UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC  20549

Form 10-K

x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009
or

¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________________ to ____________________

Commission File No. 0-11576

HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.®
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

New York
 
13-3119827
(State or Other Jurisdiction
 
(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization)
 
Identification No.)

1450 Broadway, New York, New York
10018
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (212) 582-0900

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
     
Common Stock, $.01 par value
 
Nasdaq Global Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 
¨Yes      þ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
 
¨Yes     þ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
þYes      ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
þYes      ¨ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
 
þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer þ
Non-accelerated filer ¨
Smaller reporting company ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
 
¨Yes      þ No

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of Registrant as of June 30, 2009 was $149,001,403 based on the last sale price as quoted by the Nasdaq Global Market on such date (only officers and directors are considered affiliates for this calculation).

As of March 12, 2010, the registrant had 30,859,593 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
INCORPORATED AT
     
Harris & Harris Group, Inc. Proxy Statement for the
 
Part III, Items 9, 10,
2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
 
11, 12 and 13

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     
Page
PART I
     
       
Item 1.
Business
 
1
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
15
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
 
30
Item 2.
Properties
 
30
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
 
30
       
PART II
     
       
Item 4.
Market For Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
31
Item 5.
Selected Financial Data
 
34
Item 6.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
35
Item 6A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
68
Item 7.
Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
70
Item 8.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
125
Item 8A.
Controls and Procedures
 
125
Item 8B.
Other Information
 
125
       
PART III
     
       
Item 9.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
 
126
Item 10.
Executive Compensation
 
126
Item 11.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
126
Item 12.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
 
126
Item 13.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
126
       
PART IV
     
       
Item 14.
Exhibits and Financial Statements Schedules
 
127
       
Signatures
 
130
       
Exhibit Index
 
132

 
 

 

PART I

Item 1.
Business.

Harris & Harris Group, Inc.® (the "Company," "us," "our," and "we"), is an internally managed venture capital company specializing in nanotechnology and microsystems that has elected to operate as a business development company ("BDC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which we refer to as the 1940 Act.  For tax purposes, we have elected to be a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which we refer to as the Code.  Our investment objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation, rather than current income, by making venture capital investments.  We define venture capital investments as the money and resources made available to privately held start-up firms and privately held and publicly traded small businesses with exceptional growth potential.  We incorporated under the laws of the state of New York in August 1981.  Our investment approach is comprised of a patient examination of available opportunities, thorough due diligence and close involvement with management.  As a venture capital company, we invest in and provide managerial assistance to our portfolio companies, many of which, in our opinion, have significant potential for growth.  We are managed by our Board of Directors and officers and have no investment advisor.

We make initial venture capital investments exclusively in companies commercializing or integrating products enabled by nanotechnology or microsystems.  This investment thesis is not a fundamental policy and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval, although we intend to give shareholders at least 60 days prior notice of any change in our thesis.

Nanotechnology is measured in nanometers, which are units of measurement in billionths of a meter.  Microsystems are measured in micrometers, which are units of measurement in millionths of a meter.  We sometimes use "tiny technology" to describe both of these disciplines.  Nanotechnology and microsystems are multidisciplinary and widely applicable, and they incorporate technology that was not previously in widespread use.  Products enabled by nanotechnology and microsystems are applicable to a large number of industries including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, telecommunications, electronics and semiconductors, and industries that seek to address global problems related to resource constraints (cleantech).

We consider a company to fit our investment thesis if the company employs or integrates or intends to employ or integrate technology that we consider to be at the microscale or smaller and if the employment of that technology is material to its business plan.  Because it is in many respects a new field, tiny technology has significant scientific, engineering and commercialization risks.

At December 31, 2009, our venture capital portfolio comprised 57 percent of our total assets, our U.S. Treasury obligations and cash comprised 42 percent of our total assets, and other assets comprised the remaining one percent of our total assets.  We had no debt outstanding.

Neither our investments, nor an investment in us, is intended to constitute a balanced investment program.  We expect to be risk seeking rather than risk averse in our investment approach.  To such end, we reserve the fullest possible freedom of action, subject to our certificate of incorporation, applicable law and regulations, and policy statements contained herein.  There is no assurance that our investment objective will be achieved.

 
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We expect to invest a substantial portion of our assets in securities that we consider to be private venture capital investments.  These private venture capital investments usually do not pay interest or dividends and usually are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale that may adversely affect the liquidity and marketability of such securities.

We expect to make speculative venture capital investments with limited marketability and a greater risk of investment loss than less speculative investments.  We make venture capital investments in companies commercializing and integrating products enabled by nanotechnology and microsystems.  Such technology is enabling technology applicable to a wide range of industries and businesses.  We do not limit our investments to any particular industries or categories of investments within this thesis.  Our securities investments may consist of private, public or governmental issuers of any type.  Subject to the diversification requirements applicable to a RIC, we may commit all of our assets to only a few investments.

Achievement of our investment objective is basically dependent upon the judgment of a team of five professional, full-time members of management, four of whom are designated as Managing Directors:  Douglas W. Jamison, Alexei A. Andreev, Michael A. Janse and Daniel B. Wolfe, and a Vice President, Misti Ushio.  One of our directors, Lori D. Pressman, is also a consultant to us.  This team collectively has expertise in venture capital investing, intellectual property and nanotechnology. There can be no assurance that a suitable replacement could be found for any of our officers upon their retirement, resignation, inability to act on our behalf, or death.

Subject to continuing to meet the compliance tests applicable to BDCs, there are no limitations on the types of securities or other assets in which we may invest.  Investments may include the following:

 
·
Equity, equity-related securities (including warrants) and debt with equity features from either private or public issuers;

 
·
Venture capital investments, whether in corporate, partnership or other form, including development-stage or start-up entities;

 
·
Intellectual property or patents or research and development in technology or product development that may lead to patents or other marketable technology;

 
·
Debt obligations of all types having varying terms with respect to security or credit support, subordination, purchase price, interest payments and maturity;

 
·
Foreign securities; and

 
·
Miscellaneous investments.

 
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Investments and Strategies

The following is a summary description of the types of assets in which we may invest, the investment strategies we may use and the attendant risks associated with our investments and strategies.

Equity, Equity-Related Securities and Debt with Equity Features

We may invest in equity, equity-related securities and debt with equity features.  These securities include common stock, preferred stock, debt instruments convertible into common or preferred stock, limited partnership interests, other beneficial ownership interests and warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

We may make investments in companies with operating histories that are unprofitable or marginally profitable, that have negative net worth or that are involved in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings.  These investments would involve businesses that management believes have potential through the infusion of additional capital and management assistance.  In addition, we may make investments in connection with the acquisition or divestiture of companies or divisions of companies.  There is a significantly greater risk of loss with these types of securities than is the case with traditional investment securities.

We may also invest in publicly traded securities of whatever nature, including relatively small, emerging growth companies that management believes have long-term growth possibilities.  In May 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") amended a rule to expand the definition of eligible portfolio companies in which BDCs can invest to include publicly traded securities of companies with a fully diluted market capitalization of less than $250 million.  In 2009, we made one new investment in a publicly traded company, Orthovita, Inc.  We may adjust our investment focus as needed to comply with and/or take advantage of other regulatory, legislative, administrative or judicial actions in this area.

Warrants, options and convertible or exchangeable securities generally give the investor the right to acquire specified equity securities of an issuer at a specified price during a specified period or on a specified date.  Warrants and options fluctuate in value in relation to the value of the underlying security and the remaining life of the warrant or option, while convertible or exchangeable securities fluctuate in value both in relation to the intrinsic value of the security without the conversion or exchange feature and in relation to the value of the conversion or exchange feature, which is like a warrant or option.  When we invest in these securities, we incur the risk that the option feature will expire worthless, thereby either eliminating or diminishing the value of our investment.

 
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Most of our current portfolio company investments are in the equity securities of private companies.  Investments in equity securities of private companies often involve securities that are restricted as to sale and cannot be sold in the open market without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to a specific exemption from these registrations.  Opportunities for sale are more limited than in the case of marketable securities, although these investments may be purchased at more advantageous prices and may offer attractive investment opportunities.  Even if one of our portfolio companies completes an initial public offering (“IPO”), we are typically subject to a lock-up agreement for 180 days, and the stock price may decline substantially before we are free to sell.  Even if we have registration rights to make our investments more marketable, a considerable amount of time may elapse between a decision to sell or register the securities for sale and the time when we are able to sell the securities. The prices obtainable upon sale may be adversely affected by market conditions or negative conditions affecting the issuer during the intervening time.  We may elect to hold formerly restricted securities after they have become freely marketable, either because they remain relatively illiquid or because we believe that they may appreciate in value, during which holding period they may decline in value and be especially volatile as unseasoned securities.  If we need funds for investment or working capital purposes, we might sell marketable securities at disadvantageous times or prices.

Venture Capital Investments

We define venture capital as the money and resources made available to privately held start-up firms and privately held and publicly traded small businesses with exceptional growth potential.  These businesses can range in stage from pre-revenue to generating positive cash flow.  Substantially all of our long-term venture capital investments are in thinly capitalized, unproven, small companies focused on commercializing risky technologies.  These businesses also tend to lack management depth, to have limited or no history of operations and to have not attained profitability. Because of the speculative nature of these investments, these securities have a significantly greater risk of loss than traditional investment securities.  Some of our venture capital investments will never realize their potential, and some will be unprofitable or result in complete loss of our investment.

We may own 100 percent of the securities of a start-up investment for a period of time and may control the company for a substantial period.  Start-up companies are more vulnerable to adverse business or economic developments than better capitalized companies.  Start-up businesses generally have limited product lines, markets and/or financial resources.  Start-up companies are not well-known to the investing public and are subject to potential bankruptcy, general movements in markets and perceptions of potential growth.

In connection with our venture capital investments, we may participate in providing a variety of services to our portfolio companies, including the following:

 
·
recruiting management;
 
·
formulating operating strategies;
 
·
formulating intellectual property strategies;

 
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·
assisting in financial planning;
 
·
providing management in the initial start-up stages; and
 
·
establishing corporate goals.

We may assist in raising additional capital for these companies from other potential investors and may subordinate our own investment to that of other investors.  We typically find it necessary or appropriate to provide additional capital of our own.  We may introduce these companies to potential joint venture partners, suppliers and customers.  In addition, we may assist in establishing relationships with investment bankers and other professionals.  We may also assist with mergers and acquisitions (“M&As”).  We do not currently derive income from these companies for the performance of any of the above services.

We may control, be represented on, or have observer rights on the Board of Directors of a portfolio company through one or more of our officers or directors, who may also serve as officers of the portfolio company.  We indemnify our officers and directors for serving on the Boards of Directors or as officers of portfolio companies, which exposes us to additional risks.  Particularly during the early stages of an investment, we may, in rare instances, in effect be conducting the operations of the portfolio company.  As a venture capital-backed company emerges from the developmental stage with greater management depth and experience, we expect that our role in the portfolio company’s operations will diminish.  Our goal is to assist each company in establishing its own independent capitalization, management and Board of Directors.  We expect to be able to reduce our involvement in those start-up companies that become successful, as well as in those start-up companies that fail.

Intellectual Property

We believe there is a role for organizations that can assist in technology transfer.  Scientists and institutions that develop and patent intellectual property perceive the need for and rewards of entrepreneurial commercialization of their inventions.

Our form of investment may be:

 
·
funding research and development in the development of a technology;
 
·
obtaining licensing rights to intellectual property or patents;
 
·
acquiring intellectual property or patents; or
 
·
forming and funding companies or joint ventures to commercialize further intellectual property.

Income from our investments in intellectual property or its development may take the form of participation in licensing or royalty income, fee income, or some other form of remuneration.  In order to satisfy RIC requirements, these investments will normally be held in an entity taxable as a corporation.  Investment in developmental intellectual property rights involves a high degree of risk that can result in the loss of our entire investment as well as additional risks including uncertainties as to the valuation of an investment and potential difficulty in liquidating an investment.  Further, investments in intellectual property generally require investor patience, as investment return may be realized only after or over a long period.  At some point during the commercialization of a technology, our investment may be transformed into ownership of securities of a development-stage or start-up company, as discussed under "Venture Capital Investments" above.

 
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Debt Obligations

We may hold debt securities for income and as a reserve pending more speculative investments.  Debt obligations may include U.S. government and agency securities, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, receivables or other asset-based financing, notes, bonds, debentures, or other debt obligations of any nature and repurchase agreements related to these securities.  These obligations may have varying terms with respect to security or credit support, subordination, purchase price, interest payments and maturity from private, public or governmental issuers of any type located anywhere in the world.  We may invest in debt obligations of companies with operating histories that are unprofitable or marginally profitable, that have negative net worth or are involved in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings, or that are start-up or development-stage entities.  In addition, we may participate in the acquisition or divestiture of companies or divisions of companies through issuance or receipt of debt obligations.  As of December 31, 2009, the debt obligations held in our portfolio consisted of convertible bridge notes and U.S. Treasury securities.  The convertible bridge notes generally do not generate income, nor are they held for that purpose.

Our investments in debt obligations may be of varying quality, including non-rated, unsecured, highly speculative debt investments with limited marketability.  Investments in lower-rated and non-rated securities, commonly referred to as "junk bonds," are subject to special risks, including a greater risk of loss of principal and non-payment of interest.  Generally, lower-rated securities offer a higher return potential than higher-rated securities, but involve greater volatility of price and greater risk of loss of income and principal, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of these securities.  Lower-rated securities and comparable non-rated securities will likely have large uncertainties or major risk exposure to adverse conditions and are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation.  The occurrence of adverse conditions and uncertainties to issuers of lower-rated securities would likely reduce the value of lower-rated securities held by us, with a commensurate effect on the value of our shares.

The markets in which lower-rated securities or comparable non-rated securities are traded generally are more limited than those in which higher-rated securities are traded.  The existence of limited markets for these securities may restrict our ability to obtain accurate market quotations for the purposes of valuing lower-rated or non-rated securities and calculating net asset value or to sell securities at their fair value.  Any economic downturn could adversely affect the ability of issuers’ lower-rated securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon.  The market values of lower-rated and non-rated securities also tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than higher-rated securities.  In addition, lower-rated securities and comparable non-rated securities generally present a higher degree of credit risk.  Issuers of lower-rated securities and comparable non-rated securities are often highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired.  The risk of loss owing to default by these issuers is significantly greater because lower-rated securities and comparable non-rated securities generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness.  We may incur additional expenses to the extent that we are required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on our portfolio holdings.

 
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The market value of investments in debt securities that carry no equity participation usually reflects yields generally available on securities of similar quality and type at the time purchased.  When interest rates decline, the market value of a debt portfolio already invested at higher yields can be expected to rise if the securities are protected against early call.  Similarly, when interest rates increase, the market value of a debt portfolio already invested at lower yields can be expected to decline.  Deterioration in credit quality also generally causes a decline in market value of the security, while an improvement in credit quality generally leads to increased value.

Foreign Securities

We may make investments in securities of issuers whose principal operations are conducted outside the United States, and whose earnings and securities are stated in foreign currency.  In order to maintain our status as a BDC, our investments in non-qualifying assets, including the securities of companies organized outside the U.S., would be limited to 30 percent of our assets, because we must invest at least 70 percent of our assets in "qualifying assets," and securities of foreign companies are not "qualifying assets."

Compared to otherwise comparable investments in securities of U.S. issuers, currency exchange risk of securities of foreign issuers is a significant variable.  The value of these investments to us will vary with the relation of the currency in which they are denominated to the U.S. dollar, as well as with intrinsic elements of value such as credit risk, interest rates and performance of the issuer.  Investments in foreign securities also involve risks relating to economic and political developments, including nationalization, expropriation of assets, currency exchange freezes and local recession.  Securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than those of comparable U.S. issuers.  Interest and dividend income and capital gains on our foreign securities may be subject to withholding and other taxes that may not be recoverable by us.  We may seek to hedge all or part of the currency risk of our investments in foreign securities through the use of futures, options and forward currency purchases or sales.

Borrowing and Margin Transactions

We may from time to time borrow money or obtain credit by any lawful means from banks, lending institutions, other entities or individuals, in negotiated transactions.  We may issue, publicly or privately, bonds, debentures or notes, in series or otherwise, with interest rates and other terms and provisions, including conversion rights, on a secured or unsecured basis, for any purpose, up to the maximum amounts and percentages permitted for BDCs under the 1940 Act.  The 1940 Act currently prohibits us from borrowing any money or issuing any other senior securities (including preferred stock but excluding temporary borrowings of up to five percent of our assets), if after giving effect to the borrowing or issuance, the value of our total assets less liabilities not constituting senior securities would be less than 200 percent of our senior securities.  We may pledge assets to secure any borrowings.  We currently have no debt and have no current intention to issue preferred stock.

 
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Although not currently employed in the operation of our business, a primary purpose of our borrowing power should we decide to use it is for leverage, to increase our ability to acquire investments both by acquiring larger positions and by acquiring more positions.  Borrowings for leverage accentuate any increase or decrease in the market value of our investments and thus our net asset value.  Because any decline in the net asset value of our investments will be borne first by holders of common stock, the effect of leverage in a declining market would be a greater decrease in net asset value applicable to the common stock than if we were not leveraged. Any decrease would likely be reflected in a decline in the market price of our common stock.  To the extent the income derived from assets acquired with borrowed funds exceeds the interest and other expenses associated with borrowing, our total income will be greater than if borrowings were not used.  Conversely, if the income from assets is not sufficient to cover the borrowing costs, our total income will be less than if borrowings were not used.  If our current income is not sufficient to meet our borrowing costs (repayment of principal and interest), we might have to liquidate some or all of our investments when it may be disadvantageous to do so.  Our borrowings for the purpose of buying most liquid equity securities will be subject to the margin rules, which require excess liquid collateral marked to market daily.  If we are unable to post sufficient collateral, we will be required to sell securities to remain in compliance with the margin rules.  These sales might be at disadvantageous times or prices.

Repurchase of Shares

Our shareholders do not have the right to compel us to redeem our shares.  We may, however, purchase outstanding shares of our common stock from time to time, subject to approval of our Board of Directors and compliance with applicable corporate and securities laws.  The Board of Directors may authorize purchases from time to time when they are deemed to be in the best interests of our shareholders, but could do so only after notification to shareholders.  The Board of Directors may or may not decide to undertake any purchases of our common stock.

Our repurchases of our common shares would decrease our total assets and would therefore likely have the effect of increasing our expense ratio.  Subject to our investment restrictions, we may borrow money to finance the repurchase of our common stock in the open market pursuant to any tender offer.  Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions will reduce our net assets.  If, because of market fluctuations or other reasons, the value of our assets falls below the required 1940 Act coverage requirements, we may have to reduce our borrowed debt to the extent necessary to comply with the requirement.  To achieve a reduction, it is possible that we may be required to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times when it may be disadvantageous to do so.  Since 1998, we have repurchased a total of 1,828,740 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $3,405,531, or $1.86 per share.  Since 2002, because of our strategic decision to invest in nanotechnology and microsystems and to grow our net assets, our Board of Directors reaffirmed its commitment not to authorize the purchase of additional shares of our common stock.

 
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Portfolio Company Turnover

Changes with respect to portfolio companies will be made as our management considers necessary in seeking to achieve our investment objective.  The rate of portfolio turnover will not be treated as a limiting or relevant factor when circumstances exist, which are considered by management to make portfolio changes advisable.

Although we expect that many of our investments will be relatively long term in nature, we may make changes in our particular portfolio holdings whenever it is considered that an investment no longer has substantial growth potential or has reached its anticipated level of performance, or (especially when cash is not otherwise available) that another investment appears to have a relatively greater opportunity for capital appreciation.  We may also make general portfolio changes to increase our cash to position us in a defensive posture.  We may make portfolio changes without regard to the length of time we have held an investment, or whether a sale results in profit or loss, or whether a purchase results in the reacquisition of an investment that we may have only recently sold.  Our investments in privately held companies are illiquid, which limits portfolio turnover.

The portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly during a year as well as from year to year and may also be affected by cash requirements.

Competition

Numerous companies and individuals are engaged in the venture capital business, and such business is intensely competitive.  We believe the perpetual nature of our corporate structure enables us to be a better long-term partner for our portfolio companies than if we were organized as a traditional private equity fund, which typically has a limited life.  We believe that we have invested in more nanotechnology-enabled companies than any venture capital firm and that we have assembled a team of investment professionals that have scientific and intellectual property expertise that is relevant to investing in nanotechnology.  Nevertheless, many of our competitors have significantly greater financial and other resources and managerial capabilities than we do and are therefore, in certain respects, in a better position than we are to obtain access to attractive venture capital investments.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete against these venture capital businesses for attractive investments, particularly in capital-intensive companies.

 
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Regulation

The Small Business Investment Incentive Act of 1980 added the provisions of the 1940 Act applicable only to BDCs.  BDCs are a special type of investment company.  After a company files its election to be treated as a BDC, it may not withdraw its election without first obtaining the approval of holders of a majority of its outstanding voting securities.  The following is a brief description of the 1940 Act provisions applicable to BDCs, qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 1940 Act and the rules issued thereunder by the SEC.

Generally, to be eligible to elect BDC status, a company must primarily engage in the business of furnishing capital and making significant managerial assistance available to companies that do not have ready access to capital through conventional financial channels.  Such companies that satisfy certain additional criteria described below are termed "eligible portfolio companies."  In general, in order to qualify as a BDC, a company must: (i) be a domestic company; (ii) have registered a class of its securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"); (iii) operate for the purpose of investing in the securities of certain types of portfolio companies, including early-stage or emerging companies and businesses suffering or just recovering from financial distress (see following paragraph); (iv) make available significant managerial assistance to such portfolio companies; and (v) file a proper notice of election with the SEC.

An eligible portfolio company generally is a domestic company that is not an investment company or a company excluded from investment company status pursuant to exclusions for certain types of financial companies (such as brokerage firms, banks, insurance companies and investment banking firms) and that: (i) has a fully diluted market capitalization of less than $250 million and has a class of equity securities listed on a national securities exchange, (ii) does not have a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, or (iii) is controlled by the BDC by itself or together with others (control under the 1940 Act is presumed to exist where a person owns at least 25 percent of the outstanding voting securities of the portfolio company) and has a representative on the Board of Directors of such company.

We may be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act.

As with other companies regulated by the 1940 Act, a BDC must adhere to certain substantive regulatory requirements.  A majority of the directors must be persons who are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.  Additionally, we are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect the BDC.  Furthermore, as a BDC, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our shareholders arising from willful malfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office.

The 1940 Act provides that we may not make an investment in non-qualifying assets unless at the time at least 70 percent of the value of our total assets (measured as of the date of our most recently filed financial statements) consists of qualifying assets.  Qualifying assets include: (i) securities of eligible portfolio companies; (ii) securities of certain companies that were eligible portfolio companies at the time we initially acquired their securities and in which we retain a substantial interest; (iii) securities of certain controlled companies; (iv) securities of certain bankrupt, insolvent or distressed companies; (v) securities received in exchange for or distributed in or with respect to any of the foregoing; and (vi) cash items, U.S. government securities and high quality short-term debt.  The SEC has adopted a rule permitting a BDC to invest its cash in certain money market funds.  The 1940 Act also places restrictions on the nature of the transactions in which, and the persons from whom, securities can be purchased in some instances in order for the securities to be considered qualifying assets.

 
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We are permitted by the 1940 Act, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of debt and a single class of preferred stock if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least 200 percent after the issuance of the debt or the preferred stock (i.e., such senior securities may not be in excess of our net assets).   Under specific conditions, we are also permitted by the 1940 Act to issue warrants.

Except under certain conditions, we may sell our securities at a price that is below the prevailing net asset value per share only during the 12-month period after (i) a majority of our directors and our disinterested directors have determined that such sale would be in the best interest of us and our stockholders and (ii) the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities and the holders of a majority of our voting securities held by persons who are not affiliated persons of ours approve such issuances.  A majority of the disinterested directors must determine in good faith that the price of the securities being sold is not less than a price which closely approximates the market value of the securities, less any distribution discount or commission.

Certain transactions involving certain closely related persons of the Company, including its directors, officers and employees, may require the prior approval of the SEC.  However, the 1940 Act ordinarily does not restrict transactions between us and our portfolio companies.

Subchapter M Status

We elected to be treated as a RIC, taxable under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), for federal income tax purposes.  In general, a RIC is not taxable on its income or gains to the extent it distributes such income or gains to its shareholders.  In order to qualify as a RIC, we must, in general, (1) annually derive at least 90 percent of our gross income from dividends, interest and gains from the sale of securities and similar sources (the "Income Source Rule"); (2) quarterly meet certain investment asset diversification requirements; and (3) annually distribute at least 90 percent of our investment company taxable income as a dividend (the "Income Distribution Rule").  Any taxable investment company income not distributed will be subject to corporate level tax.  Any taxable investment company income distributed generally will be taxable to shareholders as dividend income.

 
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In addition to the requirement that we must annually distribute at least 90 percent of our investment company taxable income, we may either distribute or retain our realized net capital gains from investments, but any net capital gains not distributed may be subject to corporate level tax.  It is our current intention not to distribute net capital gains.  Any net capital gains distributed generally will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains.

In lieu of actually distributing our realized net capital gains, we as a RIC may retain all or part of our net capital gains and elect to be deemed to have made a distribution of the retained portion to our shareholders under the "designated undistributed capital gain" rules of the Code.  We currently intend to retain and so designate all of our net capital gains.  In this case, the "deemed dividend" generally is taxable to our shareholders as long-term capital gains.  Although we pay tax at the corporate rate on the amount deemed to have been distributed, our shareholders receive a tax credit equal to their proportionate share of the tax paid and an increase in the tax basis of their shares by the amount per share retained by us.

To the extent that we declare a deemed dividend, each shareholder will receive an IRS Form 2439 that will reflect each shareholder's receipt of the deemed dividend income and a tax credit equal to each shareholder's proportionate share of the tax paid by us.  This tax credit, which is paid at the corporate rate, is often credited at a higher rate than the actual tax due by a shareholder on the deemed dividend income.  The "residual" credit can be used by the shareholder to offset other taxes due in that year or to generate a tax refund to the shareholder.  Tax exempt investors may file for a refund.

The following simplified examples illustrate the tax treatment under Subchapter M of the Code for us and our individual shareholders with regard to three possible distribution alternatives, assuming a net capital gain of $1.00 per share, consisting entirely of sales of non-real property assets held for more than 12 months.

Under Alternative A: 100 percent of net capital gain declared as a cash dividend and distributed to shareholders:

1.   No federal taxation at the Company level.

2.   Taxable shareholders receive a $1.00 per share dividend and pay federal tax at a rate not in excess of 15 percent* or $.15 per share, retaining $.85 per share.

3.   Non-taxable shareholders that file a federal tax return receive a $1.00 per share dividend and pay no federal tax, retaining $1.00 per share.

Under Alternative B (Current Tax Structure Employed): 100 percent of net capital gain retained by the Company and designated as "undistributed capital gain" or deemed dividend:

1.   The Company pays a corporate-level federal income tax of 35 percent on the undistributed gain or $.35 per share and retains 65 percent of the gain or $.65 per share.

 
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2.    Taxable shareholders increase their cost basis in their stock by $.65 per share.  They pay federal capital gains tax at a rate not in excess of 15 percent* on 100 percent of the undistributed gain of $1.00 per share or $.15 per share in tax.  Offsetting this tax, shareholders receive a tax credit equal to 35 percent of the undistributed gain or $.35 per share.

3.   Non-taxable shareholders that file a federal tax return receive a tax refund equal to $.35 per share.

*Assumes all capital gains qualify for long-term rates of 15 percent, which may increase for gains realized after December 31, 2010.

Under Alternative C:  100 percent of net capital gain retained by the Company, with no designated undistributed capital gain or deemed dividend:

1.   The Company pays a corporate-level federal income tax of 35 percent on the retained gain or $.35 per share plus an excise tax of four percent of $.98 per share, or about $.04 per share.

2.   There is no tax consequence at the shareholder level.

Although we may retain income and gains subject to the limitations described above (including paying corporate level tax on such amounts), we could be subject to an additional four percent excise tax if we fail to distribute 98 percent of our aggregate annual taxable income.

As noted above, in order to qualify as a RIC, we must meet certain investment asset diversification requirements each quarter.  Because of the specialized nature of our investment portfolio, in some years we have been able to satisfy the diversification requirements under Subchapter M of the Code primarily as a result of receiving certifications from the SEC under the Code with respect to each taxable year beginning after 1998 that we were "principally engaged in the furnishing of capital to other corporations which are principally engaged in the development or exploitation of inventions, technological improvements, new processes, or products not previously generally available" for such year.

Although we received SEC certifications for 1999-2008, there can be no assurance that we will receive such certification for subsequent years (to the extent we need additional certifications as a result of changes in our portfolio).  In 2009, we qualified for RIC treatment even without certification.  If we require, but fail to obtain, the SEC certification for a taxable year, we may fail to qualify as a RIC for such year.  We will also fail to qualify as a RIC for a taxable year if we do not satisfy the Income Source Rule or Income Distribution Rule for such year.  In the event we do not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, we will be subject to federal tax with respect to all of our taxable income, whether or not distributed.  In addition, all our distributions to shareholders in that situation generally will be taxable as ordinary dividends.

 
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Although we generally intend to qualify as a RIC for each taxable year, under certain circumstances we may choose to take action with respect to one or more taxable years to ensure that we would be taxed under Subchapter C of the Code (rather than Subchapter M) for such year or years.  We will choose to take such action only if we determine that the result of the action will benefit us and our shareholders.

Subsidiaries

Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc.SM ("Enterprises"), is a 100 percent wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and is consolidated in our financial statements.  Enterprises holds the lease for our office space in Palo Alto, California, is a partner in Harris Partners I, L.P. SM, and is taxed as a C Corporation.  Harris Partners I, L.P., is a limited partnership. Harris Partners I, L.P., owned our interest in AlphaSimplex Group, LLC, until AlphaSimplex was sold to Natixis Global Asset Management.  We received our share of the proceeds on October 30, 2007.  The partners of Harris Partners I, L.P., are Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc. (sole general partner) and the Company (sole limited partner).

Available Information

Additional information about us, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are available on our website at www.HHVC.com.  Information on our website is not part of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Employees

We currently employ directly 11 full-time employees.

 
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Item 1A.
Risk Factors.

Investing in our common stock involves significant risks relating to our business and investment objective.  You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below before you purchase any shares of our common stock.  These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones we face.  Unknown additional risks and uncertainties, or ones that we currently consider immaterial, may also impair our business.  If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.  In this event, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks related to the companies in our portfolio.

The recent financial crisis could increase the non-performance risk for our portfolio companies.

The effects of the banking and global stock market collapses, and the slowdown in global economic activities that began with the intensification of the housing and credit crisis during the third quarter of 2008, remain especially taxing on the venture capital industry.  The public markets have rebounded from the lows of March 2009, the general economic decline appears to be leveling off and there are signs of economic improvements.  However, even within this improving general economic environment, the availability of capital for venture capital firms and venture-backed companies continues to be extremely tight.  The majority of our portfolio companies, and venture-backed companies in general, have negative cash flow, and thus require follow-on financings to continue operations.   A substantial decrease in the availability of this necessary capital would dramatically increase the non-performance risk of these companies.  We define non-performance as the risk that a portfolio company will be unable to raise additional capital.  In these circumstances, the portfolio company could be recapitalized at a valuation significantly lower than the post-money valuation implied by our valuation method, sold at a loss to our investment or shut down.

A continuing lack of IPO opportunities and a decrease in M&A transactions may cause companies to stay in our portfolio longer, leading to lower returns, write-downs and write-offs.

Beginning in about 2001, many fewer venture capital-backed companies per annum have been able to complete IPOs than in the years of the previous decade.  Now that some of our companies are becoming more mature, a continuing lack of IPO opportunities and decrease in the number and size of M&A transactions for venture capital-backed companies could lead to companies staying longer in our portfolio as private entities that may require additional funding.  In the best case, such stagnation would dampen returns, and in the worst case, could lead to write-downs and write-offs as some companies run short of cash and have to accept lower valuations in private financings or are not able to access additional capital at all.  A continuing lack of IPO opportunities and the decrease in the number and size of M&A transactions for venture-backed companies are also causing some venture capital firms to change their investment strategies.  Accordingly, some venture capital firms are reducing funding of their portfolio companies, making it more difficult for such companies to access capital and to fulfill their potential.  In some cases this leads to write-downs and write-offs of such companies by other venture capital firms, such as ourselves, who are co-investors in such companies.

 
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Investing in small, private and public companies involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative.

We have invested a substantial portion of our assets in privately held companies, the securities of which are inherently illiquid.  We also seek to invest in small publicly traded companies that we believe have exceptional growth potential.  Although these companies are publicly traded, their stock may not trade at high volumes and prices can be volatile, which may restrict our ability to sell our positions.  These privately held and publicly traded businesses tend to lack management depth, to have limited or no history of operations and to have not attained profitability.  Companies commercializing products enabled by nanotechnology or microsystems are especially risky, involving scientific, technological and commercialization risks.  Because of the speculative nature of these investments, these securities have a significantly greater risk of loss than traditional investment securities.  Some of our venture capital investments are likely to be complete losses or unprofitable, and some will never realize their potential.  We have been and will continue to be risk seeking rather than risk averse in our approach to venture capital and other investments.  Neither our investments nor an investment in our common stock is intended to constitute a balanced investment program.

We may invest in companies working with technologies or intellectual property that currently have few or no proven commercial applications.

Nanotechnology, in particular, is a developing area of technology, of which much of the future commercial value is difficult to estimate and subject to widely varying interpretations.  It is sets of enabling technologies that are applicable to a diverse set of industries.  As such, nanotechnology-enabled products must compete against existing products or enable a completely new product in an emerging or existing industry.  The timing of additional future commercially available nanotechnology-enabled products and the industries on which nanotechnology will have the most significant impact is highly uncertain.

Our portfolio companies may not successfully develop, manufacture or market their products.

The technology of our portfolio companies is new and in some cases unproven.  Their potential products require significant and lengthy product development, manufacturing and marketing efforts. To date, some of our portfolio companies have not developed any commercially available products.  In addition, our portfolio companies may not be able to manufacture successfully or to market their products in order to achieve commercial success.  Further, the products may never gain commercial acceptance.  If our portfolio companies are not able to develop, manufacture or market successful nanotechnology-enabled products, they will be unable to generate product revenue or build sustainable or profitable businesses.  Adverse conditions in the target markets of our portfolio companies may limit or prevent commercial success regardless of the contribution of nanotechnology to these products.

 
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Our portfolio companies working with nanotechnology and microsystems may be particularly susceptible to intellectual property litigation.

Research and commercialization efforts in nanotechnology and microsystems are being undertaken by a wide variety of government, academic and private corporate entities.  As additional commercially viable applications of nanotechnology emerge, ownership of intellectual property on which these products are based may be contested.  From time to time, our portfolio companies are or have been involved in intellectual property disputes and litigation.  Any litigation over the ownership of, or rights to, any of our portfolio companies’ technologies or products could have a material adverse effect on those companies’ values.

The value of our portfolio could be adversely affected if the technologies utilized by our portfolio companies are found, or even rumored or feared, to cause health or environmental risks, or if legislation is passed that limits the commercialization of any of these technologies.

Nanotechnology has received both positive and negative publicity and is the subject increasingly of public discussion and debate. For example, debate regarding the production of materials that could cause harm to the environment or the health of individuals could raise concerns in the public’s perception of nanotechnology, not all of which might be rational or scientifically based. Nanotechnology in particular is currently the subject of health and environmental impact research.  If health or environmental concerns about nanotechnology or microsystems were to arise, whether or not they had any basis in fact, our portfolio companies might incur additional research, legal and regulatory expenses, and might have difficulty raising capital or marketing their products.  Government authorities could, for social or other purposes, prohibit or regulate the use of nanotechnology. Legislation could be passed that could circumscribe the commercialization of any of these technologies.

Our Nanotech for CleantechSM and Nanotech for ElectronicsSM portfolios are currently the largest portion of our venture capital portfolio, and, therefore, fluctuations in the value of the companies in these portfolios may adversely affect our net asset value per share to a greater degree than other sectors of our portfolio.

The two largest portions of our portfolio are our Nanotech for CleantechSM and Nanotech for ElectronicsSM portfolios.  Our Nanotech for CleantechSM portfolio consists of companies commercializing nanotechnology-enabled products targeted at cleantech-related markets.  There are risks in investing in companies that target cleantech-related markets, including the rapid and sometimes dramatic price fluctuations of commodities, particularly oil, and of public equities, the reliance on the capital and debt markets to finance large capital outlays, change in climate, including climate-related regulations, and the dependence on government subsidies to be cost-competitive with non-cleantech solutions.  For example, the attractiveness of alternative methods for the production of biobutanol and biodiesel can be adversely affected by a decrease in the demand or price of oil.  The demand for solar cells is driven partly by government subsidies and the availability of credit to finance the purchase and installation of the system.  Adverse developments in any of these sectors may significantly affect the value of our Nanotech for CleantechSM portfolio, and thus our venture capital portfolio as a whole.  Additionally, companies with cleantech platforms are currently in favor with the media and investors.  Cleantech companies in general may have a harder time accessing capital in the future if this level of interest subsides.

 
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Our Nanotech for ElectronicsSM portfolio consists of companies commercializing and integrating nanotechnology-enabled products targeted at electronics-related markets.  There are risks in investing in companies that target electronics-related markets, including rapid and sometimes dramatic price erosion of products, the reliance on capital and debt markets to finance large capital outlays, including fabrication facilities, the reliance on partners outside of the United States, particularly in Asia, and inherent cyclicality of the electronics market in general.  Additionally, electronics-related companies are currently out of favor with many venture capital firms.  Therefore, access to capital may be difficult or impossible for companies in our portfolio that are pursuing these markets.

Our Nanotech for HealthcareSM portfolio companies are subject to several risks that may adversely affect the value of our Nanotech for HealthcareSM portfolio.

Our Nanotech for HealthcareSM portfolio consists of companies that commercialize and integrate products enabled by nanotechnology and microsystems in healthcare-related industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices.  There are risks in investing in companies that target healthcare-related industries, including but not limited to the uncertainty of timing and results of clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of products; failure to obtain any required regulatory approval of products; failure to develop manufacturing processes that meet regulatory standards; competition, in particular from companies that develop rival products; and the ability to protect proprietary technology.  Adverse developments in any of these areas at our Nanotech for HealthcareSM portfolio companies may adversely affect the value of our Nanotech for HealthcareSM portfolio.

The three main industry clusters around which our nanotechnology investments have developed are all capital intensive.

The industry clusters where nanotechnology and microsystems are gaining the greatest traction, cleantech, electronics and healthcare, are all capital intensive.  In some successful companies, we believe we may need to invest more than we currently have planned to invest in these companies.  There can be no assurance that we will have the capital necessary to make such investments.  In addition, investing greater than planned amounts in our portfolio companies could limit our ability to pursue new investments and fund follow-on investments.  Both of these situations could cause us to miss investment opportunities or limit our ability to protect existing investments from dilution or other actions or events that would decrease the value and potential return from these investments.

 
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Our portfolio companies may generate revenues from the sale of products that are not enabled by nanotechnology.

We consider a company to be enabled by nanotechnology or microsystems if a product or products, or intellectual property covering a product or products, that we consider to be at the microscale or smaller is material to its business plan.  The core business of some of these companies may not be nanotechnology-enabled products, and, therefore, their success or failure may not be dependent upon the nanotechnology aspects of their business.  In addition to developing products that we consider nanotechnology, some of these companies may also develop products that we do not consider enabled by nanotechnology.  Some of these companies will generate revenues from the sale of non-nanotechnology-enabled products.  Additionally, it is possible that a portfolio company may decide to change its business focus after our initial investment and decide to develop and commercialize non-nanotechnology-enabled products.

Our portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks senior to our investments in such companies.

We may make investments in our portfolio companies in the form of bridge notes that typically convert into preferred stock issued in the next round of financing of that portfolio company or other forms of debt securities.  The portfolio companies usually have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks senior to the debt securities in which we invest.  By their terms, debt instruments may provide that the holders are entitled to receive payment of interest and principal on or before the dates on which we are entitled to receive payments in respect of the debt securities in which we invest.  Also, in the case of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to our investment in that portfolio company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before we receive any distribution in respect of our investment.  After repaying such senior creditors, such portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligations to us.  In addition, in companies where we have made investments in the form of bridge notes or other debt securities, we may also have investments in equity in the form of preferred shares.  In such a case, a bankruptcy court may subordinate our bridge notes and/or other debt securities to debt holders that do not have equity in the portfolio company. 

Risks related to the illiquidity of our investments.

We invest in illiquid securities and may not be able to dispose of them when it is advantageous to do so, or ever.

Most of our investments are or will be equity, equity-linked, or debt securities acquired directly from small companies.  These securities are generally subject to restrictions on resale or otherwise have no established trading market.  The illiquidity of most of our portfolio of securities may adversely affect our ability to dispose of these securities at times when it may be advantageous for us to liquidate these investments.  We may never be able to dispose of these securities.

 
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Unfavorable regulatory changes could impair our ability to engage in liquidity events.

Recent government reforms affecting publicly traded companies, stock markets, investment banks and securities research practices have made it more difficult for privately held companies to complete successful IPOs of their equity securities, and such reforms have increased the expense and legal exposure of being a public company.  Slowdowns in IPOs may also be having an adverse effect on the frequency and prices of acquisitions of privately held companies.  A lack of M&A opportunities for privately held companies also may be having an adverse effect on the ability of these companies to raise capital from private sources.  Public equity market response to companies offering nanotechnology-enabled products is uncertain.  An inability to exit investments in our portfolio could negatively affect our liquidity, our reinvestment rate in new and follow-on investments and the value of our portfolio.

Even if some of our portfolio companies complete IPOs, the returns on our investments in those companies would be uncertain.

When companies in which we have invested as private entities complete IPOs of their securities, these newly issued securities are by definition unseasoned issues.  Unseasoned issues tend to be highly volatile and have uncertain liquidity, which may negatively affect their price.  In addition, we are typically subject to lock-up provisions that prohibit us from selling our investments into the public market for specified periods of time after IPOs.  The market price of securities that we hold may decline substantially before we are able to sell these securities.  Most IPOs of technology companies in the United States are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market.  Government reforms of the Nasdaq Global Market have made market-making by broker-dealers less profitable, which has caused broker-dealers to reduce their market-making activities, thereby making the market for unseasoned stocks less liquid than they might be otherwise.

Risks related to our Company.

Our business may be adversely affected by the recent financial crisis and our ability to access the capital markets.

The economies of the United States and many other countries are in recession or are just emerging from recession with slow economic growth and high unemployment that may persist for a substantial period.  This status results in severely diminished opportunities for liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates, and uncertainty about overall economic stability, and there can be no assurance against further decline.  If the current uncertainty continues or economic conditions further deteriorate, our business and the business of our portfolio companies could be materially and adversely affected.

 
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Our business and results of operations could be impacted adversely by a number of follow-on effects of the recent financial crisis, including the inability of our portfolio companies to obtain sufficient financing to continue to operate as a going concern, an increase in our funding costs or the limitation on our access to the capital markets.  A prolonged period of market illiquidity may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.  Our nonperforming assets may increase, and the value of our portfolio may decrease if this period of market illiquidity persists.  These events could limit our investment activity, limit our ability to grow and negatively impact our operating results.

The financial crisis and changes in regulations of the financial industry have adversely affected coverage of us by financial analysts.  A number of analysts that have covered us in the past are no longer able to continue to do so owing to changes in employment, to restrictions on the size of companies they are allowed to cover and/or their firms have shut down operations.  An inability to attract analyst coverage may adversely affect our ability to raise capital from investors, particularly institutional investors.  Our inability to access the capital markets on favorable terms, or at all, may adversely affect our future financial performance.  The inability to obtain adequate financing capital sources could force us to seek debt financing, self-fund strategic initiatives or even forgo certain opportunities, which in turn could potentially harm our current and future performance.

Because there is generally no established market in which to value our investments, our Valuation Committee’s value determinations may differ materially from the values that a ready market or third party would attribute to these investments.

There is generally no public market for the private equity securities in which we invest.  Pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act, we value all of the private equity securities in our portfolio at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee, a committee made up of all of the independent members of our Board of Directors, pursuant to Valuation Procedures established by the Board of Directors.  Determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each portfolio investment pursuant to specified valuation principles and processes.  We are required by the 1940 Act to value specifically each individual investment on a quarterly basis and record unrealized depreciation for an investment that we believe has become impaired.  Conversely, we must record unrealized appreciation if we believe that a security has appreciated in value.  Our valuations, although stated as a precise number, are necessarily within a range of values that vary depending on the significance attributed to the various factors being considered.

We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to determine the fair value of warrants held in our portfolio.  Option pricing models, including the Black-Scholes-Merton model, require the use of subjective input assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, expected dividend rate, and expected risk-free rate of return.  In the Black-Scholes-Merton model, variations in the expected volatility or expected term assumptions have a significant impact on fair value.  Because the securities underlying the warrants in our portfolio are not publicly traded, many of the required input assumptions are more difficult to estimate than they would be if a public market for the underlying securities existed.

 
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Without a readily ascertainable market value and because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, the fair value that we assign to our investments may differ from the values that would have been used had an efficient market existed for the investments, and the difference could be material.  Any changes in fair value are recorded in our Consolidated Statement of Operations as a change in the "Net (decrease) increase in unrealized appreciation on investments."

In the venture capital industry, even when a portfolio of early-stage, high-technology venture capital investments proves to be profitable over the portfolio's lifetime, it is common for the portfolio's value to undergo a so-called "J-curve" valuation pattern.  This means that when reflected on a graph, the portfolio’s valuation would appear in the shape of the letter "J," declining from the initial valuation prior to increasing in valuation.  This J-curve valuation pattern results from write-downs and write-offs of portfolio investments that appear to be unsuccessful, prior to write-ups for portfolio investments that prove to be successful.  Because early-stage companies typically have negative cash flow and are by their nature inherently fragile, a valuation process can more readily substantiate a loss of value than an increase in value.   Even if our venture capital investments prove to be profitable in the long run, such J-curve valuation patterns could have a significant adverse effect on our net asset value per share and the value of our common stock in the interim.  Over time, as we continue to make additional nanotechnology investments, this J-curve pattern may be less relevant for our portfolio as a whole, because the individual J-curves for each investment, or series of investments, may overlap with previous investments at different stages of their J-curves.

Changes in valuations of our privately held, early-stage companies tend to be more volatile than changes in prices of publicly traded securities.

Investments in privately held, early-stage companies are inherently more volatile than investments in more mature businesses.  Such immature businesses are inherently fragile and easily affected by both internal and external forces.  Our investee companies can lose much or all of their value suddenly in response to an internal or external adverse event.  Conversely, these immature businesses can gain suddenly in value in response to an internal or external positive development.  Moreover, because our ownership interests in such investments are generally valued only at quarterly intervals by our Valuation Committee, changes in valuations from one valuation point to another tend to be larger than changes in valuations of marketable securities that are revalued in the marketplace much more frequently, in some highly liquid cases, virtually continuously.  Although we carefully monitor each of our portfolio companies, information pertinent to our portfolio companies is not always known immediately by us, and, therefore, its availability for use in determining value may not always coincide with the timeframe of our valuations required by the federal securities laws.

We expect to continue to experience material write-downs of securities of portfolio companies.

Write-downs of securities of our privately held companies have always been a by-product and risk of our business.  We expect to continue to experience material write-downs of securities of privately held portfolio companies.  Write-downs of such companies occur at all stages of their development.  Such write-downs may increase in dollar terms, frequency and as a percentage of our net asset value as our dollar investment activity in privately held companies continues to increase, and the number of such holdings in our portfolio continues to grow.  If the average size of each of our investments in nanotechnology increases, the average size of our write-downs may also increase.

 
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Because we do not choose investments based on a strategy of diversification, nor do we rebalance the portfolio should one or more investments increase in value substantially relative to the rest of the portfolio, the value of our portfolio is subject to greater volatility than the value of companies with more broadly diversified investments.
 
We do not choose investments based on a strategy of diversification.  We also do not rebalance the portfolio should one of our portfolio companies increase in value substantially relative to the rest of the portfolio.  Therefore, the value of our portfolio may be more vulnerable to events affecting a single sector or industry and, therefore, subject to greater volatility than a company that follows a diversification strategy. Accordingly, an investment in our common stock may present greater risk to you than an investment in a diversified company.

We are dependent upon key management personnel for future success, and may not be able to retain them.

We are dependent upon the diligence and skill of our senior management and other key advisers for the selection, structuring, closing and monitoring of our investments.  We utilize lawyers, and we utilize outside consultants, including one of our directors, Lori D. Pressman, to assist us in conducting due diligence when evaluating potential investments.  There is generally no publicly available information about the companies in which we invest, and we rely significantly on the diligence of our employees and advisers to obtain information in connection with our investment decisions.  Our future success, to a significant extent, depends on the continued service and coordination of our senior management team, particularly on Douglas W. Jamison, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and a Managing Director; on Daniel B. Wolfe, our President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and a Managing Director; on Alexei A. Andreev and Michael A. Janse, each an Executive Vice President and Managing Director; on Misti Ushio, a Vice President; and on Sandra M. Forman, our General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Human Resources.  The departure of any of our executive officers, key employees or advisers could materially adversely affect our ability to implement our business strategy.  We do not maintain for our benefit any key-man life insurance on any of our officers or employees.

The market for venture capital investments, including nanotechnology investments, is highly competitive.

We face substantial competition in our investing activities from many competitors, including but not limited to:  private venture capital funds; investment affiliates of large industrial, technology, service and financial companies; small business investment companies; hedge funds; wealthy individuals; and foreign investors.  Our most significant competitors typically have greater financial resources than we do.   Greater financial resources are particularly advantageous in securing lead investor roles in venture capital syndicates.  Lead investors typically negotiate the terms and conditions of such financings.  Many sources of funding compete for a small number of attractive investment opportunities.  Hence, we face substantial competition in sourcing good investment opportunities on terms of investment that are commercially attractive.

 
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In addition to the difficulty of finding attractive investment opportunities, our status as a regulated BDC may hinder our ability to participate in investment opportunities or to protect the value of existing investments.

As a BDC, we are required to disclose on a quarterly basis the names and business descriptions of our portfolio companies and the type and value of our portfolio securities.  Most of our competitors are not subject to these disclosure requirements.  Our obligation to disclose this information could hinder our ability to invest in some portfolio companies.  Additionally, other current and future regulations may make us less attractive as a potential investor than a competitor not subject to the same regulations.

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:  (1) increase or maintain in whole or in part our ownership percentage; (2) exercise warrants, options or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing; or (3) attempt to preserve or enhance the value of our investment.

We may elect not to make follow-on investments or lack sufficient funds to make such investments.  We have the discretion to make any follow-on investments, subject to the availability of capital resources.  The failure to make a follow-on investment 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, or may cause us to lose some or all preferred rights pursuant to "pay-to-play" provisions that have become common in venture capital transactions.  These provisions require proportionate investment in subsequent rounds of financing in order to preserve preferred rights such as anti-dilution protection, liquidation preferences and preemptive rights to invest in future rounds of financing.   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.

Bank borrowing or the issuance of debt securities or preferred stock by us, to fund investments in portfolio companies or to fund our operating expenses, would make our total return to common shareholders more volatile.

Use of debt or preferred stock as a source of capital entails two primary risks.  The first is the risk of leverage, which is the use of debt to increase the pool of capital available for investment purposes.  The use of debt leverages our available common equity capital, magnifying the impact on net asset value of changes in the value of our investment portfolio.  For example, a BDC that uses 33 percent leverage (that is, $50 of leverage per $100 of common equity) will show a 1.5 percent increase or decline in net asset value for each 1 percent increase or decline in the value of its total assets.  The second risk is that the cost of debt or preferred stock financing may exceed the return on the assets the proceeds are used to acquire, thereby diminishing rather than enhancing the return to common shareholders.  If we issue preferred shares or debt, the common shareholders would bear the cost of this leverage.  To the extent that we utilize debt or preferred stock financing for any purpose, these two risks would likely make our total return to common shareholders more volatile.  In addition, we might be required to sell investments, in order to meet dividend, interest or principal payments, when it might be disadvantageous for us to do so.

 
24

 

As provided in the 1940 Act and subject to some exceptions, we can issue debt or preferred stock so long as our total assets immediately after the issuance, less some ordinary course liabilities, exceed 200 percent of the sum of the debt and any preferred stock outstanding.  The debt or preferred stock may be convertible in accordance with SEC guidelines, which might permit us to obtain leverage at more attractive rates.  The requirement under the 1940 Act to pay, in full, dividends on preferred shares or interest on debt before any dividends may be paid on our common stock means that dividends on our common stock from earnings may be reduced or eliminated.  An inability to pay dividends on our common stock could conceivably result in our ceasing to qualify as a RIC under the Code, which would in most circumstances be materially adverse to the holders of our common stock.  As of the date hereof, we do not have any debt or preferred stock outstanding, and have no current intention to do so.

We are authorized to issue preferred stock, which would convey special rights and privileges to its owners senior to those of common stock shareholders.

We are currently authorized to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, under terms and conditions determined by our Board of Directors.  These shares would have a preference over our common stock with respect to dividends and liquidation.  The statutory class voting rights of any preferred shares we would issue could make it more difficult for us to take some actions that might, in the future, be proposed by the Board and/or holders of common stock, such as a merger, exchange of securities, liquidation or alteration of the rights of a class of our securities, if these actions were perceived by the holders of the preferred shares as not in their best interests.  The issuance of preferred shares convertible into shares of common stock might also reduce the net income and net asset value per share of our common stock upon conversion.

Loss of status as a RIC could reduce our net asset value and distributable income.
 
We have elected to qualify, qualified and intend to continue to qualify as a RIC under the Code.  As a RIC, we do not have to pay federal income taxes on our income (including realized gains) that is distributed to our shareholders.  Accordingly, we are not permitted under accounting rules to establish reserves for taxes on our unrealized capital gains.  If we failed to qualify for RIC status in 2009 or beyond, we would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to our shareholders would not be deductible in computing our taxable income, which would materially adversely impact the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders.  In addition, to the extent that we had unrealized gains, we would have to establish reserves for taxes, which would reduce our net asset value, accordingly.  To qualify again to be taxed as a RIC in a subsequent year, we would be required to distribute to our shareholders our earnings and profits attributable to non-RIC years reduced by an interest charge of 50 percent of such earnings and profits payable by us to the IRS.  In addition, if we failed to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, then, in order to qualify as a RIC in a subsequent year, we would be required to elect to recognize and pay tax on any net built-in gain (the excess of aggregate gain, including items of income, over aggregate loss that would have been realized if we had sold our property to an unrelated party for fair market value) or, alternatively, be subject to taxation on such built-in gain recognized for a period of 10 years.  In addition, if we, as a RIC, were to decide to make a deemed distribution of realized net capital gains and retain the net realized capital gains, we would have to establish appropriate reserves for taxes that we would have to pay on behalf of shareholders.  It is possible that establishing reserves for taxes could have a material adverse effect on the value of our common stock.

 
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We operate in a heavily regulated environment, and changes to, or non-compliance with, regulations and laws could harm our business.

We are subject to substantive SEC regulations as a BDC.  Securities and tax laws and regulations governing our activities may change in ways adverse to our and our shareholders’ interests, and interpretations of these laws and regulations may change with unpredictable consequences.  Any change in the laws or regulations that govern our business could have an adverse impact on us or on our operations.  Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance, valuation, public disclosure and market regulation, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new SEC regulations, new federal accounting standards and Nasdaq Stock Market rules, create additional expense and uncertainty for publicly held companies in general, and for BDCs in particular.  These new or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases because of their lack of specificity, and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time, which may well result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.

We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure.  As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards have and will continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.  In particular, our efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related regulations regarding our required assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting has required the commitment of significant financial and managerial resources.

Moreover, even though BDCs are not mutual funds, they must comply with several of the regulations applicable to mutual funds, such as the requirement for the implementation of a comprehensive compliance program and the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer.  Further, our Board members, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer could face an increased risk of personal liability in connection with the performance of their duties.  As a result, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified Board members and executive officers, which could harm our business, and we have significantly increased both our coverage under, and the related expense for, directors' and officers' liability insurance.  If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies, our reputation may be harmed.  This increased regulatory burden is causing us to incur significant additional expenses and is time consuming for our management, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.

 
26

 

Market prices of our common stock will continue to be volatile.

We expect that the market price of our common stock price will continue to be volatile.  The price of the common stock may be higher or lower than the price you pay for your shares, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance. These factors include the following:
 
 
stock market and capital markets conditions;

 
internal developments in our Company with respect to our personnel, financial condition and compliance with all applicable  regulations;

 
announcements regarding any of our portfolio companies;

 
announcements regarding developments in the nanotechnology or cleantech-related fields in general;

 
environmental and health concerns regarding nanotechnology, whether real or perceptual;

 
announcements regarding government funding and initiatives related to the development of nanotechnology or cleantech-related products;

 
general economic conditions and trends; and/or

 
departures of key personnel.
 
We will not have control over many of these factors, but expect that our stock price may be influenced by them.  As a result, our stock price may be volatile, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Quarterly results fluctuate and are not indicative of future quarterly performance.

Our quarterly operating results fluctuate as a result of a number of factors.  These factors include, among others, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we and our portfolio companies encounter competition in our markets and general economic and capital markets conditions.  As a result of these factors, results for any one quarter should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future quarters.

To the extent that we do not realize income or choose not to retain after-tax realized capital gains, we will have a greater need for additional capital to fund our investments and operating expenses.

As a RIC, we must annually distribute at least 90 percent of our investment company taxable income as a dividend and may either distribute or retain our realized net capital gains from investments.  As a result, these earnings may not be available to fund investments.  If we fail to generate net realized capital gains or to obtain funds from outside sources, it would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations as well as our ability to make follow-on and new investments.  Because of the structure and objectives of our business, we generally expect to experience net operating losses and rely on proceeds from sales of investments, rather than on investment income, to defray a significant portion of our operating expenses.  These sales are unpredictable and may not occur.  In addition, as a BDC, we are generally required to maintain a ratio of at least 200 percent of total assets to total borrowings and preferred stock, which may restrict our ability to borrow to fund these requirements.  Lack of capital could curtail our investment activities or impair our working capital.

 
27

 

Investment in foreign securities could result in additional risks.

We may invest in foreign securities, and we currently have one investment in a foreign security.  When we invest in securities of foreign issuers, we may be subject to risks not usually associated with owning securities of U.S. issuers.  These risks can include fluctuations in foreign currencies, foreign currency exchange controls, social, political and economic instability, differences in securities regulation and trading, expropriation or nationalization of assets and foreign taxation issues.  In addition, changes in government administrations or economic or monetary policies in the United States or abroad could result in appreciation or depreciation of our securities and could favorably or unfavorably affect our operations.  It may also be more difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment against a foreign issuer.  Any foreign investments made by us must be made in compliance with U.S. and foreign currency restrictions and tax laws restricting the amounts and types of foreign investments.

Although most of our investments are denominated in U.S. dollars, our investments that are denominated in a foreign currency are subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency may change in relation to the U.S. dollar, in which currency we maintain financial statements and valuations.  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.

Investing in our stock is highly speculative and an investor could lose some or all of the amount invested.

Our investment objective and strategies result in a high degree of risk in our investments and may result in losses in the value of our investment portfolio.  Our investments in portfolio companies are highly speculative and, therefore, an investor in our common stock may lose his or her entire investment.  The value of our common stock may decline and may be affected by numerous market conditions, which could result in the loss of some or all of the amount invested in our common stock. The securities markets frequently experience extreme price and volume fluctuations that affect market prices for securities of companies in general, and technology and very small capitalization companies in particular.  Because of our focus on the technology and very small capitalization sectors, and because we are a very small capitalization company ourselves, our stock price is especially likely to be affected by these market conditions.  General economic conditions, and general conditions in nanotechnology and in the semiconductor and information technology, life science, materials science and other high-technology industries, including cleantech, may also affect the price of our common stock.

 
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Our shares might trade at discounts from net asset value or at premiums that are unsustainable over the long term.

Shares of BDCs like us may, during some periods, trade at prices higher than their net asset value and during other periods, as frequently occurs with closed-end investment companies, trade at prices lower than their net asset value.  The possibility that our shares will trade at discounts from net asset value or at premiums that are unsustainable over the long term are risks separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share will decrease.  The risk of purchasing shares of a BDC that might trade at a discount or unsustainable premium is more pronounced for investors who wish to sell their shares in a relatively short period of time because, for those investors, realization of a gain or loss on their investments is likely to be more dependent upon changes in premium or discount levels than upon increases or decreases in net asset value per share.  Our common stock may not trade at a price higher than or equal to net asset value per share.  On December 31, 2009, our stock closed at $4.57 per share, a premium of $0.22 to our net asset value per share of $4.35 as of December 31, 2009.

The Board of Directors intends to grant stock options to our employees pursuant to the Company's Equity Incentive Plan.  When exercised, these options may have a dilutive effect on existing shareholders.

In accordance with the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors may grant options from time to time for up to 20 percent of the total shares of stock issued and outstanding.  When options are exercised, net asset value per share will decrease if the net asset value per share at the time of exercise is higher than the exercise price.  Alternatively, net asset value per share will increase if the net asset value per share at the time of exercise is lower than the exercise price.  Therefore, existing shareholders will be diluted if the net asset value per share at the time of exercise is higher than the exercise price of the options.  Even though issuance of shares pursuant to exercises of options increases the Company's capital, and regardless of whether such issuance results in increases or decreases in net asset value per share, such issuance results in existing shareholders owning a smaller percentage of the shares outstanding.

You have no right to require us to repurchase your shares.

You do not have the right to require us to repurchase your shares of common stock.
 
 
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Future sales of our common stock in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.

Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.
 
Item 2.
Properties.

The Company maintains its offices at 1450 Broadway, New York, New York 10018, where it leases through Enterprises approximately 6,900 square feet of office space pursuant to a lease agreement expiring on December 31, 2019.  (See "Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies" contained in "Item 7. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.")

On July 1, 2008, we signed a five-year lease for approximately 2,290 square feet of office space at 420 Florence Street, Suite 200, Palo Alto, California 94301, commencing on August 1, 2008, and expiring on August 31, 2013.

Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.

The Company is not a party to any legal proceedings.

 
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PART II

Item 4.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "TINY."  The following table sets forth the range of the high and low sales price of the Company's shares during each quarter of the last two fiscal years, as reported by Nasdaq Global Market.  The quarterly stock prices quoted represent interdealer quotations and do not include markups, markdowns or commissions.

2009 Quarter Ending
 
Low
   
High
 
             
March 31
  $ 2.65     $ 4.48  
June 30
  $ 3.57     $ 5.99  
September 30
  $ 5.01     $ 6.93  
December 31
  $ 4.04     $ 6.31  

2008 Quarter Ending
 
Low
   
High
 
             
March 31
  $ 5.76     $ 8.98  
June 30
  $ 6.00     $ 8.73  
September 30
  $ 4.97     $ 8.50  
December 31
  $ 3.10     $ 6.58  

Shareholders

As of March 12, 2010, there were approximately 138 holders of record and approximately 19,806 beneficial owners of the Company's common stock.

Dividends

We did not pay a cash dividend or declare a deemed dividend for 2009 or 2008.  For more information about deemed dividends, please refer to the discussion under "Subchapter M Status."

 
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Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
As of December 31, 2009

   
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of out-
standing options,
warrants and rights
   
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
Column (a))
 
                   
Plan category
 
(a)
   
(b)
   
(c)
 
                   
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
 
4,184,503
   
$8.20
   
(1)
 
   
 
               
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 
-
 
 
 
-
   
-
 
                     
TOTAL
 
4,184,503
   
$8.20
   
(1)
 

(1) A maximum of twenty percent (20%) of our total shares of our common stock issued and outstanding may be available for awards under the plan, subject to adjustment as described below.  Shares issued under the plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.  If any shares subject to an award granted under the plan are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered, or if an award terminates or expires without a distribution of shares, those shares will again be available for awards under the plan.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

The Company did not sell any equity securities during 2009 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

Performance Graph

The graph below compares the cumulative five-year total return of holders of the Company's common stock with the cumulative total returns of the Nasdaq Composite index and the Nasdaq Financial index.  The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company's common stock and in each of the indexes (including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on December 31, 2004, and tracks it through December 31, 2009.

 
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      12/04       12/05       12/06       12/07       12/08       12/09  
                                                 
Harris & Harris Group, Inc.
    100.00       84.86       73.81       53.66       24.11       27.90  
NASDAQ Composite
    100.00       101.33       114.01       123.71       73.11       105.61  
NASDAQ Financial
    100.00       106.94       123.77       113.75       77.43       79.26  

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Source: Research Data Group, Inc.

Stock Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038 (Telephone 800-937-5449, Attention: Mr. Jennifer Donovan) serves as our transfer agent. Certificates to be transferred should be mailed directly to the transfer agent, preferably by registered mail.

 
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Item 5.
Selected Financial Data.

The information below was derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report and in previous annual reports filed with the SEC.  This information should be read in conjunction with those Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data and the notes thereto.  These historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future.
 
Financial Position as of December 31:

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
                               
Total assets
  $ 136,109,101     $ 111,627,601     $ 142,893,332     $ 118,328,590     $ 132,938,120  
                                         
Total liabilities
  $ 1,950,843     $ 2,096,488     $ 4,529,988     $ 4,398,287     $ 14,950,378  
                                         
Net assets1
  $ 134,158,258     $ 109,531,113     $ 138,363,344     $ 113,930,303     $ 117,987,742  
                                         
Net asset value per outstanding share
  $ 4.35     $ 4.24     $ 5.93     $ 5.42     $ 5.68  
                                         
Cash dividends paid
  $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00  
                                         
Cash dividends paid per outstanding share
  $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.00  
                                         
Shares outstanding, end of year1
    30,859,593       25,859,573       23,314,573       21,015,017       20,756,345  

Operating Data for Year Ended December 31:

 
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
                               
Total investment income
  $ 247,848     $ 1,987,347     $ 2,705,636     $ 3,028,761     $ 1,540,862  
                                         
Total expenses2
  $ 9,009,063     $ 12,674,498     $ 14,533,179     $ 10,641,696     $ 7,006,623  
                                         
Net operating loss
  $ (8,761,215 )   $ (10,687,151 )   $ (11,827,543 )   $ (7,612,935 )   $ (5,465,761 )
                                         
Total tax (benefit) expense 3
  $ (753 )   $ 34,121     $ 87,975     $ (227,355 )   $ 8,288,778  
                                         
Net realized (loss) income from investments
  $ (11,105,577 )   $ (8,323,634 )   $ 30,162     $ 258,693     $ 14,208,789  
                                         
Net decrease (increase) in unrealized depreciation on investments
  $ 19,718,327     $ (30,170,712 )   $ 5,080,936     $ (4,418,870 )   $ (2,026,652 )
                                         
Net (decrease) increase  in net assets resulting from operations
  $ (148,465 )   $ (49,181,497 )   $ (6,716,445 )   $ (11,773,112 )   $ 6,716,376  
                                         
(Decrease) increase in net assets resulting from operations per average outstanding share
  $ (0.01 )   $ (1.99 )   $ (0.30 )   $ (0.57 )   $ 0.36  

1 We completed offerings of our common stock as follows:  4,887,500 shares in 2009; 2,545,000 shares in 2008; 1,300,000 shares in 2007; 0 shares in 2006; and 3,507,500 shares in 2005.

2 Included in total expenses is non-cash, stock-based, compensation expense of $3,089,520 in 2009; $5,965,769 in 2008; $8,050,807 in 2007; and $5,038,956 in 2006.  There was no stock-based compensation expense in 2005.  Also included in total expenses are the following profit-sharing expenses:  $0 in each of 2009, 2008 and 2007; $50,875 in 2006; and $1,796,264 in 2005.
 
3 Included in total tax expense are the following taxes paid by the Company on behalf of shareholders: $0 in each of 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006; and $8,122,367 in 2005.

 
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Item 6.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the Company's 2009 Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained herein may contain "forward-looking statements" based on our current expectations, assumptions and estimates about us and our industry.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.  Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "will," "may," "might," "could," "continue" and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.  In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.  Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of several factors more fully described in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Form 10-K.  The forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-K relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made.  We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

Background and Overview

We incorporated under the laws of the state of New York in August 1981.  In 1983, we completed an IPO.  In 1984, we divested all of our assets except Otisville BioTech, Inc., and became a financial services company with the investment in Otisville as the initial focus of our business activity.

In 1992, we registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, commencing operations as a closed-end, non-diversified investment company.  In 1995, we elected to become a BDC subject to the provisions of Sections 55 through 65 of the 1940 Act.

We have discretion in the investment of our capital.  Primarily, we invest in illiquid equity securities.  Generally, these investments take the form of preferred stock, are subject to restrictions on resale and have no established trading market.  Throughout our corporate history, we have made primarily early-stage venture capital investments in a variety of industries.  We define venture capital as the money and resources made available to privately held start-up firms and privately held and publicly traded small businesses with exceptional growth potential.  These businesses can range in stage from pre-revenue to generating positive cash flow.  These businesses tend to be thinly capitalized, unproven, small companies that lack management depth, have little or no history of operations and are developing unproven technologies.

 
35

 

As of December 31, 2009, $77,797,086, or 57 percent, of our total assets at fair value consisted of private venture capital investments, net of unrealized depreciation of $14,293,994.  As of December 31, 2009, $226,395, or less than one percent, of our total assets at market value consisted of publicly traded venture capital investments, net of unrealized depreciation of $72,432.  As of December 31, 2008, $56,965,153, or 51 percent, of our total assets at fair value consisted of private venture capital investments, net of unrealized depreciation of $34,124,848.  As of December 31, 2008, $0 of our total assets consisted of publicly traded venture capital investments.

Historical Investments

Since our investment in Otisville in 1983 through December 31, 2009, we have made a total of 86 venture capital investments, including four private placement investments in securities of publicly traded companies.  We have exited 55 of these 86 investments, realizing total gross proceeds of $143,930,719 on our cumulative invested capital of $71,854,116.

Historically, as measured from first dollar in to last dollar out, the average and median holding periods for the 55 investments we have exited were 4.0 years and 3.3 years, respectively.

In 1994, we invested in our first nanotechnology company, Nanophase Technologies Corporation.  Recognizing the potential of nanotechnology, we continued to monitor developments in the field.  From August 2001 through December 31, 2009, all 44 of our initial investments have been in companies commercializing or integrating products enabled by nanotechnology or microsystems.  From August 2001 through December 31, 2009, we have invested a total (before any subsequent write-ups, write-downs or dispositions) of $116,748,763 in these companies.

Age of Current Portfolio

We currently have 31 active tiny technology companies in our portfolio, including one investment made prior to 2001.  At December 31, 2009, from first dollar in, the average and median holding periods for these 31 active tiny technology investments were 4.3 years and 3.7 years, respectively.

 
36

 

Tiny Technology Companies in Our Active Portfolio as of December 31, 2009
Holding Period (Years)
Adesto Technologies Corporation
2.9
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2.7
BioVex Group, Inc.
2.3
Bridgelux, Inc.
4.6
Cambrios Technologies Corporation
5.1
CFX Battery, Inc.
2.5
Cobalt Technologies, Inc.
1.2
Crystal IS, Inc.
5.3
D-Wave Systems, Inc.
3.7
Ensemble Discovery Corporation
2.6
Enumeral Technologies, Inc.
0.1
Innovalight, Inc.
3.7
Kovio, Inc.
4.1
Laser Light Engines, Inc.
1.7
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
7.9
Metabolon, Inc.
4.0
Molecular Imprints, Inc.
5.8
NanoGram Corporation
6.7
Nanosys, Inc.
6.7
Nantero, Inc.
8.4
NeoPhotonics Corporation
6.1
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
5.1
Orthovita, Inc.
0.4
Polatis, Inc.
7.5
PolyRemedy, Inc.
1.9
Questech Corporation
15.6
Siluria Technologies, Inc.
2.2
SiOnyx, Inc.
3.6
Solazyme, Inc.
5.1
TetraVitae Bioscience, Inc.
1.2
Xradia, Inc.
3.0
Average
4.3
Median
3.7

Investment Pace

We invested $489,999 in nanotechnology and microsystems in 2001.  We invested $12,334,051 in nanotechnology and microsystems in 2009.  The following is a summary of our annual initial and follow-on investments in nanotechnology from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2009.  We consider a "round led" to be a round where we were the new investor or the leader of a set of investors in an investee company.  Typically, but not always, the lead investor negotiates the price and terms of a deal with the investee company.

 
37

 

 
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Total Incremental Investments
$16,251,339
$24,408,187
$20,595,161
$17,779,462
$12,334,051
Investments in Privately Held Companies
No. of New Investments
4
6
7
4
1
No. of Follow-On Investment Rounds
13
14
20
25
27
No. of Rounds Led
0
7
3
4
5
Average Dollar Amount – Initial
$1,575,000
$2,383,424
$1,086,441
$683,625
$250,000
Average Dollar Amount – Follow-On
$765,488
$721,974
$649,504
$601,799
$436,490
Investments in Publicly Traded Companies
No. of New Investments
0
0
0
0
1
No. of Follow-On Investment Rounds
0
0
0
0
2
Average Dollar Amount – Initial
$0
$0
$0
$0
$99,624
Average Dollar Amount – Follow-On
$0
$0
$0
$0
$99,602

We have a robust deal flow in privately held companies operating at various stages of maturity.  Technology platforms and interesting intellectual property estates are being formed in specific areas of  nanotechnology that may be interesting on their own or combined with our existing nanotechnology companies.  With our current portfolio, with our current asset size and with the current state of the venture capital market, we are primarily focused on examining private company opportunities at the earliest stages of maturity and at later stages of maturity.  In early-stage private companies, we are looking for opportunities where there is the potential for generating near-term revenue and where we will have the opportunity to own greater than five percent of the company at the time of exit.  In late-stage private companies, we are looking for opportunities where the company has a clear path to revenue growth, where there is a near-term exit opportunity and where we believe the current round of financing may be the last round of private financing.  We are currently planning to invest between five and seven million dollars over the life of our investment in private companies.

For new and follow-on investments, we generally syndicate with other venture capital firms and corporate investors.  We plan to continue this approach, while taking into account that the current economic and venture capital turmoil has decreased the availability of capital to many of our potential co-investors.  This situation may reduce the number of potential co-investors available to us when forming syndicates.

We believe recent market dynamics present opportunities to invest in micro-capitalization publicly traded companies.  Additionally, in July 2008, the SEC ruled that companies with a fully diluted market capitalization below $250 million would be considered "good" BDC investments.  We believe this ruling provides new opportunities under our current structure as a BDC.  We began investing in such opportunities actively in 2009.

 
38

 

Our approach to investing in publicly traded companies is similar to that of privately held companies, albeit with a shorter investment timeframe of one to three years versus five to seven years for private venture capital investments.  The liquidity of these investments and our intention to hold these investments for a shorter period of time potentially enables us to increase the overall liquidity of our venture capital portfolio.   We focus on:

 
·
micro-capitalization companies listed on Nasdaq or on the over-the-counter (OTC) markets;
 
 
·
companies that we think have exceptional growth potential;
 
 
·
companies that operate in markets in which we are familiar because our privately held venture-backed companies operate in these markets;
 
 
·
opportunities where our experience in emerging technology provides insight into competitive advantages;
 
 
·
companies with disruptive products enabled by nanotechnology that have a shorter time to commercial launch than that of similar privately held companies;
 
 
·
opportunities where there is a disparity in valuation of similar publicly traded and privately held companies;
 
 
·
companies that have not been widely discovered or followed by the investment community; and
 
 
·
opportunities where the addition of capital to the investee company enables it to reach a critical milestone, and where the capital is the main factor in decreasing the risk of meeting that milestone.

We may also invest in companies that have known pending events, such as regulatory approvals, or potential events such as M&A transactions or transitions from OTC to Nasdaq, that may drive liquidity and stock-price appreciation.

Importance of Availability of Liquid Capital

Private venture capital funds that we typically co-invest with are structured commonly as limited partnerships with a committed level of capital and finite lifetime.  Capital is "called" from limited partners to make investments and pay for expenses of running the firm at various points within the lifetime of the fund.  For each initial investment, the fund must reserve additional capital for follow-on investments at later stages of the life of the portfolio companies.  These follow-on investments are required because often venture-backed portfolio companies in areas we invest in operate with negative cash flow for lengthy periods of time.  In general, the cumulative total of initial invested capital and reserves cannot exceed the committed level of capital of the fund.

 
39

 

Our strategy for investing capital is similar to this approach in some respects.  We make initial investments in portfolio companies and project the amount of capital that may be required should the company mature successfully.  These projections, equivalent to the reserves of private venture capital funds, are reviewed weekly by management, are updated frequently and are a component of the data that guide our decisions on whether to make new and follow-on investments.   As a publicly traded, internally managed venture capital company, our cash used to make investments and pay expenses is held by us and not called from external sources when needed.  Accordingly, it is crucial that we operate the company with a substantial balance of liquid capital for this reason and for four additional reasons.

1)
We manage the company and our investment pace and criteria such that our projected needs for capital to make new and follow-on investments does not exceed the total of our liquid investments.  Although we use best efforts to predict when this capital will be required for use in new and follow-on investments, we cannot predict with certainty the timing for these investments.  We would be unable to make new or follow-on investments in our portfolio companies without having substantial liquid resources of capital available to us.

2)
Venture capital firms traditionally invest beside other venture capital firms in a process called syndication.  The size of the fund and the amount of capital reserves available to syndicate partners is often an attribute potential co-investors consider when deciding on syndicate partners.  As we do not have committed capital from limited partners, we believe we must have adequate available liquid capital on our balance sheet to be able to have access to high-quality deal flow and to co-invest with top-tier venture capital firms.

3)
We rarely commit the total amount of cumulative capital intended for investment in any portfolio company at one point in time.  Instead, our investments consist of multiple rounds of financing of a given portfolio company, in which we typically participate if we believe that the merits of such an investment outweigh the risks.  We also commonly have preemptive rights to invest additional capital in our portfolio companies.  These rights have value, and sometimes are necessary to protect and potentially increase the value of our positions in our portfolio companies as they mature.  Commonly, the terms of such financings also include penalties for those investors that do not invest in these subsequent rounds of financing.  Without available capital at the time of investment, our ownership in the company would be subject to these penalties that can lead to a partial or complete loss of the capital invested prior to that round of financing.

4)
We may have the opportunity to increase ownership in late rounds of financing in some of our most mature companies.  Many private venture capital funds that invested in these companies are reaching the end of the term associated with their limited partnerships.  This issue may limit the available capital to these funds for follow-on investments, and the ability to take advantage of potentially valuable terms given to those who have investable capital.  Having permanent, liquid capital available for investment allows us to take advantage of these opportunities as they arise.  In the fourth quarter of 2009, we had such an opportunity in NeoPhotonics Corporation, one of our most mature companies.

Our principal objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation, rather than current income.  We cannot count on current income to provide adequate capital for our venture capital investments and the timing of long-term capital gains is uncertain.  We believe, therefore, that the appropriate balance of highly liquid capital is essential to our business.

 
40

 

Involvement with Portfolio Companies

The 1940 Act requires that business development companies offer to "make available significant managerial assistance" to portfolio companies.  We are actively involved with our portfolio companies through membership on boards of directors, as observers to the boards of directors and/or through frequent communication with management.  As of December 31, 2009, we held at least a board seat or observer rights on 25 of our 31 active portfolio companies (80.6 percent). The table below lists those portfolio companies in which we have one or more members of Management serving as a member of the board of directors or as an observer to the board of directors at the request of the Company.

Portfolio Company
Board Member
Observer
     
Adesto Technologies Corporation
X
 
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
X (2)
 
BioVex Group, Inc.
 
X
Bridgelux, Inc.
 
X
Cambrios Technology Corporation
 
X
CFX Battery, Inc.
 
X
Crystal IS, Inc.
 
X
D-Wave, Inc.
 
X
Ensemble Discovery Corporation
 
X
Enumeral Technologies, Inc.
X (2)
 
Innovalight, Inc.
X
 
Kovio, Inc.
 
X
Laser Light Engines
X (2)
 
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
 
X (2)
Metabolon, Inc.
 
X
Molecular Imprints, Inc.
 
X
NanoGram Corporation
 
X
NeoPhotonics Corporation
 
X
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
X
X
PolyRemedy, Inc.
 
X
Siluria Technologies, Inc.
 
X
Sionyx, Inc.
X
 
Solazyme, Inc
 
X
Tetravitae Bioscience, Inc.
 
X
Xradia, Inc.
X
 

We may hold two or more board seats in early-stage portfolio companies or those in which we have significant ownership.  We currently have two board seats in Ancora Pharmaceuticals, Enumeral Technologies, and Laser Light Engines.  We may transition off of the board of directors to an observer role as our portfolio companies raise additional capital from new investors, as they mature or as they are able to attract independent members who have relevant industry experience and contacts.  We also typically step off the board of directors upon the completion of an IPO.

 
41

 

We may be actively involved in the formation and development of business strategies of our earliest stage portfolio companies.  This involvement may include hiring management, licensing intellectual property, securing space and raising additional capital.  We also provide managerial assistance to late-stage companies looking for potential exit opportunities by leveraging our status as a public company through our relationships with the banking community and our knowledge and experience implementing and complying with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Commercialization of Nanotechnology by Our Portfolio Companies

Our nanotechnology investments have matured around three main industry clusters: cleantech (44.7 percent of our venture capital portfolio as of December 31, 2009); electronics, including semiconductors (27.7 percent of our venture capital portfolio as of December 31, 2009); and healthcare/biotechnology (12.3 percent of our venture capital portfolio as of December 31, 2009). We call these three areas "Nanotech for CleantechSM," "Nanotech for ElectronicsSM," and "Nanotech for HealthcareSM," respectively.  We have and may continue to make investments outside these industry areas, and we may not maintain these industry clusters or the weightings within these clusters.


 
42

 
These three clusters are comprised of multi-billion dollar industries that have grown historically through technological innovation.  "Cleantech" is a term used commonly to describe products and processes that solve global problems related to resource constraints.  We classify Nanotech for CleantechSM companies as those that seek to improve performance, productivity or efficiency, and to reduce environmental impact, waste, cost, energy consumption or raw materials using nanotechnology-enabled solutions.  We believe nanotechnology will impact cleantech solutions in at least two ways.  First, nanotechnology-enabled methods of production can allow lower energy use at lower cost and operate with better performance than current methods of production.  Second, new materials enable the development of new products that overcome inherent limitations of existing technology and processes.

We classify Nanotech for ElectronicsSM companies as those that use nanotechnology to address problems in electronics-related industries, including semiconductors.  We believe nanotechnology will impact these industries in at least four ways.  First, nanotechnology enables reduced manufacturing cost and increased performance of semiconductor and electronics systems as the density of components increases.  Second, new capabilities of semiconductor and electronic products are made possible by nanoscale materials.  Third, nanotechnology offers differentiation and improved performance that allows nanotechnology-enabled electronics companies to capture value in a market often characterized by outsourced manufacturing and a commodity production process.  Fourth, novel methods of computing, such as quantum computing, may be enabled by nanoscale phenomenon.

We classify Nanotech for HealthcareSM companies as those that use nanotechnology to address problems in healthcare-related industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.  We believe nanotechnology will impact these industries in at least two ways. First, we believe the ability to study, optimize, and design biological pathways at the nanoscale enables the manipulation and engineering of biological systems for diagnosis and treatment of disease.  Second, we believe new tools are necessary to provide critical insights into what is happening at the nanoscale to enhance and enable advances in healthcare technology.

We believe the development and commercialization of nanotechnology-enabled solutions are the result of the convergence of traditionally separate scientific disciplines such as biology, materials science, chemistry, electronics, information technology, and physics.  We believe such nanotechnologyenabled advances in each of these industry clusters, and in general, could not otherwise occur within one discipline alone.

We define market domains as groupings of technology that enable new user, business or economic experiences. There are many billion-dollar market domains within each of the above listed industry clusters.  These market domains hold the potential for effecting substantial change in everyday life.  The internet, biologic drugs and mobile and optical telecommunication are examples of market domains that emerged within the past twenty years.  Our experience is that technology adoption occurs on two time scales.  Existing market domains can allow for rapid adoption as new technologies are continuously added to the existing domain.  These new technologies refine and improve the existing experience provided by the market domain.  Emerging market domains often require more time for the adoption of technology than existing market domains, as the new market domain is itself being absorbed by society and the economy.

43

 
We classify our portfolio companies into either existing market domains or emerging market domains.  We expect that the time scale at which these companies mature commercially will be impacted by whether their technology is being adopted into an existing market domain or an emerging market domain.  In addition to the characteristics we look for when investing in private companies outlined on page 38, we continue to look for investment opportunities in emerging market domains, as we believe these investments have the potential to create outsized venture capital returns.

 
44


Maturity of Current Venture Capital Portfolio

Our active venture capital portfolio is composed of companies at varying maturities facing different types of risks.  We have defined these levels of maturity  and sources of risk as: 1) Early Stage / Technology Risk, 2) Mid Stage / Market Risk and 3) Late Stage / Execution Risk.  Early-stage companies have a high degree of technical, market and execution risk (which is typical of initial investments by venture capital firms, including us).  These companies often require substantial development of their technologies before they begin introducing products to market.  Mid-Stage companies are those that have overcome most of the technical risk associated with their products and are now focused on addressing the market acceptance for their products.  For those companies developing therapeutics or medical devices, the focus is on bringing their products through the first phases of clinical trials.  Late-stage companies are those that have determined there is a market for their products, and they are now focused on sales execution and scale.  Late-stage healthcare and biotechnology companies are typically either in Phase III Clinical Trials, which are the pivotal trials before a possible FDA approval and commercial launch of a product, or are generating revenue from the commercial sale of one or more products.  The chart below shows our assessment of the stage of maturity of our 31 active portfolio companies.


45

 
We currently have 20 companies in our active venture capital portfolio that generate revenues ranging from nominal to significant from commercial sales of products and/or services enabled by nanotechnology and microsystems, from commercial partnerships and/or from government grants.  Our privately held portfolio companies generated approximately $267 million in aggregate revenue in 2009, a 10.5 percent increase from revenues generated in 2008.  Our publicly held portfolio company, Orthovita, reported revenue of $92.9 million from commercial sales of its nanotechnology-enabled products in 2009, a 21 percent increase from revenue generated in 2008.

One of our portfolio companies has retained bankers to pursue a potential filing for an IPO in 2010.   There can be no assurance that this company will file for an IPO in 2010, and a variety of factors, including stock market and general business conditions, could lead it to terminate such considerations.

Current Business Environment

The effects of the banking and global stock market collapses, and the slowdown in global economic activities that began with the intensification of the housing and credit crisis during the third quarter of 2008 remain especially taxing on the venture capital industry as of December 31, 2009.  The fourth quarter of 2009 concluded with the public markets having their third positive quarter in a row, with the general economic decline appearing to level off and with the first signs of life in the IPO market for venture-backed companies emerging.  However, even within this improving general economic environment, the availability of capital for venture capital firms and venture-backed companies continues to be extremely limited.   This conclusion is supported in part by data from the National Venture Capital Association that indicate the total amount invested in technology companies in 2009 was the lowest amount since 1997 and that financing of start-ups raising money for the first time fell to the lowest level since the two firms started tracking venture investment in 1995.

Even though the public markets increased in value during the fourth quarter of 2009, the global economic recession continues to affect the ability of investors to exit investments in privately held companies. The fourth quarter of 2009, included more venture-backed exits through M&As than during the previous three quarters, and it included three IPOs of venture-backed companies.  The liquidity generated in the fourth quarter accounted for 44 percent of the total liquidity generated for venture-backed companies during 2009.  The total amount of liquidity generated from these companies was, however, down 34 percent from the total generated during 2008.   These data support our belief that the increases in the value of publicly traded companies do not necessarily correspond with the ability of investors to exit privately held companies.  As such, we expect that it may take significantly more time for the market for venture-backed companies to recover from the current economic turmoil than the public stock markets.  We continue to believe the lack of liquidity will negatively affect the amount of capital available to privately held companies from venture capital firms.

 
46

 

Many of our portfolio companies have negative cash flow and, therefore, need additional rounds of financing to continue operations.  Historically, this capital typically comes from the existing venture capital syndicate as well as new investors.  As a result of the economic downturn and the tight availability of capital for investment by venture capital firms, the existing investors in a syndicate are increasingly required to provide this capital without the participation of new investors.  This limited market for capital to invest also affects existing members of syndicates of investors.  Some of these co-investors are unable to invest their full pro rata amount of a round of financing, if at all, which results in a fractured syndicate.  A fractured syndicate can result in a portfolio company being unable to raise additional capital to fund operations.  The portfolio company may be forced to sell before reaching its full potential or be shut down entirely if the remaining investors cannot financially support the company.

We continue to view the disruption in the venture capital industry as both a concern and an opportunity.  Through 2009, our aim was to preserve our cash and manage our current operating expenses to enable us to make follow-on investments in current portfolio companies and to look for new investment opportunities as we monitored the state of the capital markets.  During 2009, we invested $349,624 in two new investments, and we invested $11,984,428 in 29 follow-on investments.  This pace compares with four new and 25 follow-on investments totaling $2,734,500 and $15,044,962, respectively, in 2008.

Our overall goal remains unchanged, which is to maintain our leadership position in investing in nanotechnology and microsystems and to increase our net asset value.  The current environment for venture capital financings favors those firms that have capital to invest regardless of the stage of the investee company. We have historically not used leverage or debt financing when making an investment; thus, we continue to finance our new and follow-on investments from our cash reserves, currently invested in U.S. treasury obligations.  We believe the turmoil of the venture capital industry and the current economic climate provide opportunities to invest this capital at historically low valuations in new and existing portfolio companies of varying maturities.

Valuation of Investments

We value our private venture capital investments each quarter as determined in good faith by our Valuation Committee, a committee of all the independent directors, within guidelines established by our Board of Directors in accordance with the 1940 Act.  (See "Footnote to Consolidated Schedule of Investments" contained in "Consolidated Financial Statements.")

Publicly traded companies, one of the most observable asset classes continued to increase in value broadly during the fourth quarter of 2009, and ended the year up substantially from the lows reached during the first quarter of 2009.  That said, these values, including that of the Company, remain below those before the economic collapse.  The table below provides the percentage increases in value during the past quarter and during the full year of 2009 for some common public market indices and for the Company.

 
47

 

 
Q4 2009
2009
 
9/30/09 - 12/31/09
12/31/08 – 12/31/09
Dow Jones Industrial Avg.
7.4%
18.8%
Nasdaq Composite
6.9%
43.9%
S&P 500 Composite
5.5%
23.5%
Russell 2000
3.5%
25.2%
Harris & Harris Group
-26.9%
15.7%
 
The values of privately held, venture capital-backed companies are inherently more difficult to assess at any single point in time because securities of these types of companies are not actively traded.  We believe, perhaps even more than in the past, that illiquidity, and the perception of illiquidity, can affect value.  We continue to believe that private valuations may be slower to respond to improving economic conditions than publicly traded companies because their securities are illiquid.

Difficult venture environments can result in weak companies not receiving financing and being subsequently closed down with a loss to venture investors, and/or strong companies receiving financing but at significantly lower valuations than the preceding financing rounds.  The current state of the venture capital market limits the availability of capital for investment by venture capital firms. Increasingly, existing investors in a syndicate are required to provide capital without the participation of new investors.  Some of these existing investors are unable to invest their full pro rata amount of a round of financing, if at all, which results in a fractured syndicate.  A fractured syndicate can result in a portfolio company being unable to raise additional capital to fund operations regardless of the potential of the intellectual property or business of the portfolio company.  The portfolio company may be forced to sell before reaching its full potential or be shut down entirely if the remaining investors cannot financially support the company.  These scenarios may adversely affect value.

Many venture capital firms, including us, are evaluating their investment portfolios carefully to assess future potential capital needs.  In the current business climate, this evaluation may result in a decrease in the number of companies we decide to finance going forward or may increase the number of companies we decide to sell before reaching their full potential.  If we decide to proceed with a follow-on investment, these rounds of financing may occur at valuations lower than those at which we originally invested.  Our ownership in portfolio companies that we decide to stop funding may be subject to punitive actions that reduce or eliminate value.  Such actions could result in an unprofitable investment or a complete loss of invested funds.   In 2009, we decided not to make follow-on investments in Crystal IS, NanoGram and Polatis.  These decisions resulted in punitive actions to our preferred ownership in each of these companies, which, when combined with additional factors, results in a value of $0 of our securities of these companies as of December 31, 2009.

 
48

 

Non-Performance Risk

As part of the valuation process, we consider non-performance risk.  Non-performance risk is the risk that a portfolio company will be: (a) unable to raise capital, will need to be shut down and will not return our invested capital; or (b) able to raise capital, but at a valuation significantly lower than the implied post-money valuation.  Our best estimate of the non-performance risk of our portfolio companies has been quantified and included in the valuation of the companies as of December 31, 2009.  In the future, as these companies receive terms for additional financings or are unable to receive additional financing and, therefore, proceed with sales or shutdowns of the business, we expect the contribution of the discount for non-performance risk to vary in importance in determining the values of these companies.  As of December 31, 2009, non-performance risk was a significant factor in determining value of 12 of our 30 private portfolio companies that accounted for $23,972,048 of the total value of our privately held venture capital portfolio.

In each of the years in the period 2005 through 2009, the Company recorded the following gross write-ups in privately held securities as a percentage of net assets at the beginning of the year ("BOY"), gross write-downs in privately held securities as a percentage of net assets at the beginning of the year, and change in value of private portfolio securities as a percentage of net assets at the beginning of the year.
 
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
   
2009
 
                               
Net Asset Value, BOY
  $ 74,744,799     $ 117,987,742     $ 113,930,303     $ 138,363,344     $ 109,531,113  
                                         
Gross Write-Downs During Year
  $ (3,450,236 )   $ (4,211,323 )   $ (7,810,794 )   $ (39,671,588 )   $
(12,845,574
)
                                         
Gross Write-Ups During Year
  $ 23,485,176     $ 279,363     $ 11,694,618     $ 820,559     $
21,631,864
 
                                         
Gross Write-Downs as a Percentage of Net Asset Value, BOY
   
-4.62%
     
-3.57%
     
-6.86%
     
-28.67%
     
-11.7%
 
                                         
Gross Write-Ups as a Percentage of Net  Asset Value, BOY
   
31.42%
 
   
0.24%
     
10.26%
     
  0.59%
     
 19.7%
 
                                         
Net Change as a Percentage of Net Asset Value, BOY
   
  26.8%
     
-3.33%
     
  3.40%
     
-28.08%
     
  8.0%
 
1

From September 30, 2009 to December 31, 2009, the value of our private venture capital portfolio increased by $7,920,876 from $69,876,210 to $77,797,086.  The table below indicates some of the inputs used to determine value of our privately held portfolio companies and the portion of the change in value, on a quarter over quarter basis, relevant to those inputs.  It should be noted that our Valuation Committee takes into account multiple sources of quantitative and qualitative inputs to ultimately determine the value of our privately held portfolio companies.

 
49

 
 
   
Q3 2009 to
Q4 2009
   
Q2 2009 to
Q3 2009
   
Q1 2009 to
Q2 2009
   
Q4 2008 to
Q1 2009
 
                                 
Value of Private Portfolio as of Previous Quarter
  $ 69,876,210     $ 63,959,811     $ 58,793,688     $ 56,965,153  
Value of Private Portfolio as of Current Quarter
  $ 77,797,086     $ 69,876,210     $ 63,959,811     $ 58,793,688  
   
Examples of Inputs that Contribute to Changes in Value
 
                                 
Total New and Follow-On Investments
  $ 4,698,782     $ 3,884,893     $ 2,728,373     $ 723,176  
(+) Due to Terms of New Equity Rounds of Financing
  $ 5,229,990     $ 4,725,316     $ 2,898,224     $ 5,376,988  
(-) Due to Terms of New Equity Rounds of Financing
  $ 0     $ (1,967,156 )   $ (53,846 )   $ (346,319 )
(+) Due to (+) in Values of Comparables
  $ 1,938,047     $ 2,823,833     $ 680,485     $ 0  
(-) Due to (-) in Values of Comparables
  $ (6,313 )   $ 0     $ (30,050 )   $ (107,681 )
(+) Due to (-) in Non-Performance Risk
  $ 500,000     $ 0     $ 1,049,480     $ 0  
(-) Due to (+) in Non-Performance Risk
  $ (4,795,765 )   $ (3,794,138 )   $ (2,437,523 )   $ (3,648,616 )
Other Factors1
  $ 356,135     $ 243,6512     $ 330,980     $ (169,013 )
                                 
Total Change in Value of Private Portfolio from Quarter to Quarter
  $ 7,920,876     $ 5,916,399     $ 5,166,123     $ 1,828,535  
 
1
Other factors include changes in accrued bridge note interest, currency fluctuations and the value of warrants.

 Includes changes in the capital account of Exponential Business Development Company.

As of December 31, 2009, our top ten investments by value accounted for approximately 69 percent of the value of our venture capital portfolio.  As of that date, we believe at least three of these companies will require additional invested capital by the end of 2010.

50

 

The increase or decrease in the value of our venture capital investments does not affect the day-to-day operations of the Company, as we have no debt and fund our venture capital investments and daily operating expenses from interest earned and proceeds from the sales of our investments in U.S. government and agency obligations.  As of December 31, 2009, we held $55,947,581 in U.S. government obligations.

Investment Objective

Our principal objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation, rather than current income, by making venture capital investments.  We seek to reach the point where future growth is financed through reinvestment of our capital gains from these investments.  Therefore, a significant portion of our investment portfolio provides little or no income in the form of dividends or interest.  We earn interest income from fixed-income securities, including U.S. government and agency securities.  The amount of interest income we earn varies with the average balance of our fixed-income portfolio and the average yield on this portfolio.  Interest income is secondary to capital gains and losses in our results of operations.

 
51

 

In previous years, we have been able to generate substantial amounts of interest income from our holdings of U.S. treasury securities.  As of December 31, 2009, we held three U.S. treasury securities, with maturity dates of less than six months, yielding approximately 0.26 percent.  As of December 31, 2009, yields for 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month U.S. treasury securities were 0.06 percent, 0.20 percent and 0.47 percent, respectively.  With yields at this level, we expect to generate less interest income than in previous fiscal quarters and years.

Results of Operations

We present the financial results of our operations utilizing generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for investment companies.  On this basis, the principal measure of our financial performance during any period is the net increase (decrease) in our net assets resulting from our operating activities, which is the sum of the following three elements:

Net Operating Income  (Loss) - the difference between our income from interest, dividends, and fees and our operating expenses.

Net Realized Gain  (Loss) on Investments - the difference between the net proceeds of sales of portfolio securities and their stated cost, plus income from interests in limited liability companies.

Net Increase (Decrease) in Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation on Investments - the net unrealized change in the value of our investment portfolio.

Owing to the structure and objectives of our business, we generally expect to experience net operating losses and seek to generate increases in our net assets from operations through the long term appreciation of our venture capital investments.  We have relied, and continue to rely, on proceeds from sales of investments, rather than on investment income, to defray a significant portion of our operating expenses.  Because such sales are unpredictable, we attempt to maintain adequate working capital to provide for fiscal periods when there are no such sales.

Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007

During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, we had net decreases in net assets resulting from operations of $148,465, $49,181,497, and $6,716,445, respectively.

Investment Income and Expenses:

During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, we had net operating losses of $8,761,215, $10,687,151, and $11,827,543, respectively.  The variation in these results is primarily owing to the changes in investment income and operating expenses, including non-cash expense of $3,089,520 in 2009, $5,965,769 in 2008, and $8,050,807 in 2007 associated with the granting of stock options.  During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, total investment income was $247,848, $1,987,347, and $2,705,636, respectively.  During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, total operating expenses were $9,009,063, $12,674,498, and $14,533,179, respectively.

52

 
During 2009, as compared with 2008, investment income decreased from $1,987,347 to $247,848, primarily reflecting a substantial decrease in interest rates.  The average yield on our U.S. government securities decreased from 3.2 percent for the year ended December 31, 2008, to 0.3 percent for the year ended December 31, 2009.  During the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, our average holdings of such securities were $52,154,428, as compared with $55,978,372 during the year ended December 31, 2008.

Operating expenses, including non-cash, stock-based compensation expenses, were $9,009,063 and $12,674,498 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively.  The decrease in operating expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, as compared with the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, was primarily owing to decreases in salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense and to decreases in administration and operations expense and directors’ fees and expenses, offset by increases in professional fees, rent expense and custody fees.  Salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense decreased by $3,763,191, or 37.3 percent, through December 31, 2009, as compared with December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of a decrease in non-cash expense of $2,876,249 associated with the Harris & Harris Group, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Stock Plan") and a decrease in salaries and benefits owing primarily to a decrease in our headcount, mainly the retirement of Charles E. Harris.  At December 31, 2009, we had 11 full-time employees, as compared with 12 full-time employees at December 31, 2008.  While the non-cash, stock-based, compensation expense for the Stock Plan increased our operating expenses by $3,089,520, this increase was offset by a corresponding increase to our additional paid-in capital, resulting in no net impact to our net asset value.  The non-cash, stock-based, compensation expense and corresponding increase to our additional paid-in capital may increase in future quarters.  Administration and operations expense decreased by $34,759, or 3.0 percent, for the year ended ended December 31, 2009, as compared with the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of a decrease in our directors' and officers' liability insurance expense and decreases in the cost of non-employee related insurance and managing directors’ travel-related expenses.  Directors' fees and expenses decreased by $29,156, or 7.9 percent, for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of fewer meetings held during the year, as compared with the year ended December 31, 2008.  Professional fees increased by $73,070, or 10.5 percent, for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared with the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of an increase in certain legal, consulting and accounting fees.  Rent expense increased $40,581, or 14.7 percent, for the year ended December 31, 2009, owing to a full year of higher rent associated with our Palo Alto office lease which became effective July 1, 2008.  Custody fees increased by $51,850, or 164.0 percent, for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared with the year ended December 31, 2008.  This increase is owing to the higher fees charged by our new custodian, The Bank of New York Mellon, who has more expertise in working with investment companies.

During 2008, as compared with 2007, investment income decreased from $2,705,636 to $1,987,347, reflecting a decrease in our average holdings of U.S. government securities throughout the period and a decrease in interest rates.  During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, our average holdings of such securities were $55,978,372, as compared with $62,184,565 during the year ended December 31, 2007.

53

 
Operating expenses, including non-cash, stock-based compensation expenses, were $12,674,498 and $14,533,179 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007, respectively.  The decrease in operating expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, as compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, was primarily owing to decreases in salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses and to decreases in administration and operations expense, professional fees and directors' fees and expenses.  Salaries, benefits and non-cash, stock-based compensation expense decreased by $1,344,671, or 11.8 percent, through December 31, 2008, as compared to December 31, 2007, primarily as a result of a decrease in non-cash expense of $2,085,038 through December 31, 2008, associated with the Stock Plan, offset by an increase in salaries and benefits owing to bonus payments and increased health insurance costs.  While the non-cash, stock-based, compensation expense for the Stock Plan increased our operating expenses by $5,965,769, this increase was offset by a corresponding increase to our additional paid-in capital, resulting in no net impact to our net asset value.  The non-cash, stock-based, compensation expense and corresponding increase to our additional paid-in capital may increase in future quarters.  Administration and operations expense decreased by $272,628, or 19.0 percent, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, as compared with the same period in 2007, primarily as a result of a decrease in our directors' and officers' liability insurance expense, decreases in the cost of the annual report and proxy-related expenses, and decreases in fees associated with the exercise of stock options.  Professional fees decreased by $208,904, or 23.1 percent, primarily as a result of a reduction in the cost of our annual compliance program audit and a reduction in certain legal and accounting fees.  Directors' fees and expenses decreased by $67,677, or 15.6 percent, primarily as a result of fewer meetings held during the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared with the same period through December 31, 2007.

Realized Income and Losses from Investments:

During the years ended December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, we realized net losses on investments of $11,105,577 and $8,323,634, respectively.  During the year ended December 31, 2007, we had net realized income from investments of $30,162.  The variation in these results is primarily owing to variations in gross realized gains and losses from investments and income taxes in each of the three years.  For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, we realized (losses) gains from investments, before taxes, of $(11,106,330), $(8,289,513) and $118,137, respectively.  Income tax (benefit) expense for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 was $(753), $34,121 and $87,975, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, we realized net losses of $11,106,330, consisting primarily of realized losses on our investments in CSwitch Corporation of $5,649,297, in Exponential Business Development Company of $14,330, in Kereos, Inc., of $1,500,000, in Nanomix, Inc., of $3,176,125, in Questech Corporation of $16,253, and in Starfire Systems, Inc., of $750,000.  Since the date of our investment of $25,000 in Exponential Business Development Company in 1995, we periodically received cash distributions totaling $31,208 through the date of the sale.  During the third quarter of 2009, we received a payment of $4,115 from the sale of our interest in Nanomix, Inc.  The realized loss on Questech Corporation was owing to an unexercised warrant that expired on November 19, 2009.
 
54

 
During the year ended December 31, 2008, we realized net losses of $8,289,513, consisting primarily of realized losses on our investments in Chlorogen, Inc., of $1,326,072, on Evolved Nanomaterial Sciences, Inc., of $2,800,000, on NanoOpto Corporation of $3,688,581, on Phoenix Molecular Corporation of $93,487, on an unexercised warrant of Questech Corporation of $16,253 and on Zia Laser of $1,478,500, offset by realized gains of $1,110,821 on the sale of U.S. government securities.  During the first quarter of 2008, we received a payment of $105,714 from the NanoOpto Corporation bridge note.  The realized loss on Questech Corporation was owing to an unexercised warrant that expired on November 19, 2008.

During the year ended December 31, 2007, we realized net gains of $118,137, consisting primarily of proceeds received from the sale of our interest in AlphaSimplex Group, LLC, and income from our investment in Exponential Business Development Company.  During the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized tax expense of $87,975, consisting of $74,454 of interest and penalties related to our 2005 tax returns and $13,521 in current year expense.

Net Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation of Portfolio Securities:

During the year ended December 31, 2009, net unrealized depreciation on total investments decreased by $19,718,327.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, net unrealized depreciation on total investments increased by $30,170,712.

During the year ended December 31, 2007, net unrealized depreciation on total investments decreased by $5,080,936.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, net unrealized depreciation on our venture capital investments decreased by $19,758,422, or 57.9 percent, from net unrealized depreciation of $34,124,848 at December 31, 2008, to net unrealized depreciation of $14,366,426 at December 31, 2009, owing primarily to increases in the valuations of the following investments held:
 

Investment
 
Amount of Write-Up
 
       
Adesto Technologies Corporation
 
$1,320,000
 
BioVex Group, Inc.
 
845,952
 
Bridgelux, Inc.
 
987,642
 
CFX Battery, Inc.
 
812,383
 
Ensemble Discovery Corporation
 
500,000
 
Metabolon, Inc.
 
196,512
 
Molecular Imprints, Inc.
 
3,841,541
 
NeoPhotonics Corporation
 
3,350,923
 
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
 
2,202,628
 
Questech Corporation
 
297,104
 
Siluria Technologies, Inc.
 
160,723
 
Solazyme, Inc.
 
5,376,988
 
Xradia, Inc.
 
1,723,215
 
 
 
55

 
These write-ups for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, were partially offset by the following write-downs:
 
Investment
 
Amount of Write-Down
 
       
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
 
$1,072,811
 
Cambrios Technologies Corporation
 
257,878
 
Cobalt Technologies, Inc.
 
187,499
 
Crystal IS, Inc.
 
779,094
 
D-Wave Systems, Inc.
 
826,786
 
Innovalight, Inc.
 
1,537,713
 
Kovio, Inc.
 
2,266,912
 
Laser Light Engines, Inc.
 
999,999
 
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
 
17,500
 
NanoGram Corporation
 
1,471,805
 
Nanosys, Inc.
 
2,685,059
 
Orthovita, Inc.
 
72,432
 
PolyRemedy, Inc.
 
136,170
 
SiOnyx, Inc.
 
1,076,155
 
 
We also had decreases to unrealized depreciation for CSwitch Corporation of $5,629,011, Exponential Business Development Company of $15,361, Kereos, Inc., of $1,500,000, Nanomix, Inc., of $3,150,190 and Starfire Systems, Inc., of $750,000 owing to the disposal of their securities and changes in the capital account balance of Exponential Business Development Company prior to its sale.  We had a decrease to unrealized depreciation for Questech Corporation of $16,253 owing to a realized loss on an unexercised warrant that expired on November 19, 2009.

We had an increase owing to foreign currency translation of $469,809 on our investment in D-Wave Systems, Inc.

Unrealized appreciation on our U.S. government securities portfolio decreased from $27,652 at December 31, 2008, to unrealized depreciation of $12,443 at December 31, 2009.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, net unrealized depreciation on our venture capital investments increased by $29,557,704, or 647.2 percent, from net unrealized depreciation of $4,567,144 at December 31, 2007, to net unrealized depreciation of $34,124,848 at December 31, 2008, owing primarily to decreases in the valuations of the following investments held:
 

56

 
Investment
 
Amount of Write-Down
 
       
Adesto Technologies Corporation
 
$1,100,000
 
Ancora Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 
299,439
 
BioVex Group, Inc.
 
2,439,250
 
Bridgelux, Inc.
 
3,624,553
 
Cambrios Technologies Corporation
 
1,297,012
 
Cobalt Technologies, Inc.
 
187,499
 
Crystal IS, Inc.
 
1,001,300
 
CSwitch Corporation
 
5,177,946
 
D-Wave Systems, Inc.
 
22,670
 
Ensemble Discovery Corporation
 
1,000,000
 
Innovalight, Inc.
 
1,927,946
 
Kereos, Inc.
 
159,743
 
Kovio, Inc.
 
761,497
 
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
 
1,019,613
 
Metabolon, Inc.
 
2,136,734
 
Molecular Imprints, Inc.
 
2,365,417
 
NanoGram Corporation
 
4,415,417
 
Nanomix, Inc.
 
980,418
 
Neophotonics Corporation
 
4,024,305
 
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
 
2,182,133
 
Polatis, Inc.
 
276,526
 
PolyRemedy, Inc.
 
122,250
 
Questech Corporation
 
463,968
 
Siluria Technologies, Inc.
 
160,723
 
SiOnyx, Inc.
 
1,076,153
 
Starfire Systems, Inc.
 
750,000
 
TetraVitae Bioscience, Inc.
 
125,000
 
 
We also had decreases in unrealized depreciation attributable to the reversal of depreciation owing to net realized losses on Chlorogen, Inc., of $1,326,072, on Evolved Nanomaterial Sciences, Inc., of $2,800,000, on NanoOpto Corporation of $3,688,581, on Questech Corporation of $16,253 owing to a realized loss on an unexercised warrant that expired on November 19, 2008, and on Zia Laser, Inc., of $1,478,672. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, we had increases in the valuations of our investments in Exponential Business Development Company of $25 and Solazyme, Inc., of $820,534.  We had a decrease owing to foreign currency translation of $590,329 on our investment in D-Wave Systems, Inc. Unrealized appreciation on our U.S. government securities portfolio decreased from $640,660 at December 31, 2007, to $27,652 at December 31, 2008.

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During the year ended December 31, 2007, net unrealized depreciation on our venture capital investments decreased by $3,883,825, or 46.0 percent, from $8,450,969 to $4,567,144, owing primarily to increases in the valuations of our investments in Bridgelux, Inc., of $3,699,529, Crystal IS, Inc., of $13,819, CSwitch Corporation, of $48,935, D-Wave Systems, Inc., of $202,408, Exponential Business Development Company of $2,026, Innovalight, Inc., of $3,218,216, Kovio, Inc., of $125,000, Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., of $118,378, NanoGram Corporation of $2,437,136, NeoPhotonics Corporation of $2,160, SiOnyx, Inc., of $899,566, Solazyme, Inc., of $612,291 and Zia Laser, Inc., of $6,329, offset by decreases in the valuations of our investments in Ancora Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of $100,561, Chlorogen, Inc., of  $1,326,073, Evolved Nanomaterial Sciences, Inc., of $2,800,000, Kereos, Inc., of $1,340,257, Nanomix, Inc., of $459,772, NanoOpto Corporation of $1,369,885, Polatis, Inc., of $9,534 and Questech Corporation of $404,712.  We also had an increase owing to foreign currency translation of $307,636 on our investment in D-Wave Systems, Inc.  Unrealized depreciation on our U.S. government securities portfolio decreased from $556,451 at December 31, 2006, to unrealized appreciation of $640,660 at December 31, 2007.

Financial Condition

December 31, 2009

 At December 31, 2009, our total assets and net assets were $136,109,101 and $134,158,258, respectively.  Our net asset value ("NAV") per share at that date was $4.35, and our shares outstanding increased to 30,859,593 as of December 31, 2009.

Significant developments in the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, included an increase in the holdings of our venture capital investments and U.S. government obligations of $21,058,328 and $2,963,641, respectively.  The increase in the value of our venture capital investments from $56,965,153 at December 31, 2008, to $78,023,481 at December 31, 2009, resulted primarily from an increase in the net value of our venture capital investments of $8,652,415 and two new and 29 follow-on investments of $12,344,051. The increase in the value of our U.S. government obligations from $52,983,940 at December 31, 2008, to $55,947,581 at December 31, 2009, is primarily owing to net proceeds of $21,264,140 received through a public follow-on offering and proceeds received from stock option exercises of $421,950, offset by the payment of cash basis operating expenses of $5,683,624 and by new and follow-on venture capital investments totaling $12,344,051.
 
The following table is a summary of additions to our portfolio of venture capital investments made during the twelve months ended December 31, 2009:
 
New Investments
 
Amount of Investment
 
       
Orthovita, Inc.
  $ 99,624  
Enumeral Technologies, Inc.
    250,000  

58

 
Follow-On Investments
 
Amount of Investment
         
Adesto Technologies Corporation
 
$550,000
 
Adesto Technologies Corporation
 
1,635,775
 
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
 
125,000
 
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
 
200,000
 
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
 
100,000
 
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
 
700,000
 
BioVex Group, Inc.
 
111,111
 
BioVex Group, Inc.
 
166,667
 
BioVex Group, Inc.
 
299,145
 
Bridgelux, Inc.
 
250,124
 
Cambrios Technologies Corporation
 
515,756
 
CFX Battery, Inc.
 
3,492
 
CFX Battery, Inc.
 
533,239
 
CFX Battery, Inc.
 
1,000,000
 
CFX Battery, Inc.
 
300,000
 
Cobalt Technologies, Inc.
 
374,999
 
Crystal IS, Inc.
 
408,573
 
Ensemble Discovery Corporation
 
48,883
 
Innovalight, Inc.
 
721,090
 
Laser Light Engines, Inc.
 
890,000
 
Laser Light Engines, Inc.
 
500,000
 
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
 
200,000
 
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
 
250,000
 
Metabolon, Inc.
 
1,000,000
 
NeoPhotonics Corporation
 
87,364
 
NeoPhotonics Corporation
 
692,300
 
Orthovita, Inc.
 
99,808
 
Orthovita, Inc.
 
99,395
 
PolyRemedy, Inc.
 
121,706
 
   
 
 
Total
 
$12,334,051
 
 
The following tables summarize the values of our portfolios of venture capital investments and U.S. government obligations, as compared with their cost, at December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Venture capital investments,
           
at cost
  $ 92,389,907     $ 91,090,001  
Net unrealized depreciation (1)
    14,366,426       34,124,848  
Venture capital investments,
               
at value
  $ 78,023,481     $ 56,965,153  
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
U.S. government obligations,
           
at cost
  $ 55,960,024     $ 52,956,288  
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation(1)
    (12,443 )     27,652  
U.S. government obligations,
               
at value
  $ 55,947,581     $ 52,983,940  

(1)At December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, the net accumulated unrealized depreciation on investments was $14,378,869 and $34,097,196, respectively.

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December 31, 2008

 At December 31, 2008, our total assets and net assets were $111,627,601 and $109,531,113, respectively.  Our net asset value ("NAV") per share at that date was $4.24, and our shares outstanding increased to 25,859,573 at December 31, 2008.

Significant developments in the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, included a decrease in the value of our venture capital investments of $21,145,231 and a decrease in our holdings in U.S. government obligations of $7,209,653.  The decrease in the value of our venture capital investments from $78,110,384 at December 31, 2007, to $56,965,153 at December 31, 2008, resulted primarily from a decrease in the net value of our venture capital investments of $29,557,704, offset by four new and 25 follow-on investments of $17,779,462.  The decrease in the net value of our venture capital investments is primarily owing to the non-performance risk associated with our portfolio companies in the current economic environment and secondarily to adjustments of valuation to reflect specific fundamental developments unique to particular portfolio companies.  The decrease in the value of our U.S. government obligations from $60,193,593 at December 31, 2007, to $52,983,940 at December 31, 2008, is primarily owing to the payment of cash basis operating expenses of $6,397,424 and to new and follow-on venture capital investments totaling $17,779,462, offset by investment of net proceeds of $14,383,497 received through the registered direct stock offering.

The following table is a summary of additions to our portfolio of venture capital investments made during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008:
 
New Investments
 
Amount
       
Cobalt Technologies, Inc.
 
$240,000
 
Laser Light Engines, Inc.
 
$2,000,000
 
PolyRemedy, Inc.
 
$244,500
 
TetraVitae Bioscience, Inc.
 
$250,000
 
         
Follow-on Investments
       
     
 
 
Adesto Technologies Corporation
 
$1,052,174
 
Ancora Pharmaceuticals Inc.
 
$800,000
 
BioVex Group, Inc.
 
$200,000
 
Bridgelux, Inc.
 
$1,000,001
 
Cobalt Technologies, Inc.
 
$134,999
 
CFX Battery, Inc.
 
$526,736
 
CSwitch Corporation
 
$986,821
 
CSwitch Corporation
 
$250,000
 
D-Wave Systems, Inc.
 
$736,019
 
D-Wave Systems, Inc.
 
$487,804
 
Ensemble Discovery Corporation
 
$250,286
 
Kovio, Inc.
 
$1,500,000
 
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
 
$200,000
 
Metabolon, Inc.
 
$1,000,000
 
NeoPhotonics Corporation
 
$200,000
 
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
 
$377,580
 
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
 
$200,000
 
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
 
$200,000
 
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
 
$800,000
 
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc.
 
$1,050,000
 
Phoenix Molecular Corporation
 
$25,000
 
Phoenix Molecular Corporation
 
$25,000
 
Siluria Technologies, Inc.
 
$42,542
 
Solazyme, Inc.
 
$2,000,000
 
Solazyme, Inc.
 
$1,000,000
 
   
 
 
Total
 
$17,779,462