Kimun Lee
About Kimun Lee
Kimun Lee is an independent director of Firsthand Technology Value Fund (SVVC), serving on the Board since 2010 and currently standing for re‑election as the Class II director; he is 79 years old, a California‑registered investment adviser, and founder/principal of Resources Consolidated (est. 1980) . He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of the Pacific, an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno, and completed Stanford University’s Executive Education program in Corporate Governance for Directors .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resources Consolidated | Founder/Principal | Since Jan 1980 | Consulting and investment advisory activities |
| Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc. | Director | Until Jan 2005 | Mutual fund governance experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firsthand Funds | Trustee | Since Apr 2013 | Firsthand Funds is advised by Firsthand Capital Management (FCM) |
| FundX Investment Trust | Trustee | Since Apr 2014 | Registered investment company trustee role |
| iShares Delaware Sponsors Trust LLC | Board member | Sep 2009 – Nov 2024 | Concluded Nov 2024 |
Board Governance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Board structure | 3 directors; 2 independent, 1 “interested person” (Chair/CEO/CFO Kevin Landis) under the 1940 Act |
| Director class/tenure | Class II; served since 2010; nominated to serve until 2028 Annual Meeting if re‑elected |
| Independence | Independent under Nasdaq and not an “interested person” under the 1940 Act |
| Lead Independent Director | None designated; independent directors meet separately from management at regular meetings |
| Executive sessions | Independent directors meet separately from management as part of each regular Board meeting; meet with CCO at least annually |
| Attendance | All directors attended at least 75% of combined Board and committee meetings in FY2024 |
Committee Assignments and Activity (FY2024)
| Body | Meetings Held | Lee’s Role |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Directors | 4 | Director |
| Audit Committee | 4 | Member (independent) |
| Valuation Committee | 4 | Member (independent) |
| Nominating Committee | 1 | Chair (independent) |
| Compensation Committee | 1 | Chair (independent) |
Notable governance note: The Board has determined that no member of the Audit Committee qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under Item 407 of Regulation S‑K .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Terms |
|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (Independent Directors) | $50,000 per annum; reimbursement of reasonable out‑of‑pocket expenses for in‑person meetings |
| Committee membership/Chair fees | Not separately disclosed; compensation table shows flat $50,000 for each independent director |
| Meeting fees | Not disclosed beyond expense reimbursement |
| Equity plans | No equity issuance plans for directors; only Deferred Compensation Plan available |
| Deferred Compensation Plan | Board‑approved Dec 23, 2022; expires Dec 29, 2031; deferred amounts track SVVC NAV as if invested in common stock |
| Lee’s 2024 deferral election | Deferred 50% of compensation ($25,000) under the plan |
Performance Compensation
| Performance-Linked Element | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Cash bonus (director) | None disclosed for directors |
| Performance share units / RSUs / Options (director) | None; no director equity grants disclosed beyond deferral mechanism |
| Performance metrics tied to director comp | None disclosed |
The Compensation Committee (chaired by Lee) oversees compensation of independent directors and executive officer matters; it met once in FY2024 and operates under a written charter available on the company website .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Potential Interlock/Conflict Context |
|---|---|
| Firsthand Funds (trustee) | FCM, SVVC’s external adviser, also serves as investment adviser to Firsthand Funds; Lee (and other SVVC directors) are trustees of Firsthand Funds, though SVVC discloses that independent directors and immediate family members do not beneficially own securities of the adviser or its affiliates . |
| Board leadership | SVVC’s Chair/CEO/CFO is an “interested person”; the Board cites committee leadership by independent directors (including Lee) to address potential conflicts . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Registered investment adviser; founder/principal of Resources Consolidated since 1980, providing long‑standing capital markets and governance exposure .
- Academic credentials: BA (University of the Pacific), MBA (University of Nevada, Reno), Stanford Executive Education in Corporate Governance for Directors .
- Multi‑fund governance experience: trustee/director roles at Firsthand Funds, FundX Investment Trust, iShares Delaware Sponsors Trust LLC, and Fremont Mutual Funds .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Class | Dollar Range (SVVC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimun Lee | 700 | <1% (based on 6,893,056 shares outstanding) | $1 – $10,000 |
Context shareholders:
- Star Equity Fund, LP: 2,029,829 shares (29.45%) as of Feb 28, 2025 .
- Kevin Landis (interested director): 681,945 shares (9.89%) .
Anti‑hedging: Directors and officers are prohibited from short sales, hedging transactions, and trading in options on SVVC securities, supporting alignment with stockholders .
Governance Assessment
- Committee leadership and independence: Lee chairs Nominating and Compensation and sits on Audit and Valuation; he is independent under Nasdaq and not an “interested person,” concentrating independent oversight in key areas (nominations, pay, valuation) .
- Engagement: Board and committees met regularly (Board 4x; Audit 4x; Valuation 4x; Nominating 1x; Compensation 1x), and all directors met the 75% attendance threshold in FY2024 .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay is flat cash ($50,000) with an elective deferral plan that tracks NAV; Lee deferred 50% ($25,000) in 2024, modestly linking his compensation to stock performance without equity issuance dilution .
- Ownership alignment: Lee’s direct stake is small (700 shares; <1%); combined with the anti‑hedging policy and fee deferrals, alignment exists but is limited by low absolute ownership .
- RED FLAG: No Audit Committee Financial Expert designated, which can be a governance weakness for financial reporting oversight .
- RED FLAG: No Lead Independent Director despite an “interested” Chair/CEO/CFO; the Board cites independent committee leadership and executive sessions as mitigants .
- Related‑party/manager conflicts: External management agreement with FCM (where the Chair/CEO/CFO has financial interests) presents structural conflicts; SVVC emphasizes independent committees and allocation policies; independent directors and their immediate families report no beneficial ownership in the adviser/underwriters .
Director Compensation Table (FY2024)
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (Total Compensation) |
|---|---|
| Kimun Lee | $50,000 |
Meetings Held (FY2024)
| Body | Meetings |
|---|---|
| Board of Directors | 4 |
| Audit Committee | 4 |
| Valuation Committee | 4 |
| Nominating Committee | 1 |
| Compensation Committee | 1 |