Risk Factors - SVVC

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$SVVC Risk Factor changes from 00/03/24/22/2022 to 00/03/28/24/2024

Item 1A. Risk Factors Investing in the Company involves a number of significant risks relating to our business and investment objective. Risk Factors Investing in the Company involves a number of significant risks relating to our business and investment objective. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will achieve our investment objective. RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON FCM’S KEY PERSONNEL FOR OUR FUTURE SUCCESS. RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON FCM’S KEY PERSONNEL FOR OUR FUTURE SUCCESS. If the Investment Adviser is unable to hire and retain qualified personnel, or if it loses any key member of its management team, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly impaired. We depend on the diligence, skill, and access to the network of business contacts of the management of FCM, including Mr. We depend on the diligence, skill, and access to the network of business contacts of the management of FCM, including Mr. Landis, the owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of FCM. We also depend, to a significant extent, on FCM’s access to the investment information and deal flow generated by Mr. Landis and any other investment professionals of FCM. Mr. Landis and other management personnel of FCM evaluate, negotiate, structure, close, and monitor our investments. Our future success depends on the continued service of Mr. Landis and other management personnel of FCM. The resignation of FCM, or the departure of Mr. Landis or any other key managers hired by FCM could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective. In addition, we can offer no assurance that FCM will remain the Investment Adviser. THE INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ITS MANAGEMENT MANAGE OTHER FUNDS. THE INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ITS MANAGEMENT MANAGE OTHER FUNDS. In addition to managing SVVC, FCM is also the investment adviser to two open-end mutual funds in the Firsthand Funds family: Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund and Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund. Mr. Landis, who has primary responsibility for SVVC, also serves as portfolio manager of Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund and Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund. This may reduce the time FCM and its investment management team have to devote to the affairs of SVVC. The other funds managed by FCM have stated investment objectives which differ from our own. Accordingly, there may be times when the interests of FCM’s management team differ from our interests. THE INVESTMENT ADVISER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR RETURNS TO THOSE ACHIEVED BY ITS INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS WHILE THEY WERE EMPLOYED AT PRIOR JOBS. 16 THE INVESTMENT ADVISER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR RETURNS TO THOSE ACHIEVED BY ITS INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS WHILE THEY WERE EMPLOYED AT PRIOR JOBS. Although Mr. Landis has been a portfolio manager of a number of open-end mutual funds in the Firsthand Funds family, Mr. Landis’s track record and achievements are not necessarily indicative of future results that will be achieved by FCM on our behalf. FCM and its investment professionals’ skills and expertise may not be as well suited to our objectives, strategies and requirements as they are for certain other funds. FCM and many of its investment professionals are relatively inexperienced in managing closed end funds and our investment objectives, policies and regulatory limitations differ substantially from the other funds FCM and its investment professionals have managed. Similarly, while the research and operational professionals that support Mr. Landis in his management of Firsthand Funds are substantially the same individuals that will be supporting us, there is no assurance that they will be able to provide the same level of services to us as they did (or currently do) for Firsthand Funds. OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE FUTURE GROWTH EFFECTIVELY. OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE FUTURE GROWTH EFFECTIVELY. Our ability to achieve our investment objective will depend on our ability to grow, which will depend, in turn, on FCM’s ability to identify, invest in, and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis will be largely a function of FCM’s structuring of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive, and efficient services to us and our access to financing on acceptable terms. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis will be largely a function of FCM’s structuring of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive, and efficient services to us and our access to financing on acceptable terms. The management team of FCM will have substantial responsibilities under the Investment Management Agreement. In addition, the employees of FCM may also be called upon to provide managerial assistance to our portfolio companies as the principals of our administrator. Such demands on their time may distract them or slow our rate of investment. Any failure to manage our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 16 Table of Contents WE OPERATE IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. A number of entities will compete with us to make the types of investments that we plan to make. We will compete with other venture capital firms and venture capital funds, various public and private investment funds, including hedge funds, other BDCs, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies, and various technology and alternative energy companies’ internal venture capital arms. Many of our potential competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a stronger network of contacts and better connections for deal flows or have access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act will impose on us as a BDC. We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, as a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and we can offer no assurance that we will be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objective. REGULATIONS GOVERNING OUR OPERATION AS A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WILL AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO, AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE, RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL. REGULATIONS GOVERNING OUR OPERATION AS A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WILL AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO, AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE, RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL. We are not generally able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. We may, however, sell our common stock at a price below the current net asset value of the common stock, or sell warrants, options, or rights to acquire such common stock, at a price below the current net asset value of the common stock if our Board of Directors determines that such sale is in the best interests SVVC, and our stockholders approve SVVC’s policy and practice of making such sales. Our stockholders have not approved a policy or practice of selling our common stock below our net asset value per share. However, our Board of Directors may ask our stockholders to vote on such a policy and practice at upcoming stockholders meetings. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price which, in the determination of our Board of Directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). ANY FAILURE ON OUR PART TO MAINTAIN OUR STATUS AS A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WOULD REDUCE OUR OPERATING FLEXIBILITY. 17 ANY FAILURE ON OUR PART TO MAINTAIN OUR STATUS AS A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WOULD REDUCE OUR OPERATING FLEXIBILITY. If we do not remain a BDC, we might be regulated as a closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act, which would subject us to substantially more regulatory restrictions under the 1940 Act and correspondingly decrease our operating flexibility and increase our cost of doing business. Furthermore, any failure to comply with the requirements imposed on BDCs by the 1940 Act could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against us or expose us to claims of private litigants. IF WE DO NOT INVEST A SUFFICIENT PORTION OF OUR ASSETS IN QUALIFYING ASSETS, WE COULD FAIL TO QUALIFY AS A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OR BE PRECLUDED FROM INVESTING ACCORDING TO OUR CURRENT BUSINESS STRATEGY. IF WE DO NOT INVEST A SUFFICIENT PORTION OF OUR ASSETS IN QUALIFYING ASSETS, WE COULD FAIL TO QUALIFY AS A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OR BE PRECLUDED FROM INVESTING ACCORDING TO OUR CURRENT BUSINESS STRATEGY. As a BDC, we may not acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70% of our total assets are qualifying assets. See “Regulation” above. We may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if such investments are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 1940 Act. We may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if such investments are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 1940 Act. If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could lose our status as a BDC, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Similarly, these rules could prevent us from making follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of our position) or could require us to dispose of investments at inappropriate times in order to comply with the 1940 Act. If we need to dispose of such investments quickly, it would be difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. For example, we may have difficulty in finding a buyer and, even if we do find a buyer, we may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss. 17 Table of Contents WE ARE A NON-DIVERSIFIED INVESTMENT COMPANY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE 1940 ACT, AND THEREFORE WE ARE NOT LIMITED WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPORTION OF OUR ASSETS THAT MAY BE INVESTED IN SECURITIES OF A SINGLE ISSUER. WE ARE A NON-DIVERSIFIED INVESTMENT COMPANY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE 1940 ACT, AND THEREFORE WE ARE NOT LIMITED WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPORTION OF OUR ASSETS THAT MAY BE INVESTED IN SECURITIES OF A SINGLE ISSUER. We are classified as a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that we are not limited by the 1940 Act with respect to the proportion of our assets that we may invest in securities of a single issuer. To the extent that we assume large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, our net asset value may fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of changes in the financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuer. We may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. Beyond our income tax diversification requirements, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and our investments could be concentrated in relatively few portfolio companies. WE WILL NEED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL TO GROW. WE WILL NEED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL TO GROW. We will need additional capital to fund growth in our investments once we have fully invested the cash (and other liquid assets, if any) received, we may issue equity securities in order to obtain this additional capital. A reduction in the availability of new capital could limit our ability to grow or pursue business opportunities. During the years that we have elected and maintained our status as a RIC, we will be required to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders to maintain our RIC status. As a result, if stockholders opt out of reinvesting those distributions back into SVVC, these earnings will not be available to fund new investments. If we fail to obtain additional capital to fund our investments, this could limit our ability to grow, which may have an adverse effect on the value of our securities. MANY OF OUR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS WILL BE RECORDED AT FAIR VALUE AS DETERMINED IN GOOD FAITH BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MANY OF OUR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS WILL BE RECORDED AT FAIR VALUE AS DETERMINED IN GOOD FAITH BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AS A RESULT, THERE WILL BE UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE VALUE OF OUR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS. A large percentage of our portfolio investments will be in the form of securities that are not publicly traded. The fair value of securities and other investments that are not publicly traded may not be readily determinable. We will value these securities quarterly at fair value according to our written valuation procedures and as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors may use the services of a nationally recognized independent valuation firm to aid it in determining the fair value of these securities. The methods for valuing these securities may include: fundamental analysis (sales, income, or earnings multiples, etc.), discounts from market prices of similar securities, purchase price of securities, subsequent private transactions in the security or related securities, or discounts applied to the nature and duration of restrictions on the disposition of the securities, as well as a combination of these and other factors.), discounts from market prices of similar securities, purchase price of securities, subsequent private transactions in the security or related securities, or discounts applied to the nature and 18 duration of restrictions on the disposition of the securities, as well as a combination of these and other factors. Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time, and may be based on estimates, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed. Our net asset value could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of our investments were materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon the disposal of such securities. THE LACK OF LIQUIDITY IN OUR INVESTMENTS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS. THE LACK OF LIQUIDITY IN OUR INVESTMENTS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS. We primarily make investments in private companies. Substantially all of these securities will be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities. The illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to sell such investments if the need arises. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have previously recorded our investments. In addition, we may face other restrictions on our ability to liquidate an investment in a portfolio company to the extent that we have material non-public information regarding such portfolio company. WE MAY EXPERIENCE FLUCTUATIONS IN OUR QUARTERLY RESULTS. WE MAY EXPERIENCE FLUCTUATIONS IN OUR QUARTERLY RESULTS. We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including the performance of the portfolio securities we hold; the level of our expenses; variations in, and the timing of the recognition of, realized and unrealized gains or losses; the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods. 18 Table of Contents THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT COULD IMPACT OUR INVESTMENT RETURNS. Our executive officers and directors may serve as officers, directors or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do or of investment funds managed by affiliates of FCM that may be formed in the future. Accordingly, if this occurs, they may have obligations to investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which might not be in the best interests of us or our stockholders. In the course of our investing activities, we will pay investment management and incentive fees to FCM, and will reimburse FCM for certain expenses it incurs. In the course of our investing activities, we will pay investment management and incentive fees to FCM, and will reimburse FCM for certain expenses it incurs. As a result, investors in our common stock will invest on a “gross” basis and receive distributions on a “net” basis after expenses, resulting in a lower rate of return than an investor might achieve through direct investments. Accordingly, there may be times when the management team of FCM has interests that differ from those of our stockholders, giving rise to a conflict. Several members of our Board of Directors are also trustees of the Board of Trustees of Firsthand Funds. Several members of our Board of Directors are also trustees of the Board of Trustees of Firsthand Funds. Of the five directors of the Company, Messrs. Landis, Burglin, and Lee all serve as both directors for the Company and trustees for Firsthand Funds. Messrs. Petredis and Yee are the only directors of the Company who are not also trustees of Firsthand Funds. We believe such a commonality of the board brings continuity of oversight and allows our Board to maintain the institutional knowledge and experience of overseeing illiquid securities and their pricing methods. OUR INCENTIVE FEE MAY INDUCE FCM TO MAKE SPECULATIVE INVESTMENTS AND THESE FEES WILL, IN EFFECT, BE BORNE BY OUR COMMON STOCKHOLDERS. OUR INCENTIVE FEE MAY INDUCE FCM TO MAKE SPECULATIVE INVESTMENTS AND THESE FEES WILL, IN EFFECT, BE BORNE BY OUR COMMON STOCKHOLDERS. The incentive fee payable by us to FCM may create an incentive for FCM to make investments on our behalf that are risky or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangement. The incentive fee payable to the Investment Adviser is calculated based on a percentage of our return on invested capital. This may encourage the Investment Adviser to invest in higher risk investments in the hope of securing higher returns. We may invest, to the extent permitted by law, in the securities and instruments of other investment companies, including private funds, as well as other special purpose vehicles set up by third parties for investment in a particular private company. We may invest, to the extent permitted by law, in the securities and instruments of other investment companies, including private funds, as well as other special purpose vehicles set up by third parties for investment in a particular private company. To the extent we so invest, we will bear our ratable share of any such investment company’s expenses, including management and incentive fees. We will also remain obligated to pay investment advisory fees, consisting of a base management fee and incentive fees, to FCM with respect to the assets invested in the securities and instruments of other investment companies under the Investment Management Agreement. We will also remain obligated to pay investment advisory fees, consisting of a 19 base management fee and incentive fees, to FCM with respect to the assets invested in the securities and instruments of other investment companies under the Investment Management Agreement. With respect to any such investments, each of our stockholders will bear his or her share of the investment advisory fees of FCM as well as indirectly bearing the investment advisory fees and other expenses of any investment companies in which we invest. CHANGES IN LAWS OR REGULATIONS GOVERNING OUR OPERATIONS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS. CHANGES IN LAWS OR REGULATIONS GOVERNING OUR OPERATIONS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS. We and our portfolio companies will be subject to regulation by laws at the local, state, and federal levels. These laws and regulations, as well as their interpretation, may be changed from time to time. Accordingly, any change in these laws or regulations could materially and adversely affect our business. PROVISIONS OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL CORPORATION LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS COULD DETER TAKEOVER ATTEMPTS AND HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK. PROVISIONS OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL CORPORATION LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS COULD DETER TAKEOVER ATTEMPTS AND HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK. The Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter, and our bylaws contain provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of the Company or the removal of the Company’s directors. We are subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act, the application of which is subject to any requirements of the 1940 Act. Our Board of Directors has adopted a resolution exempting from the Maryland Business Combination Act any business combination between us and any other person, subject to prior approval of such business combination by our Board, including approval by a majority of our disinterested directors. If the resolution exempting business combinations is repealed or our Board does not approve a business combination, the Maryland Business Combination Act may discourage third parties from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer. We are also subject to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act. With certain exceptions, the Maryland General Corporation Law provides that a holder of “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” has no voting rights with respect to those shares except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares owned by the acquiring person or by our officers or by our directors who are our employees. The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act also may make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer. 19 Table of Contents We have also adopted other measures that may make it difficult for a third party to obtain control of us, including provisions of our charter classifying our Board of Directors in three classes serving staggered three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualify, and provisions of our charter authorizing our Board of Directors (all without stockholder approval) to classify or reclassify shares of our stock in one or more classes or series, to cause the issuance of additional shares of our stock, and to amend our charter to increase or decrease the number of shares of stock that we have authority to issue. We have also adopted other measures that may make it difficult for a third party to obtain control of us, including provisions of our charter classifying our Board of Directors in three classes serving staggered three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualify, and provisions of our charter authorizing our Board of Directors (all without stockholder approval) to classify or reclassify shares of our stock in one or more classes or series, to cause the issuance of additional shares of our stock, and to amend our charter to increase or decrease the number of shares of stock that we have authority to issue. These provisions, as well as other provisions of our charter and bylaws, may delay, defer, or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders. OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY CHANGE OUR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, OPERATING POLICIES, AND STRATEGIES WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY CHANGE OUR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, OPERATING POLICIES, AND STRATEGIES WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. Our Board of Directors has the authority to modify or waive certain of our operating policies and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval (except as required by the 1940 Act). However, absent stockholder approval, we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a BDC. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies and strategies would have on our business, operating results, and value of our stock. Nevertheless, the effects may adversely affect our business and impact our ability to make distributions. RISKS RELATED TO OUR INVESTMENTS OUR INVESTMENTS IN PROSPECTIVE PORTFOLIO COMPANIES MAY BE RISKY, AND YOU COULD LOSE ALL OR PART OF YOUR INVESTMENT. RISKS RELATED TO OUR INVESTMENTS OUR INVESTMENTS IN PROSPECTIVE PORTFOLIO COMPANIES MAY BE RISKY, AND YOU COULD LOSE ALL OR PART OF YOUR INVESTMENT. Equity Investments. We make equity investments primarily in equity securities and equity derivatives (such as options, warrants, rights, etc.) of privately placed venture capital stage technology and alternative energy companies as well as publicly traded micro-cap companies (those with market capitalizations of less than $250 million). Our goal is ultimately to dispose of these equity interests and realize gains upon our disposition of such interests. Our goal is ultimately 20 to dispose of these equity interests and realize gains upon our disposition of such interests. However, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value or lose all value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience. In addition, investing in privately placed technology and clean tech companies involves a number of significant risks, including that private companies generally have limited operating history and are not as well capitalized as public companies. In addition, investing in privately placed technology and clean tech companies involves a number of significant risks, including that private companies generally have limited operating history and are not as well capitalized as public companies. In addition, private company valuations may fluctuate more dramatically than those of public companies and they frequently have less diverse product lines and smaller market presence than larger competitors. These factors could adversely affect our investment returns as compared to companies investing primarily in the securities of public companies. WE MAY INVEST IN MICRO-CAP PUBLIC COMPANIES AND COMPANIES WE MAY HOPE WILL HAVE SUCCESSFUL INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS. WE MAY INVEST IN MICRO-CAP PUBLIC COMPANIES AND COMPANIES WE MAY HOPE WILL HAVE SUCCESSFUL INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS. Although micro-cap companies may have potential for rapid growth, they are subject to wider price fluctuations due to factors inherent in their size, such as lack of management experience and financial resources and limited trade volume and frequency. To make a large sale of securities of micro-cap companies that trade in limited volumes, SVVC may need to sell portfolio holdings at a discount or make a series of small sales over an extended period of time. We have invested in, and we expect to continue to invest in, companies that we believe are likely to issue securities in initial public offerings (“IPOs”). We have invested in, and we expect to continue to invest in, companies that we believe are likely to issue securities in initial public offerings (“IPOs”). Although there is a potential the pre-IPO securities that we buy may increase in value if the company does issue securities in an IPO, IPOs are risky and volatile and may cause the value of our securities to fall dramatically. Also, because securities of pre-IPO companies are generally not freely or publicly tradeable, we may not have access to purchase securities in these companies in the amounts or at the prices we desire. Securities issued by these privately-held companies have no trading history, and information about such companies may be available for very limited periods. The companies that we anticipate holding successful IPOs may not ever issues shares in an IPO and a liquid market for their securities may never develop, which may negatively affect the price at which we can sell any such securities and make it more difficult to sell such securities, which could also adversely affect our liquidity. 20 Table of Contents WE EXPECT TO PURCHASE SECURITIES IN IPOS, WHICH INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT RISKS FOR US, AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OFFERINGS TO THE EXTENT DESIRED OR AT ALL. Securities purchased in IPOs are often subject to the general risk associated with investments in companies with smaller market capitalizations, and typically to a heightened degree. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, under certain market conditions, a relatively small number of companies may issue securities in IPOs. Our investment performance during periods when we are unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when we are able to do so. IPO securities may be volatile, and we cannot predict whether investments in IPOs will be successful. IPO securities may be volatile, and we cannot predict whether investments in IPOs will be successful. If the Company grows in size, the possible positive effects of IPO investments on the Company may decrease. WE HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED ALL OF THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY INVESTMENTS WE INTEND TO ACQUIRE. WE HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED ALL OF THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY INVESTMENTS WE INTEND TO ACQUIRE. The Investment Adviser will select our investments, and our stockholders will have no input with respect to such investment decisions. These factors increase the uncertainty, and thus the risk, of investing in our shares. ECONOMIC RECESSIONS OR DOWNTURNS COULD IMPAIR OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES AND HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS. ECONOMIC RECESSIONS OR DOWNTURNS COULD IMPAIR OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES AND HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS. Many of our portfolio companies are susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may fail or require additional capital investments from us during those periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during these periods. These events could harm our operating results. OUR FAILURE TO MAKE FOLLOW-ON INVESTMENTS IN OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES COULD IMPAIR THE VALUE OF OUR PORTFOLIO. 21 OUR FAILURE TO MAKE FOLLOW-ON INVESTMENTS IN OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES COULD IMPAIR THE VALUE OF OUR PORTFOLIO. Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, we may make additional investments in that portfolio company as “follow-on” investments, in order to: ● increase or maintain in whole or in part our equity ownership percentage; or ● exercise warrants, options, or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing. Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, we may make additional investments in that portfolio company as “follow-on” investments, in order to: ● increase or maintain in whole or in part our equity ownership percentage; or ● exercise warrants, options, or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing. We have the discretion to make any follow-on investments, subject to the availability of capital resources and the availability of securities in the applicable public company. We may elect not to make follow-on investments in a portfolio company and we may lack sufficient funds to make those investments. The failure to make follow-on investments may, in some circumstances, jeopardize the continued viability of a portfolio company and our initial investment, or may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation. Even if we have sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, we may elect not to make a follow-on investment because we may not want to increase our concentration of risk, because we prefer other opportunities, or because we are inhibited by compliance with BDC requirements or the desire to maintain our tax status. WE SOMETIMES DO NOT HOLD CONTROLLING EQUITY INTERESTS IN OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES AND WE MAY NOT BE IN A POSITION TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES OR TO PREVENT DECISIONS BY MANAGEMENT OF OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES THAT COULD DECREASE THE VALUE OF OUR INVESTMENTS. WE SOMETIMES DO NOT HOLD CONTROLLING EQUITY INTERESTS IN OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES AND WE MAY NOT BE IN A POSITION TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES OR TO PREVENT DECISIONS BY MANAGEMENT OF OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES THAT COULD DECREASE THE VALUE OF OUR INVESTMENTS. Although we have held control and will continue to do so for some instruments, we do not anticipate always taking controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies. As a result, we will be subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and the stockholders and management of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to our interests. Due to the lack of liquidity for the equity investments that we will typically hold in our portfolio companies, we may not be able to dispose of our investments in the event we disagree with the actions of a portfolio company, and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of our investments. 21 Table of Contents AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON PRIVATELY HELD COMPANIES PRESENTS CERTAIN CHALLENGES, INCLUDING THE LACK OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE COMPANIES, A DEPENDENCE ON THE TALENTS AND EFFORTS OF ONLY A FEW KEY PORTFOLIO COMPANY PERSONNEL, AND A GREATER VULNERABILITY TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS. AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON PRIVATELY HELD COMPANIES PRESENTS CERTAIN CHALLENGES, INCLUDING THE LACK OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE COMPANIES, A DEPENDENCE ON THE TALENTS AND EFFORTS OF ONLY A FEW KEY PORTFOLIO COMPANY PERSONNEL, AND A GREATER VULNERABILITY TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS. We invest primarily in privately held companies. Generally, little public information exists about these companies, and we will be required to rely on the ability of FCM’s investment professionals to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from investing in these companies. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investments. Also, privately held companies frequently have less diverse product lines and a smaller market presence than larger competitors. These factors could adversely affect our investment returns as compared to companies investing primarily in the securities of public companies. OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL SECURITIES OR INCUR DEBT THAT RANKS EQUAL OR SENIOR TO OUR INVESTMENTS IN SUCH COMPANIES. OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL SECURITIES OR INCUR DEBT THAT RANKS EQUAL OR SENIOR TO OUR INVESTMENTS IN SUCH COMPANIES. We also invest primarily in equity securities issued by our portfolio companies. The portfolio companies may be permitted to issue additional securities or incur other debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, the equity securities in which we invest. By their terms, such other securities (especially if they are debt securities) may provide that the holders are entitled to receive payment of interest or principal before we are entitled to receive any distribution from the portfolio companies. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to our equity investment in that portfolio company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before equity investors like us may receive any distribution in respect of our investment. After repaying such senior creditors, the portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to distribute to us. WE MAY PURCHASE OR SELL OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND INDEXES, WHICH MAY EXPOSE US, AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK, TO CERTAIN RISKS. 22 WE MAY PURCHASE OR SELL OPTIONS ON SECURITIES AND INDEXES, WHICH MAY EXPOSE US, AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK, TO CERTAIN RISKS. We may on a limited basis purchase or sell options on indexes or securities. The use of options has risks and our ability to successfully use these techniques depends on our ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. The use of options may result in losses greater than if they had not been used, may require us to sell or purchase portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, may limit the amount of appreciation we can realize on an investment or may cause us to hold a security we might otherwise sell. OUR INVESTMENTS IN FOREIGN SECURITIES MAY INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT RISKS IN ADDITION TO THE RISKS INHERENT IN U. OUR INVESTMENTS IN FOREIGN SECURITIES MAY INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT RISKS IN ADDITION TO THE RISKS INHERENT IN U. S. INVESTMENTS. Our investment strategy involves potential investments in equity securities of foreign companies. Investing in foreign companies may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include changes in exchange control regulations; political and social instability; expropriation; imposition of foreign taxes; less liquid markets and less available information than is generally the case in the United States; higher transaction costs; less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers; less developed bankruptcy laws; difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations; lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards; and greater price volatility. Although most of our investments will be U. Although most of our investments will be U. S. dollar-denominated, any investments denominated in a foreign currency will be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation, and political developments. We may employ hedging techniques to minimize these risks, but we can offer no assurance that we will, in fact, hedge currency risk, or, if we do, that such strategies will be effective. Item 1B. Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments None. Unresolved Staff Comments None. 22 Table of Contents Item 1C. Cybersecurity Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) is responsible for overseeing our risk management program, and cybersecurity is a critical element of this program. Management is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Company’s risk management program and its cybersecurity policies, processes, and practices. In general, the Adviser seeks to address material cybersecurity threats through a company-wide approach that addresses the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the Adviser’s information systems or the information that the Adviser collects and stores, by assessing, identifying and managing cybersecurity issues as they occur. Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy The Adviser’s cybersecurity risk management strategy focuses on several areas: ● Identification and Reporting: The Adviser has implemented a comprehensive, cross-functional approach to assessing, identifying and managing material cybersecurity threats and incidents. The Adviser’s program includes controls and procedures to properly identify, classify and escalate certain cybersecurity incidents to provide management visibility and obtain direction from management as to the public disclosure and reporting of material incidents in a timely manner. ● Technical Safeguards: The Adviser implements technical safeguards that are designed to protect the Adviser’s information systems from cybersecurity threats, including firewalls, intrusion prevention and detection systems, anti-malware functionality, and access controls, which are evaluated and improved through vulnerability assessments and cybersecurity threat intelligence, as well as assistance from third party experts where necessary. ● Incident Response and Recovery Planning: The Adviser has established and maintains comprehensive incident response, business continuity, and disaster recovery plans designed to address the Adviser’s response to a cybersecurity incident. The Adviser conducts occasional tabletop exercises to test these plans and ensure personnel are familiar with their roles in a response scenario. ● Third-Party Risk Management: The Adviser maintains a comprehensive, risk-based approach to identifying and overseeing material cybersecurity threats presented by third parties, including vendors and service providers ● Education and Awareness: The Adviser provides periodic training for all levels of personnel regarding cybersecurity threats as a means to equip the Adviser’s personnel with effective tools to address cybersecurity threats, and to communicate the Adviser’s evolving information security policies, standards, processes, and practices. The Adviser conducts periodic assessment and testing of its policies, standards, processes, and practices in a manner intended to address cybersecurity threats and eventsThe results of such assessments and reviews are evaluated by management and reported to the Board, and the Adviser adjusts its cybersecurity policies, standards, processes, and practices as necessary based on the information provided by these assessments and reviews. Governance The Board, in coordination with the Adviser, oversees the Company’s risk management program, including the management of cybersecurity threats. The Board receives regular updates and reports on developments in the cybersecurity space, including risk management practices, recent developments, vulnerability assessments, third-party and independent reviews, the threat environment, and information security issues encountered by the Company. The Board also receives prompt and timely information regarding any material cybersecurity risk, as well as ongoing updates regarding any such risk. On an annual basis, the Board and the Adviser discuss the Company’s approach to overseeing cybersecurity threats. Material Effects of Cybersecurity Incidents Risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, have not materially affected and are not reasonably likely to materially affect the Company, including its business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. 23 Table of Contents .