Overview
Assets Under Management: $545 million
Headquarters: NEW YORK, NY
High-Net-Worth Clients: 34
Average Client Assets: $7 million
Services Offered
Services: Portfolio Management for Individuals
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (GS FORM ADV PART 2 8.13.25)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | and above | 3.00% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $30,000 | 3.00% |
| $5 million | $150,000 | 3.00% |
| $10 million | $300,000 | 3.00% |
| $50 million | $1,500,000 | 3.00% |
| $100 million | $3,000,000 | 3.00% |
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 34
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 41.22
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $7 million
Total Client Accounts: 1,203
Discretionary Accounts: 1,203
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 103727
Filing ID: 2009460
Last Filing Date: 2025-08-13 15:25:00
Website: https://gagnonsec.com
Form ADV Documents
Additional Brochure: GS FORM ADV PART 2 8.13.25 (2025-08-13)
View Document Text
ITEM 1: COVER PAGE
Firm Brochure
(Part 2A of Form ADV)
Gagnon Securities LLC
1370 Avenue of the Americas, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Contact: Lisa Ferrante
lisa@gagnonsec.com
P: 212-554-5060
F: 585-496-3144
www.gagnonsec.com
August 13, 2025
Gagnon Securities LLC is a registered investment adviser with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"). SEC registration neither implies nor asserts that the SEC nor any
state securities authority has approved or endorsed Gagnon Securities LLC or the contents of this
disclosure.
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Gagnon
Securities LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us at
212-554-5060. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the SEC or
by any state securities authority.
Additional information about Gagnon Securities LLC also is available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
ITEM 2: SUMMARY OF MATERIAL CHANGES
Following is a summary of changes reflected in this Brochure as compared to our most recently
filed annual amendment on March 27, 2025. In this Brochure we have updated and expanded
certain information to help you better understand our firm. Please refer to the body of the Form
ADV for definitions.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation has been updated to enhance our disclosure relating to certain risks
associated with margin accounts. The updated disclosures reiterate that our clearing firm, NFS,
receives margin interest associated with client short sales of securities and margin loans and shares
a portion of such interest with Gagnon Securities. The disclosure clarifies that this creates a conflict
of interest for Gagnon Securities when recommending margin accounts, as Gagnon Securities does
not receive such potential revenue from other account types offered.
The updated disclosure further clarifies that short positions that can be accessed through margin
accounts are required to secure a borrow, which is secured through NFS at a borrow rate. Gagnon
Securities absorbs the cost of borrowing securities. However, there are times when Gagnon
Securities receives credits from NFS for the short positions that are maintained, which creates a
conflict of interest for Gagnon Securities.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations has been updated to include a new section
entitled “Gagnon Administrative Services and Gagnon Securities Partners Fund/Gagnon Securities
Private Partners Fund,” which clarifies the roles of Gagnon Administrative Services and Gagnon
Securities Partners Fund.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices has been updated to provide additional disclosures regarding the fact
that client transactions will generally be executed through ourselves in our capacity as broker-
dealer, including the associated conflicts of interest. Disclosure was added to clarify that Gagnon
Securities has entered into a clearing agreement with NFS pursuant to which Gagnon Securities
has a minimum amount due and whereby Gagnon Securities receives certain compensation from
NFS.
Additional disclosure was also added regarding the trade placement process to describe our
approach when our broker-dealer clients, advisory clients, managed pooled accounts and affiliates
of Gagnon Securities transact in the same security. The updated disclosure further clarifies that in
this scenario, trades for broker-dealer clients will be executed alongside trades for the advisory
clients, managed pooled accounts and affiliates of Gagnon Securities.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation has been updated regarding the $100,000 annual
Business Development Credit NFS provides Gagnon Securities. The updated disclosure clarifies
that while the receipt of this Business Development Credit is an incentive for Gagnon Securities to
clear through NFS, it is not the only factor that Gagnon Securities considers in determining to
maintain this clearing relationship.
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ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1: COVER PAGE .............................................................................................................. 1
ITEM 2: SUMMARY OF MATERIAL CHANGES .......................................................... 2
ITEM 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................... 3
ITEM 4: ADVISORY BUSINESS ................................................................................. 4
ITEM 5: FEES AND COMPENSATION ....................................................................... 4
ITEM 6: PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT ........... 6
ITEM 7: TYPES OF CLIENTS ........................................................................................ 6
ITEM 8: METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK OF LOSS. 6
ITEM 9: DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION .................................................................. 7
ITEM 10: OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS .......... 7
ITEM 11: CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT
TRANSACTIONS AND PERSONAL TRADING .............................................................. 9
ITEM 12: BROKERAGE PRACTICES ......................................................................... 10
ITEM 13: REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS ............................................................................ 11
ITEM 14: CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION ............................. 12
ITEM 15: CUSTODY .................................................................................................... 12
ITEM 16: INVESTMENT DISCRETION .................................................................... 12
ITEM 17: VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES ................................................................ 13
ITEM 18: FINANCIAL INFORMATION .................................................................... 13
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ITEM 4: ADVISORY BUSINESS
Principal Owners
Founded in 1999, Gagnon Securities LLC ("Gagnon Securities" or the “Firm”), is registered
with the SEC as both a broker-dealer and an investment advisor. Gagnon Securities also is a
member of FINRA. The Firm primarily manages advisory accounts on a discretionary
basis and offers brokerage accounts. The Firm’s clients are both individuals and institutions.
Gagnon Securities is principally owned by Neil J. Gagnon.
Types of Advisory Services
Gagnon Securities is a team of brokers and investment advisors whose primary business is
managing money for clients on
a discretionary basis. Diverse in business experience and
perspective, we take a research-intensive, generalist approach to evaluating investments for our
advisory clients. As we aim for capital appreciation, our client portfolios reflect the best
opportunities we find across sectors and market capitalizations, assembled stock by stock and
balanced to mitigate risk. As a group, we share a core belief that thoughtful and persistent
research coupled with disciplined risk-taking will yield outsized returns over time.
Investment Restrictions
The investment objectives for our clients and the portion of an individual or institution’s net worth
that is invested with our Firm must be aggressive growth. If an individual client or institution
is restricted from purchasing a specific security due to an affiliation with the company, then
an account can be blocked from transacting in that security. In addition, if clients have a moral
objection or otherwise object to purchasing securities of a company that offers specific services or
products, such as for example tobacco or gambling, their account can be blocked from transacting
in those securities.
Assets Under Management
Gagnon Securities has the following regulatory assets under management as of December 31, 2024:
Discretionary
$545,317,238.63
Non-Discretionary
$0
$545,317,238.63
Total
ITEM 5: FEES AND COMPENSATION
Fee Schedules
Our standard fee schedule for non-retirement accounts consists of an asset-based commission and
transaction fees, as described below. These fees are for both the advisory and brokerage services
we provide. Clients who maintain non-retirement accounts are charged commissions on each buy
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transaction for their account equal to a maximum of 2% of the net trade amount. The
and sell
commission rate can, from time to time, be discounted in certain instances, including, but not
limited to, initial investments, liquidations, and tax-related transactions. However, the standard
commission rate is non-negotiable. In addition, these accounts will be charged a transaction fee
not to exceed $0.04 cents per share. It is the policy of Gagnon Securities that commission and
transaction fees are not refundable unless an error in the amount charged has occurred, at which
time we will promptly process a trade correction to reflect the correct amount.
Clients who maintain retirement accounts, and former clients of Townsend Group Investments
("Townsend") who maintain retirement and non-retirement accounts, are charged a management
fee equal to 2.25% (for long only accounts) or 3.00% (for hedged accounts) per annum paid monthly
at the beginning of each month in arrears for the previous month, calculated on the average capital
for the previous month. These accounts are not also charged commissions or transaction fees on
the trades executed on their behalf. A management fee is charged for both advisory and brokerage
services we provide. Management fees are non-negotiable and non-refundable.
Former Townsend clients who open non-retirement accounts will be charged an asset-based
advisory fee, consistent with their prior fee structure, even though it is Gagnon Securities' practice
to charge a transaction-based advisory fee for non-retirement advisory accounts. The asset-based
fee structure is being offered to former Townsend clients because it is consistent with the type of
advisory fees previously charged by Townsend and is consistent with the terms of the acquisition
between Townsend and Gagnon Securities.
Variables that affect the amount of trading in an account, such as account type, market conditions
and the portfolio manager’s strategy, can increase or decrease the amount of trading in an account.
Due to these variables, at times the asset-based advisory fees applied to retirement or non-
retirement accounts are more or less advantageous for clients, than the commission and
transaction-based fees paid by the majority of non-retirement accounts and also by employee
accounts. Generally, if there is a high level of trading activity in the account, an asset-based
advisory account has the potential to be economically more favorable for the client. However, if
the account does not trade actively, it has the potential to be economically more favorable for the
client to pay a transaction-based advisory fee. Clients are advised of their fee structure prior to
investing with Gagnon Securities.
Deduction of Fees
For clients who are charged the commission and transaction fee structure, these fees are deducted
from the account at the time of each trade and disclosed to the client on the confirmation for that
trade.
For clients who are charged an asset-based management fee structure, those fees are deducted at
the beginning of each month from the clients’ accounts. This amount is shown on each client’s
brokerage statement and, upon request, is available in invoice format.
Other Fees and Expenses
Margin Accounts: Clients who maintain margin accounts have additional funds available to purchase
securities through loans from our custodian secured by the securities held in the clients’ individual
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accounts at the custodian. Margin accounts allow Gagnon Securities to invest more money on behalf
of a client, but are riskier than cash accounts. Margin accounts are the only accounts in which you
can transact in short strategies. Because our custodian lends the client money, margin accounts
are subject to margin and short interest charges. Your account pays interest to the custodian and a
portion of that interest is credited to Gagnon Securities. With regard to short positions, your
account is charged for borrowing securities, but Gagnon Securities absorbs this cost. However,
Gagnon Securities receives a credit for the shorts that are maintained in the accounts it manages.
As a result, Gagnon Securities has a conflict of interest in connection with the recommendation of
margin accounts because it receives additional compensation in connection with such accounts
from our clearing firm, as compared to long only accounts/strategies. We address this conflict
by disclosing this conflict to clients. Further, we do not take such potential revenue into account
when making account-type recommendations. For a more detailed discussion about our custodian,
please refer to Item 15.
Prepaid Fees
There are no pre-paid fees at Gagnon Securities
Compensation for the Sale of Securities
Neither Gagnon Securities nor any of its representatives are compensated from the sale of products
or securities outside of the compensation and fees described above.
ITEM 6: PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT
Gagnon Securities does not charge a performance-based fee.
ITEM 7: TYPES OF CLIENTS
Gagnon Securities' core business is managing accounts on a discretionary basis for individuals,
retirement accounts, trusts, custodial accounts, and other institutions and business entities. The
Firm does not impose a minimum account size, however, our investment professionals may have
each his or her own minimum investment which vary, but are generally not less than a $15,000
initial investment.
Gagnon Securities will, at times, have clients for whom we do not have regulatory assets under
management, but for which we provide investment advisory services. Gagnon Securities generally
shares the knowledge, experience, and perspective we have regarding the market and securities
with these clients. Gagnon Securities does not provide personalized investment advice to these
clients. The information that is shared does not account for the client’s financial circumstances or
investment objectives. This relationship exists solely because the client finds value in Gagnon
Securities' research-intensive approach to evaluating investments.
ITEM 8: METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK
OF LOSS
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Gagnon Securities is a team of brokers and investment advisors whose primary business is
managing money for our clients on a discretionary basis. Diverse in business experience and
perspective, we take a research-intensive, generalist approach to evaluating investments. As we
aim for capital appreciation, our client portfolios reflect the best opportunities we find across
sectors and market capitalizations, assembled stock by stock and balanced to mitigate risk. As
a group, we share a core belief that thoughtful and persistent research coupled with disciplined
risk-taking will yield outsized returns over time.
Our clients understand and believe in our investment approach. We share one objective, namely,
to grow their capital significantly. Working toward that goal involves risk and requires patience.
We invest with a long-term perspective, recognizing that periods of volatility, sometimes extreme,
are inevitable in this process. Our method is not for everyone. We make mistakes; at times, so do
the companies we invest in. Therefore, our accounts experience large monthly, quarterly or even
yearly fluctuations. We go to great lengths to ensure that clients understand exactly what we do
and, more importantly, that our investment approach fits their needs. Establishing this clarity of
purpose from the outset enables us to concentrate more fully on what we do best. We spend our
time studying companies. We meet with management teams to better evaluate their business
plans for growth and incentives. Companies visit our offices, and we frequently travel to their
headquarters and other facilities to further assess their prospects. We augment these visits by
talking to employees, suppliers, partners and competitors. We attend trade shows and conferences,
read industry-specific publications and speak to numerous analysts to build an information mosaic
around the companies we follow. Our craft is to understand the microeconomics of a business, then
synthesize information about competitive, economic and internal factors to determine which issues
represent opportunities or potential dangers. Capitalizing on these opportunities and responding
quickly to downturns requires intensive focus. Timing can prove crucial. Our clients hire us for
this ability and give us the freedom to act on their behalf (without authorizing each decision) by
signing a limited trading authorization and managed account agreement.
ITEM 9: DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
On September 10, 2014, Neil Gagnon consented to the entry of an Order Instituting Administrative
and Cease-And-Desist Proceedings (“Order”) by the SEC. In the Order, the SEC found that Mr.
Gagnon failed to timely file beneficial ownership reports required under Section 13(d) and Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”). Specifically, the SEC alleged that
Mr. Gagnon failed to file timely amendments to its Schedule 13Gs and continued to file as a passive
investor on a Schedule 13G, despite owning in excess of 20% of the outstanding voting securities
of a particular issuer, thereby requiring a Schedule 13D filing and subsequent amendments.
Further, Mr. Gagnon failed to make timely reports on Forms 4 and 5 to in accordance with Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act. Without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, Mr. Gagnon agreed
to cease and desist from future violations of Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules
13d-1, 13d-2 and 16a-3 thereunder, and to pay a civil monetary penalty of $75,000.
ITEM 10: OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
Broker-Dealer Registration
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Gagnon Securities is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer and is a member of FINRA.
Gagnon Administrative Services and Gagnon Securities Partners Fund/Gagnon Securities
Private Partners Fund
Partners of Gagnon Securities are also equal partners of Gagnon Administrative Services and the
Gagnon Securities Partners Fund/Gagnon Securities Private Partners Fund. The purpose of
Gagnon Administrative Services is to provide administrative services to Gagnon Securities,
Gagnon Advisors, certain Funds advised by Gagnon Advisors, and certain Affiliated Investment
Vehicles that are independently advised by managers who are also affiliated with Gagnon
Securities and Gagnon Advisors. Gagnon Securities Partners Fund is the vehicle through which
Gagnon Securities’ Partners invest capital of Gagnon Securities.
Other Material Relationships
Maureen Drew is a Senior Partner/Registered Representative of Gagnon Securities, she is a member
of Gagnon Advisors, LLC.
Brian Gagnon is a Senior Partner/Registered Representative of Gagnon Securities. He is a member
of Gagnon Advisors, LLC. In addition, Brian Gagnon is the president of Hilltop Aviation LLC.
Neil Gagnon is the Managing Partner/Registered Representative of Gagnon Securities. He is a
investment manager to
principal of Gagnon Advisors, LLC. Gagnon Advisors, LLC is the
Gagnon Investment Associates Master Fund and GIS Fund of Funds LLC. Gagnon Investment
Associates Master Fund consists of Gagnon Investment Associates LLC, a domestic long/short
long/short hedge
hedge fund, and Gagnon Investment Associates Offshore Ltd., a Cayman
fund. GIS Fund of Funds LLC, is a domestic fund of funds. Neil Gagnon is also a member of
GagnonLee Management, LLC which is the investment manager of, and GagnonLee Associates,
which serves as the General Partner to, The Darwin Partnership L.P., a domestic long/short equity
hedge fund, which Neil Gagnon co-manages. In addition, Neil Gagnon is a limited partner in Hilltop
Aviation LLC and the owner of Penguin Ice Cream Shop, where he is not involved in day-to-day
activities. Neil Gagnon is the president of the Gagnon Family Foundation (it is possible for Gagnon
Securities to make a donation to the Gagnon Family Foundation) and a Board Member of the
Cathay Advisory Board.
Dwight Lee is a Partner/Registered Representative of Gagnon Securities. Dwight Lee is a member
of Lee Associates, LLC , which serves as the investment manager as well a General Partner of
Upland Asset Management, the General Partner to Upland Associates L.P., a long/short equity
hedge fund, which Dwight Lee manages. Dwight Lee is also a member of GagnonLee Management,
LLC, which serves as the investment manager of, and GagnonLee Associates, which serves as the
General Partner to, The Darwin Partnership L.P., long/short equity hedge fund which he co-
manages. In addition, Dwight Lee co-manages GIS Fund of Funds. Dwight Lee is involved in
the following organizations: The Graduate Center Foundation Inc., CUNY-Trustee, Vice Chair of
the Board and Chairman for the Committee of Trustees; The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial
Foundation- Chairman Board of Trustees and ad hoc member of various committees; The
Century Association - Investment Committee Member; Civitella Ranieri Foundation, a non-profit
organization - Treasurer, member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.
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Willis Taylor is a Senior Partner/Registered Representative of Gagnon Securities. He is the
managing member of WGT Asset Management LLC, which is the investment manager of Old
Growth Partners LLC, a domestic long/short equity fund that Willis Taylor manages. Willis
Taylor is also a member of GagnonLee Management, LLC, which is the investment manager
and GagnonLee Associates, which serves as the General Partner to The Darwin Partnership
L.P., a domestic
long/short equity hedge fund, which Willis Taylor co-manages. In addition,
Willis Taylor is the Managing General Partner of Upland Asset Management, L.P. and a member
of Gagnon Advisors, LLC.
Jonathan Robohm is a Partner/ Registered Representative of Gagnon Securities, and co-manager
of GIS Fund of Funds.
Receipt of Compensation from Investment Advisers
Neither Gagnon Securities nor any affiliated persons receive any compensation from any non-
affiliated investment advisers in connection with Gagnon Securities’ management of its client
accounts.
ITEM 11: CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT
TRANSACTIONS AND PERSONAL TRADING
Code of Ethics
Gagnon Securities is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). In accordance with Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act,
Gagnon Securities has adopted this code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics” or the “Policy”) to prevent
violations of federal securities laws. Moreover, this Policy is intended to help you understand
Gagnon Securities’ obligations as a registered investment adviser and to assist in complying with
these obligations.
Gagnon Securities expects all employees to act with honesty, integrity, and professionalism and to
adhere to federal securities laws.
A copy of our Business Code of Ethics in its entirety will be sent to you upon request. Please contact
Lisa Ferrante at 212-554-5060 or lisa@gagnonsec.com to obtain a copy.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
It is against Gagnon Securities’ Business Code of Ethics to for it or any of our affiliated persons to
have participation or interest in client accounts or transactions.
Participation or Interest in Personal Trading
As more fully described in the Gagnon Securities Code of Ethics, all employees are required to
submit reports detailing their personal securities holdings to the Chief Compliance Officer on an
initial basis, a quarterly basis and an annual basis. In addition, any personal trading in outside
accounts requires additional prior approval from the Chief Compliance Officer. Gagnon Securities
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requires its employees to submit brokerage statements and trade confirmations for accounts held
outside Gagnon Securities, unless the employee maintains an outside discretionary account. For
employees that have discretionary accounts outside of Gagnon Securities, they are required to
show documentation that gives discretion to another person. In addition, brokerage statements
must be provided.
In instances when the Chief Compliance Officer has engaged in personal securities transactions,
Neil Gagnon, Managing Partner, shall review the Chief Compliance Officer’s brokerage statements
and trade confirmations.
The Funds, Discretionary Accounts and Employee Accounts
Portfolio Managers at Gagnon Securities oftentimes manage accounts for themselves as well as
their family members, referred to as “insider accounts.” To the extent that a portfolio manager
manages accounts for clients, private funds and insiders, when an order is placed to purchase or
sell a security, clients' accounts are executed FIRST. Once the trade order for clients is complete,
the private funds will be executed and, lastly, the insider accounts.
ITEM 12: BROKERAGE PRACTICES
Broker-Dealer Selection
Gagnon Securities is a dually registered investment adviser and broker dealer. All clients direct
brokerage transactions in their account to be placed through Gagnon Securities in its capacity as
broker dealer. Being a broker dealer allows Gagnon Securities to fully control the level of service we
provide to our clients. As a broker dealer, Gagnon Securities can rely on its staff to service clients
operationally rather than another broker dealer. We have direct access to our clearing firms platform
which provides us with efficiency when reporting and settling trades, generating statements,
confirms and tax documents.
Trading through Gagnon Securities, in its capacity as broker dealer, creates a conflict of interest.
Gagnon Securities may not always be able to achieve the most favorable execution for
transactions in client accounts and clients may pay higher transaction costs or receive less
favorable prices as a result of trading through Gagnon Securities. The prices, commissions, other
execution costs and transaction charges for trades directed through Gagnon Securities, acting as
broker dealer, and executed through other broker dealers, banks or other counterparties may not
be as favorable as those that might be obtained if the trades were placed through another broker
dealer.
Gagnon Securities clears through National Financial Services (“NFS”). Gagnon Securities has
entered into a clearing agreement with NFS pursuant to which Gagnon Securities has a minimum
amount due and whereby Gagnon Securities receives certain compensation from NFS. This
compensation is typically paid through a portion of the margin interest and short credits that are
associated with the accounts.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
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Gagnon Securities has no soft dollar agreements and receives no soft dollar benefits.
Directed Brokerage
Gagnon Securities does not allow clients to direct securities transactions to another broker-
dealer, but rather, as discussed above, clients direct trading through Gagnon Securities in its
capacity as broker dealer.
Aggregation of Trades
It may be determined that the purchase or sale of a particular security is appropriate for more than
one client account, in which case client orders will be aggregated or “bunched”. In such cases,
Gagnon Securities owes fiduciary duties to each client and, therefore, has an obligation to treat
each client fairly. When aggregating orders, and in the process of allocating block purchases and
block sales to individual client accounts, Gagnon Securities follows a Trade Allocation Procedure
designed to treat all clients fairly and to achieve an equitable distribution of bunched orders. If
orders are combined, we will give each client the average price for the combined order and will
allocate securities to client accounts pro rata, i.e. in proportion to the size of the orders placed.
Additionally, Gagnon Securities, as a matter of policy, does not aggregate trades so as to include
client accounts, managed pooled accounts and Gagnon Securities affiliate accounts within the same
block. Client accounts are only aggregated with other client accounts. Managed pooled accounts
and Gagnon Securities affiliate accounts are aggregated separately and traded after the aggregated
client account block has executed. If an exception to this rule occurs, it will be documented and
approved by the compliance officer. Additionally, while Gagnon Securities is a dually registered
Investment Adviser and Broker Dealer, circumstances can arise where the firm receive an order
from a brokerage-only client to buy or sell in the same security as advisory clients, managed
pooled accounts and affiliates of Gagnon Securities. When this occurs, the trader will notify the
brokerage-only client that there are competing orders on the trade desk. If the brokerage-only client
decides to continue the trade, the brokerage-only client will be executed alongside the advisory
clients, managed pooled accounts and/or affiliates of Gagnon Securities. The orders will be worked
simultaneously and executed appropriately.
IPO Trades
Investing in IPOs is strictly prohibited for all Gagnon Securities employees. Each portfolio manager
whose clients meet the requirements to participate in an IPO will be allocated on a pro rata basis
based on percentage of assets the portfolio manager represents. For example: Manager “A” has 10
accounts but only 5 can participate in an IPO. The market value of those 5 accounts total $20,000.
Manager “B” has 3 accounts and all 3 can participate. The market value of those accounts total
$5,000. The shares received from the IPO would be split 80% to Manager “A” and 20% to Manager
“B”. (20,000+5,000= 25,000)
Manager “A” = 20,000/25,000 = 80%
Manager “B” = 5,000/25,000 = 20%
Allocation to those eligible accounts will be as follows:
1) Clients are allocated shares first. Once all clients are completed for that manager, then the
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pooled investment accounts for that manager can receive an allocation. It’s important to
note that any shares allocated to the pooled investment accounts will not have any realized
or unrealized gain or losses applied to those limited partners who are insiders.
2)
If the allocation does not complete the clients’ accounts and a partial allocation occurs, the
allocation of shares will be based on the worst performing accounts for the prior month for
that portfolio manager. Any other method of allocation would require approval from the
operations manager and/or CCO.
ITEM 13: REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS
General Description
Gagnon Securities reviews different aspects of its clients' advisory accounts on a timely basis.
Reviews are conducted in the event of a new deposit, a withdrawal, the rebalancing of a portfolio,
a material change in the investment environment, a change in the client’s goals, time horizons
or financial needs, or at a client’s request.
Lisa Ferrante (IACCP designee), Chief Compliance Officer and Partner of Gagnon Securities, or
her designee will review all order tickets daily for proper record keeping, commission/fee charges
and compliance with firm standards and applicable industry rules. Ms. Ferrante, or her designee,
will review and approve all new accounts to check for completeness of a client application,
suitability standards and compliance with anti-money laundering procedures. Routinely, both the
operational staff and portfolio managers will review client accounts and positions, with oversight
from Ms. Ferrante or her designee. Included in the portfolio manager’s quarterly letters to clients,
it is requested that clients notify Gagnon Securities of any changes in their investment objectives
or financial information to ensure suitability.
Client Reports
Clients that have activity in their accounts for the month will receive monthly brokerage statements
from Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions, National Financial Services LLC ("NFS"), as well as
timely trade confirmations. Clients, at a minimum, will receive brokerage statements quarterly. In
addition, at a minimum, a quarterly letter is written by the client's portfolio manager. These letters
give the portfolio manager an opportunity to provide his/her clients with an update on various
topics, including, but not limited to, a market outlook, portfolio holdings, investment strategies,
tax transactions and macroeconomic events. In addition, upon request, clients can receive a
portfolio summary and cost basis report through in-house software system provided by SS&C
Technologies or our clearing firm NFS.
ITEM 14: CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
Gagnon Securities compensates third parties for client referrals. Any payment of this compensation
creates a financial incentive for the recipient to refer clients or investors to Gagnon Securities.
For five years, beginning in 2022, Gagnon Securities’ clearing firm, NFS, agreed to grant Gagnon
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Securities a Business Development Credit of $100,000 annually. This credit was agreed upon to
assist Gagnon Securities in updating various operational and business technologies that aid in
streamlining processes. While this is an incentive for Gagnon to clear through NFS, it is not the
only factor Gagnon considered in determining to maintain this clearing relationship. However,
the receipt of such credits creates an incentive for Gagnon to clear client
transactions through
NFS.
ITEM 15: CUSTODY
Gagnon Securities does not maintain custody of customer accounts. All accounts are custodied at
NFS on a fully disclosed basis. NFS is a qualified custodian.
ITEM 16: INVESTMENT DISCRETION
Client accounts of Gagnon Securities are managed on a discretionary basis. Each client and/or
“insider” account if applicable will sign a ‘limited trading authorization” form authorizing the
purchase and sale of securities at the portfolio manager’s discretion. Clients can indicate at the
time of opening an account or any time thereafter in writing that they cannot or do not want to
purchase or sell a specific security or types or stocks, for example “sin” stocks. The trading
authorization is limited to only the purchase and sale of stocks rather than any transfer of funds.
Accounts are reviewed frequently by the Chief Compliance Officer or her designee for
appropriateness of securities transactions, frequency of trading, and suitability.
ITEM 17: VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES
Proxy Voting Policies - No Authority
Proxies are sent out from our clearing firm NFS directly to our clients, (the account holder of
record). Gagnon Securities currently does not vote proxies on behalf its clients. Clients of Gagnon
Securities may vote their own proxies in their sole discretion. Clients are informed of our proxy
voting policy first by receiving this policy as part of our Form ADV Part II and, secondly, after they
open an account as part of our standard welcome letter. Clients are also advised of alternative
means of receiving their proxies directly other than hard copy in the mail.
ITEM 18 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Financial Conditions
Gagnon Securities is required in this document to provide you with certain financial information
or disclosures about its financial condition. Gagnon Securities has no financial commitment that
impairs its ability to meet contractual and fiduciary commitments to clients and has not been the
subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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