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[ ]
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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[ ]
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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[X]
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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[ ]
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Definitive Additional Materials
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[ ]
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12
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[X]
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No fee required.
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[ ]
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
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1.
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Title of each class of securities to which transactions applies:
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2.
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3.
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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4.
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5.
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Total fee paid:
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[ ]
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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[ ]
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identity the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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6.
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Amount Previously Paid:
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7.
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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8.
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Filing Party:
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9.
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Date Filed:
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i.
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the election of two directors of the Company;
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ii.
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the ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2014; and
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iii.
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the termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Company and Firsthand Capital Management, Inc.
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1.
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The election of two Class III directors of the Company to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify;
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2.
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The ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.
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3.
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The termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Company and Firsthand Capital Management, Inc.
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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1
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NOTICE OF 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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3
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PROXY STATEMENT 2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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6
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
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6
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PROPOSAL ONE — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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10
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NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR WHO IS NOT AN INTERESTED PERSON
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11
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NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR WHO IS AN INTERESTED PERSON
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11
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REMAINING DIRECTORS WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED PERSONS
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12
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
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12
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COMMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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13
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INFORMATION ABOUT EACH DIRECTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, ATTRIBUTES OR SKILLS
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14
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BOARD RECOMMENDATION
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15
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PROPOSAL TWO — RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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15
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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FEES AND POLICIES
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16
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
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16
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BOARD RECOMMENDATION
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17
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PROPOSAL THREE – TERMINATION OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
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17
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BOARD RECOMMENDATION
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19
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INFORMATION ABOUT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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20
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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20
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
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21
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SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
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22
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
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22
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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23
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NOMINATING, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
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25
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OTHER MATTERS
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25
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING
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25
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INVESTMENT ADVISER
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25
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ADMINISTRATOR
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26
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HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
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26
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
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26
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APPENDIX A -- FIRSTHAND TECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, INC. AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
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27
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EXHIBIT A – PREAPPROVAL PROCEDURES
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30
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EXHIBIT B - QLCC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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31
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Q.
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WHAT PROPOSALS ARE TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
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A.
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The proposals to be
CONSIDERED
and voted upon at the Annual Meeting are:
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•
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Proposal One — the election of two Class III Directors to serve until the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. The directors currently serving in Class III are Kevin Landis and Kimun Lee.
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•
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Proposal Two — the ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.
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•
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Proposal Three — if properly presented at the Annual Meeting, a stockholder proposal to terminate the Investment Management Agreement between the Company and FCM.
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•
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Proposal Four — the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any postponement of adjournment thereof.
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Q.
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HOW DOES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SUGGEST THAT I VOTE?
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A.
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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of its two nominees
FOR
director and “FOR” the ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm on the enclosed
WHITE
proxy card.
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The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “AGAINST” the dissident stockholder’s proposal to terminate the Investment Management Agreement.
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Q.
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WHAT IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION REGARDING BULLDOG INVESTORS, LLC SOLICITING PROXIES FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING?
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A.
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Bulldog Investors, LLC, a dissident stockholder (“Bulldog”), has filed a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission which principally seeks to (i) elect a slate of two individuals nominated by affiliates of Bulldog as directors of the Company (the “Bulldog Nominees”), (ii) ratify the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, (iii) terminate the investment management agreement between the Company and FCM (the “Termination Proposal”), and (iv) request that the Board consider authorizing a program to repurchase shares when they are trading at a discount from net asset value (the “Share Repurchase Proposal”).
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The Board of Directors has determined that the Bulldog Nominees are not eligible for election at the Annual Meeting and the Share Repurchase Proposal is not eligible for consideration at the Annual Meeting, as the nominees and the proposal were not submitted in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws.
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Any votes cast with respect to the Bulldog Nominees or the Share Repurchase Proposal will not be counted at the Annual Meeting, as those nominations and proposal will not be considered at the Annual Meeting. The exclusion of the Bulldog Nominees and the Share Repurchase Proposal at the Annual Meeting pursuant to our bylaws is not based on a specific ruling of any court and may be subject to challenge by Bulldog. Any votes cast with respect to the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm or the Termination Proposal in the separate proxy statement from Bulldog Investors will be counted at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented by proxies solicited by Bulldog also will be counted as present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. The ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is already a Board proposal that will be considered at the Annual Meeting.
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Q.
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HOW CAN I VOTE?
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A.
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If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and wish to vote in person, we will give you a ballot at the Annual
MEETING
. However, if your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, or “street name”, and you want to vote in person, you will need to obtain a legal proxy from the institution that holds your shares.
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If your shares are held in your name, there are three ways for you to authorize a proxy:
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•
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Sign, date and return the enclosed
WHITE
proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope;
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•
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Call 1-800-337-3503; or
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•
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Log on to the Internet at
www.proxy-direct.com
and follow the instructions at that site.
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Telephone and Internet proxy authorizations will close at 11:59p.m. Eastern Time, on May 22, 2014. Unless you indicate otherwise on the
WHITE
proxy card, the persons named as your proxies will vote your shares: FOR the election of Messrs. Landis and Lee as Class III Directors; FOR the ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; and AGAINST the termination of the Investment Management Agreement.
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If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, or “street name”, you should receive separate instructions from the holder of your shares describing how to provide voting instructions.
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Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you authorize a proxy in advance as described above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.
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Q.
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HOW PROXIES WILL BE VOTED?
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A.
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All proxies solicited by the Board of Directors that are properly executed and received at or prior to the Annual Meeting, and that are not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting. Votes will be cast in accordance with the instructions marked on the enclosed WHITE proxy card. If no instructions are specified, the persons named as proxies will cast such votes FOR the election of each of its two nominees for director, FOR the ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and AGAINST the termination of the Investment Management Agreement. We know of no other matters to be properly presented at the Annual Meeting. However, if another proposal is properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed WHITE proxy card will cast votes on each proposal in their sole discretion.
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Proxies solicited by Bulldog will not be voted at the Annual Meeting with the respect to the Bulldog Nominees or the Share Repurchase Proposal, as neither the nominees nor the proposal may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting under the Company’s Bylaws. Any votes cast with respect to the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm or the Termination Proposal in the separate proxy statement from Bulldog Investors will be counted at the Annual Meeting.
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Q.
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CAN I REVOKE MY PROXY?
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A.
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Yes. At any
TIME
before it has been voted, you may revoke your proxy by:
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•
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sending a letter revoking your proxy to the Secretary of the Company at our offices located at 150 Almaden Boulevard, Suite 1250, San Jose, CA 95113;
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•
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properly executing and sending a later-dated proxy; or
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•
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attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not revoke your proxy.
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Q.
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IF I HAVE ALREADY AUTHORIZED MY PROXY TO VOTE FOR BULLDOGS’ NOMINEES OR IN FAVOR OF BULLDOGS’ PROPOSALS, IS IT TOO LATE TO CHANGE MY MIND?
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No. To change your vote, simply sign, date and return the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or authorize a proxy to vote by telephone or via the Internet in accordance with the instructions in the WHITE proxy card. We strongly urge you to revoke any proxy card you may have returned to Bulldog. Only your latest dated proxy will count at the Annual Meeting.
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Q.
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WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUORUM?
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A.
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The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum for the purposes of the Annual Meeting. If
YOU
submit a properly executed proxy card, you will be considered part of the quorum. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” will be counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum. A broker non-vote is a vote that is not cast on a non-routine matter because the shares entitled to cast the vote are held in “street name”, the broker lacks discretionary authority to vote the shares and the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
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Q.
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WHAT IS THE REQUIRED VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL PROPERLY PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
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A.
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Proposal One.
The election of Messrs. Landis and Lee as a Class III Directors requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each of the two directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting. For the purposes of Proposal One, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the election of Messrs. Landis and Lee.
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Proposal Two.
The ratification of the selection of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. For purposes of the vote on Proposal Two, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote.
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Proposal Three.
The termination of the Investment Management Agreement requires approval of the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting securities. For purposes of this proposal, a “majority” of the outstanding voting securities means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the shares present at the Annual Meeting, if the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities, whichever is less. For purposes of the vote on Proposal Three, abstentions and broker non-votes will be considered a vote against this proposal.
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Q.
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WHAT IF OTHER MATTERS COME UP AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
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A.
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The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be properly presented at the Annual Meeting
OTHER
than those referred to in this proxy statement. If other matters are properly presented at the meeting for consideration, and you properly authorize a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you.
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Q.
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WHO IS SOLICITING MY VOTE?
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A.
|
In this proxy
statement
, the Board of Directors is soliciting your vote for matters properly submitted for stockholder consideration at the Annual Meeting.
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Q.
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WHO PAYS FOR THIS SOLICITATION OF PROXIES?
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A.
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The expenses of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed
WHITE
proxy card, the accompanying notice and this proxy statement, tabulation expenses, and all other costs, in connection with this solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. We may also reimburse banks, brokers and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation material to the
BENEFICIAL
owners of our shares. In order to obtain the necessary quorum at the meeting, additional solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, telegraph, facsimile or personal interview by representatives of the Company, FCM, our transfer agent, or by brokers or their representatives or by a solicitation firm that may be engaged by the Company to assist in proxy solicitations. The Company has engaged Georgeson Inc. as its proxy solicitation firm and expects Georgeson to use approximately twenty five persons to engage in proxy solicitation. We do not currently expect the additional solicitation firm fees and expenses to exceed $50,000, plus out of pocket expenses. We will not pay any of our representatives or FCM any additional compensation for their efforts to supplement proxy solicitation.
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Q.
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CAN I VIEW THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL REPORT ON THE INTERNET?
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A.
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Yes. The
PROXY
statement and Annual Report are available on the Internet at https://www.proxy-direct.com/svvc-25452.
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Class
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Term*
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Directors
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I
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to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2015
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Greg Burglin
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II
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to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2016
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Mark Fitzgerald
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III
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to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2014
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Kimun Lee
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Kevin Landis
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*
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Each director serves until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the designated year and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies. Accordingly, if elected, each director will serve for a 3-year term and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies.
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Name
(Year Born)
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Position(s) Held with
Registrant,
Proposed Term of
Office/
Time of Service
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Principal Occupations
During Past
Five Years
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Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex(1)
Overseen by
Director
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Other Directorships
Held by Director
During
Past Five Years
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Kimun Lee
(born 1946)
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Director (to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since 2010.
|
Mr. Lee is a California-registered investment adviser. In addition, he has also conducted a consulting business under the name Resources Consolidated since January 1980. Since September 2009, Mr. Lee has served as a principal and director of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a commodity pool operator that operates iShares Gold Trust, iShares Silver Trust, iShares Dow Jones - UBS Roll Select Commodity Index Trust and iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust.
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3
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Current:
Firsthand Funds
iShares Delaware Trust
Sponsor LLC
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(1)
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The 1940 Act requires the term “Fund Complex” to be defined to include registered investment companies advised by the Company’s investment adviser, FCM, and, as a result, the Fund Complex included Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc., a closed-end fund, and Firsthand Funds, a family of open-ended funds registered under the 1940 Act that are managed by FCM.
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Name
(Year Born)
|
Position(s) Held with
Registrant,
Proposed Term of
Office/
Time of Service
|
Principal Occupations
During Past
Five Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex(1)
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships
Held by Director
During
Past Five Years
|
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Kevin Landis (2)
(born 1961)
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer. Director (to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders), elected annually as an officer. Served since 2010.
|
President of FCM since 2009; President, Chairman and Founder of Firsthand Funds since 1994; Portfolio Manager of Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund since 2007, of Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund since 1999, and of Firsthand Technology Leaders Fund from 1997 to 2012; Portfolio Manager of the Company since April, 2011.
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3
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Current:
Firsthand Funds IntraOp Medical Corporation Silicon Genesis Corp. Pivotal Systems Corp. QMAT, Inc. Telepathy, Inc. Wrightspeed, Inc.
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(2)
|
Mr. Landis is an “interested person” of the Company because he is an owner, an officer, and an employee of FCM.
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Name
(Year Born)
|
Position(s) Held with
Registrant,
Proposed Term of
Office/
Time of Service
|
Principal Occupations
During Past
Five Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex(1)
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships
Held by Director
During
Past Five Years
|
|
Greg Berglin
(born 1960)
|
Director (to serve until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since 2010.
|
Tax consultant for more than 5 years
|
3
|
Current:
Firsthand Funds
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Mark F. Fitzgerald
(born 1955)
|
Director (to serve until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since April 2013.
|
Retired since Feb. 2009; from June 2000 to Feb. 2007, managing director and senior analyst in the Technology Group of Banc of America Securities LLC (investing); from June 2007 to Feb. 2009, Managing Partner, Wilmont Investments (private technology investment fund).
|
1
|
Current:
NONE
|
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Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (Total Compensation)
|
|
|
Independent Directors
|
|
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Greg Burglin
|
$
|
20,000
|
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Mark Fitzgerald
|
$
|
20,000
|
|
Kimun Lee
|
$
|
20,000
|
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||
|
Interested Director
|
||
|
Kevin Landis
|
None
|
|
|
Board of Directors
|
9
|
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Audit Committee
|
4
|
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Valuation Committee
|
4
|
|
Nominating Committee
|
2
|
|
1
|
We consider a disruptive technology to be a technology that enables a new market or disrupts an existing market by replacing older technology. Recent examples include the smartphone, social networking, and cloud computing.
|
|
Name
(Year Born)
|
Position(s) Held
with
Registrant,
Proposed Term of
Office/
Time of Service
|
Principal
Occupations
During Past
Five Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships
Held by Director During
Past Five Years
|
|
Kevin Landis
(born 1961)
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. Director (to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders), elected annually as an officer. Served since 2010.
|
President of FCM since 2009; President, Chairman and Founder of Firsthand Funds since 1994; Portfolio Manager of Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund since 2007, of Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund since 1999, and of Firsthand Technology Leaders Fund from 1997 to 2012; Portfolio Manager of the Company since April, 2011.
|
3
|
Current:
Firsthand Funds IntraOp Medical Corporation Silicon Genesis Corp. Pivotal Systems Corp. QMAT, Inc. Telepathy, Inc. Wrightspeed, Inc.
|
|
Nichole Mileski
(born 1971)
|
Chief Compliance Officer. Served since September, 2013.
|
Corporate counsel of FCM since 2013; corporate paralegal of FCM since 2011. Bankruptcy paralegal at Law Office of Julian Roberts from 2009 to 2011. Extern at United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of California San Jose Division from 2008 to 2009.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner of Common Stock
|
Number of
Shares
|
Percent of
Class
(1)
|
|
Independent Directors
|
||
|
Greg Burglin
|
0
|
*
|
|
Kimun Lee
|
500
|
*
|
|
Mark Fitzgerald
|
1,000
|
*
|
|
Interested Director
|
||
|
Kevin Landis
|
109,413
|
1.21%
|
|
Executive Officers
|
||
|
Nichole Mileski
|
0
|
*
|
|
Other Beneficial Owners
|
||
|
Bulldog Investors
Park 80 West Plaza Two, Suite 750
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
|
1,277,934
|
14.09%
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*
|
Less than 1% of class.
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(1)
|
Based on 9,072,032 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 28, 2014.
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Director
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Dollar Range
1
of Our Equity Securities
|
Aggregate Dollar Range
1
of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies
2
Overseen by Director in Fund Complex
3
|
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Independent Directors
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||
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Greg Burglin
3
|
None
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None
|
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Mark Fitzgerald
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$10,001 - $50,000
|
$10,001 - $50,000
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Kimun Lee
3
|
$10,001 - $50,000
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$10,001 - $50,000
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Interested Director
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Kevin Landis
3
|
Over $100,000
|
Over $100,000
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(1)
|
Dollar ranges are as follows: none; $1-$10,000; $10,001-$50,000; $50,001-$100,000 or over $100,000.
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(2)
|
The Company is incorporated under the Maryland General Corporation Law.
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(3)
|
Each of Greg Burglin, Kimun Lee and Kevin Landis is a member of the board of trustees of Firsthand Funds, which operates Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund and Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund. FCM serves as investment advisor for each of these funds.
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•
|
As of February 28, 2014, Bulldog Investors holds beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding common stock.
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•
|
As of February 28, 2014, director Kevin Landis held, as of that date, approximately 1.21% of our outstanding stock. None of the other directors owned 1% or more of outstanding Common Stock.
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•
|
As of February 28, 2014, our officers and directors owned, as a group, approximately 1.21% of our outstanding common stock.
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By Order of the Board of Directors
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Kelvin Leung
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Secretary
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1.
|
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) shall be composed entirely of Directors who are not “interested” persons of the Fund, any investment adviser or principal underwriter, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The full Board shall designate the members of the Committee and shall either designate the Chairman or shall approve the manner of selection of the Chairman.
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The Board shall determine annually whether any member of the Committee is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR. Any member of the Committee who is determined to be such an expert shall not bear any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations and liabilities imposed on such member as a member of the Committee and the Board in the absence of such determination.
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2.
|
The primary responsibilities of the Committee are:
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a)
|
To oversee the accounting and financial reporting policies of the Fund and practices, including their internal controls over financial reporting and, as the Committee deems appropriate, the internal controls of key service providers;
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b)
|
To oversee the quality and objectivity of, and review the results of, the annual audits of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof;
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c)
|
To interact with the Fund’s independent auditors (the “Auditors”) on behalf of the full Board and to interact with the appropriate officers of the Fund, and the investment adviser, administrator and other key service providers other than the Auditors (collectively, “Management”) regarding accounting and financial reporting matters;
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d)
|
To oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting, internal controls and independent audits; and
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e)
|
To approve the Auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Auditors.
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The function of the Committee is oversight. Management is primarily responsible for maintaining appropriate systems for accounting and internal control, and the Auditors are primarily responsible for planning and carrying out a proper audit. Specifically, Management is responsible for: (1) the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements; (2) the implementation of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies; and (3) the maintenance of internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with all applicable accounting standards, laws, and regulations. The Auditors are responsible for planning and carrying out a proper audit and review. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to reduce the responsibilities or liabilities of Management or the Auditors.
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Although the Committee is expected to take a questioning and deliberative approach to the matters that come before it, the review of the Fund’s financial statements by the Committee is not an audit, nor does the Committee’s review substitute for the responsibilities of Management for preparing, or the Auditors for auditing, the Fund’s financial statements. Members of the Committee are not full-time employees of the Fund and, in serving
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on the Committee, are not, and do not hold themselves out to be, acting as accountants or auditors. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures. In addition, the authority and responsibilities set forth in this Charter do not reflect or create any duty or obligation of the Committee to plan or conduct any audit, to determine or certify that the Fund’s financial statements are complete, accurate, fairly presented, or in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or applicable laws, or to guarantee any report of the Auditors.
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In discharging their duties, the members of the Committee are entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by: (1) one or more officers of the
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Fund whom the member reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; (2) legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the member reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert competence; or (3) another Board committee on which the member does not sit.
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3.
|
To carry out its responsibilities, the Committee shall have the following duties and powers, to be discharged in such a manner as the Committee deems appropriate, in its sole discretion:
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|
a)
|
To approve, prior to appointment, the engagement of the Auditors to annually audit and provide their opinion on the Fund’s financial statements, to recommend to those Directors who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act) the selection, retention or termination of the Auditors and, in connection therewith, to (i) review and evaluate matters potentially affecting the independence of the Auditors; (ii) evaluate the independence of the Auditors and to receive and evaluate the Auditors’ specific representations as to their independence; and (iii) evaluate the performance of the Auditors and the quality and depth of the professional staff assigned to the Fund;
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b)
|
To approve, prior to appointment, the engagement of the Auditors to provide non-audit services to the Fund, its investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser (“adviser affiliate”) that provides ongoing services to the Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund;
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c)
|
To separately adopt in the form attached to this Charter as Exhibit A. detailed policies and procedures, that may be amended from time to time solely by the Committee, for pre-approval of the Auditors to provide audit and non-audit services to a Fund and to provide non-audit services to the Fund’s investment adviser or control affiliate that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund;
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d)
|
To consider whether the provision by the Auditors of non-audit services to a Fund’s investment adviser or adviser affiliate that provides ongoing services to the Fund, which services were not required to be pre-approved by the Committee, is compatible with maintaining the Auditors’ independence;
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e)
|
To assess the Auditors’ independence at least annually; in connection with which, the Committee shall receive and review a report by the Auditors describing all relationships between the Auditors and the Fund, including the disclosures required by any applicable auditing standard;
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f)
|
To review and discuss with Management the matters about which Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committees) requires discussion, including those specifically mentioned in this Charter;
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g)
|
To review the arrangements for and scope of the Fund’s annual audits and any special audits;
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h)
|
To review and approve the fees proposed to be charged to the Fund by the Auditors for all audit and non-audit services;
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|
i)
|
To review with the Fund’s principal executive officer and/or principal financial officer, in connection with their certifications of any filings by the Fund on Form N-CSR, any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of disclosure controls and procedures or material weaknesses therein or in internal controls over financial reporting and any reported evidence of fraud involving Management or other employees who have a significant role in the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures;
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j)
|
To meet with the Auditors, including private meetings, as appropriate, (i) to review the arrangements for and the scope of the annual audit and any special audits or other special services; (ii) to discuss any matters of concern arising in connection with audits of the Fund’s financial statements, including any adjustments to such statements recommended by the Auditors, or other results of the audits; (iii) to review the quality and adequacy of the internal accounting staff; (iv) to consider the Auditors’ comments with respect to the appropriateness and adequacy of the Fund’s financial policies, procedures and internal controls over financial reporting and to review management’s responses thereto; and (v) to review with the Auditors their opinions as to the fairness of the financial statements;
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k)
|
To consider the effect on the Fund of: (i) any changes in accounting principles or practices proposed by Management or the Auditors; (ii) any changes in service providers, such as fund accountants or administrators, that could impact the Fund’s internal controls; or (iii) any changes in schedules (such as fiscal or tax year-end changes) or structures or transactions that require special accounting activities or resources;
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l)
|
To investigate or initiate investigation of reports of improprieties or suspected improprieties in connection with the Fund’s accounting or financial reporting;
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m)
|
To report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis and to make such recommendations with respect to the matters described above and other matters as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate;
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n)
|
To serve as a “qualified legal compliance committee” (as such term is defined in 17 CFR Part 205), the duties of which are listed on Exhibit B to this Charter; and
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o)
|
To perform such other functions and to have such powers as may be necessary or appropriate in the efficient and lawful discharge of the foregoing.
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4.
|
The Committee shall meet at least twice annually, and is empowered to hold special meetings as circumstances require. The Committee shall record minutes of its meetings and shall invite Directors who are not members of the Committee, Management, counsel and representatives of service providers to attend meetings and provide information as the Committee, in its sole discretion, considers appropriate.
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5.
|
The Committee shall be available, as reasonable, to meet with appropriate officers of the Fund, and with internal accounting staff, and individuals with internal audit responsibilities, for consultation on audit, accounting, and related financial matters.
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6.
|
The Committee shall be given the resources and shall have the authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to retain special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Fund.
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7.
|
The Committee shall review this Charter as often as it deems appropriate, and recommend any changes to the Board that it deems appropriate. The Committee shall have such further responsibilities as are given to it from time to time by the Board. The Committee shall consult, on an ongoing basis, with Management, the Auditors and counsel as to legal or regulatory developments affecting its responsibilities, as well as relevant tax, accounting, and industry developments.
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8.
|
Nothing in this Charter shall be interpreted as diminishing or derogating the responsibilities of the full Board.
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|
•
|
An attorney reporting a “material violation” under 17 CFR Part 205 (“Reporting Attorney”), is permitted to report evidence of such a material violation directly to the qualified legal compliance committee, which is composed of all Audit Committee members (“QLCC”).
|
|
•
|
The QLCC shall direct that the CLO provide contact information to all attorneys who provide services to the Fund and would be deemed to be practicing before the SEC under the Attorney Rules for one or more members of the QLCC so that confidentiality can be ensured for any attorney who reports evidence of a material violation.
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•
|
The QLCC shall designate an appropriate repository for the retention of materials generated in connection with the receipt of any report of a material violation by the QLCC.
|
|
•
|
Once a report of evidence of a material violation by the Fund, its officers, directors, employees or agents has been received by the QLCC, the QLCC has the authority and responsibility:
|
|
|
(i)
|
To inform the CLO and CEO of such report (except in the case where the reporting attorney reasonably believes that it would be futile to report evidence of a material violation to the CLO and CEO, and has informed the QLCC of such belief); and
|
|
|
(ii)
|
To determine whether an investigation is necessary or appropriate, and, if it determines an investigation is necessary or appropriate, to:
|
|
|
(A)
|
Notify the full Board of Directors;
|
|
|
(B)
|
Initiate an investigation, which may be conducted either by the CLO or by outside attorneys; and
|
|
|
(C)
|
Retain such additional expert personnel as the QLCC deems necessary; and, at the conclusion of such investigation,
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|
|
(D)
|
Recommend, by majority vote, that the Fund implement an appropriate response to evidence of a material violation; and
|
|
|
(E)
|
Inform the CLO and the CEO and the Board of Directors of the results of any such investigation and the appropriate remedial measures.
|
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|
(iii)
|
By majority vote, to take all other appropriate action, including notifying the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the event that the Fund fails in any material respect to implement an appropriate response that the QLCC has recommended.
|
No information found
* THE VALUE IS THE MARKET VALUE AS OF THE LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER FOR WHICH THE 13F WAS FILED.
| FUND | NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE ($) | PUT OR CALL |
|---|
| DIRECTORS | AGE | BIO | OTHER DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIPS |
|---|
No information found
No Customers Found
No Suppliers Found
Price
Yield
| Owner | Position | Direct Shares | Indirect Shares |
|---|