QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 2.h.3


GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION

        3,000,000 Common Shares
$.001 Par Value
Equity Underwriting Agreement

January 30, 2008

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
As Representative of the Several
    Underwriters named in
    
Schedule I

c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
60 Wall Street, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10005

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Gladstone Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Company") proposes to sell to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representative (the "Representative") an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of the Company's common stock, $0.001 par value (the "Common Stock"). The Company also proposes to sell at the Underwriters' option an aggregate of up to 450,000 additional shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Option Shares") as set forth below. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively called the "Shares."

        The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2006 (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"), with Gladstone Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation registered as an investment adviser (the "Adviser") under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Advisers Act"). The Company has entered into an Administration Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2006 (the "Administration Agreement"), with Gladstone Administration, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Administrator").

        In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

        1.    Representations and Warranties of the Company.    

1


        The Company and the Adviser jointly and severally represent and warrant to each of the Underwriters as follows:

2


Package in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters through the Representative, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section 14 herein. As of the Closing Date (defined below) and as of the Option Closing Date (defined below), the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus Supplement will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus Supplement in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriters through the Representative, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section 14 herein. As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement, the term "Applicable Time" means 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date of this Agreement or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Representative.

3


4


5


6


7


8


9


10


11


        Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the Adviser and delivered to the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or the Adviser as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriters.

        2.    Representations and Warranties of the Adviser.    

        The Adviser represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:

12


13


14


        3.    Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Firm Shares.    

15


        4.    Offering by the Underwriters.    

        It is understood that the Underwriters are to make a public offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representative deems it advisable to do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the public at the price set forth in the Prospectus. The Representative may from time to time thereafter change the offering price and other selling terms.

        It is further understood that you will act as the Representative for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with a Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other Underwriters.

        5.    Covenants of the Company.    

        The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:

16


17


18


        The Company and each of the Underwriters covenant to one another as follows:

        6.    Costs and Expenses.    

        The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; any roadshow expenses; the cost of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, this Agreement, filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees and expenses (including legal fees and disbursements) incident to securing any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the costs and expenses (including without limitation any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Shares made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation in Section 1; and the expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares under State securities or Blue Sky laws. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for any of the

19


Underwriters' expenses (other than those related to qualification under FINRA regulation and State securities or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated because the conditions in Section 7 hereof are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 12 hereof, or by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company or the Adviser to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply with any of the terms hereof on its part to be performed, unless such failure, refusal or inability is due primarily to the default or omission of the Underwriters, the Company shall reimburse the several Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder; but the Company shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of the Shares.

        7.    Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters.    

        The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Applicable Time, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Adviser contained herein, and to the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

20


21


        The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material respects satisfactory to the Representative and to Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, counsel for the Underwriters.

        If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representative by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

22


        In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 6 and 9 hereof).

        8.    Conditions of the Obligations of the Company.    The obligations of the Company to sell and deliver the portion of the Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened.

        9.    Indemnification.    

23


24


25


        The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(f) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 9(f). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 9(f) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (f), (i) the Underwriters shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by the Underwriters and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

        10.    Default By Underwriters.    

        If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company), you, as Representative of the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the

26


Shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours you, as such Representative, shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Shares agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Option Closing date, as the case may be, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Shares which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of shares of Shares with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company or you as the Representative of the Underwriters will have the right, by written notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company except to the extent provided in Sections 6 and 9 hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 10, the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, may be postponed for such period, not exceeding five days, as you, as Representative, may determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

        11.    Notices.    

        All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or telegraphed and confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10005; Attention: Syndicate Manager, with a copy to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, The Tower of Peabody Place, 100 Peabody Place, Suite 900, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, Attention: John A. Good; if to the Company, to Gladstone Capital Corporation, 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 200, McLean, Virginia 22102, Attention: David Gladstone, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, One Freedom Square, Reston Town Center, 11951 Freedom Drive, Reston, Virginia 20190, Attention: Darren DeStefano.

        12.    Termination.    

        This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company (a) at any time prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date (if different from the Closing Date and then only as to Option Shares) if any of the following has occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus Supplement, any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which you deem to materially impair the investment quality of the Shares, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities

27


or declaration of war or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis (including, without limitation, an act of terrorism) or change in economic or political conditions, if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets of the United States would, in your judgment, materially impair the investment quality of the Shares, (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the NASDAQ or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading), (iv) the declaration of a banking moratorium by United States or New York State authorities, (v) the suspension of trading of the Company's common stock by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Commission, or any other governmental authority, or (vi) the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or

        13.    Successors.    

        This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.

        14.    Information Provided by Underwriters.    

        The Company and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Final Prospectus Supplement consists of the information set forth in the paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus.

        15.    Miscellaneous.    

        The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or its directors or officers and (c) delivery of and payment for the Shares under this Agreement.

        The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Underwriter in providing investment banking services to the Company in connection with the offering, including in acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, has acted and is acting as an independent contractor and not as a fiduciary and the Company does not intend such Underwriter to act in any capacity other than as an independent contractor, including as a fiduciary or in any other position of higher trust.

28


        This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

        The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

        This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

        The Underwriters, on the one hand, and the Company (on its own behalf and, to the extent permitted by law, on behalf of its stockholders), on the other hand, waive any right to trial by jury in any action, claim, suit or proceeding with respect to the engagement as underwriter or your role in connection herewith.

        If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement by and among the Company and the Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

    Very truly yours,

 

 

GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION

 

 

By: /s/ David Gladstone
Name: David Gladstone
Title: Chairman and CEO

 

 

GLADSTONE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

 

 

By: /s/ George Stelljes III
Name: George Stelljes III
Title: President

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

As Representative of the several
Underwriters listed on
Schedule I

By: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

By: /s/ Kevin McCann
Name: Kevin McCann
Title: Managing Director

By: /s/ Jeff Mortara
Name: Jeff Mortara
Title: Managing Director

29



SCHEDULE I

SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS

Underwriter

  Number of Firm Shares
to be Purchased

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.    1,800,000
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.    750,000
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated   450,000
   
  Total   3,000,000
   

30



SCHEDULE II

[Price and other terms of the offering conveyed orally]

31



EXHIBIT A

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

January 30, 2008

Gladstone Capital Corporation

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
As Representative of the Several
    Underwriters named in
    
Schedule I

c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
60 Wall Street, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10005

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        The undersigned understands that Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as representative (the "Representative") of the several underwriters (the "Underwriters"), proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with Gladstone Capital Corporation (the "Company"), providing for the public offering by the Underwriters, including the Representative, of common stock, par value $.001 (the "Common Stock"), of the Company (the "Public Offering").

        To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, pledge, contract to sell (including any short sale), grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock of the Company which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned on the date hereof in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant and any other security convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock) or enter into any Hedging Transaction (as defined below) relating to the Common Stock (each of the foregoing referred to as a "Disposition") during the period specified in the following paragraph (the "Lock-Up Period"). The foregoing restriction is expressly intended to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any Hedging Transaction or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition during the Lock-Up Period even if the securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. "Hedging Transaction" means any short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option)

32


with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from the Common Stock.

        The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date hereof and continue until, and include, the date that is 60 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the "Initial Lock-Up Period"); provided, however, that if (1) during the last 17 days of the Initial Lock-Up Period, (A) the Company releases earnings results or (B) material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (2) prior to the expiration of the Initial Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period following the last day of the Initial Lock-Up Period, then in each case the Lock-Up Period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the release of the earnings results or the occurrence of material news or a material event relating to the Company, as the case may be, unless the Representative waives in writing, such extension.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer (a) shares of Common Stock acquired in open market transactions by the undersigned after the completion of the Public Offering, and (b) any or all of the shares of Common Stock or other Company securities if the transfer is by (i) gift, will or intestacy, or (ii) distribution to partners, members or shareholders of the undersigned; provided, however, that in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding the securities subject to the provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement.

        The undersigned agrees that the Company may, and that the undersigned will, (i) with respect to any shares of Common Stock or other Company securities for which the undersigned is the record holder, cause the transfer agent for the Company to note stop transfer instructions with respect to such securities on the transfer books and records of the Company and (ii) with respect to any shares of Common Stock or other Company securities for which the undersigned is the beneficial holder but not the record holder, cause the record holder of such securities to cause the transfer agent for the Company to note stop transfer instructions with respect to such securities on the transfer books and records of the Company.

        In addition, the undersigned hereby waives any and all notice requirements and rights with respect to registration of securities pursuant to any agreement, understanding or otherwise setting forth the terms of any security of the Company held by the undersigned, including any registration rights agreement to which the undersigned and the Company may be party; provided that such waiver shall apply only to the proposed Public Offering, and any other action taken by the Company in connection with the proposed Public Offering.

        The undersigned hereby agrees that, to the extent that the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement conflict with or are in any way inconsistent with any registration rights agreement to which the undersigned and the Company may be a party, this Lock-Up Agreement supersedes such registration rights agreement.

        The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any obligations

33


of the undersigned shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.

        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the closing of the Public Offering has not occurred prior to February 29, 2008, this agreement shall be of no further force or effect.


 

 

Signature:                                                

 

 

Print Name:                                             

Number of shares owned
subject to warrants, options
or convertible securities:

 

Certificate numbers:

                                                                    

 

                                                                    

                                                                    

 

                                                                    

                                                                    

 

                                                                    

34



EXHIBIT B

35




QuickLinks

GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE II
EXHIBIT A
EXHIBIT B