UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-08268
Firsthand Funds
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
150 Almaden Blvd., Suite 1250
San Jose, CA 95113
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Firsthand Capital Management, Inc.
150 Almaden Blvd., Suite 1250
San Jose, CA 95113
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 624-9527
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2023
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
| (a) | The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith. |
As permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the shareholder reports of the Firsthand Funds (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Funds, or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website, www.firsthandfunds.com, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with a Fund, you can call 1-888-884-2675 to let the Fund know you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all Funds held with the fund complex if you invest directly with a Fund.
CONTENTS
Performance Summary
Period Returns (Average Annual Total Returns as of 6/30/23)
FUND | YTD* | 1-YEAR | 3-YEAR | 5-YEAR | 10-YEAR | GROSS EXPENSE RATIO** |
Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund | 4.70% | -13.53% | -16.71% | -4.98% | 9.00% | 1.86% |
Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund | 8.02% | 18.50% | 14.57% | 13.09% | 8.98% | 2.07% |
NASDAQ Composite Index | 32.32% | 26.14% | 11.94% | 13.93% | 16.21% | ● |
S&P 500 Index | 16.89% | 19.59% | 14.60% | 12.31% | 12.86% | ● |
WilderHill Clean Energy Index | 5.05% | -11.33% | 0.14% | 10.60% | 4.71% | ● |
** | After fee waivers, Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund’s total net operating expenses are 1.85% and Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund’s total net operating expenses are 2.00%. Please see the Funds’ prospectus for more information about fund expenses. |
Returns assume reinvestment of all dividends and distributions but do not reflect the impact of taxes. The performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance cannot guarantee future results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Both the return from and the principal value of an investment in the Funds will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. To obtain performance as of the most recent month-end, please contact Firsthand Funds by calling 1.888.884.2675 or go to www.firsthandfunds.com.
The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ) is a capitalization-weighted index of all common stocks listed with NASDAQ. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) is a market-weighted index of 500 stocks of well-established companies. Each index represents an unmanaged, broad-based basket of stocks. These indices are typically used as benchmarks for overall market performance. The WilderHill Clean Energy Index is a market-weighted index of 58 companies in the cleaner fuel, energy conversion, energy storage, greener utilities, power delivery and conservation, and renewable energy harvesting sectors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. You cannot invest directly in an index.
Returns Since Inception (Average Annual Total Returns as of 6/30/23)
FUND (inception Date) | Average Annual Total Returns | NASDAQ composite index | s&p 500 index | wilderhill
clean
energy
index |
Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund (09/30/99) | 1.57% | 8.06% | 7.39% | ● |
Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund (10/29/07) | 1.11% | 11.82% | 9.19% | -6.51% |
Each Fund may invest in small-capitalization companies and Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). These investments will be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies and loss of principal could be greater. The Funds may invest in foreign securities, which will be subject to greater risks than investing in domestic securities. Because the Funds are not diversified, they can take larger positions in fewer companies, increasing their risk profile. The Funds invest in several industries within the technology sector and the relative weightings of these industries in a Fund’s portfolio may change at any time.
Holdings by Industry - % of Net Assets (as of 6/30/23)
INDUSTRY | FIRSTHAND technology
opportunities fund | FIRSTHAND alternative
energy fund |
Advanced Materials | ● | 4.0% |
Automotive | ● | 9.0% |
Biotech | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Consumer Electronics | 15.2% | ● |
Defense & Aerospace | 5.1% | 3.0% |
Education | 3.0% | ● |
Electrical Equipment | ● | 1.9% |
Electronics Manufacturing Services | 1.0% | ● |
Energy Efficiency | ● | 3.6% |
Engineering Service | ● | 6.8% |
Industrials | ● | 0.4% |
Internet | 3.6% | ● |
Materials | ● | 1.9% |
Other Electronics | ● | 5.6% |
Renewable Energy | 7.5% | 28.8% |
Semiconductor Equipment | 7.0% | 6.3% |
Semiconductors | 12.5% | 13.1% |
Services | 0.1% | 5.3% |
Software | 44.7% | ● |
Solar | ● | 1.9% |
Transportation | ● | 0.0%* |
Waste & Environment Service | ● | 0.1% |
Investment Company | 0.3% | 8.0% |
Net Other Assets/(Liabilities) | (0.1)% | 0.0%* |
Portfolio holdings are subject to change.
President’s Letter
Fellow Shareholders,
The first half of 2023 was marked by cautious optimism in the U.S. equity market, as investors interpreted slowing inflation data as an indication that the Fed could curtail interest rate hikes during 2023. In fact, the Fed has raised rates four times so far in 2023, most recently in July, increasing rates by a total of 1.0% during the year-to-date period. Despite these additional rate increases, many economists are backing off earlier predictions of a U.S. recession in 2023, and the stock market has taken notice.
For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Nasdaq Composite Index was up 32.32% and the S&P 500 Index finished up 16.89%. I am disappointed to report that Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund underperformed versus its benchmarks, with a modest gain of 4.70% for the period. Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund fared better but gained only 8.02% for the period. The Fund outperformed its primary benchmark, the WilderHill Clean Energy Index, in the first half of the year. That index gained 5.05% during the period.
Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund (TEFQX)
Tech stocks charged upward in the first half of 2023, after posting losses in 2022. However, 2023’s market rally was not a “rising tide raises all boats” situation. Performance of the Nasdaq Composite Index (a market-cap-weighted index) was driven largely by gains in its top 5 constituents (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon.com, NVIDIA, and Tesla), which together represented nearly 40% of the index as of June 30 and each gained more than 40% in the first six months of the year. The Fund’s lack of exposure to these mega-cap names hurt its performance relative to the benchmark.
The Fund’s largest holding, Roku (ROKU) was the largest positive contributor to fund performance in the first half of 2023. The streaming video company’s stock was up 57% during the period, after exceeding analysts’ expectations for its fiscal fourth quarter of 2022 and first fiscal quarter of 2023.
Cyber security stocks performed well during the period. Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and Cloudflare (NET) were big winners for the Fund, up 83% and 45%, respectively, during the first half of 2023. Cloudflare stock was rather volatile in the second quarter, first getting knocked down by a disappointing earnings report in April, but later rallying as investors connected the company to the artificial intelligence (AI) craze. For its part, Palo Alto Networks’ solid performance reflected the company’s raising of earnings estimates in both February and May.
The largest detractor from the Fund’s performance in the first six months of 2023 was digital education platform provider Chegg (CHGG). In early May, the company announced financial results that bested analysts’ forecasts. At the same time, however, Chegg announced
PRESIDENT’S LETTER - continued
that “…since March we saw a significant spike in student interest in ChatGPT. We now believe it’s having an impact on our new customer growth rate.” Chegg shares fell sharply on that news, and closed Q2 down approximately 65% for the year-to-date period.
Enphase Energy (ENPH) was another significant detractor from fund performance, down 37% through the first half of the year. The solar microinverter company’s shares fell more than 25% in a single trading session in April after the firm issued revenue guidance for its fiscal second quarter that was below the consensus of Wall Street analysts’ expectations.
Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund (ALTEX)
Electric vehicles (EVs) were the driving force behind the Fund’s outperformance versus its primary benchmark in the first half of 2023, with three of the top four positive contributors to the Fund’s performance having significant exposure to EVs. On Semiconductor (ON) is a supplier of power semiconductors and sensors to the automotive industry and was up 52% during the period. The company announced that it is quickly ramping its silicon carbide manufacturing capability, nearly doubling its silicon carbide revenue in Q1, compared with the prior quarter.
Shares of EV manufacturer Tesla (TSLA) gained more than 110% in the first six months of the year, while the company delivered back-to-back record quarters, in terms of vehicle deliveries. Late in the first quarter, the Fund established a new position in Enovix (ENVX), which is developing silicon lithium-ion batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. Enovix stock was up 60% from the time of our purchase through June 30.
On the downside, Intevac (IVAC) was the biggest detractor from the Fund’s performance in the first six months of 2023. Stock of the thin-film manufacturing technology company was down more than 40% during the period. The company announced in June that it had hired investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey to advise the firm on “strategic alternatives.”
Curaleaf Holdings (CURLF), a supplier of consumer cannabis products, was also among the largest detractors from fund performance during the 6-month period. In early Q2, Curaleaf announced that it would restate financial performance for 2021 and 2022, revealing that revenues were modestly overstated during those earlier periods.
Looking Ahead
U.S. monetary policy appears to be moving the economy in the right direction, and we are optimistic that we will emerge from this cycle of rate increases without suffering a recession. The biggest risks to a sustained global economic expansion continue to be the
PRESIDENT’S LETTER - continued
war in Ukraine and political instability at home and abroad. We will continue to seek out the most innovative companies in the industry and work to position the portfolios to be on the right side of the most powerful emerging trends.
Thank you for your continued investment in Firsthand Funds.
Sincerely,
Kevin Landis
President, Firsthand Funds
Shareholder Fee Example (unaudited)
Example — In general, mutual fund shareholders may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads), redemption fees, and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, 12b-1 distribution and service fees, non-12b-1 service fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Note that Firsthand Funds (“Trust”) does not charge transaction fees for 12b-1 distribution and service fees, though you may incur transaction fees if you purchase shares through a broker.
The example on the following page is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023.
Actual Expenses — The section of the table at right entitled “Actual” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the section entitled “Actual” under the heading “Expenses Paid .During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. If your account is an IRA or other tax-qualified savings plan, your expenses may also have included a $10 annual fee. In either case, the amount of any fee paid through your account would increase the estimate of expenses you paid during the period and decrease your ending account value.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes — The section of the table at right entitled “Hypothetical” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on a Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate your actual ending account balance or the expenses you paid for the period. However, you may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Trust to other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. As in the case of the actual expense example, if your account is subject to an IRA fee, the amount of the fee paid through your account would increase the hypothetical expenses you would have paid during the period and decrease the hypothetical ending account value.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher. The examples also assume all dividends and distributions have been reinvested.
SHAREHOLDER FEE EXAMPLE (unaudited) - continued
Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund
| BEGINNING
ACCOUNT VALUE
1/1/23 | ENDING
ACCOUNT
VALUE
6/30/23 | EXPENSES PAID
DURING
PERIOD*
1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | ANNUALIZED
EXPENSE RATIO |
Actual | $1,000 | $ 1,047.00 | $ 9.39 | 1.85% |
Hypothetical** | $1,000 | $ 1,015.62 | $ 9.25 | 1.85% |
Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund
| BEGINNING
ACCOUNT VALUE
1/1/23 | ENDING
ACCOUNT
VALUE
6/30/23 | EXPENSES PAID
DURING
PERIOD*
1/1/23 - 6/30/23 | ANNUALIZED
EXPENSE RATIO |
Actual | $1,000 | $ 1,080.20 | $ 10.21 | 1.98% |
Hypothetical** | $1,000 | $ 1,014.98 | $ 9.89 | 1.98% |
* | Expenses are calculated by multiplying the Fund’s annualized expense ratio listed above by the average account value over the period and multiplying that number by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
** | 5% return per year before expenses. |
| The expenses shown in the table do not reflect any fees that may be charged to you by brokers, financial Intermediaries, or other financial institutions. |
FIRSTHAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Portfolio of Investments, June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | SHARES/PAR
VALUE ($) | | | MARKET VALUE | |
COMMON STOCKS — 96.3% ($77,122,059) | | | | | | | | |
Biotech — 0.1% ($60,137) | | | | | | | | |
CytoDyn, Inc.* | | | 222,730 | | | $ | 60,137 | |
Consumer Electronics — 15.2% ($12,152,400) | | | | | | | | |
Roku, Inc.* | | | 190,000 | | | | 12,152,400 | |
Defense & Aerospace — 5.1% ($4,088,920) | | | | | | | | |
Astra Space, Inc.* | | | 200,000 | | | | 73,720 | |
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.* | | | 280,000 | | | | 4,015,200 | |
Education — 3.0% ($2,439,000) | | | | | | | | |
Chegg, Inc.* | | | 260,000 | | | | 2,308,800 | |
Coursera, Inc.* | | | 10,000 | | | | 130,200 | |
Electronics Manufacturing Services — 1.0% ($773,000) | | | | | | | | |
Nano Dimension Ltd. ADR* | | | 200,000 | | | | 578,000 | |
Tempo Automation Holdings, Inc.* | | | 520,000 | | | | 195,000 | |
Internet — 3.6% ($2,869,750) | | | | | | | | |
Netflix, Inc.* | | | 5,000 | | | | 2,202,450 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc.* | | | 10,000 | | | | 667,300 | |
Renewable Energy — 7.5% ($6,040,100) | | | | | | | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc.* | | | 20,000 | | | | 3,349,600 | |
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.* | | | 10,000 | | | | 2,690,500 | |
Semiconductor Equipment — 3.5% ($2,820,852) | | | | | | | | |
Pivotal Systems Corp.*(1) | | | 41,338,824 | | | | 178,996 | |
Revasum, Inc.*(1) | | | 15,413,753 | | | | 1,437,502 | |
Revasum, Inc.*(1) | | | 12,913,796 | | | | 1,204,354 | |
Semiconductors — 12.5% ($10,006,200) | | | | | | | | |
Wolfspeed, Inc.* | | | 180,000 | | | | 10,006,200 | |
Services — 0.1% ($114,300) | | | | | | | | |
Lesaka Technologies, Inc.* | | | 30,000 | | | | 114,300 | |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
FIRSTHAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND - continued
Portfolio of Investments, June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | SHARES/PAR
VALUE ($) | | | MARKET VALUE | |
Software — 44.7% ($35,757,400) | | | | | | | | |
BILL Holdings, Inc.* | | | 30,000 | | | $ | 3,505,500 | |
Cloudflare, Inc., Class A* | | | 80,000 | | | | 5,229,600 | |
DocuSign, Inc.* | | | 60,000 | | | | 3,065,400 | |
Domo, Inc., Class B* | | | 230,000 | | | | 3,371,800 | |
Fastly, Inc., Class A* | | | 50,000 | | | | 788,500 | |
Monday.com, Ltd.* | | | 20,000 | | | | 3,424,400 | |
MongoDB, Inc.* | | | 5,000 | | | | 2,054,950 | |
Okta, Inc.* | | | 10,000 | | | | 693,500 | |
PagerDuty, Inc.* | | | 120,000 | | | | 2,697,600 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.* | | | 15,000 | | | | 3,832,650 | |
Twilio, Inc., Class A* | | | 30,000 | | | | 1,908,600 | |
Workday, Inc., Class A* | | | 10,000 | | | | 2,258,900 | |
Zscaler, Inc.* | | | 20,000 | | | | 2,926,000 | |
CORPORATE NOTE — 3.5% ($2,782,144) | | | | | | | | |
Semiconductor Equipment — 3.5% ($2,782,144) | | | | | | | | |
Revasum, Inc. August 19, 2025 Interest Rate 8.75%.(1)(2)(3) | | | 1,782,144 | | | | 1,782,144 | |
Revasum, Inc. August 19, 2025 Interest Rate 8.75%.(1)(2)(3) | | | 750,000 | | | | 750,000 | |
Revasum, Inc. August 19, 2025 Interest Rate 8.75%.(1)(2)(3) | | | 250,000 | | | | 250,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
INVESTMENT COMPANY — 0.3% ($247,319) | | | | | | | | |
Fidelity Investments Money Market Fund - Treasury Portfolio(4) | | | 247,319 | | | | 247,319 | |
Total Investments (Cost $109,703,244) — 100.1% | | | | | | | 80,151,522 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets — (0.1)% | | | | | | | (112,165 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 80,039,357 | |
* | Non-income producing security. |
(2) | Fair Value Level 3 security (3.5% of net assets). |
(3) | Restricted/illiquid security (3.5% of net assets). |
(4) | The Fidelity Investments Money Market Fund invests primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities. |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
10 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
FIRSTHAND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FUND
Portfolio of Investments, June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | SHARES | | | MARKET VALUE | |
COMMON STOCKS — 92.0% ($13,328,671) | | | | | | | | |
Advanced Materials — 4.0% ($576,758) | | | | | | | | |
Corning, Inc. | | | 16,460 | | | $ | 576,758 | |
Automotive — 9.0% ($1,308,850) | | | | | | | | |
Tesla, Inc.* | | | 5,000 | | | | 1,308,850 | |
Biotech — 0.3% ($45,796) | | | | | | | | |
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc.* | | | 10,000 | | | | 30,920 | |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC* | | | 120 | | | | 14,876 | |
Defense & Aerospace — 3.0% ($430,200) | | | | | | | | |
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.* | | | 30,000 | | | | 430,200 | |
Electrical Equipment — 1.9% ($274,750) | | | | | | | | |
ABB, Ltd. - SP ADR | | | 7,000 | | | | 274,750 | |
Energy Efficiency — 3.6% ($521,587) | | | | | | | | |
Honeywell International, Inc. | | | 580 | | | | 120,350 | |
Itron, Inc.* | | | 5,565 | | | | 401,237 | |
Engineering Service — 6.8% ($982,250) | | | | | | | | |
Quanta Services, Inc. | | | 5,000 | | | | 982,250 | |
Industrials — 0.4% ($58,075) | | | | | | | | |
Accelleron Industries AG - ADR | | | 350 | | | | 8,365 | |
Carrier Global Corp. | | | 1,000 | | | | 49,710 | |
Materials — 1.9% ($276,150) | | | | | | | | |
Aspen Aerogels, Inc.* | | | 35,000 | | | | 276,150 | |
Other Electronics — 5.6% ($809,630) | | | | | | | | |
Enovix Corp.* | | | 30,000 | | | | 541,200 | |
Intevac, Inc.* | | | 5,800 | | | | 21,750 | |
Koninklijke Philips N.V.* | | | 11,373 | | | | 246,680 | |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
FIRSTHAND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FUND - continued
Portfolio of Investments, June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | SHARES | | | MARKET VALUE | |
Renewable Energy — 28.8% ($4,170,344) | | | | | | | | |
Amtech Systems, Inc.* | | | 6,600 | | | $ | 63,096 | |
Enphase Energy, Inc.* | | | 3,000 | | | | 502,440 | |
First Solar, Inc.* | | | 5,000 | | | | 950,450 | |
Iberdrola S.A. | | | 25,946 | | | | 338,332 | |
Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd.* | | | 2,491 | | | | 70,147 | |
Orion Energy Systems, Inc.* | | | 14,000 | | | | 22,820 | |
Sharp Corp.* | | | 1,100 | | | | 6,128 | |
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A.* | | | 7,271 | | | | 128,890 | |
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.* | | | 4,000 | | | | 1,076,200 | |
SunPower Corp., Class B* | | | 29,931 | | | | 293,324 | |
Sunrun, Inc.* | | | 11,600 | | | | 207,176 | |
ULVAC, Inc. | | | 2,700 | | | | 113,991 | |
Vestas Wind Systems A.S.* | | | 15,000 | | | | 397,350 | |
Semiconductor Equipment — 6.3% ($916,650) | | | | | | | | |
Axcelis Technologies, Inc.* | | | 5,000 | | | | 916,650 | |
Semiconductors — 13.1% ($1,902,933) | | | | | | | | |
ON Semiconductor Corp.* | | | 10,000 | | | | 945,800 | |
Power Integrations, Inc. | | | 1,598 | | | | 151,283 | |
STMicroelectronics N.V. | | | 5,000 | | | | 249,950 | |
Wolfspeed, Inc.* | | | 10,000 | | | | 555,900 | |
Services — 5.3% ($767,400) | | | | | | | | |
ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.* | | | 60,000 | | | | 527,400 | |
EVgo, Inc.* | | | 60,000 | | | | 240,000 | |
Solar — 1.9% ($274,650) | | | | | | | | |
Sunnova Energy International, Inc.* | | | 15,000 | | | | 274,650 | |
Waste & Environment Service — 0.1% ($12,648) | | | | | | | | |
Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc.* | | | 6,800 | | | | 12,648 | |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
12 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
FIRSTHAND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FUND - continued
Portfolio of Investments, June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | SHARES | | | MARKET VALUE | |
WARRANTS — 0.0%** ($223) | | | | | | | | |
Transportation — 0.0%** ($223) | | | | | | | | |
Swvl Holdings Corp. * | | | 13,333 | | | $ | 223 | |
INVESTMENT COMPANY — 8.0% ($1,154,682) | | | | | | | | |
Fidelity Investments Money Market Fund - Treasury Portfolio(1) | | | 1,154,682 | | | | 1,154,682 | |
Total Investments (Cost $11,481,100) — 100.0% | | | | | | | 14,483,576 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets — (0.0)% | | | | | | | (6,584 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 14,476,992 | |
* | Non-income producing security. |
(1) | The Fidelity Investments Money Market Fund invests primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities. |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
PLC | Public Limited Company |
SP ADR | Sponsored American Depositary Receipt |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | | Firsthand
Technology
Opportunities
Fund | | | Firsthand
Alternative
Energy Fund | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities: | | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated investments at acquisition cost | | $ | 67,942,836 | | | $ | 11,481,100 | |
Affiliated investments at acquisition cost | | | 41,760,408 | | | | — | |
Total acquisition cost | | | 109,703,244 | | | | 11,481,100 | |
Unaffiliated investments at market value | | | 74,548,526 | | | | 14,483,576 | |
Affiliated investments at market value | | | 5,602,996 | | | | — | |
Total market value (Note 2) | | | 80,151,522 | | | | 14,483,576 | |
Receivable from dividends, interest, and reclaims | | | 51,282 | | | | 17,057 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | | | 25,112 | | | | 60 | |
TOTAL ASSETS | | | 80,227,916 | | | | 14,500,693 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | | | | | |
Payable to affiliates (Note 4) | | | 123,169 | | | | 23,157 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | | 65,390 | | | | 544 | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 188,559 | | | | 23,701 | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 80,039,357 | | | $ | 14,476,992 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets consist of: | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in Capital | | $ | 108,306,467 | | | $ | 11,479,689 | |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | | | (28,267,110 | ) | | | 2,997,303 | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 80,039,357 | | | $ | 14,476,992 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Shares Outstanding | | | 17,088,349 | | | | 1,222,176 | |
Net asset value, redemption price and offering price per share (Note 2) | | $ | 4.68 | | | $ | 11.85 | |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
14 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
Statements of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | | Firsthand
Technology
Opportunities
Fund | | | Firsthand
Alternative
Energy Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated dividends | | $ | 42,120 | | | $ | 80,662 | |
Affiliated/controlled interest | | | 82,276 | | | | — | |
Foreign tax withholding | | | — | | | | (1,346 | ) |
TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME | | | 124,396 | | | | 79,316 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | | | | | |
Investment advisory fees (Note 4) | | | 589,329 | | | | 106,599 | |
Administration fees (Note 4) | | | 189,427 | | | | 31,352 | |
Trustees fees | | | 5,000 | | | | 5,000 | |
GROSS EXPENSES | | | 783,756 | | | | 142,951 | |
Trustees fees reimbursement | | | (5,000 | ) | | | (5,000 | ) |
TOTAL NET EXPENSES | | | 778,756 | | | | 137,951 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
NET INVESTMENT LOSS | | | (654,360 | ) | | | (58,635 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments: | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gains (losses) from security transactions on: | | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated investments and foreign currency | | | 5,847,972 | | | | (163,067 | ) |
Net realized gains from written options transactions(1) | | | — | | | | 131,032 | |
Net realized Gain (Loss) | | | 5,847,972 | | | | (32,035 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated investments and foreign currency | | | (103,474 | ) | | | 1,070,306 | |
Affiliated investments | | | (1,192,220 | ) | | | — | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | | (1,295,694 | ) | | | 1,070,306 | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments | | | 4,552,278 | | | | 1,038,271 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Increase In Net Assets Resulting From Operations | | $ | 3,897,918 | | | $ | 979,636 | |
(1) | Primary risk exposure is equity contracts. |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | | Firsthand Technology
Opportunities Fund | |
| | | SIX MONTHS ENDED
6/30/2023
(UNAUDITED) | | | YEAR ENDED
12/31/2022 | |
FROM OPERATIONS: | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | $ | (654,360 | ) | | $ | (2,687,579 | ) |
Net realized gain from security transactions and foreign currency | | | 5,847,972 | | | | 14,338,311 | |
Net change in unrealized (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency | | | (1,295,694 | ) | | | (162,910,692 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | 3,897,918 | | | | (151,259,960 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | | | | | | | | |
Distributions | | | — | | | | (32,280,491 | ) |
Total Distributions | | | — | | | | (32,280,491 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | 3,443,344 | | | | 10,073,489 | |
Dividends reinvested | | | — | | | | 30,900,980 | |
Payment for shares redeemed | | | (11,875,549 | ) | | | (51,893,764 | ) |
Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions | | | (8,432,205 | ) | | | (10,919,295 | ) |
TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS | | | (4,534,287 | ) | | | (194,459,746 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS: | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 84,573,644 | | | | 279,033,390 | |
End of period | | $ | 80,039,357 | | | $ | 84,573,644 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
COMMON STOCK ACTIVITY: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 716,283 | | | | 1,011,859 | |
Shares reinvested | | | — | | | | 6,437,704 | |
Shares redeemed | | | (2,549,470 | ) | | | (5,105,874 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (1,833,187 | ) | | | 2,343,689 | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 18,921,536 | | | | 16,577,847 | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 17,088,349 | | | | 18,921,536 | |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
16 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
| | | FIRSTHAND ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY FUND | |
| | | SIX MONTHS ENDED
6/30/2023
(UNAUDITED) | | | YEAR ENDED
12/31/2022 | |
FROM OPERATIONS: | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | $ | (58,635 | ) | | $ | (203,791 | ) |
Net realized (loss) gains from security transactions, foreign currency and written options | | | (32,035 | ) | | | 854,501 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency | | | 1,070,306 | | | | (3,577,211 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations | | | 979,636 | | | | (2,926,501 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | 5,505,596 | | | | 12,096,637 | |
Dividends reinvested | | | — | | | | — | |
Payment for shares redeemed | | | (4,690,972 | ) | | | (12,655,462 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions | | | 814,624 | | | | (558,825 | ) |
TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS | | | 1,794,260 | | | | (3,485,326 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS: | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 12,682,732 | | | | 16,168,058 | |
End of period | | $ | 14,476,992 | | | $ | 12,682,732 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
COMMON STOCK ACTIVITY: | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 462,058 | | | | 1,055,798 | |
Shares reinvested | | | — | | | | — | |
Shares redeemed | | | (396,277 | ) | | | (1,104,040 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | 65,781 | | | | (48,242 | ) |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 1,156,395 | | | | 1,204,637 | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 1,222,176 | | | | 1,156,395 | |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
Financial Highlights
Selected per share data and ratios for a share outstanding throughout each year/period
FIRSTHAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
| | | SIX
MONTHS
ENDED
6/30/23* | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/22 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/21 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/20 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/19 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/18 | |
Net asset value at beginning of year/period | | $ | 4.47 | | | $ | 16.83 | | | $ | 21.60 | | | $ | 12.66 | | | $ | 10.41 | | | $ | 9.98 | |
Income from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.19 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | | | 0.25 | | | | (9.77 | ) | | | (3.20 | ) | | | 12.51 | | | | 3.14 | | | | 0.61 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.21 | | | | (9.91 | ) | | | (3.61 | ) | | | 12.24 | | | | 2.95 | | | | 0.43 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Realized capital gains | | | — | | | | (2.45 | ) | | | (1.16 | ) | | | (3.30 | ) | | | (0.70 | ) | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value at end of year/period | | $ | 4.68 | | | $ | 4.47 | | | $ | 16.83 | | | $ | 21.60 | | | $ | 12.66 | | | $ | 10.41 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total return | | | 4.70 | %(a) | | | (59.91 | %) | | | (16.69 | %) | | | 96.52 | % | | | 28.51 | % | | | 4.31 | % |
Net assets at end of year/period (millions) | | $ | 80.0 | | | $ | 84.6 | | | $ | 279.0 | | | $ | 368.7 | | | $ | 255.0 | | | $ | 158.1 | |
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets before waiver | | | 1.86 | %(b) | | | 1.86 | % | | | 1.83 | % | | | 1.84 | % | | | 1.84 | % | | | 1.86 | % |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets after waiver | | | 1.85 | %(b) | | | 1.85 | % | | | 1.83 | % | | | 1.84 | % | | | 1.83 | % | | | 1.85 | % |
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets | | | (1.55 | %)(b) | | | (1.83 | %) | | | (1.83 | %) | | | (1.81 | %) | | | (1.28 | %) | | | (1.54 | %) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 5 | %(a) | | | 10 | % | | | 16 | % | | | 65 | % | | | 43 | % | | | 25 | % |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
18 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected per share data and ratios for a share outstanding throughout each year/period
FIRSTHAND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FUND
| | | SIX
MONTHS
ENDED
6/30/23* | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/22 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/21 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/20 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/19 | | | YEAR
ENDED
12/31/18 | |
Net asset value at beginning of year/period | | $ | 10.97 | | | $ | 13.42 | | | $ | 14.14 | | | $ | 7.69 | | | $ | 5.47 | | | $ | 6.72 | |
Income from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.18 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | | | 0.93 | | | | (2.27 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | 6.53 | | | | 2.27 | | | | (1.21 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.88 | | | | (2.45 | ) | | | (0.72 | ) | | | 6.45 | | | | 2.22 | | | | (1.25 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | (a) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value at end of year/period | | $ | 11.85 | | | $ | 10.97 | | | $ | 13.42 | | | $ | 14.14 | | | $ | 7.69 | | | $ | 5.47 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total return | | | 8.02 | %(b) | | | (18.26 | %) | | | (5.09 | %) | | | 83.88 | % | | | 40.59 | % | | | (18.57 | %) |
Net assets at end of year/period (millions) | | $ | 14.5 | | | $ | 12.7 | | | $ | 16.2 | | | $ | 18.7 | | | $ | 6.2 | | | $ | 4.4 | |
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets before waiver | | | 2.05 | %(c) | | | 2.05 | % | | | 2.03 | % | | | 2.09 | % | | | 2.15 | % | | | 2.15 | % |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets after waiver | | | 1.98 | %(c) | | | 1.98 | % | | | 1.98 | % | | | 1.98 | % | | | 1.98 | % | | | 1.98 | % |
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets | | | (0.84 | %)(c) | | | (1.45 | %) | | | (1.75 | %) | | | (1.41 | %) | | | (0.72 | %) | | | (0.68 | %) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 15 | %(b) | | | 26 | % | | | 23 | % | | | 14 | % | | | 0 | % | | | 7 | % |
(a) | Amount represents less than $0.01 per share |
see accompanying notes to financial statements
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
1. ORGANIZATION
Each of Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund and Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund (individually the “Fund”, and collectively the “Funds”) is a non-diversified series of Firsthand Funds (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, was organized on November 8, 1993. Each Fund currently offers one class of shares—Investor Class shares. The inception dates for the Funds (the date on which a net asset value was first determined for that Fund) follow:
FUND | INCEPTION DATE |
Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund | September 30, 1999 |
Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund | October 29, 2007 |
Each Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital.
Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of high-technology companies in the industries and markets that the Firsthand Capital Management, Inc. (the “Investment Adviser”) believes hold the most growth potential within the technology sector.
Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in alternative energy and energy technology companies, both U.S. and international.
The Funds are an investment company and follow accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a summary of the Funds’ significant accounting policies:
Securities Valuation — A Fund’s portfolio of securities is valued as follows:
| | 1. | Securities traded on stock exchanges, or quoted by NASDAQ, are valued according to the NASDAQ official closing price, if applicable, or at their last reported sale price as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time). If a security is not traded that day, the security will be valued at its most recent bid price. |
| | 2. | Securities traded in the over-the-counter market, but not quoted by NASDAQ, are valued at the last sale price (or, if the last sale price is not readily available, at the most recent closing bid price as quoted by brokers that make markets in the securities) at the close of trading on the NYSE. |
20 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
| | 3. | Securities traded both in the over-the-counter market and on a stock exchange are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. |
| | 4. | Securities and other assets that do not have market quotations readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith using procedures established by the Board of Trustees. |
In pricing illiquid, privately placed securities, the advisor follows well-accepted valuation techniques. Initial valuations are generally determined by the initial purchase price for each security. Subsequent to initial purchase, securities are repriced from time to time to reflect changes to the companies’ valuations caused by various events. Such events include, among others, a new round of financing establishing a new valuation for the company; material changes to a company’s business or business prospects, either due to company-specific internal issues (gaining or losing a major customer, missing a significant milestone, etc.) or macroeconomic events affecting the industry or the world. In analyzing a company’s valuation, factors that are also considered include a company’s cash flow, revenues, profitability, financial forecasts, and probability of success in those measures. Other potential factors include the value of comparable public and private companies and general market conditions.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT — In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, each Fund discloses the fair value of its investments in a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (level 3 measurements).
The guidance establishes three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:
| | LEVEL 1 | – | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access. |
| | LEVEL 2 | – | Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risks, yield curves, default rates, and similar data. |
| | LEVEL 3 | – | Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Funds’ own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in level 3.
The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the following Funds’ net assets as of June 30, 2023:
FUND* | | LEVEL 1
QUOTED PRICES | | | LEVEL 2
OTHER SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS | | | LEVEL 3
SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS | |
TEFQX | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Biotech | | $ | 60,137 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Consumer Electronics | | | 12,152,400 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Defense & Aerospace | | | 4,088,920 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Education | | | 2,439,000 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Electronics Manufacturing Services | | | 773,000 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Internet | | | 2,869,750 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Renewable Energy | | | 6,040,100 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Semiconductor Equipment | | | 1,383,350 | | | | 1,437,502 | | | | — | |
Semiconductors | | | 10,006,200 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Services | | | 114,300 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Software | | | 35,757,400 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 75,684,557 | | | | 1,437,502 | | | | — | |
Corporate Note | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Semiconductor Equipment | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,782,144 | |
Investment Company | | | 247,319 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | $ | 75,931,876 | | | $ | 1,437,502 | | | $ | 2,782,144 | |
22 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
FUND* | | LEVEL 1
QUOTED PRICES | | | LEVEL 2
OTHER SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS | | | LEVEL 3
SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS | |
ALTEX | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advanced Materials | | $ | 576,758 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Automotive | | | 1,308,850 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Biotech | | | 45,796 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Defense & Aerospace | | | 430,200 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Electrical Equipment | | | 274,750 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Energy Efficiency | | | 521,587 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Engineering Service | | | 982,250 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Industrials | | | 58,075 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Materials | | | 276,150 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Other Electronics | | | 809,630 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Renewable Energy | | | 4,041,454 | | | | 128,890 | | | | — | |
Semiconductor Equipment | | | 916,650 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Semiconductors | | | 1,902,933 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Services | | | 767,400 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Solar | | | 274,650 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Waste & Environment Service | | | 12,648 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 13,199,781 | | | | 128,890 | | | | — | |
Warrants | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transportation | | | 223 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Investment Company | | | 1,154,682 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | $ | 14,354,686 | | | $ | 128,890 | | | $ | — | |
* | TEFQX: Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund; ALTEX: Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund. |
At the end of each calendar quarter, management evaluates the Level 2 and 3 assets and liabilities for changes in liquidity, including but not limited to: whether a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price, the depth and consistency of prices from third party services, and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, management evaluates the Level 1 and 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
INVESTMENTS AT
FAIR VALUE USING
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS (LEVEL 3) | | BALANCE
AS OF 12/31/22 | | | NET
PURCHASES | | | NET
SALES | | | NET
REALIZED
GAINS/
(LOSSES) | | | NET UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION) | | | TRANSFERS
IN (OUT)
OF
LEVEL 3 | | | BALANCE
AS OF 06/30/23 | |
Corporate Note | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Semiconductor Equipment | | $ | 750,000 | | | $ | 3,282,144 | | | $ | (1,250,000 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 2,782,144 | |
Total | | $ | 750,000 | | | $ | 3,282,144 | | | $ | (1,250,000 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 2,782,144 | |
INVESTMENTS AT
FAIR VALUE USING
SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS (LEVEL 3) | | BALANCE
AS OF 12/31/22 | | | NET
PURCHASES | | | NET
SALES | | | NET
REALIZED
GAINS/
(LOSSES) | | | NET UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION) | | | TRANSFERS
IN (OUT)
OF
LEVEL 3 | | | BALANCE
AS OF 06/30/23 | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Intellectual Property | | $ | 22 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,568 | ) | | $ | (52,855 | ) | | $ | 54,401 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Preferred Stocks | | | 174 | | | | — | | | | (27 | ) | | | (2,897 | ) | | | 2,750 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | $ | 196 | | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,595 | ) | | $ | (55,752 | ) | | $ | 57,151 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
As of the six months ended June 30, 2023, these investments were valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. These investments did not have a material impact on the Fund’s net assets and, therefore, disclosure of unobservable inputs used in formulating valuations is not presented.
SHARE VALUATION — The net asset value (“NAV”) per share of each Fund is calculated by dividing the net assets of the Fund (i.e., the sum of the value of the securities held by the Fund, plus cash or other assets, minus all liabilities (including estimated accrued expenses)) by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund, rounded to the nearest cent. A Fund’s shares will not be priced on the days on which the NYSE is closed for trading. The offering and redemption price per share of each Fund is equal to a Fund’s NAV per share.
INVESTMENT INCOME — Dividend income is recorded in the ex-dividend date. Interest income is accrued as earned. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized over the lives of the respective securities. Other non-cash dividends are recognized as investment income at the fair value of the property received. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — The Funds consider liquid assets deposited with a bank, money market funds, and certain short-term debt instruments with maturities of 3 months or less to be cash equivalents. These investment represent amounts held with financial
24 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.
FOREIGN SECURITIES — Each Fund may invest in companies that trade on U.S. exchanges as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), on foreign exchanges, or on foreign over-the- counter markets. Investing in the securities of foreign companies exposes your investment in a Fund to risk. Foreign stock markets tend to be more volatile than the U.S. market due to economic and/or political instability and the regulatory conditions in some countries. In addition, some of the securities in which the Fund may invest may be denominated in foreign currencies, the value of which may decline against the U.S. dollar. An investment in foreign securities may be subject to high levels of foreign taxation, including foreign taxes withheld at the source. Neither Fund isolates the portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of portfolio securities, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds’ books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid.
OPTIONS — The Funds are subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing their investment objectives and may enter into options written to hedge against changes in the value of equities. The Funds may purchase put and call options to attempt to provide protection against adverse price effects from anticipated changes in prevailing prices of securities or stock indices. The Funds may also write put and call options. When a Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current fair value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains from investments. The difference between the premium and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or, if the premium is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss. The Fund as writer of an option bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. The net realized gains/(loss) from written options for the six months ended June 30, 2023 can be found on the Statements of Operations.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
The average monthly volume of derivatives during the six months ended June 30, 2023 is as follows:
| | | WRITTEN OPTIONS
(Value) | |
Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund | | $ | (38,550 | ) |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS — Each Fund expects to distribute its net investment income and net realized gains, if any, annually. Distributions from net investment income and capital gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
SHORT POSITIONS — Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund may sell securities short for economic hedging purposes. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To initiate such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to deliver to the buyer upon the short sale; the Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it in the open market at some later date, completing the transaction. The Fund is liable for any dividends payable on securities while those securities are in a short position.
The Fund will incur a loss if the market price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in value between those dates.
All short sales must be fully collateralized. The Fund maintains the collateral in a segregated account consisting of cash, cash equivalents and/or liquid securities sufficient to collateralize the market value of its short positions. Typically, the segregated cash with brokers and other financial institutions exceeds the minimum required. Deposits with brokers for securities sold short are invested in money market instruments. The Fund did not invest in short sales for the six months ended June 30, 2023.
SECURITY TRANSACTIONS — Security transactions are accounted for no later than one business day following the trade date, however, for financial reporting purposes, security transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and losses are calculated on a specific identification basis.
ESTIMATES — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
26 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
FEDERAL INCOME TAX — Each Fund has elected, and intends to qualify annually, for the special tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As provided in the Code, in any fiscal year in which a Fund so qualifies and distributes at least 90% of its taxable net income, the Fund (but not the shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on the income distributed. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made. To avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, each Fund intends to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income (earned during the calendar year) and 98% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the 12 months ended October 31) plus undistributed amounts, if any, from prior years.
The tax character of distributions paid for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was as follows:
| | | FIRSTHAND TECHNOLOGY
OPPORTUNITIES FUND | |
| | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
From ordinary income | | $ | — | | | $ | 665,672 | |
From long-term capital gains | | $ | 32,280,491 | | | $ | 17,637,506 | |
The following information is based upon the federal income tax cost of portfolio investments as of June 30, 2023.
| | | FIRSTHAND
TECHNOLOGY
OPPORTUNITIES FUND | | | FIRSTHAND
ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY FUND | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 27,836,246 | | | $ | 4,741,882 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (57,387,968 | ) | | | (1,739,406 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | | $ | (29,551,722 | ) | | $ | 3,002,476 | |
Federal income tax cost | | $ | 109,703,244 | | | $ | 11,481,100 | |
As of December 31, 2022, the Funds did not have capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
Components of Distributable Earnings (as of December 31, 2022)
| | | FIRSTHAND
TECHNOLOGY
OPPORTUNITIES FUND | | | FIRSTHAND
ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY FUND | |
Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)* | | $ | (28,839,770 | ) | | $ | 1,926,406 | |
Undistributed Ordinary Income | | | — | | | | — | |
Undistributed Long Term Capital Gains | | | — | | | | 91,261 | |
Qualified Late Year Losses Deferred** | | | (3,325,258 | ) | | | — | |
Other Temporary Differences | | | — | | | | — | |
Accumulated Capital Loss Carryforward | | | — | | | | — | |
Total Distributable Earnings/Accumulated Loss | | $ | (32,165,028 | ) | | $ | 2,017,667 | |
* | The differences between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to tax deferral of losses on wash sales. |
** | Under current tax law, capital and currency losses realized after October 31 and prior to the Fund’s fiscal year end may be deferred as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year. |
The Funds are subject to tax provisions that establish a minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Taxable years ending 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 remain open to federal and state audit. As of June 30, 2023, management has evaluated the application of these provisions to the Funds, and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements for uncertain tax provisions.
3. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS (EXCLUDING SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS) WERE AS FOLLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023
| | | FIRSTHAND
TECHNOLOGY
OPPORTUNITIES FUND | | | FIRSTHAND
ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY FUND | |
Purchase of investment securities | | $ | 3,774,384 | | | $ | 3,348,380 | |
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities | | $ | 9,123,906 | | | $ | 1,777,678 | |
4. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENTS; CERTAIN TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST ARE ALSO OFFICERS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER AND BNY MELLON
Certain trustees and officers of the Trust are also officers of the Investment Adviser or BNY Mellon. BNY Mellon serves as the sub-administrator, investment accounting agent, and shareholder servicing and transfer agent.
28 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Each Fund’s investments are managed by the Investment Adviser pursuant to the terms of a master investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser provides each Fund with investment research, advice, management, and supervision and manages the investment and reinvestment of assets of each Fund consistent with each Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and limitations. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser is responsible for (i) compensation of any of the Fund’s trustees, officers, and employees who are interested persons of the Investment Adviser; and (ii) compensation of the Investment Adviser’s personnel and other expenses incurred in connection with the provision of portfolio management services under the Advisory Agreement.
Firsthand Capital Management, Inc., is the Investment Adviser to the Funds. For the services it provides under the Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser receives from each Fund, on a monthly basis, an advisory fee at the annual rate of 1.40% for TEFQX and 1.53% for ALTEX of its average daily net assets, respectively. The Advisory Agreement requires the Investment Adviser to waive fees and, if necessary, to reimburse expenses of each Fund to the extent necessary to limit a Fund’s total operating expenses to 1.85%, for TEFQX and 1.98% for ALTEX, excluding any extraordinary fees, of its average net assets up to $200 million, 1.80% for TEFQX and 1.93% for ALTEX of such assets from $200 million to $500 million, 1.75% for TEFQX and 1.88% for ALTEX of such assets from $500 million to $1 billion, and 1.70% for TEFQX and 1.83% for ALTEX of such assets in excess of $1 billion.
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
The Trust has entered into a separate Administration Agreement with the Investment Adviser. The agreement obligates the Investment Adviser to provide administrative and general supervisory services to each Fund (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Investment Adviser renders supervisory and corporate administrative services to the Trust, as well as oversees the maintenance of all books and records with respect to each Fund’s securities transactions and each Fund’s book of accounts in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Investment Adviser also arranges for the preservation of journals, ledgers, corporate documents, brokerage account records, and other records as required by the 1940 Act.
The Investment Adviser is responsible for the equipment, staff, office space, and facilities necessary to perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement. Under the Administration Agreement, the Investment Adviser has assumed responsibility for payment of all of each Fund’s operating expenses excluding brokerage and commission expenses; short sale expenses; fees payable under “Rule 12b-1 plans”, if any, and shareholder servicing plans, if any; litigation costs; and any extraordinary and non-recurring expenses. For the
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
services it provides under the Administration Agreement, the Investment Adviser receives a fee from each Fund at the annual rate of 0.45% of its average daily net assets up to $200 million, 0.40% of such assets from $200 million to $500 million, 0.35% of such assets from $500 million to $1 billion, and 0.30% of such assets in excess of $1 billion.
The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”), has a Sub-Administration Agreement with the Investment Adviser. Under this agreement, the Investment Adviser (not the Funds) pays to BNY Mellon the fees for the administrative services provided by BNY Mellon.
Additionally, BNY Mellon serves as the investment accounting agent, shareholder servicing agent and custodian BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US), Inc., serves as the transfer agent for the Trust.
5. INVESTMENTS IN RESTRICTED SECURITIES
Restricted securities include securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and securities that are subject to restrictions on resale. A Fund may invest in restricted securities that are consistent with a Fund’s investment objective and investment strategies. A Fund will not invest in a restricted security if, immediately after and as a result of the investment in such security, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in illiquid securities. In some cases, the issuer of restricted securities has agreed to register such securities for resale, at the issuer’s expense either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Investments in restricted securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. It is possible that the estimated value may differ significantly from the amount that might ultimately be realized in the near term, and the difference could be material.
As of June 30, 2023, the Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund invested in the following restricted securities:
SECURITY | | ACQUISITION DATE | | | SHARES | | | COST | | | VALUE | | | % OF NET
ASSETS | |
Revasum, Inc. | | | April 12, 2023 | | | | 1,782,144 | | | $ | 1,782,144 | | | $ | 1,782,144 | | | | 2.2 | % |
Revasum, Inc. | | | May 31, 2023 | | | | 750,000 | | | | 750,000 | | | | 750,000 | | | | 1.0 | % |
Revasum, Inc. | | | May 17, 2023 | | | | 250,000 | | | | 250,000 | | | | 250,000 | | | | 0.3 | % |
Total | | | | | | | | | | $ | 2,782,144 | | | $ | 2,782,144 | | | | 3.5 | % |
As of June 30, 2023, the Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund did not invest in any restricted securities.
Each Fund, consistent with SEC guidelines, has an investment restriction providing that it cannot purchase additional restricted securities once such securities comprise 15% of a Fund’s net assets. The SEC considers a security to be illiquid if it cannot be disposed of
30 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which a Fund has valued the security. The restriction stems from the concern that, for an open- end mutual fund with daily redemption obligations, a high level of illiquid securities would increase the risk that a Fund may not be able to meet its daily redemption needs, because illiquid securities often take a longer period of time to sell, and may not necessarily be sold at that Fund’s then carrying value.
6. INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES AND CONTROLLED INVESTMENTS
Under the 1940 Act, each Fund is required to identify investments where it owns greater than 5% (but less than 25%) of the portfolio company’s outstanding voting shares as an affiliate of the Fund. Also, under the 1940 Act, the Fund is required to identify investments where it owns greater than 25% of the portfolio company’s outstanding voting shares as a controlled investment of the Fund. The Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund did not have investments in affiliates or controlled investments for the period from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023. A summary of the Firsthand Technology Opportunities Fund’s investments in affiliates and controlled investments for the period from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023, is noted below:
AFFILIATE/
CONTROLLED
INVESTMENTS* | | VALUE AT
12/31/22 | | | PURCHASE/
MERGER | | | INTEREST | | | SALES/
MATURITY/
EXPIRATION | | | REALIZED
GAIN (LOSS) | | | CHANGE IN
APPRECIATION/
DEPRECIATION | | | VALUE
6/30/23 | | | SHARES
HELD AT
6/30/23 | |
Pivotal Systems Corp. Common Stocks | | $ | 1,505,786 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,326,790 | ) | | $ | 178,996 | | | | 41,338,824 | |
Revasum, Inc. Common Stocks | | | 1,364,279 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 73,223 | | | | 1,437,502 | | | | 15,413,753 | |
Revasum, Inc. Common Stocks | | | 1,143,007 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 61,347 | | | | 1,204,354 | | | | 12,913,796 | |
Revasum, Inc. Corporate Note | | | — | | | | 1,782,144 | | | | 40,593 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,782,144 | | | | 1,782,144 | |
Revasum, Inc. Corporate Note | | | — | | | | 750,000 | | | | 6,459 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 750,000 | | | | 750,000 | |
Revasum, Inc. Corporate Note | | | — | | | | 250,000 | | | | 3,203 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 250,000 | | | | 250,000 | |
Revasum, Inc. Corporate Note | | | 750,000 | | | | — | | | | 28,073 | | | | (750,000 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Revasum, Inc. Corporate Note* | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,611 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Revasum, Inc. Corporate Note* | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,337 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total Affiliates | | $ | 4,763,072 | | | $ | 2,782,144 | | | $ | 82,276 | | | $ | (750,000 | ) | | $ | — | | | $ | (1,192,220 | ) | | $ | 5,602,996 | | | | | |
* | Investment was affiliated during the reporting period but not at the beginning and the end of the reporting period. |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
As of June 30, 2023, Kevin Landis, President and Trustee of the Trust, represents the Funds and sits on the following affiliated companies’ boards: Pivotal Systems Corp. and Revasum, Inc. Serving on the boards of directors of portfolio companies may cause a conflict of interest. The Investment Adviser has adopted various procedures to ensure that the Funds will not be unfavorably affected by these potential conflicts.
7. RISKS
Because the return on and value of an investment in each Fund will fluctuate in response to stock market movements, the most significant risk of investing in a Fund is that you may lose money. Stocks and other equity securities are subject to market risks and fluctuations in value due to earnings, as well as economic, political, or regulatory events, and other factors beyond the Investment Adviser’s control. The Funds are designed for long-term investors who can accept the risks of investing in a fund with significant common stock holdings in high-technology industries.
Each Fund is non-diversified A risk of being non-diversified is that a significant change in the value of one company will have a greater impact on a Fund than it would if the Fund diversified its investments. Another risk for each Fund is its concentration of investments in companies within high-technology industries. The value of high-technology companies can, and often does, fluctuate dramatically and may expose you to greater-than-average financial and market risk.
In addition, certain local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on a security or instrument. Since 2020, the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has negatively affected the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial health of individual companies and the market in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order in February 2022 prohibiting U.S. persons from entering transactions with the Central Bank of Russia and Executive Orders in March 2022 prohibiting U.S. persons from importing oil and gas from Russia as well as other popular Russian exports. The duration of the coronavirus outbreak and the Russian-Ukraine conflict could adversely affect the Funds’ performance. The ultimate impact of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine conflict on the financial performance of the Funds’ investments is not reasonably estimable at this time.
8. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
32 | 2023 Semi-Annual Report |
Additional Information
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Funds have adopted proxy voting procedures pursuant to which the Funds delegate the responsibility for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds to the Investment Adviser as part of the Investment Adviser’s general management of the Funds, subject to the Board of Trustees’ continuing oversight. A copy of the Funds’ proxy voting policy and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1.888.884.2675. Information regarding how the Investment Adviser voted these proxies during the most recent one-year period ended June 30 is available by calling the same number and on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov on Form N-PX. The Funds’ voting record is also available on the Funds’ website at www.firsthandfunds.com/proxy.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT will be available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1.800.SEC.0330.
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
FIRSTHAND FUNDS
P.O. Box 534444
Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4444
www.firsthandfunds.com
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Firsthand Capital Management, Inc.
150 Almaden Blvd., Suite 1250
San Jose, CA 95113
www.firsthandcapital.com
DISTRIBUTOR
ALPS Distributors, Inc.
1290 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80203
AUDITOR
Tait Weller & Baker LLP
50 South 16th St., Suite 2900
Philadelphia, PA 19102
TRANSFER AGENT
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
Attention 534444
500 Ross Street, 154-0520
Pittsburgh, PA 15262
1.888.884.2675
This report is provided for the general information of the shareholders of Firsthand Funds. This report is not intended for distribution to prospective investors in the Funds, unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. For more complete information about Firsthand Funds, please call toll free 1.888.884.2675 or visit www.firsthandfunds.com for an additional prospectus, which contains more information, including risks, fees, and expenses. Read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
Firsthand Funds are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.
FHF000951, exp. 8/29/24
The interlocking “F” design is a registered trademark of Firsthand Capital Management, Inc.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
| (a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1(a) of this form. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures are adequately designed and are operating effectively to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. |
| (b) | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 13. Exhibits.
| (a)(2)(1) | There were no written solicitations to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the Registrant to 10 or more persons. |
| (a)(2)(2) | There was no change in the Registrant’s independent public accountant during the period covered by the report. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| (Registrant) | Firsthand Funds | |
| | | |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Kevin Landis | |
| | Kevin M. Landis, President and Secretary | |
| | | |
| Date | August 28, 2023 | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Kevin Landis | |
| | Kevin M. Landis, President and Secretary | |
| | | |
| Date | August 28, 2023 | |
| | | |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Omar Billawala | |
| | Omar Billawala, Treasurer | |
| | | |
| Date | August 28, 2023 | |
| * | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |
