March 11, 2023 | Blog
Commentary for Investors regarding Silicon Valley Bank
The Private Shares Fund
March 11th, 2023
To our Investors,
While we continue closely monitoring the developing situation with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”), we thought it would be helpful to share a brief update as it relates to both Liberty Street Advisors, Inc. (“LSA”) and The Private Shares Fund (the “Fund”).
First, neither the Fund nor LSA, the investment adviser to the Fund, have a banking relationship or other relationships with SVB.
Second, given the nature of the Fund’s investment strategy, some of the underlying portfolio companies have relationships with SVB. We are in the process of gathering information from the Fund’s portfolio companies as to the extent and nature of those relationships. Thus far, a substantial majority of those companies contacted appear to have minimal exposure to or dependency on SVB, if at all. While our inquiry process is ongoing, in a macro sense, we take great solace from the fact that the Fund’s portfolio is mostly comprised of late-stage companies that have generated significant revenue as opposed to early-stage startups that may be at greater risk and less likely to secure alternate financing sources if needed. Additionally, our investment process targets companies backed by high caliber investor syndicates that we expect will take the necessary measures to continue to support the underlying companies, should short-term cash imbalances occur.
Finally, based on our conversations with the venture ecosystem and banking experts, in our view the vast majority (and hopefully all) of the Silicon Valley Bank deposits will be returned to depositors and any debt-related instruments will likely be restructured and reissued by other banking institutions, but the timing remains uncertain. Again, this is why we focus on companies with sophisticated, experienced and well-heeled investor syndicates to help the underlying management teams navigate challenging conditions.
We are continuing to monitor and assess the evolving situation and will share our findings accordingly.
As always, we are grateful for your trust, support and patience.
The Private Shares Fund Team
DISCLOSURES
As of December 9, 2020, Liberty Street Advisors, Inc. became the adviser to the Fund. The Fund’s portfolio managers did not change. Effective April 30, 2021, the Fund changed its name from the “SharesPost 100 Fund” to “The Private Shares Fund.” Effective July 7, 2021, the Fund made changes to its investment strategy. In addition to directly investing in private companies, the Fund may also invest in private investments in public equity (“PIPEs”) where the issuer is a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), and profit sharing agreements.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus with this and other information about The Private Shares Fund (the “Fund”), please download here, visit the Fund’s website at PrivateSharesFund.com or call 1-855-551-5510. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
The Fund Investment in the Fund involves substantial risk. The Fund is not suitable for investors who cannot bear the risk of loss of all or part of their investment. The Fund is appropriate only for investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment. All investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. The Fund is a closed-end interval fund. Shares in the Fund are highly illiquid, and can be sold by shareholders only in the quarterly repurchase program of the Fund which allows for up to 5% of the Fund’s outstanding shares at NAV to be redeemed each quarter. Due to transfer restrictions and the illiquid nature of the Fund’s investments, you may not be able to sell your shares when, or in the amount that, you desire. The Fund intends to primarily invest in securities of private, late-stage, venture-backed growth companies. There are significant potential risks relating to investing in such securities. Because most of the securities in which the Fund invests are not publicly traded, the Fund’s investments will be valued by Liberty Street Advisors, Inc. (the “Investment Adviser”) pursuant to fair valuation procedures and methodologies adopted by the Board of Trustees, as set forth in the prospectus. As a consequence, the value of the securities, and therefore the Fund’s Net Asset Value (NAV), may vary.
There are significant potential risks associated with investing in venture capital and private equity-backed companies with complex capital structures. The Fund focuses its investments in a limited number of securities, which could subject it to greater risk than that of a larger, more varied portfolio. There is a greater focus in technology securities that could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s quarterly repurchase policy may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than the Investment Adviser would otherwise do so and may also result in an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. Portfolio holdings of private companies that become publicly traded likely will be subject to more volatile market fluctuations than when private, and the Fund may not be able to sell shares at favorable prices. Such companies frequently impose lock-ups that would prohibit the Fund from selling shares for a period of time after an initial public offering (IPO). Market prices of public securities held by the Fund may decline substantially before the Investment Adviser is able to sell the securities.
The Fund may invest in private securities utilizing special purpose vehicles ("SPV"s), private investment funds (“Private Funds”), private investments in public equity ("PIPE") transactions where the issuer is a special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC"), and profit sharing agreements. The Fund will bear its pro-rata portion of expenses on investments in SPVs, Private Funds, or similar investment structures and will have no direct claim against underlying portfolio companies. PIPE transactions involve price risk, market risk, expense risk, and the Fund may not be able to sell the securities due to lock-ups or restrictions. Profit sharing agreements may expose the Fund to certain risks, including that the agreements could reduce the gain the Fund otherwise would have achieved on its investment, may be difficult to value and may result in contractual disputes. Certain conflicts of interest involving the Fund and its affiliates could impact the Fund’s investment returns and limit the flexibility of its investment policies. This is not a complete enumeration of the Fund's risks. Please read the Fund prospectus for other risk factors related to the Fund.
The Fund may not be suitable for all investors. We encourage you to consult with appropriate financial professionals before considering an investment in the Fund.
The views expressed in this material reflect those of the Fund’s investment adviser as of the date this is written and may not reflect its views on the date this material is first published or anytime thereafter.
The Private Shares Fund is distributed by FORESIDE FUND SERVICES, LLC
Private Shares Fund
Top 10 Holdings as of 10/31/2024*
*Represents 34.57% of Fund holdings as of October 31, 2024. Holdings are subject to change. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any particular security. Current and future holdings are subject to risk. To view the Fund’s complete holdings, visit privatesharesfund.com/portfolio.
DISCLOSURES
As of December 9, 2020, Liberty Street Advisors, Inc. became the adviser to the Fund. The Fund’s portfolio managers did not change. Effective April 30, 2021, the Fund changed its name from the “SharesPost 100 Fund” to “The Private Shares Fund.” Effective July 7, 2021, the Fund made changes to its investment strategy. In addition to directly investing in private companies, the Fund may also invest in private investments in public equity (“PIPEs”) where the issuer is a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), and profit sharing agreements.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus with this and other information about The Private Shares Fund (the “Fund”), please download here, visit the Fund’s website at PrivateSharesFund.com or call 1-855-551-5510. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
The Fund Investment in the Fund involves substantial risk. The Fund is not suitable for investors who cannot bear the risk of loss of all or part of their investment. The Fund is appropriate only for investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment. All investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. The Fund is a closed-end interval fund. Shares in the Fund are highly illiquid, and can be sold by shareholders only in the quarterly repurchase program of the Fund which allows for up to 5% of the Fund’s outstanding shares at NAV to be redeemed each quarter. Due to transfer restrictions and the illiquid nature of the Fund’s investments, you may not be able to sell your shares when, or in the amount that, you desire. The Fund intends to primarily invest in securities of private, late-stage, venture-backed growth companies. There are significant potential risks relating to investing in such securities. Because most of the securities in which the Fund invests are not publicly traded, the Fund’s investments will be valued by Liberty Street Advisors, Inc. (the “Investment Adviser”) pursuant to fair valuation procedures and methodologies adopted by the Board of Trustees, as set forth in the prospectus. As a consequence, the value of the securities, and therefore the Fund’s Net Asset Value (NAV), may vary.
There are significant potential risks associated with investing in venture capital and private equity-backed companies with complex capital structures. The Fund focuses its investments in a limited number of securities, which could subject it to greater risk than that of a larger, more varied portfolio. There is a greater focus in technology securities that could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s quarterly repurchase policy may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than the Investment Adviser would otherwise do so and may also result in an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. Portfolio holdings of private companies that become publicly traded likely will be subject to more volatile market fluctuations than when private, and the Fund may not be able to sell shares at favorable prices. Such companies frequently impose lock-ups that would prohibit the Fund from selling shares for a period of time after an initial public offering (IPO). Market prices of public securities held by the Fund may decline substantially before the Investment Adviser is able to sell the securities.
The Fund may invest in private securities utilizing special purpose vehicles ("SPV"s), private investment funds (“Private Funds”), private investments in public equity ("PIPE") transactions where the issuer is a special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC"), and profit sharing agreements. The Fund will bear its pro-rata portion of expenses on investments in SPVs, Private Funds, or similar investment structures and will have no direct claim against underlying portfolio companies. PIPE transactions involve price risk, market risk, expense risk, and the Fund may not be able to sell the securities due to lock-ups or restrictions. Profit sharing agreements may expose the Fund to certain risks, including that the agreements could reduce the gain the Fund otherwise would have achieved on its investment, may be difficult to value and may result in contractual disputes. Certain conflicts of interest involving the Fund and its affiliates could impact the Fund’s investment returns and limit the flexibility of its investment policies. This is not a complete enumeration of the Fund's risks. Please read the Fund prospectus for other risk factors related to the Fund.
The Fund may not be suitable for all investors. We encourage you to consult with appropriate financial professionals before considering an investment in the Fund.
The views expressed in this material reflect those of the Fund’s investment adviser as of the date this is written and may not reflect its views on the date this material is first published or anytime thereafter.
The Private Shares Fund is distributed by FORESIDE FUND SERVICES, LLC
