could cause a slowdown in the 
levels  of  economic  activity  generally,  which  would  adversely  affect  the  Company’s  business,  financial  condition  and 
operations.

Industry, Market, and Economic Risks

Our AUM, which impacts revenue, is subject to significant fluctuations.

The  majority  of  our  revenue  is  calculated  as  a  percentage  of  AUM  or  is  related  to  the  general  performance  of  the  equity 
securities  markets.    A  decline  in  securities  prices  or  in  the  sale  of  investment  products,  or  an  increase  in  fund  redemptions, 
generally  will  reduce  revenue  and  net  income.    Financial  market  declines  will  generally  negatively  impact  the  level  of  our 
AUM, and consequently, our revenue and net income.  A recession or other economic or political events, whether in the United 
States  or  globally,  could  also  adversely  impact  our  revenue,  if  such  events  led  to  a  decreased  demand  for  products,  a  higher 
redemption rate, or a decline in securities prices.

Our investment approach may underperform other investment approaches during certain market conditions.

Our investment strategies are best suited for investors with long-term investment time horizons.  Our investment strategies 
may  not  perform  well  during  certain  periods  of  time.    Additionally,  we  could  have  common  positions  and  industry 
concentrations  across  our  strategies  at  the  same  time.    As  such,  factors  leading  to  underperformance  may  impact  multiple 
strategies simultaneously.

Our investment income and asset levels may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in our investment portfolio.

We currently have a substantial portion of our assets invested in investment strategies that we manage.  All of these investments 
are  subject  to  market  risk  and  our  non-operating  investment  income  could  be  adversely  affected  by  adverse  market 
performance.  Fluctuations in investment income are expected to occur in the future.

Regulatory Risks

Changes  in  tax  laws  and  unanticipated  tax  obligations  could  have  an  adverse  impact  on  our  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations, and cash flow.

We are subject to federal, state, and local income taxes in the United States.  Tax authorities may disagree with certain positions 
we have taken or implement changes in tax policy, which may result in the assessment of additional taxes.  We regularly assess 
the appropriateness of our tax positions and reporting.  We cannot provide assurances, however, that tax authorities will agree 
with the positions we have taken, or that we will accurately predict the outcomes of audits, and the actual outcomes of these 
audits could be unfavorable. 

Our  business  is  subject  to  substantial  governmental  regulation,  which  can  change  frequently  and  may  increase  costs  of 
compliance,  reduce  revenue,  result  in  fines,  penalties,  and  lawsuits  for  noncompliance,  and  adversely  affect  our  results  of 
operations and financial condition.

Our  business  is  subject  to  a  variety  of  federal  securities  laws,  including  the  Advisers  Act,  the  1940  Act,  the  1933  Act,  the 
Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the U.S. PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act of 2010.  In addition, we are subject to significant regulation and oversight by the SEC.  Changes in 
legal, regulatory, accounting, tax, and compliance requirements could have a significant effect on our operations and results, 
including, but not limited to, increased expenses and reduced investor interest in certain funds and other investment products we 
offer.    We  continually  monitor  legislative,  tax,  regulatory,  accounting,  and  compliance  developments  that  could  impact  our 
business.  We and our directors, officers, and employees could be subject to lawsuits or regulatory proceedings for violations of 
such  laws  and  regulations,  which  could  result  in  the  payment  of  fines  or  penalties  and  cause  reputational  harm  to  us  which 
could  negatively  affect  our  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations,  as  well  as  divert  management’s  attention  from  our 
operations.

General Risk Factors

Our insurance policies may not cover all losses and costs to which we may be exposed.

We carry insurance in amounts and under terms that we believe are appropriate.  Our insurance may not cover all liabilities and 
losses to which we may be exposed.  Certain insurance coverage may not be available or may be prohibitively expensive in 
future  periods.    As  our  insurance  policies  come  up  for  renewal,  we  may  need  to  assume  higher  deductibles  or  pay  higher 
premiums, which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

14

ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

ITEM 2.

Properties

We  lease  office  space  and  conduct  our  general  operations  at  one  location,  the  address  of  which  is  325  John  H.  McConnell 
Boulevard, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

We do not own any real estate or interests in real estate.

ITEM 3.

Legal Proceedings

There  are  currently  no  matters  pending  that  we  believe  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  consolidated  financial 
statements.

ITEM 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

15

PART II

ITEM 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity 
Securities

The following performance graph compares the total shareholder return of an investment in our common shares to that of the 
Russell Microcap® Index, and to a peer group index of publicly-traded asset management firms for the five-year period ended 
on December 31, 2021.  The graph assumes that the value of the investment in our common shares and each index was $100 on 
December 31, 2016.  Total return includes reinvestment of all dividends. The Russell Microcap® 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 smallest securities.  Peer Group returns are weighted by the market capitalization of each firm at the 
beginning  of  the  measurement  period.    The  historical  information  set  forth  below  is  not  necessarily  indicative  of  future 
performance.  We do not make or endorse any predictions as to future stock performance.

12/31/2016

12/31/2017

12/31/2018

12/31/2019

12/31/2020

12/31/2021

Cumulative 
5 Year Total 
Return

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.

Russell Microcap® Index

Peer Group*

$100

$100

$100

$102

$113

$119

$77

$98

$86

$77

$120

$109

$89

$146

$127

$129

$174

$159

 29 %

 74 %

 59 %

* The Peer Group is based upon all publicly-traded asset managers with market cap of less than $5 billion, excluding: (i) firms 
whose  primary  business  is  hedge  funds  or  private  equity,  and  (ii)  firms  with  multiple  lines  of  business.    The  following 
companies are included in the Peer Group: Alliance Bernstein Holding L.P., Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc., Cohen & 
Steers,  Inc.,  Federated  Hermes,  Inc.,  GAMCO  Investors,  Inc.,  Hennessy  Advisors,  Inc.,  Manning  &  Napier,  Inc.,  Pzena 
Investment Management, Inc., Teton Advisors, Inc., U.S. Global Investors, Inc., Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., Wisdomtree 
Investments, Inc., and Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

16

Total Return PerformanceDiamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.Russell Microcap® IndexPeer Group12/31/1612/31/1712/31/1812/31/1912/31/2012/31/21$60$80$100$120$140$160$180$200Our common shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol DHIL.  The following table sets forth 
the high and low daily close prices during each quarter of 2021 and 2020:

2021

Low
Price

High
Price

Quarterly 
Dividend
Per Share

Special 
Dividend Per 
Share

High
Price

2020

Low
Price

Quarterly 
Dividend
Per Share

Special 
Dividend Per 
Share

Quarter ended:

March 31

June 30

September 30

December 31

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

175.00  $ 

141.51  $ 

178.79  $ 

158.59  $ 

184.60  $ 

161.00  $ 

1.00   

1.00   

1.00   

—  $ 

144.40  $ 

—  $ 

122.13  $ 

81.70 

86.00 

—  $ 

128.08  $ 

111.80 

—   

—   

—   

— 

— 

— 

231.22  $ 

178.75  $ 

1.00  $ 

19.00  $ 

160.00  $ 

128.01 

—  $ 

12.00 

Due to the relatively low trading volume of our shares, bid/ask spreads can be wide at times, and therefore, quoted prices may 
not be indicative of the price a shareholder may receive in an actual transaction.  During the years ended December 31, 2021 
and 2020, approximately 2,635,186 and 4,331,369, of our common shares were traded, respectively.  

On October 26, 2021, the Board approved an increase in the regular quarterly dividend from $1.00 per share to $1.50 per share 
beginning  in  the  first  quarter  of  2022.  Subject  to  the  Board's  approval  each  quarter  and  compliance  with  applicable  legal 
requirements, we expect to begin paying this increased regular quarterly dividend in the first quarter of 2022.

In addition to the regular quarterly dividends, the Board will decide whether to approve and pay an additional special dividend 
in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. Although the Company currently expects to pay regular quarterly dividends, depending
on the circumstances and the Board’ judgment, the Company may not pay such dividends as described.

The approximate number of record holders of our common shares as of February 25, 2022 was 76.  The approximate number of 
beneficial  holders  of  our  common  stock  held  by  brokers,  banks,  and  other  intermediaries  was  greater  than  8,000  as  of 
February 25, 2022.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

The  following  table  sets  forth  information  regarding  our  current  common  share  repurchase  program  (the  “2020  Repurchase 
Program”) and shares withheld for tax payments due upon vesting of employee restricted stock units and restricted stock awards 
that vested during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021: 

Period
October 1, 2021 through
     October 31, 2021
November 1, 2021 through
     November 30, 2021
December 1, 2021 through
     December 31, 2021

Total

Total Number of 
Shares Purchased 
for Employee Tax 
Withholdings(a)

Total Number
of Shares 
Purchased
as part of Publicly
Announced 
Program(b)

Average Price
Paid Per Share 
Purchased Under 
the Program

Purchase Price of 
Shares
 Purchased
Under the Program

Aggregate Purchase 
Price Yet To Be 
Purchased Under 
the Program

608 

— 

— 

608 

— 

— 

— 

— 

—  $ 

27,831,775 

—  $ 

27,831,775 

1,500  $ 

184.28  $ 

276,414  $ 

27,555,361 

1,500 

$ 

276,414  $ 

27,555,361 

(a)

(b)

(c)

We regularly withhold shares for tax payments due upon the vesting of employee restricted stock.  During the quarter 
ended December 31, 2021, we purchased 608 shares for employee tax withholdings at an average price paid per share of 
$175.66.  

On February 27, 2020, our Board approved the 2020 Repurchase Program, authorizing management to repurchase up to 
$50.0  million  of  our  common  shares  in  the  open  market  and  in  private  transactions  in  accordance  with  applicable 
securities laws. The 2020 Repurchase Program expired in February 2022.

On February 25, 2022, our Board approved the 2022 Repurchase Program, authorizing management to repurchase up to 
$50.0  million  of  our  common  shares  in  the  open  market  and  in  private  transactions  in  accordance  with  applicable 

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
securities  laws.  The  2022  Repurchase  Program  will  expire  in  February  2024,  or  upon  the  earlier  completion  of  all 
authorized purchases under such program.

ITEM 6.

Selected Financial Data

Not applicable.

ITEM 7.

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

In this Item 7, we discuss and analyze our consolidated results of operations for the past three fiscal years and other factors that 
may affect our future financial performance.  This discussion should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial 
Statements, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and Selected Financial Data contained in this Annual Report on Form 
10-K.

Business Environment

The performance of the U.S. and international equity markets, as well as the U.S. fixed income market, have a direct impact on 
our operations and financial position.  

2021 closed out another year of strong gains for equity markets globally. The MSCI All Country World Index advanced 18.5%, 
with the majority of those returns driven by developed markets as emerging markets stocks fell -2.5% as measured by the MSCI 
Emerging Markets Index. US markets, as measured by the Russell 3000® Index, rose 25.7%. Early in 2021, we saw continued 
distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally, gradual steps to reopening economies, and broad gains in stocks across sectors. As 
economic recoveries progressed and the pandemic persisted, economies began facing rising inflation, supply chain disruptions 
and surging energy prices. 

For only the fourth time in its history, in 2021, the U.S. investment-grade fixed income market (as measured by the Bloomberg 
U.S.  Aggregate  Index)  delivered  negative  returns  in  a  calendar  year  due  largely  to  a  combination  of  rising  rates,  economic 
resurgence  post-pandemic  shutdowns,  and  supply/demand  dislocations  fueling  historic  inflation  levels.  The  Federal  Reserve 
gradually shifted from viewing inflation as transitory to a matter that needed to be actively addressed, accelerating expectations 
for rate hikes from year-end 2021 to early 2022. The Federal Reserve also shifted its stance on tapering—from discussing it as a 
potential option to proceeding with executing it—and is now accelerating the process to complete it by March 2022. While the 
longer end of the Treasury curve experienced gyrations throughout the year as the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 
increased investor uncertainty, the shorter end of the curve generally remained anchored. Only after the Federal Reserve began 
laying the groundwork for tapering and potential rate hikes in 2022 did the two-year Treasury rate begin to move higher, rising 
from an average yield of 0.166% from the beginning of the year through the end of August, then climbing through the final four 
months to finish the year at 0.732%. 

We  continue  to  believe  we  can  deliver  market-beating  returns  over  a  full  market  cycle  through  active  management.  Our 
commitment to managing our portfolios with a strict capacity discipline helps protect our ability to deliver excellent investment 
outcomes  for  clients  through  the  use  of  more  concentrated  portfolios  than  the  broader  market  can  offer.  Our  long-standing 
relationships  with  professional  buyer  groups  enable  us  to  reach  investors  who  share  our  long-term  perspective.  Our  priority 
continues  to  be  helping  clients  to  achieve  their  desired  investment  outcomes,  and  we  believe  our  commitment  to  capacity 
discipline, alignment of interests with our clients and strong investment results will result in a successful and sustainable future. 

Investment Results
It is imperative we provide our clients excellent investment returns over long periods of time. We are pleased that during our 
history as an investment advisory firm, we have delivered what we believe are strong long-term investment returns. Investment 
returns have been a key driver in the long-term success we have achieved in growing AUM.

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  investment  returns  for  each  of  our  strategies  as  of  December  31,  2021,  relative  to  their 
respective indices, as applicable.

18

U.S. Equity Composites

Diamond Hill Large Cap
Russell 1000 Index
Russell 1000 Value Index
Diamond Hill Large Cap Concentrated 
Russell 1000 Index
Russell 1000 Value Index
Diamond Hill Mid Cap
Russell Midcap Index
Russell Midcap Value Index
Diamond Hill Small-Mid Cap
Russell 2500 Index
Russell 2500 Value Index
Diamond Hill Small Cap

Russell 2000 Index
Russell 2000 Value Index
Diamond Hill Select 
Russell 3000 Index
Russell 3000 Value Index

Alternative Composites

Inception
6/30/2001

12/31/2011

12/31/2013

12/31/2005

12/31/2000

6/30/2000

As of December 31, 2021

3 Year

10 Year

Since 
1 Year
Inception
5 Year
 25.92 %  22.20 %  14.82 %  14.58 %  10.18 %
 9.18  %
 26.45  %  26.21  %  18.43  %  16.54  %
 25.16  %  17.64  %  11.16  %  12.97  %
 7.89  %
 26.90 %  22.35 %  14.94 %  14.76 %  14.76 %
 26.45  %  26.21  %  18.43  %  16.54  %  16.54  %
 25.16  %  17.64  %  11.16  %  12.97  %  12.97  %
 9.81 %
 31.79 %  17.87 %  10.26 %
 12.35  %
 22.58  %  23.29  %  15.10  %
 28.34  %  19.62  %  11.22  %
 10.55  %
 31.40 %  19.52 %  10.25 %  13.34 %  9.89 %
 18.18  %  21.91  %  13.75  %  14.15  %  10.07  %
 27.78  %  18.31  %
 8.64  %
 33.13 %  17.52 %  9.00 %  11.09 %  10.85 %

 9.88  %  12.43  %

 NA 
 NA 
 NA 

 14.82  %  20.02  %  12.02  %  13.23  %
 9.02  %
 9.41  %
 9.07  %  12.03  %
 28.27  %  17.99  %
 33.56 %  26.23 %  16.44 %  15.58 %  11.35 %
 7.96  %
 25.66  %  25.79  %  17.97  %  16.30  %
 8.14  %
 25.37  %  17.65  %  11.00  %  12.89  %

Diamond Hill Long-Short

6/30/2000

 20.33 %  14.47 %  8.48 %  9.31 %  7.81 %

Russell 1000 Index
60% Russell 1000 Index / 40% BofA ML US T-Bill 
0-3 Month Index

 26.45  %  26.21  %  18.43  %  16.54  %

 9.18  %

 15.36  %  15.91  %  11.52  %  10.13  %

 5.59  %

International Composites

Diamond Hill International

12/31/2016

 13.00 %  14.60 %  12.46 %

 NA 

 12.46 %

Morningstar Global Markets ex US Index

 8.41  %  13.58  %

 9.88  %

 NA 

 9.88  %

Fixed Income Composites

Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond

7/31/2016

 2.91 %  3.72 %  3.82 %

Bloomberg Barclays US 1-3 Yr. Gov./Credit Index
Diamond Hill Core Bond

7/31/2016

Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Index

 1.85  %
 2.28  %
 (0.47) %
 (0.79) %  5.12 %  4.28 %

 (1.54) %

 4.79  %

 3.57  %

 NA 

 NA 
 NA 

 NA 

 3.66 %

 1.64  %
 3.45 %

 2.68  %

_______________________

-

-

Composite returns are net of fees.

Index returns do not reflect any fees.

19

Key Financial Performance Indicators

There are a variety of key performance indicators that we monitor to evaluate our business results.  The following table presents 
the results of certain key performance indicators over the past three fiscal years: 

Ending AUM (in millions)

Average AUM (in millions)

Net cash inflows (outflows) (in millions)

Total revenue (in thousands)

Net operating income
Net operating income, as adjusted(a)
Average advisory fee rate

Average advisory fee rate, excluding performance fees

Operating profit margin
Operating profit margin, as adjusted(a)

For the Years Ended December 31,

2021

31,028 

30,297 

2,123 

182,194 

76,258 

83,340 

$ 

$ 

2020

26,411 

21,907 

1,529 

126,388 

45,538 

47,757 

$ 

$ 

2019

23,399 

21,653 

(677) 

136,624 

47,935 

53,912 

$ 

$ 

 0.56 %

 0.52 %

 42 %

 46 %

 0.54 %

 0.54 %

 36 %

 38 %

 0.59 %

 0.59 %

 35 %

 39 %

(a) Net operating income, as adjusted, and operating profit margin, as adjusted, are non-GAAP (as defined below) performance measures. See 

Use of Supplemental Data as Non-GAAP Performance Measure section within this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Assets Under Management

The Company derives revenue primarily from DHCM's investment advisory and administration fees. Investment advisory and 
administration fees paid to DHCM are generally based on the value of the investment portfolios it manages and fluctuate with 
changes  in  the  total  value  of  its  AUM.  The  Company,  through  DHCM,  recognizes  revenue  when  it  satisfies  its  performance 
obligations under the terms of a contract with a client.

The Company’s revenues are highly dependent on both the value and composition of AUM.  The following is a summary of the 
Company’s  AUM  by  product  and  investment  objective,  and  a  roll-forward  of  the  change  in  AUM,  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019:

(in millions)

Proprietary funds

Sub-advised funds

Separately managed accounts

Total AUM

Assets Under Management
As of December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$ 

19,802  $ 

17,615  $ 

16,148 

3,994 

7,232 

3,185 

5,611 

2,029 

5,222 

$ 

31,028  $ 

26,411  $ 

23,399 

20

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
U.S. Equity

Large Cap

Small-Mid Cap

Mid Cap 

Small Cap

All Cap Select

Large Cap Concentrated

Micro Cap

  Total U.S. Equity

Alternatives

Long-Short

  Total Alternatives

Global/International Equity

International
Global(a)

  Total Global/International Equity

Fixed Income

Short Duration Securitized Bond

Core Fixed Income

Long Duration Treasury
Corporate Credit(b)
High Yield(b)

Total Fixed Income

Assets Under Management
by Investment Strategy
As of December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$ 

21,285  $ 

15,075  $ 

3,183 

1,165 

597 

438 

64 

16 

2,810 

992 

556 

446 

27 

— 

12,316 

3,243 

569 

795 

528 

28 

— 

26,748 

19,906 

17,479 

1,998 
1,998 

2,056 
2,056 

3,605 
3,605 

56 

— 

56 

1,613 

622 

51 

— 

— 

2,286 

17 

16 

33 

1,132 

541 

62 

2,020 

724 

4,479 

13 

22 

35 

809 

300 

52 

1,147 

135 

2,443 

Total-All Strategies

  (Less: Investments in affiliated funds)(c)
Total AUM

31,088 

26,474 

(60)   

(63)   

23,562 

(163) 

$ 

31,028  $ 

26,411  $ 

23,399 

(a) The Diamond Hill Global Fund was liquidated on December 17, 2021.  
(b) The Diamond Hill Corporate Credit and High Yield investment advisory contracts (the “High Yield-Focused Advisory Contracts”) 
were sold to Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (“Brandywine Global”) effective July 30, 2021.
(c) Certain of the Funds own shares of the Diamond Hill Short Duration Securitized Bond Fund.  The Company reduces the total AUM by the 
investments held in this affiliated Fund.  

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
AUM at beginning of the year

Net cash inflows (outflows)

proprietary funds

sub-advised funds

separately managed accounts

Sale of high yield-focused advisory contracts

Net market appreciation and income

Increase during the year
AUM at end of the year

Average AUM during the year

(in millions)
Net cash inflows (outflows)

Equity

Fixed Income

2021 Discussion of Net Cash Inflows

Change in Assets Under Management
For the Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$ 

26,411  $ 

23,399  $ 

19,108 

2,009 

(54)   

168 

2,123 

(3,456)   

5,950 

4,617 

879 

713 

(63)   

1,529 

— 

1,483 

3,012 

(499) 

216 

(394) 

(677) 

— 

4,968 

4,291 

31,028  $ 

26,411  $ 

23,399 

30,297  $ 

21,907  $ 

21,653 

Net Cash Inflows (Outflows) Further Breakdown
For the Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

958  $ 

(284)  $ 

(1,515) 

1,165 

1,813 

2,123  $ 

1,529  $ 

838 

(677) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Both our equity and fixed income strategies experienced net inflows during the year ended December 31, 2021. Flows in our 
equity  strategies  were  largely  driven  by  our  Large  Cap  strategy,  which  experienced  net  inflows  of  $2.1  billion.  These  net 
inflows  were  partially  offset  by  net  outflows  from  our  other  equity  strategies  totaling  approximately  $1.2  billion.  The 
Company's fixed income strategies, including the High Yield-Focused Advisory Contracts prior to their sale, had net positive 
flows of $1.2 billion during the year ended December 31, 2021.

2020 Discussion of Net Cash Inflows

Flows  into  equity  strategies  were  mixed  in  2020.  Our  Large  Cap  and  Mid-Cap  strategies  had  combined  net  inflows  of  $1.6 
billion. However, these net inflows were more than offset by the net outflows in our Long-Short, Small Cap and Small-Mid Cap 
strategies, which collectively had outflows of $1.8 billion. Our fixed income strategies continued to see strong growth in 2020 
as each of the strategies met long-term performance objectives compared to peers and benchmarks. Our focused marketing and 
branding  efforts,  along  with  strong  performance,  led  to  combined  net  inflows  of  $1.8  billion,  with  each  of  the  strategies 
attracting at least $200 million in net inflows.

2019 Discussion of Cash Outflows

Our  fixed  income  strategies  experienced  strong  growth  in  2019  with  High  Yield  reaching  its  five-year  anniversary  and  Core 
Bond  and  Short-Duration  reaching  three  years.  Each  of  our  fixed  income  strategies  met  long-term  performance  objectives 
compared  to  peers  and  benchmarks.  Additionally,  we  supplemented  our  distribution  efforts  with  dedicated  resources  in 
marketing and branding specifically for our fixed income strategies. 

Equity flows experienced a challenging 2019. The net equity outflows can primarily be attributed to underperformance in our 
closed  strategies,  as  $1.4  billion  of  the  net  outflows  in  2019  were  from  our  Small  Cap,  Small-Mid  Cap  and  Long-Short 
strategies. As a result, we reopened the Small Cap and Long-Short strategies during 2019. 

Model Delivery Programs - Assets Under Advisement

DHCM provides strategy-specific model portfolios to sponsors of model delivery programs. DHCM does not have discretionary 
investment authority over individual client accounts in model delivery programs, and therefore, these assets are not included in 

22

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
the Company’s AUM. Rather, we refer to these model delivery assets as AUA. DHCM is paid for its services by the program 
sponsor at a pre-determined rate based on assets in the program.  Model delivery program AUA were $2.1 billion, $1.1 billion, 
and $0.9 billion as of December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following is a table and discussion of the Company’s consolidated results of operations.

(in thousands, except per share amounts and 
percentages)

Total revenue

Net operating income
Net operating income, as adjusted (a)
Investment income, net
Gain on sale of high yield-focused 
advisory contracts

Income tax expense
Net income attributable to common 
shareholders
Earnings per share attributable to 
common shareholders (diluted)

2021

2020

% Change

2020

2019

% Change

$ 182,194 

$ 126,388 

  76,258 

  45,538 

  83,340 

  47,757 

44%

67%

75%

$ 126,388 

$ 136,624 

  45,538 

  47,935 

  47,757 

  53,912 

  16,381 

6,585 

149%

6,585 

  30,507 

9,000 

— 

  26,050 

  13,958 

NM

87%

— 

— 

  13,958 

  18,688 

(7)%

(5)%

(11)%

(78)%

NM

(25)%

  74,201 

  38,661 

92%

  38,661 

  54,959 

(30)%

Operating profit margin
Operating profit margin, as adjusted (a)

 42 %

 46 %

 36 %

 38 %

$  23.34 

$  12.03 

94%

NM

NM

$  12.03 

$  15.99 

(25)%

 36 %

 38 %

 35 %

 39 %

NM

NM

(a)  Net  operating  income,  as  adjusted,  and operating  profit  margin,  as  adjusted,  are  non-GAAP  (as  defined  below)  performance  measures.  
See Use of Supplemental Data as Non-GAAP Performance Measure section within this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

Summary Discussion of Consolidated Results of Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2021, compared with
Year Ended December 31, 2020

Revenue  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021  increased  $55.8  million  compared  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020, 
primarily due to a 38% increase in average AUM and $11.9 million in performance-based fees earned in 2021 compared to $0.5 
million  of  performance-based  fees  in  2020.  The  increase  was  partially  offset  by  a  decrease  in  the  average  advisory  fee  rate 
(excluding performance-based fees) from 0.54% to 0.52% year-over-year. 

Operating  profit  margin  was  42%  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  and  36%  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020. 
Operating profit margin, as adjusted, was 46% for the year ended December 31, 2021, and 38% for the year ended December 
31, 2020. Operating profit margin, as adjusted, excludes deferred compensation expense from operating income because it is 
offset by an equal amount in investment income below net operating income on the income statement and thus has no effect on 
net  income  attributable  to  the  Company.  We  believe  this  measure  based  on  methodologies  other  than  GAAP  (“non-GAAP”) 
helps  the  reader  to  understand  our  core  operating  results  and  increases  comparability  period-to-period.  See  the  "Use  of 
Supplemental Data as Non-GAAP Performance Measures" section below in Part II. Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-
K.

The  Company  expects  that  its  operating  margin  will  fluctuate  from  period  to  period  based  on  various  factors,  including 
revenues,  investment  results,  employee  performance,  staffing  levels,  gains  and  losses  on  investments  held  in  deferred 
compensation plans, and the development of investment strategies, products, or channels.

The  Company  recognized  $16.4  million  in  investment  income  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  compared  with 
investment income of $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.  The increase in investment income year-over-year 
was due to a higher average investment balance throughout the year and higher returns on the investments. 

The Company recorded a gain of $9.0 million related to the sale of our High Yield-Focused Advisory Contracts on July 30, 
2021. DHCM may receive two additional payments of up to $13.0 million in the aggregate based on the net revenue of the High 
Yield-Focused  Advisory  Contracts  on  the  one-year  anniversary  of  the  Closing  Date,  but  there  can  be  no  assurance  these 
additional payments will be earned.

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense increased $12.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the year ended December 31, 
2020.  The  increase  in  income  tax  expense  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  DHCM's  income  before  taxes,  which  was 
partially offset by a decrease in our effective tax rate from 26.8% to 25.6% year-over-year.  The decrease in the Company’s 
effective tax rate in 2021 was primarily due to the benefit attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests, and a decrease in 
excess tax deficits from the vesting of restricted stock, which were partially offset by an increase in state and local taxes from 
the performance fees year-over-year.

The  Company  generated  net  income  attributable  to  common  shareholders  of  $74.2  million  ($23.34  per  diluted  share)  for  the 
year ended December 31, 2021, compared with net income attributable to common shareholders of $38.7 million ($12.03 per 
diluted share) for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to increased revenues, an increase in investment income, 
and the gain on the sale of the High Yield-Focused Advisory Contracts.

See  the  “Use  of  Supplemental  Data  as  Non-GAAP  Performance  Measures”  section  below  in  Part  II,  Item  7,  of  this  Annual 
Report on Form 10-K.

Summary  Discussion  of  Consolidated  Results  of  Operations  -  Year  Ended  December  31,  2020,  compared  with  Year 
Ended December 31, 2019

Revenue  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  decreased  $10.2  million  compared  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019, 
primarily due to a decrease in the average advisory fee rate from 0.59% to 0.54% year-over-year, which was partially offset by 
a 1% increase in average AUM. The decrease in average advisory fee rate was driven by an increase in the mix of assets held in 
lower fee rate strategies.

Operating  profit  margin  was  36%  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  and  35%  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019. 
Operating profit margin, as adjusted, was 38% for the year ended December 31, 2020, and 39% for the year ended December 
31,  2019.  Operating  profit  margin,  as  adjusted,  excludes  deferred  compensation  expense  (benefit)  from  operating  income 
because it is offset by an equal amount in investment income below net operating income on the income statement, and thus, 
has no effect on net income attributable to the Company. We believe this non-GAAP measure helps the reader to understand 
our  core  operating  results  and  increases  comparability  period  to  period.  See  the  "Use  of  Supplemental  Data  as  Non-GAAP 
Performance Measures" section below in Part II. Item 7, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The  Company  expects  that  its  operating  margin  will  fluctuate  from  period  to  period  based  on  various  factors,  including 
revenues,  investment  results,  employee  performance,  staffing  levels,  gains  and  losses  on  investments  held  in  deferred 
compensation plans, and the development of investment strategies, products, or channels.

The Company recognized $6.6 million in investment income for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared with investment 
income of $30.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in market appreciation year over year was due to 
a lower average investment balance throughout the year and lower returns on the investments.

Income tax expense decreased $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 
2019. The decrease in income tax expense was primarily due to a decrease in DHCM's income before taxes, which was partially 
offset by an increase in the Company’s effective tax rate from 23.8% to 26.8% year-over-year. The increase in the effective tax 
rate in 2020 was primarily due to excess tax deficits on the vesting of restricted stock awards of $0.6 million in 2020 and the 
$1.0 million benefit attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests in 2019.

The  Company  generated  net  income  attributable  to  common  shareholders  of  $38.7  million  ($12.03  per  diluted  share)  for  the 
year ended December 31, 2020, compared with net income attributable to common shareholders of $55.0 million ($15.99 per 
diluted share) for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to decreased revenues and a decrease in investment income.

See  the  "Use  of  Supplemental  Data  as  Non-GAAP  Performance  Measures"  section  below  in  Part  II.  Item  7,  of  this  Annual 
Report on Form 10-K. 

Revenue 

(in thousands, except percentages)

2021

2020

% Change

2020

2019

% Change

Investment advisory

$  170,138  $  119,125 

Mutual fund administration, net

12,056 

7,263 

Total

$  182,194  $  126,388 

43%

66%

44%

$  119,125  $  128,009 

7,263 

8,615 

$  126,388  $  136,624 

(7)%

(16)%

(7)%

24

 
 
 
 
Revenue for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2020 

Investment Advisory Fees.  Investment advisory fees increased by $51.0 million, or 43%, from the year ended December 31, 
2020, to the year ended December 31, 2021.  Investment advisory fees are calculated as a percentage of the market value of 
client accounts at contractual fee rates, which vary by investment product.  The increase in investment advisory fees was due to 
an  increase  of  38%  in  average  AUM,  and  $11.9  million  in  performance-based  fees  recognized  in  2021  as  a  significant 
performance-based  agreement  reached  its  first  five-year  measurement  term.  The  Company  recognized  $0.5  million  of 
performance-based fees in 2020.

These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the average advisory fee rate (excluding performance-based fees) from 
0.54% to 0.52% year-over-year.  The decrease in average advisory fee rate was driven by an increase in the mix of assets held 
in lower fee rate strategies during the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  the  average  advisory  fee  rates  for  equity  and  fixed  income  strategies,  excluding 
performance-based fees, were 0.54% and 0.39%, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the average advisory fee 
rates for equity and fixed income strategies were 0.57% and 0.40%, respectively.

Mutual  Fund  Administration  Fees.    Mutual  fund  administration  fees  increased  $4.8  million,  or  66%,  from  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2020,  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021.    Mutual  fund  administration  fees  include  administration  fees 
received from the Funds, which are calculated as a percentage of the Funds' average AUM.  The increase was primarily due to a 
36% increase in the Funds' average AUM from the year ended December 31, 2020, to the year ended December 31, 2021, and a 
reduction in administration fees paid on behalf of the Funds as a percentage of average Fund AUM year-over-year.

Revenue for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2019 

Investment  Advisory  Fees.  Investment  advisory  fees  decreased  by  $8.9  million,  or  7%,  from  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2019,  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020.  Investment  advisory  fees  are  calculated  as  a  percentage  of  the  market  value  of 
client accounts at contractual fee rates, which vary by investment product. The decrease in investment advisory fees was driven 
by a reduction in the average advisory fee rate from 0.59% in 2019 to 0.54% in 2020, which was partially offset by an increase 
of 1% in average AUM year over year. The decrease in average advisory fee rate was driven by an increase in the mix of assets 
held in lower fee rate strategies during the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. For 
the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  the  average  advisory  fee  rates  for  equity  and  fixed  income  strategies  were  0.57%  and 
0.40%,  respectively.  For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  the  average  advisory  fee  rates  for  equity  and  fixed  income 
strategies were 0.61% and 0.41%, respectively.

Mutual  Fund  Administration  Fees.  Mutual  fund  administration  fees  decreased  $1.4  million,  or  16%,  from  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2019,  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020.  Mutual  fund  administration  fees  include  administration  fees 
received from the Funds, which are calculated as a percentage of the Funds' average AUM. The decrease was primarily due to 
an increase in sub-transfer agent and servicing fees paid by us on behalf of the Funds. In addition, there was a 1% decrease in 
the Funds' average AUM from the year ended December 31, 2019, to the year ended December 31, 2020.

Expenses

(in thousands, except percentages)
Compensation and related costs, 
excluding deferred compensation 
expense

Deferred compensation expense 

General and administrative

Sales and marketing

Mutual fund administration

Total

2021

2020

% Change

2020

2019

% Change

$ 

73,591  $ 

58,292 

7,082 

14,021 

7,659 

3,582 

2,219 

11,003 

6,000 

3,336 

$  105,935  $ 

80,850 

26%

219%

27%

28%

7%

31%

$ 

58,292  $ 

60,264 

2,219 

11,003 

6,000 

3,336 

5,977 

13,278 

5,867 

3,303 

(3)%

(63)%

(17)%

2%

1%

$ 

80,850  $ 

88,689 

(9)%

Expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2020 

Compensation  and  Related  Costs,  Excluding  Deferred  Compensation  Expense.    Employee  compensation  and  benefits 
increased by $15.3 million from the year ended December 31, 2020, to the year ended December 31, 2021.  This increase is due 

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to increases in incentive compensation of $9.7 million, salary and related benefits of $3.1 million, restricted stock expense of 
$1.8 million, and other compensation expense of $0.7 million.  On average, we had 126 full-time equivalent employees for both 
2021  and  2020.    Incentive  compensation  expense  can  fluctuate  significantly  period  over  period  as  we  evaluate  investment 
performance, individual performance, the Company’s performance, and other factors.

Deferred Compensation Expense.  Deferred compensation expense was $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, 
compared to deferred compensation expense of $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to an increase 
in market appreciation on our deferred compensation investments period over period.  

The  gain  on  deferred  compensation  plan  investments  increases  deferred  compensation  expense  and  is  included  in  operating 
income.  Deferred compensation expense is offset by an equal amount in investment income below net operating income on the 
consolidated statements of income statement, and thus has no impact on net income attributable to us. 

General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses increased by $3.0 million, or 27%, from the year ended 
December 31, 2020, to the year ended December 31, 2021.  This increase was partially due a non-recurring $1.1 million refund 
related to Ohio commercial activity tax, which was received in 2020 and reduced general and administrative expense.  The Ohio 
commercial activity tax is a gross receipts tax, and therefore, is not included in income taxes. Other increases in 2021 include 
$0.7 million in consulting fees, $0.5 million of proxy solicitation fees related to the sale of the High Yield-Focused Advisory 
Contracts, a $0.4 million increase in IT staffing, hardware, and software expense, and a $0.3 million increase in depreciation 
expense.

Sales and Marketing.  Sales and marketing expenses increased by $1.7 million, or 28%, from the year ended December 31, 
2020,  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021.    The  increase  was  primarily  due  to  increases  of  $0.7  million  related  to  the 
Company’s distribution technology platform and the related external data costs, $0.5 million for payments made to third-party 
intermediaries related to the sale of our mutual funds on their platforms, and a $0.5 million increase in advertising expenses.

Mutual  Fund  Administration.    Mutual  fund  administration  expenses  increased  by  7%  from  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2020, to the year ended December 31, 2021. Mutual fund administration expense consists of both variable and fixed expenses. 
The  variable  expenses  are  based  on  Fund  AUM  levels  and  the  number  of  shareholder  accounts.  The  increase  was  due  to  an 
increase in variable expenses as a result of the increase in the average Fund AUM period-over-period.

Expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2020 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2019 

Compensation  and  Related  Costs,  Excluding  Deferred  Compensation  Expense.  Employee  compensation  and  benefits 
decreased  by  $2.0  million  from  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020.  This  decrease  is 
primarily  due  to  decreases  in  severance  expense  of  $1.6  million  and  in  restricted  stock  expense  of  $1.0  million.    These 
decreases were partially offset by increases in salary and related benefits of $0.2 million and in incentive compensation of $0.4 
million. On average, we had 126 full-time equivalent employees for 2020, compared to 128 for 2019. Incentive compensation 
expense  can  fluctuate  significantly  period  over  period  as  we  evaluate  investment  performance,  individual  performance,  the 
Company’s performance, and other factors.

Deferred Compensation Expense. Deferred compensation expense was $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, 
compared to deferred compensation expense of $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, mostly due to a decrease in 
market  appreciation  on  our  deferred  compensation  investments  period  over  period.  The  gain  on  deferred  compensation  plan 
investments increases deferred compensation expense and is included in operating income. Deferred compensation expense is 
offset  by  an  equal  amount  in  investment  income  below  net  operating  income  on  the  consolidated  statements  of  income 
statement, and thus has no impact on net income attributable to us.

General  and  Administrative.  General  and  administrative  expenses  decreased  by  $2.3  million,  or  17%,  from  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2019,  to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020.    This  decrease  was  primarily  due  a  non-recurring  $1.1  million 
refund received in 2020 related to our Ohio commercial activity tax, which is a gross receipts tax, and therefore, is not included 
in income taxes, as well as decreases in corporate recruiting fees of $0.8 million, and in travel and related expenses period over 
period.

Sales  and  Marketing.  Sales  and  marketing  expenses  increased  by  $0.1  million,  or  2%,  from  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2019, to the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in spending related to our customer 
relationship management system and related external data costs of $0.9 million. This increase was largely offset by a reduction 
in sales and marketing travel and related expense of $0.8 million.

26

Mutual  Fund  Administration.  Mutual  fund  administration  expenses  increased  by  1%  from  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2019, to the year ended December 31, 2020. Mutual fund administration expense consists of both variable and fixed expenses. 
The variable expenses are based on Fund AUM levels and the number of shareholder accounts.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

The  Company's  current  financial  condition  is  liquid,  with  a  significant  amount  of  its  assets  comprised  of  cash  and  cash 
equivalents, investments, accounts receivable, and other current assets. The Company's main source of liquidity is cash flows 
from operating activities, which are generated from investment advisory and mutual fund administration fees. Cash and cash 
equivalents, investments held directly by DHCM, accounts receivable, and other current assets represented $214.7 million and 
$205.1 million of total assets as of December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.  The Company believes that these sources of 
liquidity, as well as its continuing cash flows from operating activities, will be sufficient to meet its current and future operating 
needs for the next 12 months.  

Uses of Liquidity

The Company anticipates that its main uses of cash will be for operating expenses and seed capital to fund new and existing 
investment  strategies.  The  Board  and  management  regularly  review  various  factors  to  determine  whether  the  Company  has 
capital in excess of that required for its business, and the appropriate uses of any such excess capital.

Share Repurchases

On  February  27,  2020,  the  Board  approved  a  stock  repurchase  program  (the  “2020  Repurchase  Program”)  authorizing 
management  to  repurchase  up  to  an  additional  $50  million  of  the  Company’s  common  shares.    Under  the  2020  Repurchase 
Program, the Company repurchased 45,727 of its common shares during the year ended December 31, 2021, for a total of $7.8 
million.  As of December 31, 2021, $27.6 million remains available for repurchases under the 2020 Repurchase Program.  The 
authority to repurchase shares: (1) may be exercised from time to time as market conditions warrant, (2) is subject to regulatory 
constraints,  and  (3)  will  expire  two  years  from  the  date  of  Board  approval  or  upon  the  earlier  repurchase  in  full  of  the 
authorized  amount  of  shares.  The  timing,  amount,  and  other  terms  and  conditions  of  any  repurchases  will  be  determined  by 
Company  management  in  its  discretion  based  on  a  variety  of  factors,  including  the  market  price  of  such  shares,  corporate 
considerations, general market and economic conditions, and applicable legal requirements.

The  following  table  summarizes  the  quarterly  repurchase  transactions  made  under  the  2020  Repurchase  Program  since  its 
inception:

Period

Quarter Ended March 31, 2020

Quarter Ended June 30, 2020
Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
Quarter Ended December 31, 2020

Quarter Ended March 31, 2021

Quarter Ended June 30, 2021

Quarter Ended September 30, 2021

Quarter Ended December 31, 2021

Total

Total Number
of Shares 
Purchased

Average Price
Paid Per Share 
Purchased

Purchase Price of 
Shares
 Purchased

48,576  $ 

106.22  $ 

5,159,919 

27,078 
53,735 
— 

12,529 

230 

31,468  $ 

1,500 

103.48 
123.99 
— 

151.1 

154.37 

178.44 

184.28 

2,801,897 
6,662,508 
— 

1,893,146 

35,505 

5,615,250 

276,414 

175,116  $ 

128.17  $ 

22,444,639 

The 2020 Repurchase Program expired on February 25, 2022, when our Board approved the 2022 Repurchase Program. The 
2022 Repurchase Program authorizes management to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common shares in the open market 
and in private transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws. The 2022 Repurchase Program will expire in February 
2024, or upon the earlier completion of all authorized purchases under such program.

Dividends

Fiscal 2021 was the 14th consecutive year that the Company paid a dividend.  The Company paid total dividends per share of 
$23.00, $12.00, and $9.00 during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.  The 2021, 2020, and 2019 
dividends reduced shareholders’ equity by $73.0 million, $38.0 million, and $30.3 million, respectively. 

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A summary of cash dividends paid during the year ended December 31, 2021 is presented below: 

Dividend

Declaration Date

Date Paid

Dividend Amount 
(in millions)

First quarter - $1.00 per share

Second quarter - $1.00 per share

Third quarter - $1.00 per share

Fourth quarter - $1.00 per share

February 25, 2021

March 19, 2021 $ 

April 26, 2021

June 18, 2021  

July 28, 2021 September 24, 2021  

October 26, 2021 December 10, 2021  

Fourth quarter - $19.00 per share - special dividend

October 26, 2021 December 10, 2021  

Total 

$ 

3.1 

3.2 

3.2 

3.2 

60.3 

73.0 

On February 25, 2022, the Board approved a regular quarterly dividend for the first quarter of 2022 of $1.50 per share to be 
paid on March 18, 2022, to shareholders of record as of March 7, 2022. This dividend is expected to reduce shareholders' equity 
by approximately $4.8 million.  Subject to Board approval and compliance with applicable law, the Company expects to pay a 
regular quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share going forward.

In addition to the regular quarterly dividends, the Board will decide whether to approve and pay an additional special dividend 
in  the  fourth  quarter  of  each  fiscal  year.  Although  the  Company  currently  expects  to  continue  to  pay  regular  quarterly 
dividends, depending on the circumstances and the Board’s judgment, the Company may not pay such dividends as described.

Working Capital

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had working capital of approximately $168.5 million, compared to $168.9 million as 
of December 31, 2020.  Working capital includes cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, investments, and other current 
assets of DHCM, net of accounts payable and accrued expenses, accrued incentive compensation, deferred compensation, and 
other current liabilities of DHCM.

The Company had no debt and the Company believes its available working capital is sufficient to cover current expenses and 
presently anticipated capital expenditures.

Below is a summary of investments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:

As of December 31,

2021

2020

Corporate Investments:

Diamond Hill Core Bond Fund

Diamond Hill International Fund
Diamond Hill Large Cap Concentrated Fund

Diamond Hill Micro Cap Fund, LP
Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund
Diamond Hill Global Fund(a)

Total Corporate Investments

Deferred Compensation Plan Investments in the Funds

Total investments held by DHCM

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in Consolidated Funds

$ 

46,755,404  $ 

41,673,154 
12,098,049 

10,703,473 
— 

— 

111,230,080 

37,348,294 

148,578,374 

18,077,627 

Total investments

$ 

166,656,001  $ 

(a) The Diamond Hill Global Fund was liquidated effective December 17, 2021

47,204,636 

10,156,320 
— 

— 
16,945,863 

11,269,719 

85,576,538 

33,241,952 

118,818,490 

9,582,646 

128,401,136 

28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flow Analysis

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

The Company’s cash flows from operating activities are calculated by adjusting net income to reflect other significant operating 
sources and uses of cash, certain significant non-cash items (such as share-based compensation), and timing differences in the 
cash settlement of operating assets and liabilities. The Company expects that cash flows provided by operating activities will 
continue to serve as its primary source of working capital in the near future.

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2021,  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  totaled  $26.3  million.    Cash  provided  by 
operating  activities  was  primarily  driven  by  net  income  of  $75.6  million,  the  add  back  of  share-based  compensation  of  $7.4 
million,  depreciation  of  $1.3  million,  and  the  cash  impact  of  timing  differences  in  the  settlement  of  assets  and  liabilities  of 
$12.3 million.  These cash inflows were partially offset by net securities purchased by the Diamond Hill International Fund and 
the  Diamond  Hill  Large  Cap  Concentrated  Fund  (together,  the  "Consolidated  Funds")  of  $50.4  million,  net  gains  on 
investments of $10.9 million, and the adjustment to net income of $9.0 million for the gain on sale of the High Yield-Focused 
Advisory Contracts.  Absent the cash used in operations by the Consolidated Funds, cash flows provided by operations were 
$78.5 million. 

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2020,  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  totaled  $59.8  million.  Cash  provided  by 
operating  activities  was  primarily  driven  by  net  income  of  $38.2  million,  the  add  back  of  share-based  compensation  of  $7.7 
million, depreciation of $1.0 million, net securities redeemed by the Consolidated Funds of $3.2 million, and the cash impact of 
timing  differences  in  the  settlement  of  assets  and  liabilities  of  $12.7  million.  These  cash  inflows  were  partially  offset  by  net 
gains on investments of $3.0 million. Absent the operating cash flows of the Consolidated Funds, cash flows from operations 
would have been approximately $57.3 million.

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  totaled  $57.0  million.  Cash  provided  by 
operating  activities  was  primarily  driven  by  net  income  of  $59.8  million,  the  add  back  of  share-based  compensation  of  $9.1 
million, depreciation of $1.2 million, net securities redeemed by the Consolidated Funds of $6.3 million, and the cash impact of 
timing differences in the settlement of assets and liabilities of $1.7 million. These cash inflows were partially offset by net gains 
on investments of $21.1 million.  Absent the operating cash flows of the Consolidated Funds, cash flow from operations would 
have been approximately $53.5 million.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

The Company’s cash flows from investing activities consist primarily of capital expenditures and purchases and redemptions in
our investment portfolio.

Cash flows provided by investing activities totaled $27.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.  The cash provided 
was primarily due to proceeds from investment redemptions totaling $40.8 million and $9.0 million of proceeds received from 
the  sale  of  the  High  Yield-Focused  Advisory  Contracts.    These  proceeds  were  partially  offset  by  corporate  investment 
purchases of $21.4 million and property and equipment purchases (primarily capitalized software) of $1.1 million.  

Cash flows provided by investing activities totaled $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The cash provided was 
primarily  due  to  proceeds  from  investment  redemptions  totaling  $25.7  million.  These  proceeds  were  partially  offset  by 
corporate investment purchases of $14.9 million and property and equipment purchases (primarily capitalized software) of $2.5 
million.

Cash flows provided by investing activities totaled $10.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.  The cash provided 
was  primarily  due  to  proceeds  from  investment  redemptions  totaling  $48.6  million.  These  proceeds  were  partially  offset  by 
corporate investment purchases of $14.4 million and property and equipment purchases of $0.7 million. The remaining change 
in  reported  cash  flows  from  investing  activities  was  attributable  to  $22.7  million  in  net  cash  that  was  removed  from  the 
Company’s balance sheet due to the de-consolidation of our investment in an ETF during the period.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

The  Company’s  cash  flows  from  financing  activities  consist  primarily  of  repurchases  of  its  common  stock,  shares  withheld 
related  to  employee  tax  withholding,  dividends  paid  on  its  common  stock,  proceeds  received  under  the  Diamond  Hill 
Investment  Group,  Inc.  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  (“ESPP”),  and  distributions  to,  or  contributions  from,  redeemable 
noncontrolling interest holders.

29

For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash used in financing activities totaled $71.5 million, consisting of the payment of 
dividends of $73.0 million, repurchases of the Company’s common stock of $7.8 million, and $1.6 million of shares withheld 
related  to  employee  tax  withholding.    These  cash  outflows  were  partially  offset  by  net  subscriptions  received  in  the 
Consolidated Funds from redeemable non-controlling interest holders of $10.3 million and proceeds received under the ESPP 
of $0.6 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, net cash used in financing activities totaled $62.9 million, consisting of the payment of 
special dividends of $38.0 million, repurchases of our common stock of $18.7 million, $1.9 million of shares withheld related to 
employee tax withholding, and net redemptions in the Consolidated Funds from redeemable non-controlling interest holders of 
$4.3 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, net cash used in financing activities totaled $59.1 million, consisting of the payment of 
special  dividends  of  $30.3  million,  repurchases  of  our  common  stock  of  $38.7  million,  and  $1.4  million  of  shares  withheld 
related  to  employee  tax  withholding.  These  financing  outflows  were  partially  offset  by  net  subscriptions  received  in  the 
Consolidated Funds from redeemable non-controlling interest holders of $11.3 million.

Supplemental Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

The  following  table  summarizes  the  condensed  cash  flows  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2021,  2020,  and  2019  that  are 
attributable to the Company and to the Consolidated Funds, and the related eliminations required in preparing the consolidated 
financial statements.

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash 
provided by operating activities:

Depreciation

Share-based compensation
Gain on sale of high yield-focused advisory 
contracts

Net gains on investments
Net change in securities held by Consolidated 
Funds

Other changes in assets and liabilities

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Year Ended December 31, 2021

Cash flow 
attributable to 
Diamond Hill 
Investment 
Group, Inc.

Cash flow 
attributable to 
Consolidated 
Funds

Eliminations

As reported on 
the 
Consolidated 
Statement of 
Cash Flows

$ 

74,200,609  $ 

5,851,988  $ 

(4,463,058)  $ 

75,589,539 

1,281,420 

7,415,170 

(9,000,000)   

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1,281,420 

7,415,170 

(9,000,000) 

(7,599,548)   

(5,851,988)   

2,572,878 

(10,878,658) 

— 

(50,430,607)   

12,209,848 
78,507,499 

125,525 
(50,305,082)   

— 

— 

(1,890,180)   

(50,430,607) 

12,335,373 
26,312,237 

27,264,499 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(14,631,872)   

— 

41,896,371 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(81,803,436)   

50,305,082 

(40,006,191)   

(71,504,545) 

Net change during the year

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

(17,927,809)   

98,478,202 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(17,927,809) 

98,478,202 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$ 

80,550,393  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

80,550,393 

30

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2020

Cash flow 
attributable to 
Diamond Hill 
Investment 
Group, Inc.

Cash flow 
attributable to 
Consolidated 
Funds

Eliminations

As reported on 
the 
Consolidated 
Statement of 
Cash Flows

$  38,660,545  $ 

403,985  $ 

(899,392)  $ 

38,165,138 

992,836 

7,739,320 

— 

— 

— 

— 

992,836 

7,739,320 

(3,500,848)   

(403,985)   

899,392 

(3,005,441) 

Cash flows from Operating Activities:

Net Income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash 
provided by operating activities:

Depreciation

Share-based compensation

Net gains on investments
Net change in securities held by Consolidated 
Funds

Other changes in assets and liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash provided by investing activities

13,394,030 

57,285,883 

6,587,218 

— 

3,179,362 

(692,760)   

2,486,602 

— 

— 

— 

3,179,362 

12,701,270 

59,772,485 

8,411,700 

— 

1,824,482 

Net cash used in financing activities

(58,571,152)   

(2,486,602)   

(1,824,482)   

(62,882,236) 

Net change during the year

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

5,301,949 

93,176,253 

— 

— 

— 

— 

5,301,949 

93,176,253 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$  98,478,202  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

98,478,202 

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Cash flow 
attributable to 
Diamond Hill 
Investment 
Group, Inc.

Cash flow 
attributable to 
Consolidated 
Funds

Eliminations

As reported on 
the 
Consolidated 
Statement of 
Cash Flows

$  54,959,024  $ 

12,108,850  $ 

(7,313,555)  $ 

59,754,319 

1,164,207 

9,081,421 
(16,263,168)   

— 

— 

(12,108,850)   

— 

1,164,207 

— 
7,313,555 

9,081,421 
(21,058,463) 

Cash flows from Operating Activities:

Net Income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash 
provided by operating activities:

Depreciation

Share-based compensation
Net gains on investments
Net change in securities held by Consolidated 
Funds

— 

— 

— 

6,286,645 

1,738,114 

56,966,243 

10,855,074 

Other changes in assets and liabilities

4,518,254 

(2,780,140)   

Net cash provided by operating activities

53,459,738 

3,506,505 

— 

6,286,645 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

25,702,461 

(22,723,853)   

7,876,466 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(70,416,005)   

19,217,348 

(7,876,466)   

(59,075,123) 

Net change during the year

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

8,746,194 

84,430,059 

— 

— 

— 

— 

8,746,194 

84,430,059 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$  93,176,253  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

93,176,253 

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase obligations
Deferred compensation 
obligations

Contractual Obligations

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s future obligations under the terms of lease commitments, contractual 
purchase  obligations,  and  deferred  compensation  obligations  as  of  December  31,  2021.    Other  purchase  obligations  include 
contractual amounts that will be due for the purchase of services to be used in the Company’s operations, such as mutual fund 
sub-administration, sales data costs, and investment related research software.  These obligations may be cancellable at earlier 
times  than  those  indicated  and,  under  certain  circumstances,  may  involve  termination  fees.    Because  these  obligations  are 
primarily of a normal recurring nature, the Company expects to fund them from future cash flows from operations.  Deferred 
compensation obligations include compensation that will be paid out in future years and which will be funded by the related 
deferred  compensation  investments  currently  held  on  the  Company’s  consolidated  balance  sheets  (see  Note  7  to  the 
consolidated financial statements).  The information presented does not include operating expenses or capital expenditures that 
will be committed in the normal course of operations in 2022 and future years: 

Total

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Thereafter

Payments Due by Period

Operating lease obligations

$ 2,028,581  $  624,179  $  624,179  $  624,179  $  156,044  $ 

—  $ 

  7,099,679 

 3,960,575 

 1,670,814 

  709,138 

  706,027 

53,125 

— 

— 

 37,348,294 

 3,474,351 

 3,911,526 

 4,288,132 

 4,942,954 

 2,262,332 

 18,468,999 

Total

$ 46,476,554  $ 8,059,105  $ 6,206,519  $ 5,621,449  $ 5,805,025  $ 2,315,457  $ 18,468,999 

Use of Supplemental Data as Non-GAAP Performance Measures

As supplemental information, the Company is providing performance measures that are based on non-GAAP methodologies. 
The Company believes that the non-GAAP measures below are useful measures of its core business activities, are important 
metrics in estimating the value of an asset management business, and may enable more appropriate comparisons to its peers. 
These non-GAAP measures should not be used as a substitute for financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and 
may be calculated differently by other companies.  The following schedule reconciles GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures 
for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.  

(in thousands, except percentages and per share data)
Total revenue

Net operating income, GAAP basis

Non-GAAP adjustments:

Gains on deferred compensation plan investments, net(1)

Net operating income, as adjusted, non-GAAP basis(2)

Non-GAAP adjustments:

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$ 182,194 

$ 126,388 

$ 136,624 

$  76,258 

$  45,538 

$  47,935 

7,082 

2,219 

5,977 

  83,340 

  47,757 

  53,912 

Tax provision on net operating income, as adjusted, non-GAAP basis(3)

Net operating income, as adjusted, after tax, non-GAAP basis(4)

  (21,656) 

  (12,668) 

  (13,680) 

$  61,684 

$  35,089 

$  40,232 

Net operating income, as adjusted after tax per diluted share, non-GAAP basis(5)
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding, GAAP basis

$  19.40 

$  10.91 

$  11.71 

3,179 

3,215 

3,437 

Operating profit margin, GAAP basis
Operating profit margin, as adjusted, non-GAAP basis(6)

 42 %

 46 %

 36 %

 38 %

 35 %

 39 %

(1)  Gains  on  deferred  compensation  plan  investments,  net:  The  gain  on  deferred  compensation  plan  investments,  which 
increases deferred compensation expense included in operating income, is removed from operating income in the calculation 
because it is offset by an equal amount in investment income below net operating income on the income statement, and thus has 
no impact on net income attributable to the Company. 

32

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2)  Net  operating  income,  as  adjusted:  This  non-GAAP  measure  represents  the  Company’s  net  operating  income  adjusted  to 
exclude the impact on compensation expense of gains and losses on investments in the deferred compensation plan. 

(3)  Tax  provision  on  net  operating  income,  as  adjusted:  This  non-GAAP  measure  represents  the  tax  provision,  excluding  the 
impact  of  investment  related  activity,  and  the  gain  on  sale  of  High  Yield-Focused  Advisory  Contracts,  and  is  calculated  by 
applying the unconsolidated effective tax rate to net operating income, as adjusted. 

(4) Net operating income, as adjusted, after tax: This non-GAAP measure deducts from the net operating income, as adjusted, 
the tax provision on net operating income, as adjusted. 

(5) Net operating income, as adjusted after tax per diluted share: This non-GAAP measure was calculated by dividing the net 
operating income, as adjusted after tax, by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. 

(6)  Operating  profit  margin,  as  adjusted:  This  non-GAAP  measure  was  calculated  by  dividing  the  net  operating  income,  as 
adjusted, by total revenue. 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements. The Company does not have any obligation under a guarantee contract, a 
retained or contingent interest in assets, or any similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity, or market risk support for 
such  assets,  or  any  other  obligation,  including  a  contingent  obligation,  under  a  contract  that  would  be  accounted  for  as  a 
derivative instrument or arising out of a variable interest.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Consolidation.    The  Company  consolidates  all  subsidiaries  and  certain  investments  in  which  the  Company  has  a  controlling 
interest.  The Company is generally deemed to have a controlling interest when it owns the majority of the voting interest of a 
voting  rights  entity  (“VRE”)  or  are  deemed  to  be  the  primary  beneficiary  of  a  variable  interest  entity  (“VIE”).    A  VIE  is  an 
entity that lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities, or any entity whose equity holders do not have defined power to direct 
the activities of the entity normally associated with an equity investment.  The Company’s analysis to determine whether an 
entity  is  a  VIE  or  a  VRE  involves  judgment  and  considers  several  factors,  including  an  entity’s  legal  organization,  equity 
structure, the rights of the investment holders, our ownership interest in the entity, and our contractual involvement with the 
entity.  The Company continually reviews and reconsiders its VIE or VRE conclusions upon the occurrence of certain events, 
such as changes to its ownership interest, or amendments to contract documents.

Provisions for Income Taxes.  The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or 
refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been 
recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns.  Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of 
events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns.

Revenue Recognition on Performance-Based Advisory Contracts.  The Company has certain investment advisory contracts in 
which  a  portion  of  the  fees  are  based  on  investment  performance  achieved  in  the  respective  client  portfolio  in  excess  of  a 
specified hurdle rate.  These fees are calculated based on client investment results over rolling five-year periods.  The Company 
record performance-based fees at the end of the contract measurement period because the performance-based fees earned are 
constrained based on movements in the financial markets.

Revenue  Recognition  when  Acting  as  an  Agent  vs.  Principal.    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 fund shareholder mailings, registration services, 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  the  Funds  pay  to  DHCM  is  reviewed 
annually by the Funds’ board of trustees and specifically considers 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 expenses, as appropriate for this agency relationship.

33

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The  Company’s  revenues  and  net  income  are  based  primarily  on  the  value  of  its  AUM.    Accordingly,  declines  in  financial 
market values directly and negatively impact its investment advisory revenues and net income.

The  Company  invests  in  its  funds,  which  are  market  risk  sensitive  financial  instruments.    These  investments  have  inherent 
market risk in the form of price risk; that is, the potential future loss of value that would result from a decline in their fair value.  
Market prices fluctuate, and the amount realized upon subsequent sale may differ significantly from the reported market value. 

The  table  below  summarizes  the  Company’s  market  risks  as  of  December  31,  2021,  and  shows  the  effects  of  a  hypothetical 
10% increase and decrease in investments.

Equity investments

Fixed Income investments

Total

Fair Value as of 
December 31, 2021

Fair Value
Assuming a
Hypothetical
10% Increase

Fair Value
Assuming a
Hypothetical
10% Decrease

$ 

115,079,799  $ 

126,587,779  $ 

103,571,819 

51,576,202 

56,733,822 

46,418,582 

$ 

166,656,001  $ 

183,321,601  $ 

149,990,401 

34

 
 
 
ITEM 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (KPMG LLP, Columbus, OH, Auditor Firm ID:  185)

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 
2019
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest for the years ended 
December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020, and December 31, 
2019
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

36

39

40

41

42

43

35

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the 
Company)  as  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  income,  shareholders’  equity  and 
redeemable noncontrolling interest, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, and 
the  related  notes  (collectively,  the  consolidated  financial  statements).  In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements 
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results 
of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with 
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in 
Internal  Control  -  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission, and our report dated February 25, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express 
an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 
PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and 
the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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, 
whether  due  to  error  or  fraud.  Our  audits  included  performing  procedures  to  assess  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the 
consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such 
procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial 
statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 
as  well  as  evaluating  the  overall  presentation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  We  believe  that  our  audits  provide  a 
reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The  critical  audit  matter  communicated  below  is  a  matter  arising  from  the  current  period  audit  of  the  consolidated  financial 
statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or 
disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or 
complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated 
financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate 
opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Evaluation  of  the  assets  under  management  data  used  in  the  calculation  of  sub-advisory  and  separately  managed 
account investment advisory fee revenue

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognizes revenue for its sub-advisory 
and  separately  managed  account  investment  advisory  agreements  based  on  a  percentage  of  its  assets  under 
management (AUM). The Company recognized $51.6 million in investment advisory fees related to sub-advised funds 
and separately managed accounts during the year ended December 31, 2021. AUM is an input to the calculation of the 
investment advisory fee revenue. Specifically, as it pertains to these accounts, the inputs to the AUM calculation and 
the  calculated  AUM  value  are  transmitted  through  multiple  information  technology  (IT)  systems  used  in  the 
calculation of investment advisory fee revenue.    

We identified the evaluation of the AUM data used in the calculation of sub-advisory and separately managed account 
investment  advisory  fee  revenue  as  a  critical  audit  matter.    There  is  a  high  degree  of  auditor  judgment  required  to 

36

perform procedures to address the Company’s use of multiple IT systems to maintain the AUM data including the use 
of professionals with specialized skills and knowledge to test the AUM data processed through multiple IT systems. 

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design 
and  tested  the  operating  effectiveness  of  certain  internal  controls  related  to  the  critical  audit  matter.  This  included 
controls related to the inputs to the AUM calculation, as well as controls  that reconcile AUM between IT systems. We 
involved IT professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in the testing of application and related 
general IT controls relevant to the IT systems used to maintain AUM data. We compared AUM used in the calculation 
of investment advisory fees to the source IT systems for a selection of accounts. 

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2012.

Columbus, Ohio
February 25, 2022 

37

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

We  have  audited  Diamond  Hill  Investment  Group,  Inc.  and  subsidiaries’  (the  Company)  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by 
the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission.  In  our  opinion,  the  Company  maintained,  in  all 
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in 
Internal  Control  -  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission.  

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB),  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  the  Company  as  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  the  related  consolidated 
statements of income, shareholders’ equity and redeemable noncontrolling interest, and cash flows for each of the years in the 
three-year period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our 
report dated February 25, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Basis for Opinion 

The  Company’s  management  is  responsible  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  for  its 
assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  included  in  the  accompanying  Management’s 
Annual  Report  on  Internal  Control  Over  Financial  Reporting.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable 
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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 of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control 
over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating 
effectiveness  of  internal  control  based  on  the  assessed  risk.  Our  audit  also  included  performing  such  other  procedures  as  we 
considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

A  company’s  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  company’s  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 company’s 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.

Columbus, Ohio
February 25, 2022

/s/ KPMG LLP

38

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

Investments

Accounts receivable

Prepaid expenses

Income taxes receivable

Property and equipment, net of depreciation

Deferred taxes

Total assets

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Accrued incentive compensation

Deferred compensation 

Income taxes payable

Total liabilities

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

Permanent Shareholders’ Equity

Common stock, no par value: 7,000,000 shares authorized; 3,171,536 issued and outstanding 
at December 31, 2021 (inclusive of  201,170 unvested shares); 3,168,823 issued and 
outstanding at December 31, 2020 (inclusive of 183,718 unvested shares)

Preferred stock, undesignated, 1,000,000 shares authorized and unissued

Deferred equity compensation

Retained Earnings

Total permanent shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Book value per share

December 31,

2021

2020

$  80,550,393  $  98,478,202 

  166,656,001 

  128,401,136 

20,443,562 

17,805,864 

2,555,296 

2,977,759 

— 

6,100,599 
9,847,552 

256,538 

6,740,396 

8,437,446 

$  286,153,403  $  263,097,341 

$ 

8,588,713  $ 
37,235,418 

8,002,303 
28,400,000 

37,348,294 

33,241,952 

801,740 

— 

83,974,165 

69,644,255 

17,756,336 

9,372,333 

80,434,049 

80,810,946 

— 

— 

(15,268,705)   

(14,748,118) 

  119,257,558 

  118,017,925 

  184,422,902 

  184,080,753 

$  286,153,403  $  263,097,341 

$ 

58.15  $ 

58.09 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income

REVENUES:

Investment advisory

Mutual fund administration, net

Total revenue
OPERATING EXPENSES:

Compensation and related costs, excluding deferred compensation 
expense 

Deferred compensation expense 

General and administrative

Sales and marketing

Mutual fund administration

Total operating expenses

NET OPERATING INCOME

Investment income, net

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$  170,137,609  $  119,125,230  $  128,009,409 

12,056,228 

7,262,488 

8,614,971 

  182,193,837 

  126,387,718 

  136,624,380 

73,591,327 

58,291,670 

60,264,117 

7,082,153 

2,218,898 

5,976,938 

14,020,836 

11,002,572 

13,277,843 

7,659,423 

3,581,960 

  105,935,699 
76,258,138 

5,999,846 

3,336,575 

80,849,561 
45,538,157 

5,867,297 

3,302,767 

88,688,962 
47,935,418 

16,381,216 

6,584,849 

30,507,375 

Gain on sale of high yield-focused advisory contracts

9,000,000 

— 

— 

NET INCOME BEFORE TAXES

Income tax expense

NET INCOME

  101,639,354 

52,123,006 

78,442,793 

(26,049,815)   

(13,957,868)   

(18,688,474) 

75,589,539 

38,165,138 

59,754,319 

Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

(1,388,930)   

495,407 

(4,795,295) 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS $  74,200,609  $  38,660,545  $  54,959,024 

Earnings per share attributable to common shareholders

Basic

Diluted

Weighted average shares outstanding

Basic

Diluted

$ 

$ 

23.34  $ 

23.34  $ 

12.03  $ 

12.03  $ 

15.99 

15.99 

3,179,497 

3,179,497 

3,214,564 

3,214,564 

3,436,574 

3,436,641 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

Balance at January 1, 2019

  3,499,285  $ 124,933,060  $  (22,008,054)  $  92,650,937  $ 195,575,943  $  62,679,687 

Shares
Outstanding

Common
Stock

Deferred Equity
Compensation

Retained 
Earnings

Total

Redeemable 
Noncontrolling 
Interest

Issuance of restricted stock grants

53,969 

7,471,799 

(7,471,799) 

Amortization of restricted stock grants

— 

— 

6,584,485 

Common stock issued as incentive 
compensation
Issuance of common stock related to 
401k plan match

Shares withheld related to employee tax 
withholding

Repurchases of common stock

24,048 

3,655,296 

17,651 

2,496,936 

(9,928) 

(1,390,482) 

(276,153) 

  (38,749,654) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Forfeiture of restricted stock grants

(14,200) 

(2,563,478) 

2,563,478 

Cash dividends paid of $9.00 per share 

Net income

Net subscriptions of consolidated funds

Net deconsolidations of Company 
sponsored investments

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

6,584,485 

3,655,296 

2,496,936 

(1,390,482) 

  (38,749,654) 

— 

(30,275,867) 

  (30,275,867) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

54,959,024 

  54,959,024 

4,795,295 

— 

— 

— 

8,095,940 

— 

  (61,392,098) 

Balance at December 31, 2019

  3,294,672  $  95,853,477  $  (20,331,890)  $  117,334,094  $ 192,855,681  $  14,178,824 

Issuance of restricted stock grants

22,099 

2,548,440 

(2,548,440) 

Amortization of restricted stock grants

— 

— 

5,227,574 

Common stock issued as incentive 
compensation

Issuance of common stock related to 
401k plan match

Shares withheld related to employee tax 
withholding

23,640 

3,396,359 

20,976 

2,511,746 

(19,189) 

(1,947,456) 

— 

— 

— 

Forfeiture of restricted stock grants

(15,625) 

(2,904,638) 

2,904,638 

Repurchases of common stock

(157,750) 

  (18,646,982) 

Cash dividends paid of $12.00 per share  
Net income

Net redemptions of consolidated funds

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

5,227,574 

3,396,359 

2,511,746 

(1,947,456) 

— 

  (18,646,982) 

(37,976,714) 

  (37,976,714) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

38,660,545 

  38,660,545 

(495,407) 

— 

— 

(4,311,084) 

Balance at December 31, 2020

  3,168,823  $  80,810,946  $  (14,748,118)  $  118,017,925  $ 184,080,753  $  9,372,333 

Issuance of restricted stock grants

69,879 

  11,105,508 

  (11,105,508) 

Amortization of restricted stock grants

— 

— 

7,182,299 

Common stock issued as incentive 
compensation

Issuance of common stock related to 
401(k) plan match

Issuance of common stock related to 
employee stock purchase plan

3,681 

529,806 

506 

87,667 

4,278 

748,472 

Shares withheld related to employee tax 
withholding

(10,057) 

(1,625,413) 

— 

— 

— 

Forfeiture of restricted stock grants

(19,847) 

(3,402,622) 

3,402,622 

Repurchases of common stock

(45,727) 

(7,820,315) 

Cash dividends paid of $23.00 per share  
Net income

Net deconsolidations of Company 
sponsored investments

Net subscriptions of consolidated funds

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

7,182,299 

529,806 

87,667 

748,472 

(1,625,413) 

— 

(7,820,315) 

(72,960,976) 

  (72,960,976) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

74,200,609 

  74,200,609 

1,388,930 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(3,303,818) 

  10,298,891 

Balance at December 31, 2021

  3,171,536  $  80,434,049  $  (15,268,705)  $  119,257,558  $ 184,422,902  $  17,756,336 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net Income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating 
activities:

Depreciation

Share-based compensation

Increase in accounts receivable

Change in current income taxes

Change in deferred income taxes

Gain on sale of high yield-focused advisory contracts

Net gain on investments

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$  75,589,539  $  38,165,138  $  59,754,319 

1,281,420 

7,415,170 

992,836 

7,739,320 

1,164,207 

9,081,421 

(2,666,551)   

(582,502)   

(5,021,516) 

1,058,278 

3,592,561 

(6,617,780) 

(1,410,106)   

1,949,407 

1,079,247 

(9,000,000)   

— 

— 

  (10,878,658)   

(3,005,441)    (21,058,463) 

Net change in securities held by Consolidated Funds

  (50,430,607)   

3,179,362 

Increase in accrued incentive compensation

Increase in deferred compensation

Other changes in assets and liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchase of property and equipment

Purchase of Company sponsored investments

9,365,224 

4,106,342 

1,882,186 

5,180,849 

2,899,748 

6,286,645 

3,516,639 

7,954,330 

(338,793)   

827,194 

  26,312,237 

  59,772,485 

  56,966,243 

(1,104,981)   

(2,450,421)   

(707,790) 

  (21,395,411)    (14,852,892)    (14,351,062) 

Proceeds from sale of Company sponsored investments

  40,764,891 

  25,715,013 

  48,637,779 

Net cash on deconsolidation of Company sponsored investments

Proceeds from sale of high yield-focused advisory contracts

— 

9,000,000 

— 

— 

  (22,723,853) 

— 

Net cash provided by investing activities

  27,264,499 

8,411,700 

  10,855,074 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Value of shares withheld related to employee tax withholding

(1,625,413)   

(1,947,456)   

(1,390,482) 

Payment of dividends
Net subscriptions (redemptions) received from redeemable noncontrolling 
interest holders

  (72,960,976)    (37,976,714)    (30,275,867) 

  10,298,891 

(4,311,084)    11,340,880 

Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds received under employee stock purchase plan
Net cash used in financing activities

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Net change during the year

At beginning of year

At end of year

Supplemental cash flow information:

Income taxes paid

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:

Common stock issued as incentive compensation

Charitable donation of corporate investments

Net redemptions of ETF Shares for marketable securities

(7,820,315)    (18,646,982)    (38,749,654) 
— 
  (71,504,545)    (62,882,236)    (59,075,123) 

603,268 

— 

  (17,927,809)   

5,301,949 

8,746,194 

  98,478,202 

  93,176,253 

  84,430,059 

$  80,550,393  $  98,478,202  $  93,176,253 

$  26,401,643  $  8,415,900  $  24,227,006 

529,806  $  3,396,359 

3,655,296 

$ 

366,555 

— 

— 

— 

—  $  (3,244,940) 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 Business and Organization

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. (the “Company”), an Ohio corporation, derives its consolidated revenues and net income 
from  investment  advisory  and  fund  administration  services  provided  by  its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Diamond  Hill  Capital 
Management, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“DHCM”). 

DHCM,  an  Ohio  corporation,  is  a  registered  investment  adviser.  DHCM  is  the  investment  adviser  and  administrator  for  the 
Diamond Hill Funds (the "Funds"), a series of open-end mutual funds. DHCM also provides investment advisory services to 
Diamond Hill Micro Cap Fund, LP (“DHMF”), a private fund, separately managed accounts, other pooled investment vehicles, 
and model delivery programs.

Note 2 Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations 
of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (“SEC”)  and  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  to  Form  10-K.    The  Company 
believes that the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

These Consolidated Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of the Company, all material adjustments (which include only 
normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly present the Company’s financial position as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, 
and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.  

For further information regarding the risks to the Company’s business, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes 
thereto included in “Part I – Item 1A. – Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the 
reported  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of  contingent  assets  and  liabilities  as  of  the  date  of  the  financial 
statements as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period.  Estimates have been prepared 
based on the most current and best available information, but actual results could differ materially from those estimates.  

Reclassification

Certain  prior  period  amounts  and  disclosures  may  have  been  reclassified  to  conform  to  the  current  period’s  financial 
presentation.

Book Value Per Share

Book  value  per  share  is  computed  by  dividing  total  permanent  shareholders’  equity  by  the  number  of  shares  issued  and 
outstanding at the end of the measurement period.

Principles of Consolidation

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

The  Company  holds  certain  investments  in  the  Funds  and  DHMF,  and  previously  held  an  investment  in  an  exchange-traded 
fund  (the  “ETF”),  for  general  corporate  investment  purposes,  to  provide  seed  capital  for  newly  formed  strategies  or  to  add 
capital to existing strategies.  The Funds are organized in a series fund structure in which there are multiple mutual funds within 
one Trust.  The Trust is an open-end investment company registered under the 1940 Act.  DHMF is organized as a Delaware 
limited  partnership  and  is  exempt  from  registration  under  the  1940  Act.    The  ETF  was  an  individual  series  of  ETF  Series 
Solutions, which was also an open-end investment company registered under the 1940 Act.  The ETF liquidated and its assets 
were distributed to its shareholders on April 5, 2019.  Each of the individual mutual funds represents (and the ETF represented) 
a separate share class of a legal entity organized under the Trust.  

43

The Company performs its consolidation analysis at the individual Fund and ETF level and has concluded that the Funds are, 
and the ETF was, a voting rights entity (“VRE”) because the structure of the Funds is such that the shareholders are deemed to 
have the power through voting rights to direct the activities that most significantly impact each Fund’s economic performance.  
To the extent material, these Funds are consolidated if Company ownership, directly or indirectly, represents a majority interest 
(greater  than  50%).    The  Company  records  redeemable  noncontrolling  interests  in  consolidated  investments  for  which  the 
Company's  ownership  is  less  than  100%.    The  Company  has  consolidated  the  Diamond  Hill  International  Fund  and  the 
Diamond Hill Large Cap Concentrated Fund (together, the "Consolidated Funds") as of December 31, 2021.  The Company de-
consolidated the Diamond Hill Global Fund during the year ended December 31, 2021, and de-consolidated the Diamond Hill 
Core  Bond  Fund  and  the  Diamond  Hill  High  Yield  Fund  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  as  the  Company's 
ownership declined to less than 50% during the years, respectively.  

DHCM is the investment manager of DHMF, a Delaware limited partnership, and is the managing member of Diamond Hill 
Fund GP, LLC (the “General Partner”), which is the general partner of DHMF. DHCM is wholly owned by, and consolidated 
with,  the  Company.  Further,  DHCM,  through  its  control  of  the  General  Partner,  has  the  power  to  direct  DHMF’s  economic 
activities and the right to receive investment advisory fees that may be significant from DHMF. DHMF commenced operations 
on June 1, 2021, and its underlying assets consist primarily of marketable securities.

The Company concluded DHMF was a variable interest entity (“VIE”) given that: (i) DHCM has disproportionately less voting 
interest  than  economic  interest,  and  (ii)  DHMF's  limited  partners  have  full  power  to  remove  the  General  Partner  (which  is 
controlled  by  the  Company)  due  to  the  existence  of  substantive  kick-out  rights.  In  addition,  substantially  all  of  DHMF's 
activities  are  conducted  on  behalf  of  the  General  Partner,  which  has  disproportionately  few  voting  rights.  The  Company 
concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of DHMF as it lacks the power to control DHMF, since DHMF's limited partners 
have  single-party  kick-out  rights  and  can  unilaterally  remove  the  General  Partner  without  cause.  DHCM’s  investments  in 
DHMF are reported as a component of the Company’s investment portfolio and valued at DHCM’s respective share of DHMF's 
net income or loss.

Gains and losses attributable to changes in the value of DHCM’s interests in DHMF are included in the Company’s reported 
investment income. The Company’s exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with DHMF is limited to the amount of its 
investment.  DHCM  is  not  obligated  to  provide,  and  has  not  provided,  financial  or  other  support  to  DHMF,  except  for  its 
investments to date and its contractually provided investment advisory responsibilities. The Company has not provided liquidity 
arrangements,  guarantees,  or  other  commitments  to  support  DHMF’s  operations,  and  DHMF’s  creditors  and  interest  holders 
have no recourse to the general credit of the Company.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

Redeemable noncontrolling interest represents third-party interests in the Consolidated Funds.  This interest is redeemable at the 
option  of  the  investors  and  therefore  is  not  treated  as  permanent  equity.    Redeemable  noncontrolling  interest  is  recorded  at 
redemption value, which approximates the fair value each reporting period.

Segment Information

Management has determined that the Company operates in one business segment, which is providing investment management 
and  administration  services  to  mutual  funds,  a  private  fund,  sub-advised  mutual  funds,  and  separately  managed  accounts. 
Therefore, the Company does not present disclosures relating to operating segments in annual or interim financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

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

44

Accounts Receivable

The Company records accounts receivable when they are due and presents them 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 the individual or entity that owes the receivable. No allowance for doubtful accounts was deemed necessary at either 
December 31, 2021 or 2020.  Accounts receivable from the Funds were $11.8 million and $10.5 million as of December 31, 
2021 and 2020, respectively. 

Investments

Management  determines  the  appropriate  classification  of  its  investments  at  the  time  of  purchase  and  re-evaluates  its 
determination for each reporting period.

Investments  in  the  funds  that  DHCM  advises,  where  the  Company  has  neither  control  nor  the  ability  to  exercise  significant 
influence,  as  well  as  securities  held  in  the  Consolidated  Funds  are  measured  at  fair  value  based  on  quoted  market  prices. 
Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as investment income in the Company's consolidated statements of income.

Investments classified as equity method investments represent investments in which the Company owns between 20-50% of the 
outstanding voting interests in the entity or when it is determined that the Company is able to exercise significant influence but 
not control over the investments.  When using the equity method, the Company recognizes its respective share of the investee’s 
net income or loss for the period, which is recorded as investment income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

Property and Equipment

Property  and  equipment,  consisting  of  leasehold  improvements,  right-of-use  lease  assets,  computer  equipment,  capitalized 
software, furniture, and fixtures are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Accumulated depreciation was $7.5 million 
and  $7.4  million  as  of  December  31,  2021  and  2020,  respectively.    Depreciation  is  calculated  using  the  straight-line  method 
over the estimated lives of the assets.

Implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software, including hosting arrangements, are capitalized and 
expensed  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  either  the  estimated  useful  life  of  the  respective  software  or  the  term  of  the  hosting 
arrangement.

Property and equipment is tested for impairment when there is an indication that the carrying amount of an asset may not be 
recoverable.  When an asset is determined to not be recoverable, the impairment loss is measured based on the excess, if any, of 
the carrying value of the asset over its fair value.

Revenue Recognition – General

The  Company  recognizes  revenue  when  it  satisfies  performance  obligations  under  the  terms  of  a  contract  with  a  client.  The 
Company earns substantially all of its revenue from DHCM investment advisory and fund administration contracts. 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 performance-
based fees. 

Revenue earned for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 under contracts with clients include:

Proprietary funds
Separately managed accounts, excluding 
performance-based fees

Performance-based fees

Sub-Advised funds

Model delivery

Investment advisory

Year Ended December 31, 2021

Mutual fund 
administration, net

Total revenue

$ 

113,602,317  $ 

12,056,228  $ 

125,658,545 

27,882,488 

11,860,051 

11,815,519 

4,977,234 

— 

— 

— 

— 

27,882,488 

11,860,051 

11,815,519 

4,977,234 

$ 

170,137,609  $ 

12,056,228  $ 

182,193,837 

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proprietary funds
Separately managed accounts, excluding 
performance-based fees

Performance-based fees

Sub-Advised funds

Model delivery

Proprietary funds

Separately managed accounts, excluding 
performance-based fees

Performance-based fees

Sub-Advised funds

Model delivery

Investment advisory

Year Ended December 31, 2020

Mutual fund 
administration, net

Total revenue

$ 

88,103,499  $ 

7,262,488  $ 

95,365,987 

19,772,236 

473,315 

8,119,693 

2,656,487 

— 

— 

— 

— 

19,772,236 

473,315 

8,119,693 

2,656,487 

119,125,230  $ 

7,262,488  $ 

126,387,718 

Investment advisory

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Mutual fund 
administration, net

Total revenue

97,327,310  $ 

8,614,971  $ 

105,942,281 

$ 

$ 

21,662,447 

1,313,427 

5,751,532 

1,954,693 

— 

— 

— 

— 

21,662,447 

1,313,427 

5,751,532 

1,954,693 

$ 

128,009,409  $ 

8,614,971  $ 

136,624,380 

Revenue Recognition – Investment Advisory Fees

DHCM’s investment advisory contracts with clients have a single performance obligation because the contracted services are 
not separately identifiable from other obligations in the contracts and therefore, are not distinct.  All performance obligations to 
provide investment advisory services are satisfied over time by DHCM and the Company recognizes revenue through DHCM 
as time passes.

The fees DHCM receives for its services under its investment advisory contracts are based on AUM, which changes based on 
the value of securities held under each investment advisory contract.  These fees are thereby constrained and represent variable 
consideration,  and  they  are  excluded  from  revenue  until  the  AUM  on  which  DHCM’s  client  is  billed  is  no  longer  subject  to 
market fluctuations. 

DHCM also provides its strategy model portfolio and related services to sponsors of model delivery programs. DHCM is paid a 
model  delivery  fee  for  its  services  by  the  program  sponsor  at  a  pre-determined  rate  based  on  the  amount  of  assets  in  the  
program. Model delivery program revenues were $5.0 million, $2.7 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 
2021,  2020,  and  2019,  respectively.  Model  delivery  program  revenue  is  included  in  investment  advisory  fees  in  the 
consolidated statements of income.

46

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue Recognition – Performance-Based Fees

DHCM manages certain client accounts that pay performance-based fees.  These fees are calculated based on client investment 
results  over  rolling  five-year  periods.    The  Company  records  performance-based  fees  when  it  is  probable  that  a  significant 
reversal of the revenue will not occur.  During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, the Company recorded 
$11.9 million, $0.5 million, and $1.3 million, respectively, in performance-based fees.  The table below shows AUM subject to 
performance-based fees and the amount of performance-based fees that would be recognized based upon investment results as 
of December 31, 2021:

Contractual Measurement Period Ending:
Quarter Ending September 30, 2022

Total 

As of December 31, 2021

AUM subject to 
performance-based fees

Unearned performance-
based fees

$ 

$ 

522,340,334  $ 

522,340,334  $ 

523,099 

523,099 

The  contractual  end  date  highlights  the  time  remaining  until  the  performance-based  fees  are  scheduled  to  be  earned.    The 
amount  of  performance-based  fees  that  would  be  recognized  based  upon  investments  results  as  of  December  31,  2021,  will 
increase or decrease based on future client investment results through the contractual period end. 

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 performance obligations such as mutual fund administration, fund accounting, 
transfer  agency,  and  other  related  functions.  These  services  are  performed  concurrently  under  DHCM's  agreement  with  the 
Funds, all performance obligations to provide these administrative services are satisfied over time, and the Company recognizes 
the related revenue as time progresses.  Each Fund pays DHCM a fee for performing these services, which is calculated using 
an annual rate multiplied by the average daily net assets of each respective Fund share class. These fees are thereby constrained 
and represent variable consideration, and they are excluded from revenue until the AUM on which DHCM bills the Funds is no 
longer subject to market fluctuations.

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. In fulfilling a portion of its role under the administration agreement with the 
Funds, DHCM acts as agent and pays for these services on behalf of the Funds. Each vendor is independently responsible for 
fulfillment of the services it has been engaged to provide and negotiates its fees and terms directly with the management and 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Funds.  Each  year,  the  Funds'  board  of  trustees  reviews  the  fee  that  each  Fund  pays  to  DHCM,  and 
specifically considers 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 addition, prior to Funds' elimination of Class C Shares, DHCM advanced the upfront commissions 
that  were  paid  to  brokers  who  sold  Class  C  shares.  These  advances  were  capitalized  and  amortized  over  12  months  to 
correspond  with  the  repayments  DHCM  received  from  the  principal  underwriter  to  recoup  this  commission  advancement.  
During the first quarter of 2021, Class C Shares were liquidated with the proceeds transferring to Investor Class Shares.  As a 
result, no such financing activity will be recognized in future periods. 

47

Mutual fund administration gross and net revenue are summarized below:

Mutual fund administration:

Administration revenue, gross

Fund related expense

Revenue, net of related expenses

C-Share financing:

Broker commission advance repayments

Broker commission amortization

Financing activity, net

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$  29,635,451  $  22,296,535  $  22,569,946 

(17,564,297)   

(15,048,850)   

(13,989,139) 

12,071,154 

7,247,685 

8,580,807 

33,595 

245,594 

240,459 

(48,521)   

(230,791)   

(206,295) 

(14,926)   

14,803 

34,164 

Mutual fund administration revenue, net

$  12,056,228  $ 

7,262,488  $ 

8,614,971 

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for current and deferred income taxes through an asset and liability approach.  Deferred tax assets 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  federal  and  applicable  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 it does business.  Due to the subjectivity of interpretations of laws and rulings in each jurisdiction, the 
differences and interplay in tax laws among those jurisdictions, and 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  positions  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.  The Company 
records interest and penalties within income tax expense on the income statement.  See Note 9.

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 unvested restricted shares.  See Note 10.  

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

The Company did not adopt any new accounting guidance during the year ended December 31, 2021 that had a material effect 
on its financial position or results of operations.

Newly Issued But Not Yet Adopted Accounting Guidance

The Company has considered all newly issued accounting guidance that is applicable to its operations and the preparation of its 
consolidated statements, including those it has not yet adopted.  The Company does not believe that any such guidance has or 
will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

48

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 3 Investments

The following table summarizes the carrying value of the Company's investments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Fair value investments:

Securities held in Consolidated Funds(a)
Company-sponsored investments

  Company-sponsored equity method investments

Total Investments

As of December 31,

2021

2020

$ 

73,855,204  $ 

79,173,437 

13,627,360 

33,233,307 

95,167,829 

— 

$ 

166,656,001  $ 

128,401,136 

(a) Of the securities held in the Consolidated Funds as of December 31, 2021, the Company directly held $55.8 million and non-controlling 
shareholders held $18.1 million. Of the securities held in the Consolidated Funds as of December 31, 2020, the Company directly held $23.6 
million and non-controlling shareholders held $9.6 million.

As of December 31, 2021, securities held by the Company in the Consolidated Funds consisted of the Diamond Hill Large Cap 
Concentrated Fund and the Diamond Hill International Fund, as our ownership percentage in these investments was greater than 
50%.  

As  of  December  31,  2020,  securities  held  in  the  Consolidated  Funds  consisted  of  the  Diamond  Hill  Global  Fund  and  the 
Diamond Hill International Fund as our ownership percentage in these investments was greater than 50%.  

The components of net investment income are as follows:  

For the Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

Realized gains (losses)

$ 

15,676,405  $ 

(1,488,059)  $ 

Unrealized gains

Dividend income

Interest income

Other 

(2,352,649)   

3,221,448 

— 

5,348,243 

2,824,542 

— 

(163,988)   

(99,877)   

9,056,152 

15,086,747 

5,350,146 

987,240 

27,090 

Investment income, net

$ 

16,381,216  $ 

6,584,849  $ 

30,507,375 

Company-Sponsored Equity Method Investments

The Company’s only equity method investment during 2021 was DHMF, which commenced operations on June 1, 2021. The 
Company’s ownership percentage in DHMF as of December 31, 2021 was 87%.  

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no equity method investments. During 2020, there were periods of time when the 
Company’s ownership in the Diamond Hill Research Opportunities Fund1 and the Diamond Hill Core Bond Fund was between 
20%  and  50%,  respectively,  and  thus,  a  portion  of  these  Funds’  income  is  included  in  the  table  below  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2020.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s equity method investments consisted of the Diamond Hill Research Opportunities 
Fund and the Diamond Hill Core Bond Fund, and the Company’s ownership percentage in each of these investments was 23% 
and 36%, respectively.  During 2019, there were periods of time where the Company’s ownership in the Diamond Hill High 
Yield Fund was between 20% and 50%, respectively, and thus, a portion of that Fund’s income is included in the table below 
for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019.    During  2019,  there  were  periods  of  time  where  the  Company’s  ownership  in  the 
Diamond  Hill  Core  Bond  Fund  was  greater  than  50%,  and  thus,  a  portion  of  that  Fund’s  income  is  excluded  from  the  table 
below for the year ended December 31, 2019. 

The following table includes the condensed summary financial information from the Company’s equity method investments as 
of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019:

1 In October 2020, the Diamond Hill Research Opportunities Fund merged into the Diamond Hill Long-Short Fund. 

49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets

Total liabilities

Net assets

DHCM’s portion of net assets

As of December 31,

2021

2020

$ 

$ 

15,879,492 

270,446 

15,609,046 

13,627,360 

— 

— 

— 

— 

For the Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

Investment income

Expenses

Net realized gains (losses)

Net change in unrealized appreciation

Net income 

$ 

106,440  $ 

4,246,021  $ 

37,820 

— 

977,920 

1,046,540 

1,114,278 

(1,577,639)   

2,289,667 

3,843,771 

DHCM’s portion of net income 

$ 

914,855  $ 

1,807,279  $ 

5,346,588 

1,551,291 

6,390,727 

14,805,837 

24,991,861 

8,301,571 

Note 4 Fair Value Measurements

The Company determines the fair value of our cash equivalents and certain investments using the following broad levels listed 
below:

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets 
that are not active, and model-driven valuations in which all significant inputs are observable.

Level 3 - Valuations derived from techniques in which significant inputs are unobservable.  The Company does not value any 
investments using Level 3 inputs.

These levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments. 

The following table summarizes investments that are recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet using fair value 
measurements (excludes investments classified as equity method investments) determined based upon the differing levels as of 
December 31, 2021 and 2020:

December 31, 2021
Cash equivalents 

Fair value investments
     Securities held in Consolidated Funds(a) 
     Company-sponsored investments

December 31, 2020

Cash equivalents 

Fair value investments
     Securities held in Consolidated Funds(a) 
     Company-sponsored investments

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

$  76,836,186   

—   

—  $  76,836,186 

41,280,398  $  32,574,806   

79,173,437   

—   

—   

—   

73,855,204 

79,173,437 

94,698,816   

—   

—   

94,698,816 

17,641,668  $  15,591,639   

$  95,167,829   

—   

—   

33,233,307 

—  $  95,167,829 

(a) Of the securities held in the Consolidated Funds as of December 31, 2021, the Company directly held $55.8 million and non-controlling 
shareholders held $18.1 million.  Of the securities held in the Consolidated Funds as of December 31, 2020, the Company directly held $23.6 
million and non-controlling shareholders held $9.6 million.

Changes  to  fair  values  of  the  investments  are  recorded  in  the  Company’s  consolidated  statements  of  income  as  investment 
income (loss), net.

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 5 Line of Credit

The Company has a committed Line of Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with a commercial bank that matures on 
December 23, 2022, which permits the Company to borrow up to $25.0 million.  Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear 
interest  at  a  rate  equal  to  the  Secured  Overnight  Financing  Rate  plus  1.10%.    The  Company  pays  a  commitment  fee  on  the 
unused portion of the facility, accruing at a rate per annum of 0.10%.

The proceeds of the Credit Agreement may be used by the Company and its subsidiaries for ongoing working capital needs, to 
seed  new  and  existing  investment  strategies,  and  for  other  general  corporate  purposes.    The  Credit  Agreement  contains 
customary representations, warranties, and covenants.

The  Company  did  not  borrow  under  the  Credit  Agreement  as  of  and  for  the  period  ended  December  31,  2021,  and  no 
borrowings were outstanding as of December 31, 2021.

Note 6 Capital Stock

Common Shares

The Company has only one class of securities outstanding, common shares, no par value per share.

Authorization of Preferred Shares

The Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of 1,000,000 “blank check” preferred 
shares  with  such  designations,  rights,  and  preferences  as  may  be  determined  from  time  to  time  by  the  Company’s  board  of 
directors  (“Board”).    The  Board  is  authorized,  without  shareholder  approval,  to  issue  preferred  shares  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 preferred shares issued or outstanding as of either December 31, 2021, or 2020.

Note 7 Compensation Plans

Equity Incentive Plan

The Company’s 2014 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is intended to facilitate the Company’s ability to attract and 
retain staff, provide additional incentive to employees and directors, and promote the success of the Company’s business.  The 
Plan  authorizes  the  issuance  of  600,000  common  shares  of  the  Company  in  various  forms  of  equity  awards.    The  Plan  also 
authorizes cash incentive awards.  As of December 31, 2021, there were 179,001 common shares available for awards under the 
Plan.  The Plan provides that the Board, or a committee appointed by the Board, may grant awards and otherwise administer the 
Plan.  

Share-Based Payment Transactions

The  Company  issues  restricted  stock  grants  under  the  Plan.  Restricted  stock  grants  represent  common  shares  issued  and 
outstanding upon grant subject to vesting restrictions. The Company has historically awarded stock grants that cliff vest after 
five years to all new employees upon hire and as additional grants to key employees on a periodic basis. While the Company 
currently plans to continue to award five-year cliff vest grants to new employees, beginning in 2021, the Company also began 
making new long-term incentive stock awards to existing employees which vest ratably over three years.

Restricted  stock  grants  issued  under  the  Plan  are  valued  based  upon  the  fair  market  value  of  the  common  shares  on  the 
applicable  grant  date.  The  restricted  stock  grants  are  recorded  as  deferred  compensation  in  the  equity  section  of  the  balance 
sheet  on  the  grant  date  and  then  recognized  as  compensation  expense  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  the  vesting  period  of  the 
respective grant. The Company's policy is to adjust compensation expense for forfeitures as they occur.

The  following  table  represents  a  roll-forward  of  outstanding  restricted  stock  and  related  activity  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2021:

51

Outstanding Restricted Stock as of December 31, 2020

Grants issued

Grants vested

Grants forfeited

Outstanding Restricted Stock as of December 31, 2021

Weighted-
Average
Grant Date Price
per Share

Shares

183,718  $ 

69,879 

(32,580)   

(19,847)   

201,170  $ 

173.80 

158.92 

180.50 

171.44 

165.61 

The weighted-average grant date price per share of restricted stock issued during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 
was  $115.32  and  $146.59,  respectively.    The  total  fair  value  of  restricted  stock  vested,  as  of  their  respective  vesting  dates, 
during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 was $5.2 million, $5.2 million, and $3.3 million, respectively. 

Total deferred equity compensation related to unvested restricted stock grants was $15.3 million as of December 31, 2021. The 
recognition of compensation expense related to deferred compensation over the remaining vesting periods is as follows:

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Thereafter

Total

$ 

7,362,870  $ 

5,473,055  $ 

1,979,304  $ 

371,883  $ 

81,456  $ 

137  $ 

15,268,705 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company adopted the Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") effective October 
27, 2020.  Under the ESPP, eligible employees may purchase shares of the Company's common stock at 85% of the fair market 
value  on  the  last  day  of  each  offering  period.    Each  offering  period  is  approximately  three  months  coinciding  with  the 
Company's fiscal quarters.  During the year ended December 31, 2021, ESPP participants purchased 4,278 shares of common 
stock for $0.6 million and the Company recorded $0.1 million of share based payment expense related to these purchases.   

As of December 31, 2021, 95,722 shares of our common stock were reserved for future issuance through the ESPP.  

Stock Grant Transactions

The following table represents shares issued as part of the Company’s incentive compensation program during the years ended 
December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019:

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020
December 31, 2019

Shares Issued

Grant Date Value

3,681  $ 

23,640  $ 
24,048  $ 

529,806 

3,396,359 
3,655,296 

401(k) Plan

The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan in which all employees are eligible to participate. Employees may contribute a portion of 
their compensation subject to certain limits based on federal tax laws.  The Company matches employee contributions equal to 
250.0%  of  the  first  6.0%  of  an  employee’s  compensation  contributed  to  the  plan.    Since  January  1,  2021,  the  Company  has 
settled  the  401(k)  plan  matching  contributions  in  cash  or  common  shares  of  the  Company  based  on  the  election  of  the 
employees.  Prior  to  January  1,  2021,  the  Company  made  all  matching  contributions  in  Company  stock.  Employees  become 

52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
fully vested in the matching contributions after six plan years of employment.  The following table summarizes the Company’s 
expenses attributable to the 401(k) plan during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

Deferred Compensation Plans

Shares Issued

Share 
Contributions

Cash 
Contributions

Total Company 
Contributions

506  $ 

20,976  $ 

17,651  $ 

87,667  $ 

2,779,641  $ 

2,511,746 

2,496,936 

—  $ 

—  $ 

2,867,308 

2,511,746 

2,496,936 

The  Company  offers  two  deferred  compensation  plans:  the  Diamond  Hill  Fixed  Term  Deferred  Compensation  Plan  and  the 
Diamond Hill Variable Term Deferred Compensation Plan (together, the “Deferred Comp Plans”).  Under the Deferred Comp 
Plans,  participants  may  elect  to  voluntarily  defer,  for  a  minimum  of  five  years,  certain  incentive  compensation  that  the 
Company then contributes into the Deferred Comp Plans.  Participants are responsible for designating investment options for 
assets  they  contribute,  and  the  distribution  paid  to  each  participant  reflects  any  gains  or  losses  on  the  assets  realized  in 
connection with the Deferred Comp Plans. Assets held in the Deferred Comp Plans are included in the Company’s investment 
portfolio, and the associated obligation to participants is included in deferred compensation liability.  Deferred compensation 
liability was $37.3 million and $33.2 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Note 8 Operating Leases

The Company currently leases office space of approximately 37,829 square feet at one location.  

As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the carrying value of this right-of-use asset, which is included in property 
and equipment, was approximately $1.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively, net of deferred rent on the consolidated balance 
sheets.    As  of  December  31,  2021  and  December  31,  2020,  the  carrying  value  of  the  lease  liability  was  approximately  $2.0 
million and $2.5 million, respectively, which is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the consolidated balance 
sheets. 

The following table summarizes the total lease and the related operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 
and 2019:

For the year ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$ 

932,637 

$ 

947,398 

$ 

971,203 

Lease  expense  and  the  related  operating  expenses  are  recorded  in  general  and  administrative  expenses  on  the  consolidated 
statements of income.

The approximate future minimum lease payments under the operating lease are as follows:

Total

2022

2023

2024

2025

Thereafter

$ 

2,028,581 

$ 

624,179 

$ 

624,179 

$ 

624,179 

$ 

156,044 

$ 

— 

Future Minimum Lease Payments by Year

In addition to the above lease payments, the Company is also responsible for normal operating expenses of the property.  These 
annual operating expenses were approximately $0.4 million in each of 2021, 2020, and 2019.

53

 
 
 
 
 
Note 9 Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of:  

Current federal income tax provision

Current state and local income tax provision

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

Provision for income taxes

As of December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$  20,987,801  $ 

9,633,927  $  13,952,230 

6,472,120 

2,374,534 

(1,410,106)   

1,949,407 

3,656,997 

1,079,247 

$  26,049,815  $  13,957,868  $  18,688,474 

A reconciliation of income tax expense at the statutory federal rate to the Company’s income tax expense is as follows:

Income tax computed at statutory rate
Expense (benefit) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests(a)
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit

Internal revenue code section 162 limitations

Change in uncertain state and local tax positions, net of federal benefit

Excess tax deficit (benefit) on vesting of restricted stock

2021

2020

2019

$  21,344,264  $  10,945,831  $  16,472,987 

(291,675)   

104,035 

(1,007,012) 

5,112,975 

1,875,882 

2,835,215 

909,387 

632,705 

— 

— 

134,302 

612,930 

625,009 

(47,197) 

(70,878) 

Income tax benefit from dividends paid on restricted stock

(962,139)   

(455,283)   

(431,192) 

Interest and penalties

Other

Income tax expense

22,490 

1,460 

(219,789)   

240,308 

101,010 

210,532 

$  26,049,815  $  13,957,868  $  18,688,474 

(a) The provision for income taxes includes expense (benefit) attributable to the fact that the Company’s operations include the Consolidated 
Funds,  which  are  not  subject  to  federal  income  taxes.    Accordingly,  a  portion  of  the  Company’s  earnings  are  not  subject  to  corporate  tax 
levels.

Deferred  income  taxes  and  benefits  arise  from  temporary  differences  between  taxable  income  for  financial  statement  and 
income tax return purposes.  Net deferred tax assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Stock-based compensation

Accrued compensation

Unrealized gains

Property and equipment

Other assets and liabilities

Net deferred tax assets

2021

2020

$ 

3,446,638  $ 

3,500,026 

10,527,397 

9,026,113 

(3,255,684)   

(3,145,177) 

(886,164)   

(963,610) 

15,365 

20,094 

$ 

9,847,552  $ 

8,437,446 

The net temporary differences incurred to date will reverse in future periods as the Company generates taxable earnings.  The 
Company  believes  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  the  results  of  future  operations  will  generate  sufficient  taxable  income  to 
realize the net deferred tax assets recorded.  The Company records a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that 
some  portion  or  all  of  the  deferred  tax  assets  will  not  be  realized.    As  of  December  31,  2021,  no  valuation  allowance  was 
deemed necessary.

FASB  ASC  740,  Income  Taxes,  prescribes  a  recognition  threshold  and  measurement  attribute  for  the  financial  statement 
recognition  and  measurement  of  a  tax  position  taken  or  expected  to  be  taken  in  a  tax  return  and  also  provides  guidance  on 
derecognition,  classification,  interest  and  penalties,  accounting  in  interim  periods,  disclosure  and  transition.    The  Company 
recognizes tax benefits related to positions taken, or expected to be taken, on its tax returns, only if the positions are "more-
likely-than-not"  sustainable.    Once  this  threshold  has  been  met,  the  Company’s  measurement  of  its  expected  tax  benefits  is 
recognized in its financial statements.

The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  file  income  tax  returns  with  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  and  the  taxing  authorities  of 
various states.  Generally, the Company is subject to federal, state, and local examinations by tax authorities for the tax years 
ended December 31, 2017 through 2021.  During 2020, the Company closed an examination by the California Franchise Tax 

54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board for the Company’s 2015 and 2016 tax years.  During 2019, the Company closed an examination with the New York State 
Department of Finance and Taxation for tax years 2014 through 2016.   

The  amount  of  uncertain  tax  positions  as  of  December  31,  2021,  2020,  and  2019,  respectively,  which  would  impact  the 
Company’s effective tax rate if recognized, and a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of uncertain tax positions 
is as follows:

Uncertain tax positions, beginning of the year

Gross addition for tax positions of the current year

Gross additions for tax positions of prior years

Reductions of tax positions of prior years for:

Lapses of applicable statutes of limitations

Settlements during the period

Changes in judgment/excess reserve

Uncertain tax positions, end of year

Note 10 Earnings Per Share

2021

2020

2019

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

—  $ 

2,982,337 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(2,935,140) 

—  $ 

(47,197) 

— 

— 

The Company’s common shares outstanding consist of all shares issued and outstanding, including unvested restricted shares.  
Basic and diluted EPS are calculated under the two-class method.  The following table sets forth the computation for basic and 
diluted EPS and reconciliation between basic and diluted shares outstanding:

Net Income

Year Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2019

$ 75,589,539  $ 38,165,138  $ 59,754,319 

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

(1,388,930)   

495,407 

(4,795,295) 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

$ 74,200,609  $ 38,660,545  $ 54,959,024 

Weighted average number of outstanding shares

Dilutive impact of restricted stock units

3,179,497 

3,214,564 

3,436,574 

— 

— 

67 

Weighted average number of outstanding shares - Diluted

3,179,497 

3,214,564 

3,436,641 

Earnings per share attributable to common shareholders

Basic

Diluted

Note 11 Commitments and Contingencies

$ 

$ 

23.34  $ 

23.34  $ 

12.03  $ 

12.03  $ 

15.99 

15.99 

The  Company  indemnifies  its  directors,  officers,  and  certain  employees  for  certain  liabilities  that  may  arise  from  the 
performance  of  their  duties  to  the  Company.  From  time  to  time,  the  Company  may  be  involved  in  legal  matters  relating  to 
claims arising in the ordinary course of business. There are currently no such matters pending that the Company believes could 
have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements that contain a variety of representations and
warranties  and  that  provide  general  indemnification  obligations.  Certain  agreements  do  not  contain  any  limits  on  the 
Company’s  liability  and  could  involve  future  claims  that  may  be  made  against  the  Company  that  have  not  yet  occurred.  
Therefore,  it  is  not  possible  to  estimate  the  Company’s  potential  liability  under  these  indemnities.  Further,  the  Company 
maintains insurance policies that may provide coverage against certain of these liabilities.

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 12 Sale of the High Yield-Focused Investment Advisory Contracts

DHCM entered into an asset purchase agreement dated February 2, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Brandywine Global 
Investment  Management,  LLC  (“Brandywine  Global”),  a  specialist  investment  manager  of  Franklin  Resources,  Inc.    The 
transaction  closed  on  July  30,  2021  ("Closing  Date"),  at  which  time,  Brandywine  Global  acquired  the  investment  advisory 
contracts of DHCM’s two high yield-focused mutual funds - the Corporate Credit Fund and the High Yield Fund (the “High 
Yield-Focused Advisory Contracts”).

DHCM has determined the gain on this transaction in accordance with ASC 610-20, Gains and Losses from the Derecognition 
of Nonfinancial Assets.   DHCM received an initial cash payment at closing of $9.0 million, which is included in “gain on sale 
of high yield-focused advisory contracts” in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

DHCM may receive two additional payments of up to $13.0 million in the aggregate based on the net revenue of the Corporate 
Credit  Fund  and  the  High  Yield  Fund  on  the  one-year  anniversary  of  the  Closing  Date.  The  Company  has  not  recorded  any 
additional gain for the two potential additional payments because this variable consideration is constrained based on movements 
in the financial markets and the net shareholder flows of the Corporate Credit Fund and the High Yield Fund.  Therefore, there 
can be no reasonable assurance that all or any of these additional payments will be received by DHCM.

Note 13 Subsequent Events

On  February  25,  2022,  the  Board  approved  a  quarterly  cash  dividend  of  $1.50  per  share,  payable  on  March  18,  2022,  to 
shareholders of record as of March 7, 2022. 

ITEM 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on 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 the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Exchange 
Act)  as  of  the  end  of  the  period  covered  by  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  (the  “Evaluation  Date”).    Based  on  such 
evaluation,  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  the  Chief  Financial  Officer  have  concluded  that,  as  of  the  Evaluation  Date,  the 
Company’s  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  are  effective  to  ensure  that  the  information  required  to  be  disclosed  by  the 
Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within 
the  time  periods  specified  in  the  SEC’s  rules  and  forms,  and  to  ensure  that  the  information  required  to  be  disclosed  by  the 
Company  in  the  reports  it  files  or  submits  under  the  Exchange  Act  is  accumulated  and  communicated  to  the  Company’s 
management,  including  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  or  persons  performing  similar  functions,  as 
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 
2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management 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 Exchange Act.  The Company’s 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  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the 
United States of America.

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 Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 based on criteria 
established  in  Internal  Control  -  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the 

56

Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.

The  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  KPMG  LLP,  has  audited  the  Company’s  2021  and  2020 
consolidated  financial  statements  included  in  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  and  the  Company’s  internal  control  over 
financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, and has issued its Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on 
Consolidated Financial Statements, which is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 9B. Other Information

None.

ITEM 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections

Not applicable.

57

ITEM 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

PART III

Information required by this Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 
2022  annual  meeting  of  shareholders,  which  will  be  filed  with  the  SEC  no  later  than  120  days  after  December  31,  2021, 
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (the “2022 Proxy Statement”), under the captions: “Delinquent Section 16(a) 
Reports”, “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors”, “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors - The Board of Directors and Committees”, 
“Proposal 1 - Election of Directors - Corporate Governance”, and “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors - Executive Officers and 
Compensation Information”.

ITEM 11.

Executive Compensation

Information  required  by  this  Item  11  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  from  the  2022  Proxy  Statement  under  the  captions: 
“Proposal 1 – Election of Directors—The Board of Directors and Committees”, “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors – Corporate 
Governance”,  “Proposal  1  –  Election  of  Directors  –  Executive  Officers  and  Compensation  Information”,  and  “Proposal  1  – 
Election of Directors – Executive Officers and Compensation Information - Compensation Committee Report”.

ITEM 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters

The following table sets forth certain information concerning our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2021:

Equity Compensation Plan Information

(a)

(b)

(c)

Plan category
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders  

Number of securities to
be issued upon the
exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and
rights

Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a)

— 

— 

179,001  1

1

This amount relates to common shares that may be issued under our 2014 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan.

The other information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference from the 2022 Proxy Statement under the 
captions:  “Security  Ownership  of  Certain  Beneficial  Owners  and  Management”  and  “Proposal  1  –  Election  of  Directors  – 
Executive Officers and Compensation Information.”

ITEM 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Information  required  by  this  Item  13  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  from  the  2022  Proxy  Statement  under  the  caption: 
“Proposal  1  –  Election  of  Directors  –  Director  Independence”  and  “Proposal  1  –  Election  of  Directors  –  Corporate 
Governance”.

ITEM 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Information  required  by  this  Item  14  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  from  the  2022  Proxy  Statement  under  the  caption: 
“Proposal 2 – Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”.

58

 
 
 
 
ITEM 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

PART IV

(a)   (1)

Financial  Statements:  See  “Index  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements”  within  Part  II.  Item  8,  Financial 
Statements and Supplementary Data.

(2) Financial  Statement  Schedules:  All  financial  statement  schedules  for  which  provision  is  made  in  the  applicable 
accounting regulations of the SEC are omitted because they are not required or the required information is included 
in the accompanying financial statements or notes thereto.

(3) Exhibits:

3.1

3.2

3.3

4.1

10.1

10.2

10.3*

10.4*

10.5*

10.6*

10.7*

10.8*

10.9*

10.10*

10.11*

10.12*

10.13

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company. (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3(i) 
to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 7, 2002; File No. 000-24498.)

Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by 
reference from Form 8-K Current Report for the event on April 28, 2017; File No. 000-24498.)

Amended  and  Restated  Code  of  Regulations  of  the  Company  (Incorporated  by  reference  from  Form  8-K 
Current Report, Exhibit 3.2, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017; File No. 000-24498.)

Description of the Company’s Capital Stock (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Annual Report 
on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2020; file No. 000-24498)

Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement between Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc. 
and  the  Diamond  Hill  Funds  dated  November  17,  2011,  as  amended  November  21,  2013.  (Incorporated  by 
reference from Exhibit 28(d)(xi) to Form N-1A filed by Diamond Hill Funds as a 485BPOS on October 10, 
2017; File Nos. 333-22075 and 811-08061)

Amended and Restated Administrative and Transfer Agency Services Agreement dated as of May 31, 2002, as 
amended  January  1,  2016,  between  Diamond  Hill  Capital  Management,  Inc.  and  the  Diamond  Hill  Funds. 
(Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 28(h)(vii) to Form N-1A filed by Diamond Hill Funds as a 485BPOS 
on October 10, 2017; File Nos. 333-22075 and 811-08061)

2014  Equity  and  Cash  Incentive  Plan.  (Incorporated  by  reference  from  Exhibit  10.1  to  the  Registration 
Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on June 27, 2014; File No 333-197064.)

2014 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan As of Agreement. (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 to the 
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2019; File No. 000-24498.)

Diamond  Hill  Investment  Group,  Inc.  Compensation  Recoupment  and  Restitution  Policy.  (Incorporated  by 
reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on April 27, 2020; File 
No. 000-24498.)

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. Compensation Recoupment and Restitution Policy Acknowledgment.

Diamond Hill Fixed Term Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2013; File No. 000-24498.)

Diamond Hill Variable Term Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to the 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2013; File No. 000-24498.)

First  Amendment  to  the  Diamond  Hill  Fixed  Term  Deferred  Compensation  Plan.  (Incorporated  by  reference 
from  Exhibit  10.1  to  the  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  with  the  SEC  on  May  28,  2013;  File  No. 
000-24498.)

First Amendment to the Diamond Hill Variable Term Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference 
from  Exhibit  10.2  to  the  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed  with  the  SEC  on  May  28,  2013;  File  No. 
000-24498.)

Employment  Agreement  between  Heather  E.  Brilliant  and  Diamond  Hill  Capital  Management,  Inc.,  dated 
October 26, 2021 (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed 
with the SEC on October 26, 2021; File No. 000-24498).

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 
10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on October 27, 2020; File No. 000-24498.)

Asset Purchase Agreement By and Between Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC and Diamond 
Hill Capital Management, Inc. (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 
10-Q filed with the SEC on April 26, 2021; File No. 000-24498.)

10.14*

2014 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan As of Agreement - Graded Vesting.

59

10.15*

2014 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan As of Agreement - Director.

14.1

21.1

23.1

31.1

31.2

32.1

Amended Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 14.1 to the Annual 
Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020; File No. 000-24498.)

Subsidiaries of the Company. (Filed herewith)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, KPMG LLP. (Filed herewith)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). (Filed herewith)

Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). (Filed herewith)

Section 1350 Certifications. (Furnished herewith)

101.INS XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101).

* Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

(b) Exhibits: Reference is made to Item 15(a)(3) above.
(c) Financial Statement Schedules: None required.

ITEM 16.

Form 10-K Summary

None.

60

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly 
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized:

DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.

By:

/s/ Heather E. Brilliant

Heather E. Brilliant, Chief Executive Officer

February 25, 2022

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  this  report  has  been  signed  below  by  the 
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

/s/ Heather E. Brilliant

Heather E. Brilliant

/s/ Thomas E. Line

Thomas E. Line

/s/ Jeffrey J. Cook

Jeffrey J. Cook

Richard S. Cooley*

Richard S. Cooley

Randolph J. Fortener*

Randolph J. Fortener

James F. Laird*

James F. Laird

Paula R. Meyer*

Paula R. Meyer

Nicole R. St. Pierre*

Nicole R. St. Pierre

L’Quentus Thomas*

L’Quentus Thomas

Title

Date

Chief Executive Officer and 

February 25, 2022

President

Chief Financial Officer and 

February 25, 2022

Treasurer

Controller

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

* By

/s/ Thomas E. Line
Thomas E. Line

Executed by Thomas E. Line

on behalf of those indicated pursuant to Powers of Attorney

61

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Investor 
Information

Corporate Headquarters

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.

325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 200

Columbus, OH 43215

614.255.3333

info@diamond-hill.com

www.diamond-hill.com

Stock Listing

Independent Registered Public 
Accountants

KPMG LLP

Columbus, OH

Form 10-K and Other Financial 
Reports

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, 

as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange 

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. is listed on 

Commission, which includes the complete 

the NASDAQ Global Select Market

financial statements of the company, has 

Ticker Symbol: DHIL

Shareholder Information

been included with the proxy materials mailed 

to each shareholder. Additional copies are 

available without charge by contacting the 

The Transfer Agent for Diamond Hill is Equiniti 

Company at:

Trust Company. Shareholders who wish to 

325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 200

transfer their stock or change the name in 

Columbus, OH 43215

which the shares are registered should contact:

614.255.333

info@diamond-hill.com

Legal Counsel

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Columbus, OH

Equiniti Trust Company

PO Box 64874
St. Paul, MN 55164-0874

800.401.1957

www.diamond-hill.com