FUND INCORPORATED (NASDAQ:SVVC) Files An 8-K Other Events

Item8.01. Other Events.

The following changes will be made to the investment policies of
Flaherty Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated
(the Fund) effective on February21, 2017.

Reasoning for Changes

Rating methodologies for each of Moodys, SP, and Fitch have
evolved in dramatic fashion ever since the financial crisis of
2008-2009, and ratings on preferred securities are lower than
pre-crisis levels, despite what the Funds investment adviser
views as substantial credit strengthening at most issuers.

The Funds ratings guidelines were designed prior to this
evolution and are now stale in light of the current market.
According to the advisers data, preferreds with an investment
grade rating by at least one agency only comprise approximately
62% of the total market prior to the financial crisis, they
comprised 90%.

The adviser recommended these changes in order to address both
the change in the composition of the preferred market and
frequent changes in rating methodologies for preferred securities
by referencing the issuer or senior unsecured debt ratings.

Impact of Changes

The Fund would be authorized to purchase below investment-grade
preferred securities of investment grade issuers. In addition,
subject to its 15% limit, the Fund may now purchase securities
rated below Ba3/BB-/BB- by each of Moodys, SP and Fitch,
respectively, even if the issuer rating or senior debt of the
same issuer is rated below investment grade by Moodys, SP or
Fitch at the time of purchase. While this change would permit the
Fund to acquire securities rated B and below by all the ratings
agencies, the Funds adviser has no current intention of doing so.

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As before, the Fund will apply the ratings criteria at the time
of purchase and the Fund will not be required to dispose of
securities if, after purchase, they are downgraded, although the
adviser may take this into account in determining whether to
retain a security. As a result, more than 15% of the Funds
holdings at any time may be issued by companies with issuer
ratings or senior debt ratings that are below investment grade.
In addition, as before, the Fund may invest in unrated securities
that the Funds investment adviser deems to be comparable in
quality to rated issues in which the Fund is authorized to
invest.

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About FUND INCORPORATED (NASDAQ:SVVC)

Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. is an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital, principally by seeking capital gains on its equity and equity-related investments. It invests approximately 80% of its total assets for investment purposes in technology companies. It invests approximately 70% of its assets in privately held companies and public companies. It may invest approximately 30% of the portfolio in opportunistic investments. Its portfolio comprises equity and equity derivative securities of technology and cleantech companies. Its principal focus is to invest in illiquid private technology and cleantech companies and it may also invest in micro-cap publicly traded companies. It invests in industries, such as advanced materials, cloud computing, biofuels and fuel cells, among others. Firsthand Capital Management, Inc. is the Fund’s investment advisor.

FUND INCORPORATED (NASDAQ:SVVC) Recent Trading Information

FUND INCORPORATED (NASDAQ:SVVC) closed its last trading session down -0.01 at 7.71 with 6,771 shares trading hands.