UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C.  20549

Form 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009

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

For the transition period from ____________ to _____________

Commission file number: 0-11576

HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

New York
13-3119827
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
  Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
111 West 57th Street, New York, New York
10019
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)

(212) 582-0900
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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.
 
Yes   x
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).
 
Yes   x
No   ¨

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   x
 
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 Exchange Act).
 
Yes   ¨
No   x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class
  
Outstanding at May 8, 2009
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
 
25,859,573 shares

 
 

 

Harris & Harris Group, Inc.
Form 10-Q, March 31, 2009

 
Page Number
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements
1
   
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
2
Consolidated Statements of Operations
3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
5
Consolidated Schedule of Investments
6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
21
Financial Highlights
30
   
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
31
   
Background and Overview
31
Results of Operations
35
Financial Condition
38
Liquidity
39
Capital Resources
40
Critical Accounting Policies
40
Recent Developments – Portfolio Companies
43
Forward-Looking Statements
43
   
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
43
   
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
45
   
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
   
Item 1A.  Risk Factors
46
   
Item 6. Exhibits
46
   
Signatures
47
   
Exhibit Index
48


 
 

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

 The information furnished in the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period presented.

Harris & Harris Group, Inc.® (the "Company," "us," "our" and "we"), is an internally managed venture capital company that has elected to operate as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act").  Certain information and disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles have been condensed or omitted as permitted by Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2008, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

On September 25, 1997, our Board of Directors approved a proposal to seek qualification as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").  At that time, we were taxable under Subchapter C of the Code (a "C Corporation").  We filed for the 1999 tax year to elect treatment as a RIC.  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, gains from the sale of securities and similar sources; (2) quarterly, meet certain investment diversification requirements; and (3) annually, distribute at least 90 percent of our investment company taxable income as a dividend.  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 taxable net capital gains from investments, but any net capital gains not distributed could be subject to corporate level tax.  Further, we could be subject to a four percent excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute at least 98 percent of our annual investment company taxable income and would be subject to income tax to the extent we fail to distribute 100 percent of our investment company taxable income.

Because of the specialized nature of our investment portfolio, we generally can satisfy the diversification requirements under Subchapter M of the Code if we receive a certification from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that we are "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."

On May 30, 2008, we received SEC certification for 2007, permitting us to qualify for RIC treatment for 2007 (as we had for the years 1999 through 2006) pursuant to Section 851(e) of the Code.  Although the SEC certification for 2007 was issued, there can be no assurance that we will qualify for or receive such certification for subsequent years (to the extent we need additional certification as a result of changes in our portfolio) or that we will actually qualify for Subchapter M treatment in subsequent years.  We filed for SEC certification for 2008, and we have not yet received a response about our qualification.  However, in 2008, we qualified for RIC treatment even without certification.  In addition, under certain circumstances, even if we qualified for Subchapter M treatment in a given year, we might take action in a subsequent year to ensure that we would be taxed in that subsequent year as a C Corporation, rather than as a RIC.  Because Subchapter M does not permit deduction of operating expenses against long-term capital gains, it is not clear that the Company and its shareholders have paid less taxes since 1999 than they would have paid had the Company remained a C Corporation.

 
1

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

ASSETS
 
             
   
March 31, 2009
(Unaudited)
   
December 31, 2008
 
 
Investments, in portfolio securities at value:
           
Unaffiliated companies (cost: $24,320,940 and
           
$24,208,281, respectively)
  $ 10,802,744     $ 12,086,503  
Non-controlled affiliated companies (cost: $61,330,539
               
and $60,796,720, respectively)
    44,338,636       39,650,187  
Controlled affiliated companies (cost: $6,085,000
               
and $6,085,000, respectively)
    3,652,308       5,228,463  
Total, investments in private portfolio companies at value
               
(cost: $91,736,479 and $91,090,001, respectively)
  $ 58,793,688     $ 56,965,153  
                 
Investments, in U.S. Treasury obligations at value
               
(cost: $51,343,768 and $52,956,288, respectively)
    51,340,811       52,983,940  
Cash and cash equivalents
    241,402       692,309  
Restricted funds (Note 10)
    192,573       191,955  
Interest receivable
    13       56  
Prepaid expenses
    346,887       484,567  
Other assets
    294,764       309,621  
Total assets
  $ 111,210,138     $ 111,627,601  
                 
LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS
 
                 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 10)
  $ 1,988,247     $ 2,088,348  
Deferred rent
    6,564       8,140  
Total liabilities
    1,994,811       2,096,488  
                 
Net assets
  $ 109,215,327     $ 109,531,113  
                 
Net assets are comprised of:
               
Preferred stock, $0.10 par value,
               
2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
  $ 0     $ 0  
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 45,000,000 shares authorized at
               
3/31/09 and 12/31/08; 27,688,313 issued at
               
3/31/09 and 12/31/08
    276,884       276,884  
Additional paid in capital (Note 6)
    181,887,145       181,251,507  
Accumulated net operating and realized loss
    (36,597,423 )     (34,494,551 )
Accumulated unrealized depreciation of investments
    (32,945,748 )     (34,097,196 )
Treasury stock, at cost (1,828,740 shares at 3/31/09 and 12/31/08)
    (3,405,531 )     (3,405,531 )
                 
Net assets
  $ 109,215,327     $ 109,531,113  
                 
Shares outstanding
    25,859,573       25,859,573  
                 
Net asset value per outstanding share
  $ 4.22     $ 4.24  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
2

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2008
 
Investment income:
           
Interest from:
           
Fixed-income securities and bridge notes (Note 3)
  $ (35,899 )   $ 576,302  
Miscellaneous income
    12,338       0  
Total investment (loss) income
    (23,561 )     576,302  
                 
Expenses:
               
Salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation (Note 6)
    1,387,340       2,433,295  
Administration and operations
    290,435       301,855  
Professional fees
    215,250       138,232  
Rent
    78,063       57,854  
Directors' fees and expenses
    84,509       105,146  
Depreciation
    12,859       13,985  
Custodian fees
    6,862       6,553  
Total expenses
    2,075,318       3,056,920  
                 
Net operating loss
    (2,098,879 )     (2,480,618 )
                 
Net realized loss from investments:
               
Realized loss from:
               
Unaffiliated companies
    (3,288 )     0  
Non-controlled affiliated companies
    0       (5,014,653 )
Controlled affiliated companies
    0       0  
U.S. Treasury obligations/other
    (325 )     (217 )
Realized loss from investments
    (3,613 )     (5,014,870 )
                 
Income tax expense (Note 7)
    380       46,198  
Net realized loss from investments
    (3,993 )     (5,061,068 )
                 
Net decrease (increase) in unrealized depreciation on investments:
               
Change as a result of investment sales
    0       5,014,653  
Change on investments held
    1,151,448       (762,002 )
Net decrease in unrealized depreciation on investments
    1,151,448       4,252,651  
                 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations:
               
                 
Total
  $ (951,424 )   $ (3,289,035 )
                 
Per average basic and diluted outstanding share
  $ (0.04 )   $ (0.14 )
                 
Average outstanding shares
    25,859,573       23,314,573  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
3

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)


   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2008
 
             
Cash flows used in operating activities:
           
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
  $ (951,424 )   $ (3,289,035 )
Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets
               
resulting from operations to net cash used in
               
operating activities:
               
Net realized and unrealized (gain) loss on investments
    (1,147,835 )     762,219  
Depreciation of fixed assets, amortization of premium or
               
discount on U.S. government securities, and bridge note interest
    86,269       (454,332 )
Stock-based compensation expense
    635,638       1,466,980  
                 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Restricted funds
    (618 )     146,710  
Receivable from portfolio company
    0       524  
Interest receivable
    54,660       149,849  
Prepaid expenses
    137,680       76,078  
Other assets
    3,312       (2,492 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (100,103 )     (296,978 )
Deferred rent
    (1,576 )     (1,659 )
Current income tax liability
    0       541  
                 
Net cash used in operating activities
    (1,283,997 )     (1,441,595 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchase of U.S. government securities
    (52,334,768 )     (21,230,754 )
Sale of U.S. government securities
    53,892,347       28,883,642  
Investment in private placements and loans
    (723,176 )     (6,435,274 )
Proceeds from sale of investments
    0       105,714  
Purchase of fixed assets
    (1,313 )     (1,588 )
                 
Net cash provided by investing activities
    833,090       1,321,740  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Net cash provided by financing activities
    0       0  
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents:
               
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
    692,309       330,009  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
    241,402       210,154  
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
  $ (450,907 )   $ (119,855 )
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Income taxes paid
  $ 380     $ 45,657  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
4

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2009
(Unaudited)
   
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Changes in net assets from operations:
           
             
Net operating loss
  $ (2,098,879 )   $ (10,687,151 )
Net realized loss on investments
    (3,993 )     (8,323,634 )
Net decrease in unrealized depreciation on investments as a result of sales
    0       8,292,072  
Net decrease (increase) in unrealized depreciation on investments held
    1,151,448       (38,462,784 )
                 
                 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
    (951,424 )     (49,181,497 )
                 
                 
Changes in net assets from capital stock transactions:
               
                 
Issuance of common stock on offering
    0       25,450  
Additional paid-in capital on common stock issued
    0       14,358,047  
Stock-based compensation expense
    635,638       5,965,769  
                 
                 
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital stock transactions
    635,638       20,349,266  
                 
                 
Net decrease in net assets
    (315,786 )     (28,832,231 )
                 
                 
Net assets:
               
                 
Beginning of the period
    109,531,113       138,363,344  
                 
End of the period
  $ 109,215,327     $ 109,531,113  



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
5

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Unaffiliated Companies (2)(3) – 9.9% of  net assets at value
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 9.9% of net assets at value
             
               
BioVex Group, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(7) -- Developing novel biologics
             
for treatment of cancer and infectious disease
             
Series E Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    2,799,552     $ 85,995  
Series F Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,321,196       270,436  
Warrants at $0.241576 expiring 11/13/15
( I )
    248,120       29,329  
                385,760  
                   
Cobalt Technologies, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(8) – Developing biobutanol
                 
through biomass fermentation
                 
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    176,056       187,500  
                   
                   
Exponential Business Development Company (4)(5) -- Venture
                 
capital partnership focused on early stage companies
                 
Limited Partnership Interest
(M)
    1       1,853  
                   
                   
Kereos, Inc. (4)(5)(6)  --  Developing emulsion-based imaging
                 
agents and targeted therapeutics to image and treat cancer
                 
and cardiovascular disease
                 
Common Stock
(M)
    545,456       0  
                   
                   
Molecular Imprints, Inc. (4)(5) -- Manufacturing nanoimprint
                 
lithography capital equipment
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,333,333       1,083,333  
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,250,000       1,015,625  
Warrants at $2.00 expiring 12/31/11
( I )
    125,000       31,625  
                2,130,583  
                   
Nanosys, Inc. (4)(5) -- Developing zero and one-dimensional
                 
inorganic nanometer-scale materials and devices
                 
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    803,428       1,777,584  
Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,016,950       2,250,002  
                4,027,586  



 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
6

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Unaffiliated Companies (2)(3) – 9.9% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 9.9% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
Nantero, Inc. (4)(5)(6) -- Developing a high-density, nonvolatile,
             
random access memory chip, enabled by carbon nanotubes
             
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    345,070     $ 1,046,908  
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    207,051       628,172  
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    188,315       571,329  
                2,246,409  
                   
NeoPhotonics Corporation (4)(5) -- Developing and manufacturing
                 
optical devices and components
                 
Common Stock
(M)
    716,195       174,788  
Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,831,256       446,920  
Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    741,898       181,060  
Series 3 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    2,750,000       671,138  
Series X Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    2,000       97,620  
Warrants at $0.15 expiring 01/26/10
( I )
    16,364       2,111  
Warrants at $0.15 expiring 12/05/10
( I )
    14,063       2,166  
                1,575,803  
                   
Polatis, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(9) -- Developing MEMS-based optical
                 
networking components
                 
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    16,775       0  
Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    71,611       0  
Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    4,774       0  
Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    16,438       0  
                0  
                   
PolyRemedy, Inc. (4)(5)(6) --Developing a robotic
                 
manufacturing platform for wound treatment patches
                 
Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    287,647       122,250  
                   
                   
Starfire Systems, Inc. (4)(5) -- Producing ceramic-forming polymers
                 
Common Stock
(M)
    375,000       0  
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    600,000       0  
                0  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
7

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Unaffiliated Companies (2)(3) – 9.9% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 9.9% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
               
TetraVitae Bioscience, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(10) -- Developing alternative
             
chemicals and fuels through biomass fermentation
             
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    118,804     $ 125,000  
                   
                   
                   
Total Unaffiliated Private Placement Portfolio (cost: $24,320,940)
            $ 10,802,744  
                   
Total Investments in Unaffiliated Companies (cost: $24,320,940)
            $ 10,802,744  






 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
8

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Non-Controlled Affiliated Companies (2)(11) – 40.6% of net assets at value
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 40.6% of net assets at value
             
               
               
Adesto Technologies Corporation (4)(5)(6) -- Developing
             
semiconductor-related products enabled at the nanoscale
             
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    6,547,619     $ 1,100,000  
                   
                   
Ancora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (4)(5)(6) -- Developing synthetic
                 
carbohydrates for pharmaceutical applications
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,663,808       800,000  
                   
                   
BridgeLux, Inc. (4)(5)(12) -- Manufacturing high-power light
                 
emitting diodes
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,861,504       1,396,128  
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    2,130,699       1,598,025  
Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    666,667       500,000  
Warrants at $0.7136 expiring 12/31/14
( I )
    98,340       60,184  
Warrants at $0.7136 expiring 12/31/14
( I )
    65,560       40,123  
                3,594,460  
                   
                   
Cambrios Technologies Corporation (4)(5)(6) -- Developing
                 
nanowire-enabled electronic materials for the display industry
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,294,025       647,013  
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,300,000       650,000  
                1,297,013  
                   
                   
CFX Battery, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(13) -- Developing batteries using
                 
nanostructured materials
                 
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,885,108       1,476,756  



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
9

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Non-Controlled Affiliated Companies (2)(11) – 40.6% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 40.6% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
               
Crystal IS, Inc. (4)(5) -- Developing single-crystal
             
aluminum nitride substrates for light-emitting diodes
             
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    391,571     $ 0  
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,300,376       0  
Unsecured Convertible Bridge Note (including interest)
(M)
  $ 408,573       415,961  
Warrants at $0.78 expiring 05/05/13
( I )
    15,231       0  
Warrants at $0.78 expiring 05/12/13
( I )
    2,350       0  
Warrants at $0.78 expiring 08/08/13
( I )
    4,396       0  
                415,961  
                   
CSwitch Corporation (4)(5)(6)(14) -- Developing system-
                 
on-a-chip solutions for communications-based platforms
                 
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    6,863,118       0  
Unsecured Convertible Bridge Note (including interest)
(M)
  $ 1,766,673       0  
                0  
                   
D-Wave Systems, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(15) -- Developing high-
                 
performance quantum computing systems
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,144,869       1,013,595  
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    450,450       398,800  
Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,533,395       1,357,572  
                2,769,967  
                   
Ensemble Discovery Corporation (4)(5)(6)(16) -- Developing DNA
                 
Programmed Chemistry for the discovery of new classes of
                 
therapeutics and bioassays
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,449,275       1,000,000  
Unsecured Convertible Bridge Note (including interest)
(M)
  $ 250,286       261,312  
                1,261,312  
                   
Innovalight, Inc. (4)(5)(6) -- Developing solar power
                 
products enabled by silicon-based nanomaterials
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    16,666,666       4,288,662  
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    5,810,577       1,495,176  
                5,783,838  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
10

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Non-Controlled Affiliated Companies (2)(11) – 40.6% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 40.6% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
               
Kovio, Inc. (4)(5)(6)  --  Developing semiconductor products
             
using printed electronics and thin-film technologies
             
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    2,500,000     $ 2,561,354  
Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    800,000       819,633  
Series E Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,200,000       1,229,450  
Warrants at $1.25 expiring 12/31/12
( I )
    355,880       247,337  
                4,857,774  
                   
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(17) -- Developing advanced
                 
polymers for drug delivery
                 
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    68,451       68,451  
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    866,500       866,500  
Unsecured Convertible Bridge Note (including interest)
(M)
  $ 400,000       415,562  
Warrants at $2.00 expiring 10/21/10
( I )
    91,625       29,961  
                1,380,474  
                   
Metabolon, Inc. (4)(5) -- Discovering biomarkers through
                 
the use of metabolomics
                 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    2,173,913       652,174  
Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    869,565       260,870  
Warrants at $1.15 expiring 3/25/15
( I )
    434,783       87,391  
                1,000,435  
                   
NanoGram Corporation (4)(5) -- Developing solar power products
                 
enabled by silicon-based nanomaterials
                 
Series I Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    63,210       31,131  
Series II Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,250,904       616,070  
Series III Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    1,242,144       611,756  
Series IV Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    432,179       212,848  
                1,471,805  
                   
Nanomix, Inc. (4)(5) -- Producing nanoelectronic sensors that
                 
integrate carbon nanotube electronics with silicon microstructures
                 
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    977,917       23,622  
Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    6,802,397       6,428  
                30,050  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
11

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Non-Controlled Affiliated Companies (2)(11) – 40.6% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 40.6% of net assets at value (cont.)
             
               
               
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc. (4)(5) -- Developing thin-film
             
thermoelectric devices for cooling and energy conversion
             
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    17,500     $ 875,000  
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    4,870,244       1,327,629  
                2,202,629  
                   
Questech Corporation (4)(5) -- Manufacturing and marketing
                 
proprietary metal and stone decorative tiles
                 
Common Stock
(M)
    655,454       99,097  
Warrants at $1.50 expiring 11/19/09
( I )
    5,000       0  
                99,097  
                   
Siluria Technologies, Inc. (4)(5)(6) -- Developing next-generation
                 
nanomaterials
                 
Series S-2 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    482,218       0  
Unsecured Bridge Note (including interest)
(M)
  $ 42,542       43,046  
                43,046  
                   
Solazyme, Inc. (4)(5)(6) -- Developing algal biodiesel, industrial
                 
chemicals and special ingredients based on synthetic biology
                 
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    988,204       4,978,157  
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    495,246       2,494,841  
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    651,309       3,281,021  
                10,754,019  
                   
Xradia, Inc. (4)(5) -- Designing, manufacturing and selling ultra-high
                 
resolution 3D x-ray microscopes and fluorescence imaging systems
                 
Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    3,121,099       4,000,000  
                   
                   
                   
                   
Total Non-Controlled Private Placement Portfolio (cost: $61,330,539)
            $ 44,338,636  
                   
Total Investments in Non-Controlled Affiliated Companies (cost: $61,330,539)
            $ 44,338,636  



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
12

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
Investments in Controlled Affiliated Companies (2)(18) – 3.3% of net assets at value
             
               
Private Placement Portfolio (Illiquid) – 3.3% of net assets at value
             
               
               
Laser Light Engines, Inc. (4)(5)(6) -- Manufacturing solid-state light
             
sources for digital cinema and large-venue projection displays
             
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    7,499,062     $ 1,500,000  
                   
                   
SiOnyx, Inc. (4)(5)(6) -- Developing silicon-based optoelectronic
                 
products enabled by its proprietary "Black Silicon"
                 
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    233,499       67,843  
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    2,966,667       861,965  
Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock
(M)
    4,207,537       1,222,500  
                2,152,308  
                   
                   
                   
Total Controlled Private Placement Portfolio (cost: $6,085,000)
            $ 3,652,308  
                   
                   
Total Investments in Controlled Affiliated Companies (cost: $6,085,000)
            $ 3,652,308  
                   
                   
Total Private Placement Portfolio (cost: $91,736,479)
            $ 58,793,688  





 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
13

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

 
Method of
Valuation (1)
 
Shares/
Principal
   
Value
 
               
U.S. Government Securities (19) – 47.0% of net assets at value
             
               
U.S. Treasury Bill    -- due date 04/30/09
(M)
  $ 51,348,000     $ 51,340,811  
                   
                   
                   
Total Investments in U.S. Government Securities (cost: $51,343,768)
            $ 51,340,811  
                   
                   
                   
Total Investments (cost: $143,080,247)
            $ 110,134,499  













The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
14

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

Notes to Consolidated Schedule of Investments

(1)
See Footnote to Consolidated Schedule of Investments on page 17 for a description of the Valuation Procedures.

(2)
Investments in unaffiliated companies consist of investments in which we own less than five percent of the voting shares of the portfolio company.  Investments in non-controlled affiliated companies consist of investments in which we own five percent or more, but less than 25 percent, of the voting shares of the portfolio company, or where we hold one or more seats on the portfolio company’s Board of Directors but do not control the company.  Investments in controlled affiliated companies consist of investments in which we own 25 percent or more of the voting shares of the portfolio company or otherwise control the company.

(3)
The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes of investments in unaffiliated companies is $24,320,940.  The gross unrealized appreciation based on the tax cost for these securities is $862,081.  The gross unrealized depreciation based on the tax cost for these securities is $14,380,277.

(4)
Legal restrictions on sale of investment.

(5)
Represents a non-income producing security.  Equity investments that have not paid dividends within the last 12 months are considered to be non-income producing.

(6)
These investments are development stage companies.  A development stage company is defined as a company that is devoting substantially all of its efforts to establishing a new business, and either it has not yet commenced its planned principal operations, or it has commenced such operations but has not realized significant revenue from them.

(7)
With our purchase of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock of BioVex, we received a warrant to purchase a number of shares of common stock of BioVex as determined by dividing 624,999.99 by the price per share at which the common stock is offered and sold to the public in connection with the initial public offering.  The ability to exercise this warrant is therefore contingent on BioVex completing successfully an initial public offering before the expiration date of the warrant on September 27, 2012.  The exercise price of this warrant shall be 110 percent of the initial public offering price.

(8)
Cobalt Technologies, Inc., does business as Cobalt Biofuels.

(9)
Continuum Photonics, Inc., merged with Polatis, Ltd., to form Polatis, Inc.

(10)
With our purchase of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of TetraVitae Bioscience, Inc., we received the right to purchase, at a price of $2.63038528 per share, a number of shares in the Series C financing equal to the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock purchased.  The ability to exercise this right is contingent on TetraVitae Bioscience completing successfully a subsequent round of financing.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated schedule.

 
15

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AS OF MARCH 31, 2009
(Unaudited)

(11)
The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes of investments in non-controlled affiliated companies is $61,330,539.  The gross unrealized appreciation based on the tax cost for these securities is $8,174,077.  The gross unrealized depreciation based on the tax cost for these securities is $25,165,980.

(12)
BridgeLux, Inc., was previously named eLite Optoelectronics, Inc.

(13)
On February 28, 2008, Lifco, Inc., merged with CFX Battery, Inc.  The surviving entity is CFX Battery, Inc.

(14)
With our investments in secured convertible bridge notes issued by CSwitch, we received three warrants to purchase a number of shares of the class of stock sold in the next financing of CSwitch equal to $529,322, $985,835 and $249,750, respectively, the principal of the notes, divided by the lowest price per share of the class of stock sold in the next financing of CSwitch.  The ability to exercise these warrants is, therefore, contingent on CSwitch completing successfully a subsequent round of financing.  The warrants will expire five years from the date of the close of the next round of financing.  The cost basis of these warrants is $529, $986 and $250, respectively.

(15)
D-Wave Systems, Inc., is located and is doing business primarily in Canada.   We invested in D-Wave Systems, Inc., through D-Wave USA, a Delaware company.  Our investment is denominated in Canadian dollars and is subject to foreign currency translation.  See "Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."

(16)
With our investment in a convertible bridge note issued by Ensemble Discovery, we received a warrant to purchase a number of shares of the class of stock sold in the next financing of Ensemble Discovery equal to $125,105.40 divided by the price per share of the class of stock sold in the next financing of Ensemble Discovery.  The ability to exercise this warrant is, therefore, contingent on Ensemble Discovery completing successfully a subsequent round of financing.  This warrant shall expire and no longer be exercisable on September 10, 2015.  The cost basis of this warrant is $75.20.

(17)
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., was previously named Nanopharma Corp.

 (18)
The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes of investments in controlled affiliated companies is $6,085,000.  The gross unrealized appreciation based on the tax cost for these securities is $0.  The gross unrealized depreciation based on the tax cost for these securities is $2,432,692.

(19)
The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes of our U.S. government securities is $51,343,768.  The gross unrealized appreciation on the tax cost for these securities is $0.  The gross unrealized depreciation on the tax cost of these securities is $2,957.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated schedule.

 
16

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
FOOTNOTE TO CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

VALUATION PROCEDURES

I.
Determination of Net Asset Value

The 1940 Act requires periodic valuation of each investment in the portfolio of the Company to determine its net asset value. Under the 1940 Act, unrestricted securities with readily available market quotations are to be valued at the current market value; all other assets must be valued at “fair value” as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is responsible for (1) determining overall valuation guidelines and (2) ensuring that the investments of the Company are valued within the prescribed guidelines.

The Valuation Committee, comprised of all of the independent Board members, is responsible for reviewing and approving the valuation of the Company’s assets within the guidelines established by the Board of Directors.  The Valuation Committee receives information and recommendations from management.

The values assigned to these investments are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized, as such amounts depend on future circumstances and cannot reasonably be determined until the individual investments are actually liquidated or become readily marketable.


II.
Approaches to Determining Fair Value

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements," ("SFAS No. 157") defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price).

The main approaches to measuring fair value utilized are the market approach and the income approach.

 
·
Market Approach (M): The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. For example, the market approach often uses market multiples derived from a set of comparables. Multiples might lie in ranges with a different multiple for each comparable. The selection of where within the range each appropriate multiple falls requires judgment considering factors specific to the measurement (qualitative and quantitative).

 
17

 

 
·
Income Approach (I): The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts (for example, cash flows or earnings) to a single present value amount (discounted). The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. Those valuation techniques include present value techniques; option-pricing models, such as the Black-Scholes-Merton formula (a closed-form model) and a binomial model (a lattice model), which incorporate present value techniques; and the multi-period excess earnings method, which is used to measure the fair value of certain assets.

SFAS No. 157 classifies the inputs used to measure fair value by these approaches into the following hierarchy:

 
·
Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 
·
Level 2:  Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
 
 
·
Level 3:  Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
 
Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.


III.
Investment Categories

The Company’s investments can be classified into five broad categories for valuation purposes:

 
·
Equity-related securities;
 
·
Long-term fixed-income securities;
 
·
Short-term fixed-income securities;
 
·
Investments in intellectual property, patents, research and development in technology or  product development; and
 
·
All other securities.

 
The Company applies the methods for determining fair value discussed above to the valuation of investments in each of these five broad categories as follows:

 
A.
EQUITY-RELATED SECURITIES

Equity-related securities, including warrants, are fair valued using the market or income approaches.  The following factors may be considered when the market approach is used to fair value these types of securities:

 
18

 

 
§
Readily available public market quotations;

 
§
The cost of the Company’s investment;

 
§
Transactions in a company's securities or unconditional firm offers by responsible parties as a factor in determining valuation;

 
§
The financial condition and operating results of the company;

 
§
The company's progress towards milestones.

 
§
The long-term potential of the business and technology of the company;

 
§
The values of similar securities issued by companies in similar businesses;

 
§
Multiples to revenue, net income or EBITDA that similar securities issued by companies in similar businesses receive;

 
§
The proportion of the company's securities we own and the nature of any rights to require the company to register restricted securities under applicable securities laws; and

 
§
The rights and preferences of the class of securities we own as compared to other classes of securities the portfolio company has issued.

When the income approach is used to value warrants, the Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton formula.


 
B.
LONG-TERM FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES

1. Readily Marketable:  Long-term fixed-income securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued using the most recent bid quotations when available.

2.  Not Readily Marketable:  Long-term fixed-income securities for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued using the market approach.  The factors that may be considered when valuing these types of securities by the market approach include:

 
·
Credit quality;
 
·
Interest rate analysis;
 
·
Quotations from broker-dealers;
 
·
Prices from independent pricing services that the Board believes are reasonably reliable; and
 
·
Reasonable price discovery procedures and data from other sources.

 
19

 

 
C.
SHORT-TERM FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES

Short-term fixed-income securities are valued using the market approach in the same manner as long-term fixed-income securities until the remaining maturity is 60 days or less, after which time such securities may be valued at amortized cost if there is no concern over payment at maturity.


 
D.
INVESTMENTS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, PATENTS, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN TECHNOLOGY OR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Such investments are fair valued using the market approach. The Company may consider factors specific to these types of investments when using the market approach including:

 
·
The cost of the Company’s investment;
 
·
Investments in the same or substantially similar intellectual property or patents or research and development in technology or product development or offers by responsible third parties;
 
·
The results of research and development;
 
·
Product development and milestone progress;
 
·
Commercial prospects;
 
·
Term of patent;
 
·
Projected markets; and
 
·
Other subjective factors.


 
E.
ALL OTHER SECURITIES

All other securities are reported at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee using the approaches for determining valuation as described above.

For all other securities, the reported values shall reflect the Valuation Committee's judgment of fair values as of the valuation date using the outlined basic approaches of valuation discussed in Section III.  They do not necessarily represent an amount of money that would be realized if we had to sell such assets in an immediate liquidation.  Thus, valuations as of any particular date are not necessarily indicative of amounts that we may ultimately realize as a result of future sales or other dispositions of investments we hold.


 
20

 


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)


NOTE 1.  THE COMPANY

Harris & Harris Group, Inc. (the "Company," "us," "our" and "we"), is a venture capital company operating as a business development company ("BDC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act").  We operate as an internally managed company whereby our officers and employees, under the general supervision of our Board of Directors, conduct our operations.

We elected to become a BDC on July 26, 1995, after receiving the necessary shareholder approvals.  From September 30, 1992, until the election of BDC status, we operated as a closed-end, non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act.  Upon commencement of operations as an investment company, we revalued all of our assets and liabilities in accordance with the 1940 Act.  Prior to September 30, 1992, we were registered and filed under the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") as an operating company and, while an operating company, operated directly and through subsidiaries.

Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc.SM, is a 100 percent wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc., is a partner in Harris Partners I, L.P. SM, and is taxed under Subchapter C of the Code (a “C Corporation”).  Harris Partners I, L.P, is a limited partnership and is used to hold certain interests in portfolio companies.  The partners of Harris Partners I, L.P., are Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc., (sole general partner) and Harris & Harris Group, Inc. (sole limited partner).  Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc., pays taxes on any non-passive investment income generated by Harris Partners I, L.P.   For the period ended March 31, 2009, there was no non-passive investment income generated by Harris Partners I, L.P.  The Company consolidates the results of its subsidiaries for financial reporting purposes.


NOTE 2.  INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 Our interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to interim financial information.  Accordingly, they do not include all information and disclosures necessary for a presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.  In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of valuation adjustments and normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods.  The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

 
21

 

 NOTE 3.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements:

Principles of Consolidation.  The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary.  All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates.  The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses.  Actual results could differ from these estimates, and the differences could be material.  The most significant estimates relate to the fair valuations of certain of our investments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Cash and cash equivalents includes demand deposits.  Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost which approximates value.

Portfolio Investment Valuations.  Investments are stated at "value" as defined in the 1940 Act and in the applicable regulations of the SEC.  Value, as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act, is (i) the market price for those securities for which a market quotation is readily available and (ii) the fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors for all other assets.  (See "Valuation Procedures" in the "Footnote to Consolidated Schedule of Investments.")  At March 31, 2009, our financial statements include private venture capital investments valued at $58,793,688, the fair values of which were determined in good faith by, or under the direction, of the Board of Directors.  Upon sale of investments, the values that are ultimately realized may be different from what is presently estimated.  The difference could be material.

The Company adopted SFAS No. 157 on a prospective basis on January 1, 2008. SFAS No. 157 requires the Company to assume that the portfolio investment is to be sold in the principal market to market participants, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market, which may be a hypothetical market.

On October 10, 2008, FASB Staff Position 157-3, "Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for that Asset is Not Active," ("FSP 157-3") was issued.  FSP 157-3 reiterated that an entity should utilize its own assumptions, information and techniques to estimate fair value when relevant observable inputs are not available, including the use of risk-adjusted discount factors for non-performance risk or liquidity risk.

Foreign Currency Translation.  The accounting records of the Company are maintained in U.S. dollars.  All assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the rate of exchange of such currencies against U.S. dollars on the date of valuation.  For the three months ended March 31, 2009, included in the net decrease in unrealized depreciation on investments was a $67,345 loss resulting from foreign currency translation.

 
22

 

Securities Transactions.  Securities transactions are accounted for on the date the transaction for the purchase or sale of the securities is entered into by the Company (i.e., trade date).

Interest Income Recognition.  Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on an accrual basis.  When securities are determined to be non-income producing, the Company ceases accruing interest and writes off any previously accrued interest.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company earned $37,511 in interest on U.S. government securities and interest-bearing accounts.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company wrote off, on a net basis, $73,410 of bridge note interest.

Realized Gain or Loss and Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation of Portfolio Investments. Realized gain or loss is recognized when an investment is disposed of and is computed as the difference between the Company’s cost basis in the investment at the disposition date and the net proceeds received from such disposition.  Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined by specific identification.  Unrealized appreciation or depreciation is computed as the difference between the fair value of the investment and the cost basis of such investment.

Stock-Based Compensation.  The Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan.  The Company accounts for the Stock Plan in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), which requires that we determine the fair value of all share-based payments to employees, including the fair value of grants of employee stock options, and record these amounts as an expense in the Statement of Operations over the vesting period with a corresponding increase to our additional paid-in capital.  At March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, the increase to our operating expenses was offset by the increase to our additional paid-in capital, resulting in no net impact to our net asset value.  Additionally, the Company does not record the tax benefits associated with the expensing of stock options, because the Company currently intends to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.  The amount of non-cash, stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is based on the fair value of the awards the Company expects to vest, recognized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis for each award, and adjusted for actual options vested and pre-vesting forfeitures.  The forfeiture rate is estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if the actual forfeiture rate differs from the estimated rate and is accounted for in the current period and prospectively.  See "Note 6. Stock-Based Compensation" for further discussion.

Income Taxes.  As we intend to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company does not provide for income taxes.  Our taxes are accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," and FIN 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes."  The Company recognizes interest and penalties in income tax expense.

We pay federal, state and local income taxes on behalf of our wholly owned subsidiary, Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc., which is a C corporation.  See "Note 7.  Income Taxes."

Restricted Funds.  The Company maintains a rabbi trust for the purposes of accumulating funds to satisfy the obligations incurred by us for the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") under the employment agreement with Charles E. Harris, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  The final payment from this rabbi trust will be made on July 31, 2009, after which the rabbi trust will be closed.

 
23

 

Property and Equipment.  Property and equipment are included in "Other Assets" and are carried at $107,634 and $119,180 at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively, representing cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the premises and equipment.  We estimate the useful lives to be five to ten years for furniture and fixtures, three years for computer equipment, and five to seven years for leasehold improvements.

Concentration of Credit Risk.  The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions and, at times, cash held in checking accounts may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limit.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements.  In April of 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” ("FSP 157-4").  This position provides additional guidance on estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased in relation to normal market activity for the asset or liability, provides guidance on circumstances that may indicate that a transaction is not orderly and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements in annual and interim reporting periods.  FSP 157-4 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009.  The Company is evaluating the revised guidance and enhanced disclosure requirements around fair value of financial instruments and does not anticipate a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.  The Company will adopt FSP 157-4 for the period ending June 30, 2009.


NOTE 4.  BUSINESS RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

We have invested a substantial portion of our assets in private development stage or start-up companies.  These private businesses tend to be based on new technology and to be thinly capitalized, unproven, small companies that lack management depth and have not attained profitability or have no history of operations.  Because of the speculative nature and the lack of a public market for these investments, there is greater risk of loss than is the case with traditional investment securities.

Because there is typically no public market for our interests in the small privately held companies in which we invest, the valuation of the equity and bridge note interests in that portion of our portfolio is determined in good faith by our Valuation Committee, comprised of the independent members of our Board of Directors, in accordance with our Valuation Procedures and is subject to significant estimates and judgments.  In the absence of a readily ascertainable market value, the determined value of our portfolio of equity interests may differ significantly from the values that would be placed on the portfolio if a ready market for the equity interests existed.  Any changes in valuation are recorded in our consolidated statements of operations as "Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation on investments."  Changes in valuation of any of our investments in privately held companies from one period to another may be volatile.


NOTE 5.  INVESTMENTS

At March 31, 2009, our financial assets were categorized as follows in the fair value hierarchy for SFAS No. 157 purposes:

 
24

 


         
Fair Value Measurement at Reporting Date Using:
 
                         
Description
 
March 31, 2009
   
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
                         
U.S. Government Securities
    $51,340,811       $51,340,811       $0       $0  
                                 
Portfolio Companies
    $58,793,688       $0       $0       $58,793,688  
                                 
Total
    $110,134,499       $51,340,811       $0       $58,793,688  

The following chart shows the components of change in the financial assets categorized as Level 3, for the three months ended March 31, 2009.
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
       
   
Portfolio Companies
 
       
Beginning Balance, January 1, 2009
  $ 56,965,153  
Total realized (losses) gains included in changes in net assets
    (3,288 )
Total unrealized gains included in changes in net assets
    1,182,057  
Investments in private placements and interest on bridge notes
    748,104  
Disposals and write-off of interest on bridge notes
    (98,338 )
Ending Balance, March 31, 2009
  $ 58,793,688  
         
The amount of total gains for the period included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at the reporting date
  $ 1,178,769  


NOTE 6.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On March 18, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and the full Board of Directors of the Company approved a grant of individual Non-Qualified Stock Option ("NQSO") awards for certain officers and employees of the Company.  The terms and conditions of the stock options granted were set forth in award agreements between the Company and each award recipient entered into on that date.  Options to purchase a total of 329,999 shares of stock were granted with vesting periods ranging from March 2010 to March 2013 and with an exercise price of $3.75, which was the closing price of our shares of common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market on March 18, 2009.  The awards may become fully vested and exercisable prior to the date or dates in the vesting schedule if (1) the market price of the shares of our stock reaches $6 per share at the close of business on three consecutive trading days on the Nasdaq Global Market or (2) the Board of Directors accepts an offer for the sale of substantially all of the Company's assets.  Upon exercise, the shares would be issued from our previously authorized but unissued shares.

 
25

 

An option's expected term is the estimated period between the grant date and the exercise date of the option.  As the expected term period increases, the fair value of the option and the non-cash compensation cost will also increase.  The expected term assumption is generally calculated using historical stock option exercise data.  Management has performed an analysis and has determined that historical exercise data does not provide a sufficient basis to calculate the expected term of the option.  In cases where companies do not have historical data and where the options meet certain criteria, SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 107 ("SAB 107") provides the use of a simplified expected term calculation.  Accordingly, the Company calculated the expected term used in the Black-Scholes-Merton model using the SAB 107 simplified method.

Expected volatility is the measure of how the stock's price is expected to fluctuate over a period of time.  An increase in the expected volatility assumption yields a higher fair value of the stock option.  The expected volatility factor for the two-year and ten-year stock options were based on the historical fluctuations in the Company’s stock price over a period commensurate with the expected term and contractual term, respectively, of the options, adjusted for stock splits and dividends.

The expected exercise factor in the lattice model is an estimate of when options will be exercised when they are in the money.  An expected exercise factor of two assumes that options will be exercised when they reach two times their strike price.

The expected dividend yield assumption is traditionally calculated based on a company's historical dividend yield.  An increase to the expected dividend yield results in a decrease in the fair value of option and resulting compensation cost.  Although the Company has declared deemed dividends in previous years, most recently in 2005, the amounts and timing of any future dividends cannot be reasonably estimated.  Therefore, for purposes of calculating fair value, the Company has assumed an expected dividend yield of zero percent.

The risk-free interest rate assumption used in the Black-Scholes-Merton model is based on the annual yield on the measurement date of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond the maturity of which equals the option’s expected term.  The lattice model uses interest rates commensurate with the contractual term of the options. Higher assumed interest rates yield higher fair values.

The fair value of the two-year NQSO awards is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model as permitted by SFAS No. 123(R).   The assumptions used in the calculation of fair value of the two-year NQSOs granted on March 18, 2009, using the Black-Scholes-Merton model for the contract term was as follows:

                           
Weighted
                           
Average
       
Number
 
Expected
 
Expected
 
Expected
 
Risk-free
 
Fair
       
of Options
 
Term
 
Volatility
 
Dividend
 
Interest
 
Value
Type of Award
 
Term
 
Granted
 
in Yrs
 
Factor
 
Yield
 
Rates
 
Per Share
                             
Non-qualified stock options
 
2 Years
 
245,770
 
1.5
 
71.7%
 
0%
 
0.71%
 
$1.29
Total
     
245,770
                 
$1.29


 
26

 

The fair value of the 10-year NQSO awards is estimated on the date of grant using a binomial lattice model.   The assumptions used in the calculation of fair value of the 10-year NQSOs granted on March 18, 2009, using a binomial lattice model for the contract term was as follows:

Type of Award
 
Term
 
Number
of Options
Granted
 
Expected
Exercise
Behavior
Factor
 
Expected
Volatility
Factor
 
Expected
Dividend
Yield
 
Risk-free
Interest
Rates
 
Weighted
Average
Fair
Value
Per Share
                             
Non-qualified stock options
 
10 Years
 
84,229
 
2
 
73.1%
 
0%
 
2.59%
 
$1.97
Total
     
84,229
                 
$1.97

For the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company recognized $635,638 of compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  As of March 31, 2009, there was approximately $7,422,581 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock option awards.  This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately two years.

For the three months ended March 31, 2009, no stock options were exercised.

For the three months ended March 31, 2009, the calculation of the net decrease in net assets resulting from operations per share excludes the stock options because such options were anti-dilutive.  The options may be dilutive in future periods in which there is a net increase in net assets resulting from operations, in the event that there is a significant increase in the average stock price in the stock market or significant decreases in the amount of unrecognized compensation cost.

A summary of the changes in outstanding stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2009, is as follows:

   
Shares
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Yrs)
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Options Outstanding at January 1, 2009
 
4,638,213
 
$  9.30
 
$   4.83
 
6.03
 
$0
                     
Granted
 
329,999
 
$  3.75
 
$   1.46
 
4.01
   
                     
Exercised
 
0
 
$0
 
$0
       
                     
Forfeited or Expired
 
-.
               
                     
Options Outstanding at March 31, 2009
 
4,968,212
 
$  8.93
 
$  4.60
 
5.66
 
$0
                     
Options Exercisable at March 31, 2009
 
2,554,286
 
$  10.10
 
$  4.97
 
4.58
 
$0
                     
Options Exercisable and Expected to be
Exercisable at March 31, 2009
 
4,897,401
 
$ 8.91
 
$ 4.57
 
5.64
 
$0


 
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The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above with respect to options outstanding, exercisable and expected to be exercisable, is calculated as the difference between the Company's closing stock price of $3.70 on the last trading day of the first quarter of 2009 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options.  At March 31, 2009, there are no in-the-money options.  This amount represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value that would have been received by the option holders had all options been fully vested and all option holders exercised their awards on March 31, 2009.


NOTE 7.  INCOME TAXES

We filed for the 1999 tax year to elect treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") and qualified for the same treatment for the years 2000 through 2007.  However, there can be no assurance that we will qualify as a RIC for 2008 or subsequent years.

In the case of a RIC which furnishes capital to development corporations, there is an exception to the rule relating to the diversification of investments required to qualify for RIC treatment.  This exception is available only to registered investment companies that the SEC determines to be 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 ("SEC Certification").  We have received SEC Certification each year from 1999 to 2007 and have filed for certification in 2008.  It is possible that we may not receive SEC Certification for 2008 or in future years.

In addition, under certain circumstances, even if we qualified for Subchapter M treatment for a given year, we might take action in a subsequent year to ensure that we would be taxed in that subsequent year as a C Corporation, rather than as a RIC.  As a RIC, we must, among other things, distribute at least 90 percent of our investment company taxable income and may either distribute or retain our realized net capital gains on investments.

During the first quarter of 2009, we paid $380 in federal, state and local income taxes.  At March 31, 2009, we had $0 accrued for federal, state and local taxes payable by the Company.

We pay federal, state and local taxes on behalf of our wholly owned subsidiary, Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc., which is taxed as a C Corporation.  For the three months ended March 31, 2009, and 2008, our income tax expense for Harris & Harris Enterprises, Inc., was $0 and $30,400, respectively.

Continued qualification as a RIC requires us to satisfy certain investment asset diversification requirements in future years.  Our ability to satisfy those requirements may not be controllable by us. There can be no assurance that we will qualify as a RIC in subsequent years.


NOTE 8.  CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS

On June 20, 2008, we completed the sale of 2,545,000 shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of $15,651,750; net proceeds of this offering, after placement agent fees and offering costs of $1,268,253, were $14,383,497.

 
28

 

NOTE 9.  CHANGE IN NET ASSETS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted per share net decreases in net assets resulting from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and March 31, 2008.

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31
 
2009
2008
     
Numerator for decrease in net assets per share
$(951,424)
$(3,289,035)
     
Denominator for basic and diluted weighted average shares
25,859,573
23,314,573
     
Basic and diluted net decrease in net assets per share resulting
from operations
$(0.04)
$(0.14)


NOTE 10.  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

We established a rabbi trust for the purpose of accumulating funds to satisfy the obligations incurred by us under the SERP, which amounted to $189,071 and $188,454 at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively, and is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.  The restricted funds for the SERP Account totaled $189,071 and $188,454 at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively.  Mr. Harris's rights to benefits pursuant to this SERP are no greater than those of a general creditor of us.

Mr. Harris received a distribution from his SERP Account totaling $2,889,717 during 2008.  The balance at March 31, 2009, of $189,071, plus any interest or earnings credited to the account through July 31, 2009, will be paid on July 31, 2009.


NOTE 11.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 24, 2009, we made a $550,000 follow-on investment in a privately held tiny technology portfolio company.

On April 30, 2009, we made a $1,000,000 follow-on investment in Metabolon, Inc.

 
29

 


HARRIS & HARRIS GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Per Share Operating Performance
           
             
Net asset value per share, beginning of period
  $ 4.24     $ 5.93  
                 
Net operating loss*
    (0.08 )     (0.11 )
                 
Net realized (loss) on investments*
    0.00       (0.22 )
                 
Net decrease in unrealized depreciation as a result of sales*
    0.00       0.22  
                 
Net decrease (increase) in unrealized depreciation on investments held*
    0.04       (0.03 )
                 
Total from investment operations*
    (0.04 )     (0.14 )
                 
Net increase as a result of stock-based compensation expense*
    0.02       0.07  
                 
Total increase from capital stock transactions
    0.02       0.07  
                 
Net asset value per share, end of period
  $ 4.22     $ 5.86  
                 
Stock price per share, end of period
  $ 3.70     $ 7.13  
                 
Total return based on stock price(1)
 
(6.33)%
   
(18.89)%
 
                 
                 
Supplemental Data:
               
                 
Net assets, end of period
  $ 109,215,327     $ 136,541,289  
                 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets(1)
 
1.9%
   
2.2%
 
                 
Ratio of net operating loss to average net assets(1)
 
(1.9)%
   
(1.8)%
 
                 
Number of shares outstanding, end of period
    25,859,573       23,314,573  



*Based on Average Shares Outstanding.
(1) Not Annualized


The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule.

 
30

 

Item 2.
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 unaudited March 31, 2009, Consolidated Financial Statements and the Company's audited 2008 Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto.


Background and Overview

We incorporated under the laws of the state of New York in August 1981.  In 1983, we completed an initial public offering.  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 business development company 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 cash flow positive.  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.  At March 31, 2009, $58,793,688, or 53.8 percent, of our net assets at fair value consisted of private venture capital investments, net of unrealized depreciation of $32,942,791.  At December 31, 2008, $56,965,153, or 52.0 percent, of our net assets at fair value consisted of private venture capital investments, net of unrealized depreciation of $34,124,848.

Since our investment in Otisville in 1983 through March 31, 2009, we have made a total of 84 venture capital investments, including four private placement investments in securities of publicly traded companies.  We have exited 50 of these 84 investments, realizing total proceeds of $143,923,354 on our invested capital of $60,549,559.  As measured from first dollar in to last dollar out, the average and median holding periods for these 50 investments were 3.68 years and 3.20 years, respectively.  As measured by the 173 separate rounds of investment within these 50 investments, the average and median holding periods for the 173 separate rounds of investment were 2.86 years and 2.53 years, respectively.

In 1994, we made our first nanotechnology investment.  From August 2001 through March 31, 2009, all 42 of our initial investments have been in companies commercializing or integrating products enabled by nanotechnology or microsystems.  We use the term "tiny technology" to describe both of these disciplines.  From August 2001 through March 31, 2009, we have invested a total (before any subsequent write-ups, write-downs or dispositions) of $105,137,888 in these companies.

 
31

 

We currently have 33 active tiny technology companies in our portfolio, including one investment made prior to 2001.  At March 31, 2009, from first dollar in, the average and median holding periods for these 33 active tiny technology investments were 3.92 years and 3.87 years, respectively.

Our cumulative dollars invested in nanotechnology and microsystems increased from $489,999 for the year ended December 31, 2001, to $105,137,888 through March 31, 2009.

The following is a summary of our initial and follow-on investments in nanotechnology from 2005 to 2009 year to date.  We consider a "round led" to be a round where we were the new investor or the leader of a set of new investors in an investee company.  Typically, but not always, the lead investor negotiates the price and terms of a deal with the investee company.

 
2005
2006
2007
2008
YTD
3/31/09
           
Total Incremental Investments
$16,251,339
$24,408,187
$20,595,161
$17,779,462
$723,176
No. of New Investments
4
6
7
4
0
No. of Follow-On Investment Rounds
13
14
20
25
4
No. of Rounds Led
0
7
3
4
0
Average Dollar Amount – Initial
$1,575,000
$2,383,424
$1,086,441
$683,625
$0
Average Dollar Amount – Follow- On
$765,488
$721,974
$649,504
$601,799
$180,794

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.")

As of September 30, 2008, as part of the valuation process, we defined non-performance risk as 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 March 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.

In each of the years in the period 2005 through 2008, and for the three months ended March 31, 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 net write-ups/(write-downs) in privately held securities as a percentage of net assets at the beginning of the year.

 
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2005
 
2006
2007
2008
YTD
 3/31/09
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)
$(4,204,060)
Gross Write-Ups During Year
$23,485,176
$279,363
$11,694,618
$820,559
$5,382,829
Gross Write-Downs as a Percentage of Net  Asset Value, BOY
-4.62%
-3.57%
-6.86%
-28.67%
-3.83%
Gross Write-Ups as a Percentage of Net  Asset Value, BOY
31.42%
0.24%
10.26%
0.59%
4.91%
Net Write-Downs/Write-Ups as a Percentage of Net Asset Value, BOY
26.8%
-3.33%
3.40%
-28.08%
1.08%

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recorded gross write-downs of $4,204,060.  These write-downs primarily reflect our assessment of the non-performance risk associated with our portfolio companies in the current business environment.  This non-performance risk discount accounted for the majority of the $4,204,060 in gross write-downs.  The remaining write-downs reflected adjustments of valuations relating to specific fundamental developments unique to particular portfolio companies.  One of these remaining write-downs primarily reflects the terms of a round of financing of one of our portfolio companies proposed by an independent, third-party, financial investor.

As of March 31, 2009, we recorded gross write-ups of $5,382,829.  These write-ups were primarily owing to adjustments of valuations relating to specific fundamental developments unique to particular portfolio companies.  For Solazyme, the largest gross write-up totaling $5,376,988, fundamental developments, one of which relates to a financing event during the first quarter of 2009, resulted in the removal of the discount for non-performance risk.

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 March 31, 2009, we held $51,340,811 in U.S. government obligations.

Our principal objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.  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.

In previous years, we have been able to generate substantial amounts of interest income from our holdings of U.S. treasury securities.  As of March 31, 2009, we held a short-duration U.S. treasury security yielding 0.101 percent.  As of March 31, 2009, yields for 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month U.S. treasury securities were 0.21 percent, 0.43 percent and 0.57 percent, respectively.  As of March 31, 2008, yields for 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month U.S. treasury securities were 1.38 percent, 1.51 percent and 1.55 percent, respectively.  With yields at this level, we expect to generate less interest income than in previous fiscal quarters and years.

 
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Current Business Environment

We continually examine our approach to investing activities based on the market conditions at the time of investment.  The banking, global stock market and commodity price collapses, and the further slowdown in global economic activities that began with the intensification of the housing and credit crises during the third quarter of 2008 continued its effects on the value of assets and the economy in general during the first quarter of 2009. The value of publicly traded companies, one of the most observable asset classes, continued its path of decreases in valuation during the first quarter of 2009; the market capitalization of the Company followed this trend as well.  The table below compares these changes in value during the past two quarters and from the 52-week high of each index and of the Company:

 
Q4 2008
Q1 2009
Change From 52-Week
High to 3/31/09
 
9/30/08 - 12/31/08
12/31/08 - 3/31/09
Dow Jones Industrial Avg.
-19.12%
-13.3%
-42.32%
Nasdaq Composite
-24.61%
-3.07%
-40.09%
S&P 500 Composite
-22.45%
-11.67%
-44.60%
Russell 2000
-26.51%
-15.36%
-44.69%
Harris & Harris Group
-38.09%
-6.33%
-57.62%

We continue to view this devaluing process as both a concern and an opportunity.  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 have considered how the current conditions will affect our ability to fund our own portfolio based on the potential for an increased time to liquidity event, our ability to make new investments, the size and number of our investments and how we will syndicate with other venture capital investors.

Many of our portfolio companies are cash flow negative and, therefore, need additional rounds of financing to continue operations.  Articles published in newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times and other sources present data that support the conclusion that the availability of capital has been severely affected by this economic downturn.  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.  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.   If we decide to proceed with a follow-on investment, these rounds of financing may occur at valuations lower than those at which we invested originally.

From conversations with venture capitalists, we believe that the continued collapse in public market asset prices, the growing intensity of the slowdown in global economic activities, and the quick response being taken by venture capitalists to adjust their plans for new and follow-on investments has resulted in a collapse in venture capital financings.  This conclusion is supported by the fact that according to Dow Jones VentureSource, venture capital investment in the United States during the first quarter of 2009 was the lowest in 11 years, down 50 percent from the first quarter of 2008.  Investment in venture-backed, cleantech-related companies in particular suffered a decline of total invested capital during the first quarter of 2009 of 84 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008.  Similar to 2008, we expect that our investment pace for new investments will decrease as compared with recent years as we monitor the state of the capital markets.  Although we did not invest in a new portfolio company in the first quarter of 2009, we intend to continue making investments in new companies and will continue to evaluate investments in companies enabled by nanotechnology and microsystems.  Our aim is 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.

 
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In July 2008, the SEC amended a rule expanding the definition of eligible portfolio companies in which BDCs can invest to include publicly traded securities of companies with a market capitalization of less than $250 million.  We believe this action greatly increases our opportunity to invest in public companies involved in nanotechnology.  As of December 31, 2008, approximately 51 percent of companies listed on a major U.S. stock exchange had market capitalizations of less than $250 million.  Although we do not currently have any investments in publicly traded securities in our portfolio as of March 31, 2009, we intend to adjust our investment focus, as needed, to comply with and/or take advantage of the new rule, as well as other regulatory, legislative, administrative or judicial actions in this area.

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 turmoil has affected the availability of capital to our potential co-investors, particularly firms that manage a small amount of assets.  This fact may reduce the number of potential co-investors available to us when forming syndicates.  The inability to form a syndicate of investors may decrease the number of investments made by us in both new and current portfolio companies.

The global economic recession has affected the ability of investors to exit investments in privately held companies.  As of the end of the first quarter of 2009, published data showed that turmoil in the financial markets has affected the values of venture capital-backed companies in merger and acquisition ("M&A") transactions.  According to data published in The New York Times, the average valuation of venture capital-backed companies sold in M&A transactions decreased by 65 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008, and by 56 percent for the same period in 2008.  More than half of the venture capital-backed companies sold in the first quarter of 2009 returned less than the amount invested to the investors, compared with 29 percent in the same period last year.  During the first quarter of 2009, no venture-backed companies completed initial public offerings, which is the second consecutive quarter without at least one being completed.  We continue to believe this lack of liquidity will negatively affect the amount of capital available to privately held companies from venture capital firms.  We also take these factors into account when considering investments in new and current portfolio companies.


Results of Operations

We present the financial results of our operations utilizing accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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.

 
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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.


Three months ended March 31, 2009, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008

In the three months ended March 31, 2009, and March 31, 2008, we had net decreases in net assets resulting from operations of $951,424 and $3,289,035, respectively.

Investment Income and Expenses:

We had net operating losses of $2,098,879 and $2,480,618 for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and March 31, 2008, respectively.  The variation in these results is primarily owing to the changes in investment income and operating expenses, including non-cash expenses of $635,638 in 2009 and $1,466,980 in 2008 associated with the granting of stock options.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, and 2008, total investment (loss) income was $(23,561) and $576,302, respectively.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, and 2008, total operating expenses were $2,075,318 and $3,056,920, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, as compared with the same period in 2008, investment income decreased, reflecting a substantial decrease in interest rates, as well as a decrease in our average holdings of U.S. government securities.  The average yield on our U.S. government securities decreased from four percent for the three months ended March 31, 2008, to 0.29 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2009.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, our average holdings of such securities were $52,001,080, as compared with $57,481,316 during the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Operating expenses, including non-cash, stock-based compensation expense, were $2,075,318 and $3,056,920 for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and March 31, 2008, respectively.  The decrease in operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009, as compared to the three months ended March 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. Salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense decreased by $1,045,955, or 42.9 percent, through March 31, 2009, as compared to March 31, 2008, primarily as a result of a decrease in non-cash expense of $831,342 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,  including the retirement of Charles E. Harris.  At March 31, 2009, we had 11 full-time employees, as compared with 13 full-time employees at March 31, 2008.  While the non-cash, stock-based compensation expense for the Stock Plan increased our operating expenses by $635,638, 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 $11,420, or 3.8 percent, through March 31, 2009, as compared to March 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.  Professional fees increased by $77,018, or 55.7 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, as compared with the same period in 2008, primarily as a result of an increase in certain accounting fees, offset by a reduction in the cost of our annual compliance program audit and a reduction in certain consulting fees.

 
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Realized Income and Losses from Investments:

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we realized net losses on investments of $3,613, as compared with realized net losses on investments of $5,014,870 during the three months ended March 31, 2008.

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we realized net losses of $3,613, consisting primarily of a realized loss in Exponential Business Development Company.

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we realized net losses of $5,014,870, consisting primarily of a realized loss of $1,326,072 on our investment in Chlorogen, Inc., and a realized loss of $3,688,581 on our investment in NanoOpto Corporation.  During the first quarter of 2008, we received a payment of $105,714 from the NanoOpto Corporation bridge note.

Net Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation of Portfolio Securities:

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, net unrealized depreciation on total investments decreased by $1,151,448, or 3.38 percent, from net unrealized depreciation of $34,097,196 at December 31, 2008, to net unrealized depreciation of $32,945,748 at March 31, 2009.  During the three months ended March 31, 2008, net unrealized depreciation on total investments decreased by $4,252,651, or 108.3 percent, from net unrealized depreciation of $3,926,484 at December 31, 2007, to net unrealized appreciation of $326,167 at March 31, 2008.

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, net unrealized depreciation on our venture capital investments decreased by $1,182,057, from net unrealized depreciation of $34,124,848 at December 31, 2008, to net unrealized depreciation of $32,942,791 at March 31, 2009, owing primarily to increases in the valuations of our investments in BioVex Group, Inc., of $5,841 and Solazyme, Inc., of $5,376,988, offset by decreases in the valuations of the following investments held:

Investment
    Amount of Write-Down
   
Ancora Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$400,000
BridgeLux, Inc.
983
Crystal IS, Inc.
332,238
CSwitch Corporation
20,286
Exponential Business Development Company
366
Kovio, Inc.
5,729
Laser Light Engines, Inc.
500,000
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
3,757
Metabolon, Inc.
362,831
Molecular Imprints, Inc.
4,000
Nanosys, Inc.
1,342,530
Neophotonics Corporation
58,651
Questech Corporation
29,189
SiOnyx, Inc.
1,076,155


 
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We also had an increase in unrealized depreciation of $3,288 owing to a decrease in the capital account of Exponential Business Development Company.  We had a decrease owing to foreign currency translation of $67,345 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 $2,957 at March 31, 2009.

 
Financial Condition

March 31, 2009

At March 31, 2009, our total assets and net assets were $111,210,138 and $109,215,327, respectively.  At December 31, 2008, they were $111,627,601 and $109,531,113, respectively.

At March 31, 2009, net asset value per share ("NAV") was $4.22, as compared with $4.24 at December 31, 2008.  At March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, our shares outstanding were 25,859,573.

Significant developments in the three months ended March 31, 2009, included an increase in the holdings of our venture capital investments of $1,828,535 and a decrease in our holdings in U.S. government obligations of $1,643,129.  The increase in the value of our venture capital investments from $56,965,153 at December 31, 2008, to $58,793,688 at March 31, 2009, resulted primarily from an increase in the net value of our venture capital investments of $1,182,057 and by four follow-on investments of $723,176.  The decrease in the value of our U.S. government obligations from $52,983,940 at December 31, 2008, to $51,340,811 at March 31, 2009, is primarily owing to the payment of cash basis operating expenses of $1,383,400 and to follow-on venture capital investments totaling $723,176.

The following table is a summary of additions to our portfolio of venture capital investments made during the three months ended March 31, 2009:

Follow-On Investments
     
BioVex Group, Inc.
  $ 111,111  
CFX Battery, Inc.
  $ 3,492  
Crystal IS, Inc.
  $ 408,573  
Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
  $ 200,000  
         
Total
  $ 723,176  

 The following tables summarize the values of our portfolios of venture capital investments and U.S. government obligations, as compared with their cost, at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008:


   
March 31, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
Venture capital investments, at cost
  $ 91,736,479     $ 91,090,001  
Net unrealized depreciation(1)
    32,942,791       34,124,848  
Venture capital investments, at value
  $ 58,793,688     $ 56,965,153  


 
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March 31, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
 
U.S. government obligations, at cost
  $ 51,343,768     $ 52,956,288  
Net unrealized (depreciation) appreciation(1)
    (2,957 )     27,652  
U.S. government obligations, at value
  $ 51,340,811     $ 52,983,940  


(1)At March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, the net accumulated unrealized depreciation on investments was $32,945,748 and $34,097,196, respectively.


Liquidity

 Our liquidity and capital resources are generated and generally available through our cash holdings, interest earned on our investments on U.S. government securities, cash flows from the sales of U.S. government securities, proceeds from periodic follow-on equity offerings and realized capital gains retained for reinvestment.

We fund our day-to-day operations using interest earned and proceeds from the sales of our investments in U.S. government securities.  The increase or decrease in the valuations of our portfolio companies does not impact our daily liquidity.  At March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, we had no investments in money market mutual funds.  We have no debt outstanding, and, therefore, are not subject to credit agency downgrades.

At March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, our total net primary liquidity was $51,604,429 and $53,701,819, respectively.  The decrease in our primary liquidity from December 31, 2008, to March 31, 2009, is primarily owing to the use of funds for investments and payment of net operating expenses.

We believe that the market disruption that continued during the first quarter of 2009 may continue to adversely affect financial services companies with respect to the valuation of their investment portfolios, tighter lending standards and reduced access to capital.  In addition, the economies of the United States and many other countries are in recession, which may be severe and prolonged.  These conditions may lead to a further decline in net asset value and/or decline in valuations of our portfolio companies.  Although we cannot predict future market conditions, we continue to believe that our current cash and U.S. government security holdings and our ability to adjust our investment pace will provide us with adequate liquidity to execute our current business strategy.

Except for a rights offering, we are also generally not able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below our net asset value per share, exclusive of any distributing commission or discount, without shareholder approval.  As of March 31, 2009, our net asset value was $4.22 per share and our closing market price was $3.70 per share.  We do not currently have shareholder approval to issue or sell shares below our net asset value per share.

 
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Capital Resources

On June 20, 2008, we completed the sale of 2,545,000 shares of our common stock, for total gross proceeds of $15,651,750; net proceeds of this offering, after placement agent fees and offering costs of $1,268,253, were $14,383,497.  We intend to use, and have been using, the net proceeds of this offering to make new investments in nanotechnology, as well as for follow-on investments in our existing venture capital investments and for working capital.  Through March 31, 2009, we have used $13,814,513 of the net proceeds from this offering for these purposes.


Critical Accounting Policies

The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and in the Footnote to the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.  Critical accounting policies are those that are both important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations and those that require management’s most difficult, complex or subjective judgments.  The Company considers the following accounting policies and related estimates to be critical:

Valuation of Portfolio Investments

The most significant estimate inherent in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements is the valuation of investments and the related amounts of unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments recorded.  As a BDC, we invest in primarily illiquid securities that generally have no established trading market.

 Investments are stated at "value" as defined in the 1940 Act and in the applicable regulations of the SEC.  Value, as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act, is (i) the market price for those securities for which a market quotation is readily available and (ii) the fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors for all other assets.  (See "Valuation Procedures" in the "Footnote to Consolidated Schedule of Investments.")  At March 31, 2009, our financial statements include private venture capital investments valued at $58,793,688, the fair values of which were determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors.  At March 31, 2009, approximately 52.9 percent of our total assets represent investments in portfolio companies valued at fair value by the Board of Directors.

Determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each portfolio investment, although our valuation policy is intended to provide a consistent basis for determining fair value of the portfolio investments.  Factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to, readily available public market quotations; the cost of the Company’s investment;  transactions in the portfolio company’s securities or unconditional firm offers by responsible parties; the financial condition and operating results of the company; the long-term potential of the business and technology of the company; the values of similar securities issued by companies in similar businesses; multiples to revenues, net income or EBITDA that similar securities issued by companies in similar businesses receive; the proportion of the company’s securities we own and the nature of any rights to require the company to register restricted securities under the applicable securities laws; the achievement of milestones; and the rights and preferences of the class of securities we own as compared with other classes of securities the portfolio has issued.

 
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The ongoing financial markets turmoil and severe recession have made it extremely difficult for many companies to raise capital.  Moreover, the cost of capital has increased substantially.  Historically, difficult venture capital environments have resulted in weak companies not receiving financing and being subsequently closed down with a loss of investment to venture investors, and/or strong companies receiving financing but at significantly lower valuations than the preceding venture rounds, leading to very deep dilution for those who do not participate in the new rounds of investment.  This economic and financing environment has caused an increase in the non-performance risk for venture-backed companies.  We define non-performance risk as 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 at March 31, 2009.

All investments recorded at fair value are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value.  Hierarchical levels, defined by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements," ("SFAS No. 157") and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets, are as follows:

 
·
Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 
·
Level 2:  Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.

 
·
Level 3:  Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

At March 31, 2009, all of our private portfolio investments were classified as Level 3 in the hierarchy, indicating a high level of judgment required in their valuation.

The values assigned to our assets are based on available information and do not necessarily represent amounts that might ultimately be realized, as these amounts depend on future circumstances and cannot be reasonably determined until the individual investments are actually liquidated or become readily marketable. Upon sale of investments, the values that are ultimately realized may be different from what is presently estimated.  This difference could be material.

Stock-Based Compensation

Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant requires judgment.  Historically, we have used the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to estimate the fair value of employee stock options, consistent with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), "Share-Based Payment," ("SFAS No. 123(R)").  During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, we used the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and a binomial lattice option pricing model to estimate the fair value of the two-year NQSOs and the ten-year NQSOs, respectively, granted on March, 18, 2009.

 
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Management uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model in instances where we lack historical data necessary for more complex models and when the share award terms can be valued within the model.  Other models may yield fair values that are significantly different from those calculated by the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model.

Management uses a binomial lattice option pricing model in instances where it is necessary to include a broader array of assumptions.  We use the binomial lattice model for the ten-year NQSOs granted on March 18, 2009.  These awards include accelerated vesting provisions that are based on market conditions.  Management’s analysis concludes that triggering of the market condition acceleration clause is probable.

Option pricing models require the use of subjective input assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, expected dividend rate, and expected risk-free rate of return.  Variations in the expected volatility or expected term assumptions have a significant impact on fair value.  As the volatility or expected term assumptions increase, the fair value of the stock option increases.  The expected dividend rate and expected risk-free rate of return are not as significant to the calculation of fair value.  A higher assumed dividend rate yields a lower fair value, whereas higher assumed interest rates yield higher fair values for stock options.

In the Black-Scholes-Merton model, we use the simplified calculation of expected term as described in the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 107 because of the lack of historical information about option exercise patterns.  In the binomial lattice model, we use an expected term that assumes the options will be exercised at two-times the strike price because of the lack of option exercise patterns.  Future exercise behavior could be materially different than that which is assumed by the model.

Expected volatility is based on the historical fluctuations in the Company's stock.  The Company's stock has historically been volatile, which increases the fair value of the underlying share-based awards.

SFAS No. 123(R) requires us to develop an estimate of the number of share-based awards that will be forfeited owing to employee turnover.  Quarterly changes in the estimated forfeiture rate can have a significant effect on reported share-based compensation, as the effect of adjusting the rate for all expense amortization after the grant date is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed.   If the actual forfeiture rate proves to be higher than the estimated forfeiture rate, then an adjustment will be made to increase the estimated forfeiture rate, which would result in a decrease to the expense recognized in the financial statements.   If the actual forfeiture rate proves to be lower than the estimated forfeiture rate, then an adjustment will be made to decrease the estimated forfeiture rate, which would result in an increase to the expense recognized in the financial statements.  Such adjustments would affect our operating expenses and additional paid-in capital, but would have no effect on our net asset value.

Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plan Assumptions

The Company provides a Retiree Medical Benefit Plan for employees who meet certain eligibility requirements.  Several statistical and other factors that attempt to anticipate future events are used in calculating the expense and liability values related to our post-retirement benefit plans. These factors include assumptions we make about the discount rate, the rate of increase in healthcare costs, and mortality, among others.

 
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The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the post-retirement benefit liabilities could be effectively settled considering the timing of expected payments for plan participants.  In estimating this rate, we consider rates of return on high quality fixed-income investments included in published bond indexes.  We consider the Citigroup Pension Liability Index in the determination of the appropriate discount rate assumptions.  The weighted average rate we utilized to measure our post retirement medical benefit obligation as of December 31, 2008, and to calculate our 2009 expense was 5.71 percent, which is a decrease from the 6.55 percent rate used in determining the 2008 expense.  We used a discount rate of 5.75 percent to calculate our pension obligation.


Recent Developments — Portfolio Companies

On April 24, 2009, we made a $550,000 follow-on investment in a privately held tiny technology portfolio company.

On April 30, 2009, we made a $1,000,000 follow-on investment in Metabolon, Inc.


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-Q, and in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.  The forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-Q 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.


Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 Our business activities contain elements of risk.  We consider the principal types of market risk to be valuation risk and the risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates.  Although we are risk-seeking rather than risk-averse in our investments, we consider the management of risk to be essential to our business.

Value, as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act, is (i) the market price for those securities for which market quotations are readily available and (ii) fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors for all other assets.  (See the "Valuation Procedures" in the "Footnote to Consolidated Schedule of Investments" contained in "Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements.")

Neither our investments nor an investment in us is intended to constitute a balanced investment program.

 
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We have invested a substantial portion of our assets in private development stage or start-up companies.  These private businesses tend to be based on new technology and to be thinly capitalized, unproven, small companies that lack management depth and have not attained profitability or have no history of operations.  Because of the speculative nature and the lack of a public market for these investments, there is significantly greater risk of loss than is the case with traditional investment securities.  We expect that some of our venture capital investments will be a complete loss or will be unprofitable and that some will appear to be likely to become successful but never realize their potential.  Even when our private equity investments complete initial public offerings, we are normally subject to lock-up agreements for a period of time, and thereafter, the market for the unseasoned publicly traded securities may be relatively illiquid.

Because there is typically no public market for our interests in the small privately held companies in which we invest, the valuation of the equity interests in that portion of our portfolio is determined in good faith by our Valuation Committee, comprised of the independent members of our Board of Directors, in accordance with our Valuation Procedures.  In the absence of a readily ascertainable market value, the determined value of our portfolio of equity interests may differ significantly from the values that would be placed on the portfolio if a ready market for the equity interests existed.  Any changes in valuation are recorded in our consolidated statements of operations as "Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation on investments."  Changes in valuation of any of our investments in privately held companies from one period to another may be volatile.

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.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recorded gross write-downs of $4,204,060.   These write-downs are 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.

We generally also invest in both short and long-term U.S. government and agency securities.   To the extent that we invest in short and long-term U.S. government and agency securities, changes in interest rates result in changes in the value of these obligations which result in an increase or decrease of our net asset value.  The level of interest rate risk exposure at any given point in time depends on the market environment, the expectations of future price and market movements,  and the quantity and duration of  long-term U.S. government and agency securities held by the Company, and it will vary from period to period.  If the average interest rate on U.S. government securities with three-month maturities which corresponds to the maturities of the Company's holdings at March 31, 2009, were to increase by 25, 75 and 150 basis points, the average value of these securities held by us at March 31, 2009, would decrease by approximately $128,370, $385,110 and $770,220, respectively, and our net asset value would decrease correspondingly.

Most of our investments are denominated in U.S. dollars.  We currently have one investment denominated in Canadian dollars.  We are exposed to foreign currency risk related to potential changes in foreign currency exchange rates.  The potential loss in fair value on this investment resulting from a 10 percent adverse change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates is $259,450 at March 31, 2009.

 
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In addition, in the future, we may from time to time opt to borrow money to make investments.  Our net investment income will be dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest such funds.  As a result, there can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates and the current credit crisis will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income in the event we choose to borrow funds for investing purposes.


Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

(a)  Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as required by Rules 13a-15 of the 1934 Act).  Disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the issuer's management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.  As of March 31, 2009, based upon this evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

(b)   Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.   There have not been any changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the 1934 Act) during the first quarter of 2009 to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


 
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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION


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 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, before you purchase any of our common stock.  There are no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008.


Item 6.
Exhibits

 
10
Harris & Harris Group, Inc. Form of Custody Agreement with the Bank of New York Mellon, incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 814-00176) filed on March 16, 2009.

 
31.01*
Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
31.02*
Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
32*
Certification of CEO and CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.



*filed herewith

 
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SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


 
Harris & Harris Group, Inc.
   
   
   
   
 
/s/ Daniel B. Wolfe
 
By:  Daniel B. Wolfe
 
Chief Financial Officer
   
   
 
/s/ Patricia N. Egan
 
By:  Patricia N. Egan
 
Chief Accounting Officer
 
and Vice President

 
 

 

Date: May 8, 2009

 
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EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.
Description

31.01
Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.02
Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32
Certification of CEO and CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.












 
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