Firsthand Technology Value Fund Announces Plan to Seek Stockholder Approval to Withdraw BDC Election and Pursue Liquidation

Rhea-AI Summary

Firsthand Technology Value Fund plans to withdraw its election to be regulated as a business development company and seek stockholder approval for a plan of liquidation. The Fund has suffered material setbacks on two of its largest holdings, leading to potential valuation write-downs that could reduce the asset value of the Fund. The Board and the Fund's investment adviser, Firsthand Capital Management, will take actions to maintain a positive net asset value per share.

Positive

• Firsthand Technology Value Fund plans to seek stockholder approval for a plan of liquidation, which may help address the potential reduction in asset value caused by material setbacks on two of its largest holdings.

Negative

• The Fund has suffered material setbacks on two of its largest holdings, which could lead to valuation write-downs and a decrease in the asset value of the Fund.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVVC) (the “Fund” or “Firsthand”), a publicly-traded venture capital fund that invests in technology and cleantech companies, today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved a plan to seek stockholder approval to withdraw the Fund’s election to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Board will also be seeking stockholder approval on a plan of liquidation of the Fund.

The Fund also announced today that it has suffered material setbacks on two of its largest holdings. The resulting valuation write-downs could reduce the asset value of the Fund to a level below the amount of the Fund’s accrued liabilities, most of which are fees payable to the Fund’s investment adviser, Firsthand Capital Management, Inc. (“FCM”). The Board and FCM have agreed to take actions necessary to ensure that the Fund maintains a positive net asset value (“NAV”) per share, which may include FCM waiving certain accrued investment management fees.

Additional information will be available in the Fund’s forthcoming quarterly report on Form 10-Q in November 2023.

About Firsthand Technology Value Fund

Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. is a publicly-traded venture capital fund that invests in technology and cleantech companies. More information about the Fund and its holdings can be found online at www.firsthandtvf.com.

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company that elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets for investment purposes in technology and cleantech companies.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from the Fund’s historical experience and its present expectations or projections indicated in any forward-looking statement. These risks include, but are not limited to, changes in economic and political conditions, regulatory and legal changes, technology and cleantech industry risk, valuation risk, non-diversification risk, interest rate risk, tax risk, and other risks discussed in the Fund’s filings with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Fund undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Fund’s investment objectives will be attained. We acknowledge that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the safe harbor for forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 does not apply to investment companies such as us.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231013075724/en/

Phil Mosakowski

Firsthand Capital Management, Inc.

(408) 624-9526

vc@firsthandtvf.com

Source: Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc.

FAQ

What is Firsthand Technology Value Fund?

Firsthand Technology Value Fund is a publicly-traded venture capital fund that invests in technology and cleantech companies.

What is the Fund's plan regarding its election as a business development company?

The Fund plans to seek stockholder approval to withdraw its election to be regulated as a business development company.

What setbacks has the Fund experienced?

The Fund has suffered material setbacks on two of its largest holdings.

How might the setbacks affect the Fund's asset value?

The setbacks could lead to potential valuation write-downs and a decrease in the asset value of the Fund.

What actions will be taken to maintain a positive net asset value?

The Board and the Fund's investment adviser, Firsthand Capital Management, will take actions, which may include waiving certain accrued investment management fees, to ensure a positive net asset value per share.