13D Filing: Harbert Discovery Fund, Lp and Key Technology Inc (NASDAQ:KTEC)

CUSIP No.

493143101

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Harbert Discovery Fund, LP

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  [_]

(b)  [_]

3.

SEC USE ONLY

4.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

WC

5.

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

337,495

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

337,495

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

337,495

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

5.3%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

CUSIP No.

493143101

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Harbert Discovery Fund GP, LLC

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  [_]

(b)  [_]

3.

SEC USE ONLY

4.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5.

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

337,495

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

337,495

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

337,495

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

5.3%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

CUSIP No.

493143101

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Harbert Fund Advisors, Inc.

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  [_]

(b)  [_]

3.

SEC USE ONLY

4.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5.

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Alabama

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

337,495

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

337,495

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

337,495

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

5.3%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IA, CO

CUSIP No.

493143101

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Harbert Management Corporation

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  [_]

(b)  [_]

3.

SEC USE ONLY

4.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5.

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Alabama

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

337,495

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

337,495

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

337,495

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

5.3%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

CUSIP No.

493143101

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Jack Bryant

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  [_]

(b)  [_]

3.

SEC USE ONLY

4.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5.

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

United States of America

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

337,495

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

337,495

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

337,495

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

5.3%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

CUSIP No.

493143101

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Kenan Lucas

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  [_]

(b)  [_]

3.

SEC USE ONLY

4.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5.

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

United States of America

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

337,495

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

337,495

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

337,495

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

5.3%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

CUSIP No.

493143101

1.

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Raymond Harbert

2.

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a)  [_]

(b)  [_]

3.

SEC USE ONLY

4.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5.

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

[_]

6.

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

United States of America

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

7.

SOLE VOTING POWER

0

8.

SHARED VOTING POWER

337,495

9.

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

0

10.

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

337,495

11.

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

337,495

12.

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

[_]

13.

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

5.3%

14.

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

CUSIP No.

493143101

Item 1.

Security and Issuer.

The name of the issuer is Key Technology, Inc., an Oregon corporation (the “Issuer”).  The address of the Issuer’s principal executive offices is 150 Avery Street, Walla Walla, Washington 99362, United States of America.  This Schedule 13D relates to the Issuer’s common stock, no par value (the “Shares”).

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

(a), (f)

This Schedule 13D is being filed jointly by (i) Harbert Discovery Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Fund”), (ii) Harbert Discovery Fund GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Fund GP”), (iii) Harbert Fund Advisors, Inc., an Alabama corporation (“HFA”), (iv) Harbert Management Corporation, an Alabama corporation (“HMC”), (v) Jack Bryant, a United States citizen, (vi) Kenan Lucas, a United States citizen, and (vii) Raymond Harbert, a United States citizen (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”).

(b)

The principal business address for each of the Reporting Persons is 2100 Third Avenue North, Suite 600, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.

(c)

Jack Bryant and Kenan Lucas, are directors and co-portfolio managers of the Fund GP, which serves as general partner of the Fund.  Raymond Harbert is the controlling shareholder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HMC, an alternative asset investment management firm that is the managing member of the Fund GP.  Mr. Harbert also serves as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of HFA, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of HMC, which provides the Fund with certain operational and administrative services.  The principal business of the Fund is purchasing, holding and selling securities for investment purposes.

(d)

None of the Reporting Persons have, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)

Prior to March 2009, HMC was affiliated with the Harbinger Capital Partners Funds (“Harbinger”) managed by Philip Falcone.  On June 27, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filed civil fraud charges against Mr. Falcone and Harbinger related to, among other things, their trading in the bonds of a small company known as MAAX Holdings in 2006-2008 that the SEC alleges to have been “manipulative” in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  The SEC also sought to hold HMC derivatively liable as a “control person” under Section 20(A) of the Exchange Act.  Section 20(A) is a derivative liability provision that does not prohibit any specified conduct and cannot be independently violated by one’s own conduct, but imposes joint and several liability on certain persons who control another to the extent that such “controlled person” is independently liable for its own violations of the securities laws.  Except as set forth in this Item 2(e) none of the Reporting Persons have, during the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding were or are subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

The funds for the purchase of the Shares by the Fund came from the working capital of the Fund, over which HFA, HMC, the Fund GP, Jack Bryant, Kenan Lucas and Raymond Harbert, through their roles described above in Item 2(c), exercise investment discretion.  No borrowed funds were used to purchase the Shares, other than borrowed funds used for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business.  The total costs of the Shares directly owned by Harbert Discovery Fund, LP is approximately $3,728,810.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

The Reporting Persons purchased the securities of the Issuer reported herein based on their belief that the securities were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity.

The Reporting Persons have had and anticipate having further conversations with members of the Issuer’s management and board of directors regarding possible ways to enhance shareholder value. The topics of these conversations will cover a range of issues, including those relating to the business of the Issuer, management, board composition (which may include possibly adding a candidate or candidates supported by the Reporting Persons to the Issuer’s board of directors), operations, capital allocation, asset allocation, capitalization, dividend policy, financial condition, mergers and acquisitions strategy, overall business strategy, executive compensation, and corporate governance. The Reporting Persons may also have similar conversations with other stockholders of the Issuer and other interested parties, such as industry analysts, existing or potential strategic partners or competitors, investment professionals, and other investors. The Reporting Persons may at any time reconsider and change their intentions relating to the foregoing.

No Reporting Person has any present plan or proposal which would relate to or would result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a)- (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D except as set forth herein or such as would occur upon completion of any of the actions discussed herein. The Reporting Persons may in the future take one or more of the actions described in subsections (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D and may discuss such actions with the Issuer’s management and the board of directors, other stockholders of the Issuer, and other interested parties, such as those set out above.

The Reporting Persons intend to review their investments in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors, including, without limitation, the Issuer’s financial position and strategic direction, the outcome of the discussions and actions referenced above, actions taken by the Issuer’s board of directors, price levels of the Common Stock, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take actions with respect to its investment position in the Issuer as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, purchasing additional Common Stock or selling some or all of its Common Stock, and/or engaging in hedging or similar transactions with respect to the Common Stock.

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a) – (e)

As of the date hereof,  (i) HFA, HMC, the Fund GP, the Fund, Jack Bryant, Kenan Lucas and Raymond Harbert may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of 337,495 Shares, constituting 5.3% of the Shares, based upon *6,402,725 Shares outstanding.

HFA has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 337,495 Shares; has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 337,495 Shares.

HMC has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 337,495 Shares; has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 337,495 Shares.

The Fund GP has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 337,495 Shares; has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 337,495 Shares.

The Fund has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 337,495 Shares; has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 337,495 Shares.

Jack Bryant has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 337,495 Shares; has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 337,495 Shares.

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

Not Applicable.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Exhibit A:  Joint Filing Agreement

Exhibit B:  Schedule of Transactions in Shares

Number of Shares

Price Per

03/02/2017

Common Stock, no par value

50

12.7500

03/03/2017

Common Stock, no par value

2,296

12.9892

03/06/2017

Common Stock, no par value

200

13.0000

03/07/2017

Common Stock, no par value

1,401

12.8021

03/07/2017

Common Stock, no par value

4,057

12.7500

03/08/2017

Common Stock, no par value

700

12.7500

03/10/2017

Common Stock, no par value

2,606

12.8448

03/13/2017

Common Stock, no par value

134

12.8400

03/16/2017

Common Stock, no par value

7,109

13.0290

03/16/2017

Common Stock, no par value

1,046

13.1100

03/16/2017

Common Stock, no par value

1,313

12.9348

03/17/2017

Common Stock, no par value

9,799

13.2389

03/27/2017

Common Stock, no par value

2,500

13.1000

03/28/2017

Common Stock, no par value

49,937

13.1000