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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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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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Definitive Additional Materials
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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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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
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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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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Total fee paid:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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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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Amount Previously Paid:
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7.
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing Party:
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9.
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Date Filed:
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| i. | the election of two directors of the Company; |
| ii. | 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, 2015; and |
| iii. | the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
| 1. | The election of two Class I directors of the Company to serve until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify; |
| 2. | 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, 2015; and |
| 3. | To transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
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NOTICE OF 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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2
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PROXY STATEMENT 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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4
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
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5
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PROPOSAL ONE — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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7
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NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR, EACH OF WHOM IS NOT AN INTERESTED PERSONS
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REMAINING DIRECTORS WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED PERSONS
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REMAINING DIRECTOR WHO IS AN INTERESTED PERSON
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
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COMMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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11
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INFORMATION ABOUT EACH DIRECTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE,
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ATTRIBUTES OR SKILLS
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12
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BOARD RECOMMENDATION
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14
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PROPOSAL TWO — RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
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PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FEES AND POLICIES
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
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BOARD RECOMMENDATION
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INFORMATION ABOUT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
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SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
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OTHER MATTERS
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING
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INVESTMENT ADVISER
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ADMINISTRATOR
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HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
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STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
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APPENDIX A -- FIRSTHAND TECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, INC. AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
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24
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| EXHIBIT A – PREAPPROVAL PROCEDURES |
27
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EXHIBIT B - QLCC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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28
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APPENDIX B -- FIRSTHAND TECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, INC. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
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29
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| Q. | WHAT AM I BEING AS ASKED TO CONSIDER AT VOTE ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
| A. | The matters to be considered and voted upon at the Annual Meeting are: |
| • | The election of two Class I Directors to serve until the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. The directors currently serving in Class I are Greg Burglin and Rodney Yee. |
| • | 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, 2015. |
| • | The transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
| Q. | HOW DOES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SUGGEST THAT I VOTE? |
| A. | 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. |
| Q. | HOW CAN I VOTE? |
| A. | If your shares are held in “Street Name” by a broker or bank, you will receive information regarding how to instruct your bank or broker to vote your shares. If you are a stockholder of record, you may authorize the persons named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card to cast the votes you are entitled to cast at the meeting by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card. Stockholders of record or their duly authorized proxies also may vote in person if able to attend the meeting. However, even if you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to return your proxy card. That will ensure that your vote is cast should your plans change. |
| Q. | HOW PROXIES WILL BE VOTED? |
| A. | All proxies solicited by the Board of Directors that are properly authorized 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 specified. If no instructions are specified, the persons named as proxies will cast such votes FOR the election of each of the 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. 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 proxy card will cast votes on each proposal in their sole discretion. |
| Q. | CAN I REVOKE MY PROXY? |
| A. | Yes. At any time before it has been exercised, you may revoke your proxy by: |
| • | 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; |
| • | properly executing and sending a later-dated proxy; or |
| • | attending the Annual Meeting, requesting return of any previously delivered proxy, and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting alone will not revoke your proxy. |
| Q. | WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUORUM? |
| A. | The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of shares 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. No business may be conducted at the Annual Meeting if a quorum is not present. 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. |
| Q. | WHAT IS THE REQUIRED VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL PROPERLY PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
| A. | Proposal One. The election of Messrs. Burglin and Yee as a Class I 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. Burglin and Yee. |
| Q. | WHAT IF OTHER MATTERS COME UP AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
| A. | 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 Annual Meeting (or any postponement or adjournment thereof) 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. |
| Q. | WHO IS SOLICITING MY VOTE? |
| A. | In this proxy statement, the Board of Directors is soliciting your vote for matters properly submitted for stockholder consideration at the Annual Meeting. |
| Q. | WHO PAYS FOR THIS SOLICITATION OF PROXIES? |
| A. | The expenses of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed 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. We will not pay any of our representatives or FCM any additional compensation for their efforts to supplement proxy solicitation. |
| Q. | CAN I VIEW THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL REPORT ON THE INTERNET? |
| A. | Yes. The proxy statement and Annual Report are available on the Internet at www.firsthandtvf.com/proxy2015. |
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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
Rodney Yee
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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
Nicholas Petredis
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III
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to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2017
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Kimun Lee
Kevin Landis
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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. |
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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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Greg Burglin
(born 1960)
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Director. (to serve until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since 2010.
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Tax consultant for more than 5 years.
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3
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Current:
Firsthand Funds
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Rodney Yee (born 1960)
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Director. (to serve until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since 2014. Also served from 2010 to 2013.
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Mr. Yee is a financial industry professional operating as an independent consultant since September 2014. Mr. Yee was Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (a closed-end investment company traded on the NYSE) from 2010 to 2014; Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of CCM Partners (an investment adviser) from 2005 to 2010.
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3
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Current:
None
From 2010 through 2013 Mr. Yee also served as a trustee for Firsthand Funds.
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| (1) | 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)
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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
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Other Directorships
Held by Director During
Past Five Years
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Mark F. FitzGerald
(born 1955)
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Director. (to serve until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since 2010.
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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).
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3
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Current:
NONE
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Kimun Lee
(born 1946)
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Director. (to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since 2010.
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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 Diversified Alternatives Trust, iShares Gold Trust, and iShares Silver Trust. Since April 2014, Mr. Lee is a trustee of FundX Investment Trust, which includes 6 funds, FundX Upgrader Fund, FundX Aggressive Upgrader Fund, FundX Conservataive Upgrader Fund, FundX Flexible Income Fund, FundXTactical Upgrader Fund, and FundX Flexible Total Return Fund.
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3
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Current:
Firsthand Funds
FundX Investment Trust
iShares Delaware Trust
Sponsor LLC
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Nicholas Petredis
(born 1951)
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Director. (to serve until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders). Served since 2014.
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Mr. Petredis is a principal of Petredis Law Offices from 1994 to present. He was Managing Director and Senior Counsel of Firsthand Capital Management, Inc. from 2000 to 2001. He is also of counsel to Terra Law, LP, and Moser Taboada.
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3
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Current:
NONE
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Name
(Year Born)
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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)
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Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer. Director (to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders), elected annually as an officer. Served since 2010.
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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 Corp.
Phunware, Inc.
Pivotal Systems Corp.
QMAT, Inc.
Silicon Genesis Corp.
Telepathy Investors, Inc.
VuFine, Inc.
Wrightspeed, Inc.
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Name
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Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (Total Compensation)
|
|||
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Independent Directors
|
||||
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Greg Burglin
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$
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20,000
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Mark FitzGerald
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$
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20,000
|
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Kimun Lee
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$
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20,000
|
||
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Nicholas Petredis
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$
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5,000
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Rodney Yee
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$
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5,000
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Interested Director
|
||||
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Kevin Landis
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None
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|||
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Board of Directors
|
5
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Audit Committee
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4
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Valuation Committee
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4
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Nominating Committee
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2
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Compensation Committee
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0
|
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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
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships
Held by Director During
Past Five Years
|
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Kevin Landis
(born 1961)
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Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. Director (to serve until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders), elected annually as an officer. Served since 2010.
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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
Phunware, Inc.
Pivotal Systems Corp.
QMAT, Inc.
Silicon Genesis Corp.
Telepathy Investors, Inc.
VuFine, Inc.
Wrightspeed, Inc.
|
|
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
|
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Omar Billawala
(born 1961)
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Chief Financial Officer.
Served since 2014.
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Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Firsthand Capital Management, Inc. from 1999 to present. Treasurer of Firsthand Funds from 2011 to present.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
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Nichole Mileski
(born 1971)
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Chief Compliance Officer. Served since 2013.
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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
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N/A
|
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Name of Beneficial Owner of Common Stock
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Number of Shares
|
Percent of Class
(1)
|
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Independent Directors
|
||
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Greg Burglin
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0
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*
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Kimun Lee
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500
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*
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Mark FitzGerald
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1,000
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*
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Nicholas Petredis
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0
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*
|
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Rodney Yee
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0
|
*
|
|
Interested Director
|
||
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Kevin Landis
|
109,413
|
1.28%
|
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Executive Officers
|
||
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Omar Billawala
|
113
|
|
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Nichole Mileski
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0
|
*
|
|
Other Beneficial Owners
|
*
|
|
|
Bulldog Investors
Park 80 West Plaza Two, Suite 750
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
|
827,851
|
9.67%
|
| * | Less than 1% of class. |
| (1) | Based on 8,562,173 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2014. |
|
Director
|
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
|
|
Independent Directors
|
||
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Greg Burglin
3
|
None
|
None
|
|
Mark FitzGerald
3
|
$10,001 - $50,000
|
None
|
|
Kimun Lee
3
|
$1 - $10,000
|
None
|
|
Nicholas Petredis
3
|
None
|
None
|
|
Rodney Yee
3
|
None
|
None
|
|
Interested Director
|
||
|
Kevin Landis
3
|
Over $100,000
|
Over $100,000
|
| (1) | Dollar ranges are as follows: none; $1-$10,000; $10,001-$50,000; $50,001-$100,000 or over $100,000. |
| (2) | SVVC is incorporated under the Maryland General Corporation Law. |
| (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. |
| 1. | Because the Compensation Committee was not formed until June 29, 2014, the Nominating Committee performed the equivalent function for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. |
| • | As of February 28, 2015, Bulldog Investors holds beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding common stock. |
| • | As of February 28, 2015, none of our independent directors owned 1% or more of our outstanding Common Stock. Kevin Landis held, as of that date, approximately 1.42% of our outstanding common stock. |
| • | As of February 28, 2015, our officers and directors owned, as a group, approximately 1.44% of our outstanding common stock. |
|
By Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
Kelvin Leung
Secretary
|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 2. | The primary responsibilities of the Committee are: |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| 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 |
| e) | To approve the Auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Auditors. |
| 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: |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| f) | To review and discuss with Management the matters about which Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (The Auditor’s Communication with Those Charged with Governance) requires discussion, including those specifically mentioned in this Charter; |
| g) | To review the arrangements for and scope of the Fund’s annual audits and any special audits; |
| h) | To review and approve the fees proposed to be charged to the Fund by the Auditors for all audit and non-audit services; |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| 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; |
| l) | To investigate or initiate investigation of reports of improprieties or suspected improprieties in connection with the Fund’s accounting or financial reporting; |
| 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; |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 8. | Nothing in this Charter shall be interpreted as diminishing or derogating the responsibilities of the full Board. |
| • | 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. |
| • | 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, |
| (A) | Recommend, by majority vote, that the Fund implement an appropriate response to evidence of a material violation; and |
| (B) | Inform the CLO and the CEO and the Board of Directors of the results of any such investigation and the appropriate remedial measures. |
| (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. |
| I. | Purpose |
| 1. | The purpose of the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) is to oversee the discharge of, or assist the Board in discharging, the Board’s responsibilities relating to the Company’s compensation programs, if any, and the compensation, if any, of the Company’s executive officers, including, but not limited to, by designing (in consultation with management or the Board), evaluating and approving the compensation plans, policies and programs of the Company. The Committee shall ensure that compensation programs are designed to encourage high performance, promote accountability and assure that employee interests are aligned with the interests of the Company’s stockholders. |
| 2. | In addition to the powers and responsibilities expressly delegated to the Committee in this Charter, the Committee may exercise any other powers and carry out any other responsibilities delegated to it by the Board from time to time consistent with the Company’s bylaws and applicable law. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the powers and responsibilities delegated by the Board to the Committee in this Charter or otherwise shall be exercised and carried out by the Committee as it deems appropriate without requirement of Board approval, and any decision made by the Committee (including, but not limited to, any decision to exercise or refrain from exercising any of the powers delegated to the Committee hereunder) shall be at the Committee’s sole discretion. While acting within the scope of the powers and responsibilities delegated to it, the Committee shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board. To the fullest extent permitted by law and consistent with this Charter, the Committee shall have the power to determine which matters are within the scope of the powers and responsibilities delegated to it. |
| 3. | The Charter includes requirements for companies subject to (a) the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”), and (b) the listing and other standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”). Any such requirements shall only be imposed on the Committee’s composition and/or activities effective as of the date upon which the Company is either subject to such reporting requirements and/or such listing and other standards of Nasdaq. |
| 4. | The Board expects that the Committee’s only substantive responsibility will be to evaluate and set the compensation paid to the independent directors of the Company within the meaning of Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules (the “Independent Directors”). No other executive officers of the Company are paid compensation by the Company nor has the Company adopted any related compensation plan or program for its executive officers. |
| II. | Membership |
| 1. | The Committee shall (a) consist of all the Independent Directors, except as otherwise required by the Nasdaq rules, (b) be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, and (c) be an “outside director” under the regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). |
| 2. | The members of the Committee, including, but not limited to, the Chairperson of the Committee (the “Chair”), shall be appointed by the Board, which shall consider any recommendation of the Board or any applicable nominating or governance committee, and the applicable Nasdaq rules when appointing members of the Committee. Committee members may be removed from the Committee, with or without cause, by the Board. Any action duly taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not the members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements of membership provided herein. |
| III. | Meetings and Procedures |
| 1. | The Chair (or in his or her absence, a member designated by the Chair) shall preside at each meeting of the Committee and set the agendas for Committee meetings. The Committee shall have the authority to establish its own rules and procedures for notice and conduct of its meetings so long as they are not inconsistent with any provisions of the Company’s bylaws that are applicable to the Committee. |
| 2. | The Committee shall meet as often as it deems necessary or desirable in order to perform its responsibilities. The Committee shall keep such records of its meetings as it shall deem appropriate. |
| 3. | The Committee may, in its discretion, invite other directors of the Company, members of the Company’s management, compensation and benefits consultants, the internal and/or external legal counsel to the Company or any other person whose presence the Committee believes to be desirable and appropriate to attend and observe meetings of the Committee. |
| 4. | The Committee shall (a) have the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain or obtain the advice of any compensation consultant, legal counsel, or other advisors as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its responsibilities, (b) be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel and other advisor retained by the Committee, and (c) subject to any exceptions permitted under Nasdaq rules, select, or receive advice from, a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor, other than in-house legal counsel, only after taking into consideration the factors required by any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and Nasdaq rules. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of reasonable compensation to a compensation consultant, legal counsel or any other advisor retained by the Committee. |
| 5. | The Committee may conduct or authorize investigations, including, but not limited to, through the use of independent counsel, experts or advisors, into any matters within the scope of the powers and responsibilities delegated to the Committee, shall have full access to all books, facilities, records and personnel when necessary or advisable, and shall have authority to request any officer, employee or advisor of the Company to meet with the Committee or any advisors engaged by the Committee. |
| IV. | Powers and Responsibilities |
| 1. | The Committee shall have the authority to periodically review and recommend to the Board compensation for service on the Board and any committees by Independent Directors. In addition, the Committee shall periodically consider and recommend to the Board the appropriate additional compensation an Independent Directors should receive for service as chair of the Board or a committee thereof. |
| 2. | The Committee shall have the authority to recommend to the Board executive officer and director indemnification and insurance matters. |
| 3. | If applicable, the Committee shall (a) review and discuss with management the Company’s compensation discussion and analysis to be included in the Company’s annual proxy materials or annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and (b) produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy materials in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq, the SEC and other regulatory bodies. |
| 4. | The Committee shall have the authority to monitor the Company’s compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and other applicable laws, regulations and rules, and shall have the authority to oversee the Company’s response to regulatory developments, in each case relating to compensation arrangements for directors and executive officers. |
| 5. | The Committee, through its Chair, shall report regularly to, and review with, the Board any issues that the Committee determines are necessary or advisable to report to the Board. |
| 6. | The Committee shall, at least annually, perform an evaluation of the performance of the Committee and its members, including, but not limited to, a review of the Committee’s compliance with this Charter, and provide any written material with respect to such evaluation to the Board, including, but not limited to, any recommendations for changes in procedures or policies governing the Committee. The Committee shall conduct such evaluation and review in such manner as it deems appropriate. |
| 7. | The Committee shall, at least annually, review and reassess this Charter and submit any recommended changes to the Board for its consideration. |
| V. | Delegation of Duties |
| VI. | Limitations on Scope |
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* 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 |
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| DIRECTORS | AGE | BIO | OTHER DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIPS |
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No information found
No Customers Found
No Suppliers Found
Price
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| Owner | Position | Direct Shares | Indirect Shares |
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