As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2022

Registration No. 333-                

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-14

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

		Pre-Effective Amendment No.		☐
		Post-Effective Amendment No.		☐

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

 

GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(703) 287-5800

(Area Code and Telephone Number)

David Gladstone

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

William J. Tuttle

Nicole M. Runyan

Erin M. Lett

Proskauer Rose LLP

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 600 South

Washington, DC 20004

Telephone: (202) 416-6800

 

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective and upon completion of the transactions described in the enclosed document.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not complete the exchange offers and issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 23, 2022

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

Offer to Exchange

$50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.75% Notes due 2027

For

$50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.75% Notes due 2027,

registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

 

Gladstone Capital Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is offering to exchange all of its outstanding 3.75% Notes due 2027 (the “Restricted Notes”) that were issued in a transaction not requiring registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on November 4, 2021, for an equal aggregate principal amount of its new 3.75% Notes due 2027 (the “Exchange Notes”) that have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act. We refer to the Restricted Notes and the Exchange Notes collectively as the “Notes.”

If you participate in the exchange offer, you will receive Exchange Notes for Restricted Notes that you validly tendered. The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical to those of the Restricted Notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the Restricted Notes will not apply to the Exchange Notes, and the Exchange Notes will not provide for the payment of additional interest in the event of a Registration Default (as defined herein). In addition, the Exchange Notes will bear a different CUSIP number than the Restricted Notes.

MATERIAL TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on [●], 2022, unless extended.

We will exchange all Restricted Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the exchange offer for Exchange Notes. You may withdraw tendered Restricted Notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

The only conditions to completing the exchange offer are that the exchange offer not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC and that no injunction, order or decree has been or is issued that would prohibit, prevent or materially impair our ability to complete the exchange offer.

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the exchange offer.

There is no active trading market for the Restricted Notes, and we do not intend to list the Exchange Notes on any securities exchange or to seek approval for quotations through any automated dealer quotation system.

Investing in the Exchange Notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 of this prospectus.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Exchange Notes or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is February 23, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
Prospectus Summary			1
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			12
Risk Factors			13
Use of Proceeds			14
The Exchange Offer			15
Description of the Exchange Notes			23
Plan of Distribution			38
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			38
Senior Securities			38
Business			38
Financial Statements			39
Portfolio Companies			39
Management			44
Portfolio Management			44
Control Persons and Principal Stockholders			47
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws			48
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures			52
Dividend Reinvestment Plan			53
Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices			54
Custodian, Transfer and Dividend Paying Agent and Registrar			54
Legal Matters			54
Experts			55
Available Information			55
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			55

This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with the document. This information is available without charge to security holders upon written or oral request at:

Investor Relations

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

(703) 287-5893

capital@gladstonecompanies.com

To obtain timely delivery, you must request information no later than five business days prior to the expiration of the exchange offer, which expiration is 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on [●], 2022.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of the Exchange Notes in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

 

i

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in the exchange offer for Restricted Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale or other transfer of the Exchange Notes received in the exchange offer. The accompanying letter of transmittal relating to the Exchange Offer states that, by so acknowledging and delivering a prospectus, such broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter”, within the meaning of the Securities Act, of the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by such broker-dealer in connection with resales or other transfers of Exchange Notes received in the exchange offer for Restricted Notes that were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities.

 

ii

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

6

 

7

 

8

 

9

 

10

 

11

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements may relate to, among other things, future events or our future operating results, our business prospects and the prospects of our portfolio companies, actual and potential conflicts of interest with the Adviser and its affiliates, the use of borrowed money to finance our investments, the adequacy of our financing sources and working capital, and our ability to co-invest, among other factors. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “estimate,” “may,” “might,” “believe,” “will,” “provided,” “anticipate,” “future,” “could,” “growth,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “if,” “seek,” “possible,” “potential,” “likely” or the negative or other variations of such terms or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include:

 

•

changes in the economy and the capital markets, including stock price volatility;

 

•

risks associated with negotiation and consummation of pending and future transactions;

 

•

the loss of one or more of our executive officers, in particular David Gladstone, Terry Lee Brubaker or Robert L. Marcotte;

 

•

changes in our investment objectives and strategy;

 

•

availability, terms (including the possibility of interest rate volatility) and deployment of capital;

 

•

changes in our industry, interest rates, exchange rates, regulation or the general economy;

 

•

our business prospects and the prospects of our portfolio companies;

 

•

the degree and nature of our competition;

 

•

changes in governmental regulations, tax rates and similar matters;

 

•

our ability to exit investments in a timely manner;

 

•

our ability to maintain our qualification as a RIC and as a BDC;

 

•

the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, our portfolio companies and the capital markets, including the measures taken by governmental authorities to address it, which may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and/or uncertainties; and

 

•

those factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein.

Additionally, many of the risks and uncertainties listed above, among others, are currently elevated by and may or will continue to be elevated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from our historical performance. We have based forward-looking statements on information available to us on the date of filing of this prospectus. Except as required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of filing of this prospectus. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through reports we have filed, or in the future may file, with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act.

 

12

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risks described below, in addition to the risk factors included in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in the Exchange Notes. The risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or not presently deemed material by us, may also impair our operations and performance.

Risks Related to the Exchange Offer

If you fail to exchange your Restricted Notes, they will continue to be restricted securities and may become less liquid.

Restricted Notes that you do not validly tender or that we do not accept will, following the exchange offer, continue to be restricted securities, and you may not offer to sell them except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We will issue the Exchange Notes in exchange for the Restricted Notes in the exchange offer only following the satisfaction of the procedures and conditions set forth in “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes.” Because we anticipate that most holders of the Restricted Notes will elect to exchange their outstanding Restricted Notes, we expect that the liquidity of the market for the Restricted Notes remaining after the completion of the exchange offer will be substantially limited, which may have an adverse effect upon and increase the volatility of the market price of the outstanding Restricted Notes. Any Restricted Notes tendered and exchanged in the exchange offer will reduce the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Restricted Notes at maturity. Further, following the exchange offer, if you did not exchange your Restricted Notes, you generally will not have any further registration rights, and Restricted Notes will continue to be subject to certain transfer restrictions.

Broker-dealers may need to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

Any broker-dealer that (1) exchanges its Restricted Notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes or (2) resells Exchange Notes that were received by it for its own account in the exchange offer may be deemed to have received restricted securities and will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction by that broker-dealer. Any profit on the resale of the Exchange Notes and any commission or concessions received by a broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.

You may not receive the Exchange Notes in the exchange offer if the exchange offer procedures are not validly followed.

We will issue the Exchange Notes in exchange for your Restricted Notes only if you validly tender such Restricted Notes before expiration of the exchange offer. Neither we nor the exchange agent is under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of the Restricted Notes for exchange. If you are the beneficial holder of Restricted Notes that are held through your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender such Restricted Notes in the exchange offer, you should promptly contact the person through whom your Restricted Notes are held and instruct that person to tender the Restricted Notes on your behalf.

 

13

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes pursuant to the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the Exchange Notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange a like principal amount of Restricted Notes, the terms of which are identical to the Exchange Notes. Because the Restricted Notes surrendered in exchange for the Exchange Notes will be retired and cancelled and cannot be reissued, the issuance of the Exchange Notes will not result in any change in our capitalization. We have agreed to bear the expenses of the exchange offer. No underwriter is being used in connection with the exchange offer.

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFER

Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer

We issued $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Restricted Notes in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act on November 4, 2021. We issued the Restricted Notes, and will issue the Exchange Notes, under a base indenture, dated as of November 6, 2018, between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor-in-interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee, as supplemented by a fourth supplemental indenture thereto dated as of November 4, 2021. We refer to the indenture and the fourth supplemental indenture collectively as the “indenture” and to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor-in-interest to U.S. Bank National Association) as the “trustee.” In connection with such issuance, we entered into a registration rights agreement, which requires that we file this registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the exchange offer and, upon the effectiveness of this registration statement, offer to you the opportunity to exchange your Restricted Notes for a like principal amount of Exchange Notes.

Under the registration rights agreement, we agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the Restricted Notes, to:

 

•

file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with the SEC with respect to a registered offer to exchange the Restricted Notes for the Exchange Notes having terms identical to the Restricted Notes being exchanged (except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the Restricted Notes will not apply to the Exchange Notes, and the Exchange Notes will not provide for the payment of additional interest in the event of a Registration Default);

 

•

use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously, supplemented and amended, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Act is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities; and

 

•

use commercially reasonable effort to cause the exchange offer to be consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective, but in no event later than 365 days after the initial issuance of the Restricted Notes (or if such 365th day is not a business day, the next succeeding business day).

We also agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and to keep the exchange offer open for not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to consummate the exchange offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 business days after the commencement of the exchange offer.

If there is a Registration Default, the interest rate borne by the Restricted Notes will be increase by 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default and will increase by an additional 0.25% per annum on the principal amount of Restricted Notes with respect to the subsequent 90-day period, for a maximum of 0.50% per annum as set forth in the registration rights agreement. Additional Interest due pursuant to Registration Defaults will be paid in cash on the relevant interest payment date to holders of record on the relevant regular record date. . Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Restricted Notes, the interest rate borne by the Restricted Notes will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by Restricted Notes; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Restricted Notes will again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

If we are not able to effect the exchange offer, we will be obligated to file a shelf registration statement covering the resale of the Notes and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become or be declared effective.

 

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The Exchange Notes will be issued without a restrictive legend, and except as set forth below, you may resell or otherwise transfer them without registration under the Securities Act. After we complete the exchange offer, our obligation to register the exchange of Exchange Notes for Restricted Notes will terminate. A copy of the registration rights agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties unrelated to us, including Exxon Capital Holdings Corp., SEC no-action letter (April 13, 1988), Morgan, Stanley & Co. Inc., SEC no-action letter (June 5, 1991) and Shearman & Sterling, SEC no-action letter (July 2, 1993), subject to the limitations described in the succeeding three paragraphs, we believe that you may resell or otherwise transfer the Exchange Notes issued to you in the exchange offer without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. Our belief, however, is based on your representations to us that:

 

•

you are acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of your business;

 

•

you are not engaging in and do not intend to engage in a distribution of the Exchange Notes;

 

•

you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes;

 

•

you are not our “affiliate” under the Securities Act;

 

•

you are not a broker-dealer tendering Restricted Notes acquired directly from us for your own account; and

 

•

you are not acting on behalf of any person that could not truthfully make these representations.

If you cannot make the representations described above, you may not participate in the exchange offer, you may not rely on the staff’s interpretations discussed above, and you must comply with registration and the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in order to resell your Restricted Notes except in a transaction exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in the exchange offer for Restricted Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities must represent that such Restricted notes were not purchased from the Company or any of its affiliates and must acknowledge that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale or other transfer of the Exchange Notes received in the exchange offer. See “Plan of Distribution.”

We have not sought a no-action letter in connection with the exchange offer, however, and we cannot assure you that the staff would make a similar determination with respect to the exchange offer.

If you are not eligible to participate in the exchange offer, you can elect to have your Restricted Notes registered for resale on a “shelf” registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In the event that we are obligated to file a shelf registration statement, we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the shelf registration statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended for so long as such Restricted Notes remain registrable securities under the registration rights agreement. Other than as set forth in this paragraph, you will not have the right to require us to register your Restricted Notes under the Securities Act. See “—Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes.”

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

If you do not participate or validly tender your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer:

 

•

you will retain your Restricted Notes that are not registered under the Securities Act and they will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer that are described in the legend on the Restricted Notes;

 

16

•

you will not be able to require us to register your Restricted Notes under the Securities Act unless, as set forth above, you do not receive freely tradable Exchange Notes in the exchange offer or are not eligible to participate in the exchange offer, and we are obligated to file a shelf registration statement;

 

•

you will not be able to resell or otherwise transfer your Restricted Notes except in a transaction exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and

 

•

the trading market for your Restricted Notes will become more limited to the extent that other holders of Restricted Notes participate in the exchange offer.

Terms of the Exchange Offer

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, we will accept any and all Restricted Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer. We will issue $1,000 principal amount of the Exchange Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of the Restricted Notes accepted in the exchange offer. You may tender some or all of your Restricted Notes pursuant to the exchange offer; however, Restricted Notes may be tendered only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Exchange Notes issued to you in the exchange offer will be delivered by credit to the accounts at DTC of the applicable DTC participants.

The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are identical to those of the Restricted Notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the Restricted Notes will not apply to the Exchange Notes, and the Exchange Notes will not provide for the payment of additional interest in the event of a Registration Default. In addition, the Exchange Notes will bear a different CUSIP number than the Restricted Notes (except for Restricted Notes sold pursuant to the shelf registration statement described above). The Exchange Notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same indenture that authorized the issuance of the Restricted Notes.

As of the date of this prospectus, $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Restricted Notes are outstanding and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. This prospectus, together with the letter of transmittal, is being provided to the registered holder and to others believed to have beneficial interests in the Restricted Notes. We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Securities Act.

We will be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Restricted Notes if and when we have given oral (any such oral notice to be promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice of our acceptance to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, the exchange agent for the exchange offer. The exchange agent will act as our agent for the purpose of receiving from us the Exchange Notes for the tendering noteholders. If we do not accept any tendered Restricted Notes because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth in this prospectus or otherwise, we will return such Restricted Notes by credit to the accounts at DTC of the applicable DTC participants, without expense, to the tendering noteholder as promptly as practicable after the expiration date of the exchange offer.

You will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or transfer taxes, except as set forth under “—Transfer Taxes,” with respect to the exchange of your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes, in connection with the exchange offer. See “—Fees and Expenses.”

Expiration Date; Extension; Amendment

The expiration date for the exchange offer will be 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                 , 2022, unless we determine, in our sole discretion, to extend the exchange offer, in which case it will expire at the later

 

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date and time to which it is extended. We reserve the right to extend the exchange offer but do not currently intend to do so. If we extend the exchange offer, we may delay acceptance of any Restricted Notes by giving oral (any such oral notice to be promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice of the extension to the exchange agent and give each registered holder of Restricted Notes notice by means of a press release or other public announcement of any extension prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the scheduled expiration date.

We also reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

 

•

to accept tendered Restricted Notes upon the expiration of the exchange offer, and extend the exchange offer with respect to untendered Restricted Notes;

 

•

subject to applicable law, to delay accepting any Restricted Notes, to extend the exchange offer or to terminate the exchange offer if, in our reasonable judgment, any of the conditions set forth under “—Conditions” have not been satisfied or waived, to terminate the exchange offer by giving oral (any such oral notice to be promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice of such delay or termination to the exchange agent; or

 

•

to amend or waive the terms and conditions of the exchange offer in any manner by complying with Rule 14e-l(d) under the Exchange Act, to the extent that rule applies.

We will notify you as promptly as we can of any extension, termination or amendment. In addition, we acknowledge and undertake to comply with the provisions of Rule 14e-l(c) under the Exchange Act, which requires us to issue the Exchange Notes, or return the Restricted Notes tendered for exchange, promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the exchange offer.

Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes

The Restricted Notes are represented by global securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities are held by direct or indirect participants in DTC through certificateless depositary interests and are shown on, and transfers of these interests are effected only through, records maintained in book-entry form by DTC with respect to its participants. You are not entitled to receive certificated Restricted Notes in exchange for your beneficial interest in these global securities except in limited circumstances described in “Description of the Exchange Notes—Book-Entry Procedures.”

Accordingly, you must tender your Restricted Notes pursuant to DTC’s ATOP procedures. As the DTC’s ATOP system is the only method of processing exchange offers through DTC, you must instruct a participant in DTC to transmit to the exchange agent on or prior to the expiration date for the exchange offer a computer-generated message transmitted by means of the ATOP system and received by the exchange agent and forming a part of a confirmation of book-entry transfer, in which you acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, instead of sending a signed, hard copy letter of transmittal. DTC is obligated to communicate those electronic instructions to the exchange agent. To tender Restricted Notes through the ATOP system, the electronic instructions sent to DTC and transmitted by DTC to the exchange agent must contain the character by which the participant acknowledges its receipt of, and agrees to be bound by, the letter of transmittal, including the representations to us described above under “—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer,” and be received by the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

If you hold Restricted Notes through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, other financial institution or other nominee, each referred to herein as an “intermediary,” and you wish to tender your Restricted Notes, you should contact such intermediary promptly and instruct such intermediary to tender on your behalf. So long as the Restricted Notes are in book-entry form represented by global securities, Restricted Notes may only be tendered by your intermediary pursuant to DTC’s ATOP procedures.

 

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If you tender a Restricted Note and you do not properly withdraw the tender prior to the expiration date, you will have made an agreement with us to participate in the exchange offer in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions regarding the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Restricted Notes. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all Restricted Notes not validly tendered or any Restricted Notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to certain Restricted Notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties.

You must cure any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of your Restricted Notes within the time period that we determine unless we waive that defect or irregularity. Although we intend to notify you of defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of Restricted Notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give this notification. Your tender will not be deemed to have been made and your Restricted Notes will be returned to you unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, as soon as practicable following the expiration of the exchange offer, if:

 

•

you invalidly tender your Restricted Notes;

 

•

you have not cured any defects or irregularities in your tender; and

 

•

we have not waived those defects, irregularities or invalid tender.

In addition, we reserve the right in our sole discretion to:

 

•

purchase or make offers for, or offer Exchange Notes for, any Restricted Notes that remain outstanding subsequent to the expiration of the exchange offer;

 

•

terminate the exchange offer; and

 

•

to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase Restricted Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.

The terms of any of these purchases of or offers for Restricted Notes could differ from the terms of the exchange offer.

In all cases, the issuance of Exchange Notes for Restricted Notes that are accepted for exchange in the exchange offer will be made only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of a timely book-entry confirmation of your Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC, a computer-generated message instead of the letter of transmittal, and all other required documents. If any tendered Restricted Notes are not accepted for any reason set forth in the terms and conditions of the exchange offer or if Restricted Notes are submitted for a greater principal amount than you indicate your desire to exchange, the unaccepted or non-exchanged Restricted Notes, or Restricted Notes in substitution therefor, will be returned without expense to you by credit to the accounts at DTC of the applicable DTC participant, as promptly as practicable after rejection of tender or the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

Book-Entry Transfer

The exchange agent will make a request to establish an account with respect to the Restricted Notes at DTC for purposes of the exchange offer after the date of this prospectus, and any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s systems may make book-entry delivery of Restricted Notes being tendered by causing DTC to transfer such Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer.

 

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Any DTC participant wishing to tender Restricted Notes in the exchange offer (whether on its own behalf or on behalf of the beneficial owner of Restricted Notes) should transmit its acceptance to DTC sufficiently far in advance of the expiration of the exchange offer so as to permit DTC to take the following actions prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. DTC will verify such acceptance, execute a book-entry transfer of the tendered Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC and then send to the exchange agent a confirmation of such book-entry transfer. The confirmation of such book-entry transfer will include a confirmation that such DTC participant acknowledges and agrees (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any beneficial owner of the applicable Restricted Notes) to be bound by the letter of transmittal. All of the foregoing, together with any other required documents, must be delivered to and received by the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

No Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

Guaranteed delivery procedures are not available in connection with the exchange offer.

Withdrawal Rights

You may withdraw tenders of your Restricted Notes at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer.

For your withdrawal to be effective, the exchange agent must receive an electronic ATOP transmission of the notice of withdrawal at its address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent,” prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

The notice of withdrawal must:

 

•

specify the name and DTC account number of the DTC participant that tendered such Restricted Notes;

 

•

specify the principal amount of Restricted Notes to be withdrawn;

 

•

specify the name and account number of the DTC participant to which the withdrawn Restricted Notes should be credited; and

 

•

contain a statement that the holder is withdrawing its election to have the Restricted Notes exchanged.

We will determine all questions regarding the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of withdrawal notices. Our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any Restricted Notes that have been withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer. Any Restricted Notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are withdrawn and not exchanged will be returned by credit to the account at DTC of the applicable DTC participant without cost as soon as practicable after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Restricted Notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described under “—Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes” above at any time on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

No Appraisal or Dissenters’ Rights

You do not have any appraisal or dissenters’ rights in connection with the exchange offer.

Conditions

Notwithstanding any other provision of the exchange offer, and subject to our obligations under the registration rights agreement, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue Exchange Notes in

 

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exchange for, any Restricted Notes and may terminate or amend the exchange offer, if at any time before the acceptance of any Restricted Notes for exchange any one of the following events occurs:

 

•

any injunction, order or decree has been issued by any court or any governmental agency that would prohibit, prevent or otherwise materially impair our ability to complete the exchange offer; or

 

•

the exchange offer violates any applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC.

These conditions are for our sole benefit, and we may assert them regardless of the circumstances giving rise to them, subject to applicable law. We also may waive in whole or in part at any time and from time to time any particular condition in our sole discretion. If we waive a condition, we may be required, in order to comply with applicable securities laws, to extend the expiration date of the exchange offer. Our failure at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of these rights, and these rights will be deemed ongoing rights which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any Restricted Notes validly tendered, and no Exchange Notes will be issued in exchange for any tendered Restricted Notes, if, at the time the Restricted Notes are tendered, any stop order is threatened by the SEC or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

The exchange offer is not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Restricted Notes being tendered for exchange.

Exchange Agent

We have appointed U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association as exchange agent for the exchange offer. Questions, requests for assistance and requests for additional copies of this prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal and other related documents should be directed to the exchange agent addressed as follows:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Exchange Agent

By Registered or Certified Mail, Overnight Delivery on or before

5:00 p.m. New York City Time on the Expiration Date:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

Attn: Corporate Actions

111 Fillmore Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55107-1402

For Information or Confirmation by Telephone Call:

(800) 934-6802

By Email or Facsimile Transmission (for Eligible Institutions only):

Email: cts.specfinance@usbank.com

Facsimile: (651) 466-7367

DELIVERY OF A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSION OF SUCH LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VIA FACSIMILE OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

The exchange agent also acts as the trustee under the indenture.

Fees and Expenses

We will not pay brokers, dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. The principal solicitation is being made by mail. Additional solicitations, however, may be made in person, by email or by telephone by our officers and employees.

 

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We will pay the estimated cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer. These are estimated in the aggregate to be approximately $[●], which includes fees and expenses of the exchange agent and accounting, legal, printing and related fees and expenses.

Transfer Taxes

You will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection with a tender of your Restricted Notes unless Exchange Notes are to be registered in the name of, or Restricted Notes (or any portion thereof) not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer are to be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder of the Restricted Notes, in which event the registered tendering holder will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax. In addition, tendering holders will be responsible for any transfer tax imposed for any reason other than the transfer of Restricted Notes to, or upon the order of, us pursuant to the exchange offer.

Accounting Treatment

We will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes upon the consummation of the exchange offer. We will amortize the expense of the exchange offer over the term of the Exchange Notes under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”).

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES

The Restricted Notes are, and the Exchange Notes will be, governed by the indenture. An indenture is a contract between us and the financial institution acting as trustee on your behalf. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described under “—Events of Default—Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs” below. Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us with respect to the Notes.

This section includes a summary description of the material terms of the Notes and the indenture. Because this section is a summary, however, it does not describe every aspect of the Notes and the indenture. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of the Notes. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus for information on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.

General

The Notes will mature on May 1, 2027. The principal payable at maturity will be 100% of the aggregate principal amount. The interest rate of the Notes is 3.75% per year and will be paid semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing May 1, 2022, and the regular record dates for interest payments will be every April 15 and October 15, commencing April 15, 2022. If an interest payment date falls on a non-business day, the applicable interest payment will be made on the next business day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.

We issued the Restricted Notes, and will issue the Exchange Notes, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt (including secured debt) that may be issued by us or our subsidiaries under the indenture or otherwise, but does contain a covenant regarding our asset coverage that would have to be satisfied at the time of our incurrence of additional indebtedness. See “—Covenants” and “—Events of Default” below. The indenture does not otherwise contain any financial covenants or restrict us from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our other securities other than as described in “—Covenants” below. Other than restrictions described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Asset Sale” and “—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event” below, the indenture does not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or if our credit rating declines as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect your investment in the Notes.

We may, without the consent of the holders of the Notes, issue additional notes under the indenture with the same terms (except for the issue date, offering price, and if applicable, the initial interest payment date) and with the same CUSIP numbers as the Notes offered hereby in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that such additional notes must be treated as part of the same issue as the Notes offered hereby for federal income tax purposes. In addition, we have the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from the Notes.

We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange or automated dealer quotation system.

Optional Redemption

The Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at our option, upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days written notice by mail prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof, at a redemption price (as determined by us) equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date: (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption) on the Notes to be redeemed, discounted to

 

23

the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using the applicable Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points; provided, however, that if we redeem any Notes on or after February 1, 2027 (the date falling three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), the redemption price for the Notes will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption; provided, further, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $2,000.

You may be prevented from exchanging or transferring the Notes when they are subject to redemption. In case any Notes are held in certificate form and are to be redeemed in part only, the redemption notice will provide that, upon surrender of such Note, you will receive, without a charge, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations representing the principal amount of your remaining unredeemed Notes. Any exercise of our option to redeem the Notes will be done in compliance with the indenture, the terms of our Credit Facility and, to the extent applicable, the 1940 Act.

If we redeem only some of the Notes, the trustee or, with respect to global securities, DTC will determine the method for selection of the particular Notes to be redeemed, in accordance with the indenture and the 1940 Act, to the extent applicable. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption.

For purposes of calculating the redemption price in connection with the redemption of the Notes, on any redemption date, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financing practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes being redeemed.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Quotation Agent” means a Reference Treasury Dealer selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of any four primary U.S. government securities dealers selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date. All determinations made by any Reference Treasury Dealer, including the Quotation Agent, with respect to determining the redemption price will be final and binding absent manifest error.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield-to-maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the redemption), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The redemption price and the Treasury Rate will be determined by us.

 

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Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the Notes in full, we will make an offer to each holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount) of that holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, we will mail a notice to each holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed.

The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes by virtue of such conflict.

On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, subject to extension if necessary to comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act, we will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1)

accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to our offer;

 

(2)

deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

 

(3)

deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by us.

The paying agent will promptly remit to each holder of Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

We will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

The source of funds that will be required to repurchase Notes in the event of a Change of Control Repurchase Event will be our available cash or cash generated from our operations or other potential sources, including funds provided by a purchaser in the Change of Control transaction, borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. We cannot assure you that sufficient funds from such sources will be available at the time of any Change of Control Repurchase Event to make required repurchases of Notes tendered. The terms of our Credit Facility also provide that certain change of control events will constitute an event of default thereunder entitling the lenders to accelerate any indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility at that time and to terminate the Credit Facility. Our and our subsidiaries’ future financing facilities may contain similar provisions or other restrictions. Our failure to purchase such tendered Notes upon the occurrence of such Change of Control

 

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Repurchase Event would cause an event of default under the indenture governing the Notes and a cross-default under the Credit Facility, which may result in the acceleration of such indebtedness requiring us to repay that indebtedness immediately. If the holders of the Notes exercise their right to require us to repurchase Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the financial effect of this repurchase could cause a default under our future debt instruments, even if the Change of Control Repurchase Event itself would not cause a default. It is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the Change of Control Repurchase Event to make the required repurchase of the Notes and/or our other debt.

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our properties or assets and those of our subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise, established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of Notes to require us to repurchase the Notes as a result of a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.

For purposes of the Notes:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Notes are downgraded below Investment Grade by the Rating Agency on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that results in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by the Rating Agency); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agency does not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing at its request (acting at the direction of holders of a majority in Principal amount of the Notes) that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)

the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation) in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of Gladstone Capital Corporation and its Controlled Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to any Permitted Holders; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of Gladstone Capital Corporation or its Controlled Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be any such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition;

 

(2)

the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holders) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Gladstone Capital Corporation, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

 

(3)

the approval by Gladstone Capital Corporation’s stockholders of any plan or proposal relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Gladstone Capital Corporation.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

 

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“Controlled Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of Gladstone Capital Corporation, 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned by Gladstone Capital Corporation and its direct or indirect subsidiaries and of which Gladstone Capital Corporation possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting equity interests, by agreement or otherwise.

“Egan-Jones” means Egan-Jones Ratings Company or any successor thereto.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Egan-Jones (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Egan-Jones) (or, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of our control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by us as a replacement Rating Agency).

“Permitted Holders” means (i) us, (ii) one or more of our Controlled Subsidiaries or (iii) the Adviser, any affiliate of the Adviser or any entity that is managed or advised by the Adviser or any of their affiliates.

“Rating Agency” means:

 

(1)

Egan-Jones; and

 

(2)

if Egan-Jones ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section (3)(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by us as a replacement agency for Egan-Jones.

“Voting Stock” as applied to stock of any person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

Global Securities

Each Note will be issued in book-entry form and represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of DTC or its nominee. A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all the Notes represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. For more information about these arrangements, see “ —Book- Entry Procedures” below.

Termination of a Global Security

If a global security is terminated for any reason, interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-book- entry form (certificated securities). After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the certificated Notes directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders.

Conversion and Exchange

The Notes are not convertible into or exchangeable for other securities.

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay interest to the person listed in the trustee’s records as the owner of the Notes at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the Note

 

27

on the interest due date. That day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “record date.” Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling the Notes must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the Notes to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. This prorated interest amount is called “accrued interest.”

Payments on Global Securities

We will make payments on the Notes so long as they are represented by a global security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants, as described under “ —Book-Entry Procedures” below.

Payments on Certificated Securities

In the event the Notes become represented by certificated securities, we will make payments on the Notes as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date to the holder of the Notes as shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, by check at the office of the applicable trustee in St. Paul, Minnesota and/or at other offices that may be specified in the indenture or a notice to holders against surrender of the Note.

Alternatively, if the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the due date. To request payment by wire, the holder must give the applicable trustee or other paying agent appropriate transfer instructions at least 15 business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

Payment When Offices Are Closed

If any payment is due on the Notes on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments made on the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date. Such payment will not result in a default under the Notes or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the payment amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on the Notes.

Events of Default

You will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the Notes and the Event of Default is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

The term “Event of Default” in respect of the Notes means any of the following:

 

•

We do not pay the principal of (or premium on, if any) any Note when due and payable at maturity;

 

•

We do not pay interest on any Note when due and payable, and such default is not cured within 30 days of its due date;

 

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•

We remain in breach of any other covenant in respect of the Notes for 60 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach (the notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes);

 

•

We file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur and remain undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or

 

•

On the last business day of each of twenty-four consecutive calendar months, the Notes have an asset coverage (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of less than 100%.

An Event of Default for the Notes may, but does not necessarily, constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the same or any other indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the Notes of any default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if it in good faith considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, then and in every case (other than an Event of Default specified in the penultimate bullet point above), the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes may declare the entire principal amount of all the Notes to be due and immediately payable, but this does not entitle any holder of Notes to any redemption payout or redemption premium. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of the events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in the penultimate bullet point above, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes will automatically become due and payable. In certain circumstances, a declaration of acceleration of maturity pursuant to either of the prior two sentences may be canceled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes if (1) we have deposited with the trustee all amounts due and owing with respect to the Notes (other than principal or any payment that has become due solely by reason of such acceleration) and certain other amounts, and (2) any other Events of Default have been cured or waived.

Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee protection from expenses and liability reasonably satisfactory to it (called an “indemnity”). If indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.

Before you are allowed to bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the Notes, the following must occur:

 

•

You must give the trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured;

 

•

The holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all the Notes must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer the trustee indemnity, security, or both reasonably satisfactory to it against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action;

 

•

The trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity and/or security; and

 

•

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes must not have given the trustee a direction inconsistent with the above notice during that 60-day period.

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your Notes on or after the due date.

 

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Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of maturity.

Each year, we will furnish to the trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the Notes, or else specifying any default.

Waiver of Default

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may waive any past defaults other than a default:

 

•

in the payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest; or

 

•

in respect of a covenant that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder of the Notes.

Merger, Consolidation or Asset Sale

Under the terms of the indenture, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We are also permitted to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

 

•

where we merge out of existence or convey or transfer all or substantially all of our assets, the resulting entity must agree to be legally responsible for our obligations under the Notes;

 

•

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

•

we must deliver certain certificates and documents to the trustee.

An assumption by any person of obligations under the Notes and the indenture might be deemed for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be an exchange of the Notes for new Notes by the holders thereof, resulting in recognition of gain or loss for such purposes and possibly other adverse tax consequences to the holders. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such an assumption.

Modification or Waiver

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture and the Notes issued thereunder.

Changes Requiring Your Approval

First, there are changes that we cannot make to your Notes without your specific approval. The following is a list of those types of changes:

 

•

change the stated maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or any installment of principal of or interest on the Notes;

 

•

reduce any amounts due on the Notes or reduce the rate of interest on the Notes;

 

•

reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of a Note following a default;

 

•

change the place or currency of payment on a Note;

 

•

impair your right to sue for payment;

 

•

reduce the percentage of holders of Notes whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture; and

 

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•

reduce the percentage of holders of Notes whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults or reduce the percentage of holders of Notes required to satisfy quorum or voting requirements at a meeting of holders of the Notes.

Changes Not Requiring Approval

The second type of change does not require any vote by the holders of the Notes. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the Notes in any material respect.

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to the indenture and the Notes would require the following approval:

 

•

if the change affects only the Notes, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes; and

 

•

if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the same indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series affected by the change, with all affected series voting together as one class for this purpose.

In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent. The holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series of debt securities issued under the indenture, voting together as one class for this purpose, may waive our compliance with some of our covenants in that indenture.

However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or of any of the matters covered by the bullet points included above under “—Changes Requiring Your Approval.”

Further Details Concerning Voting

When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal to attribute to the Notes:

The Notes will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption or if we or any affiliate of ours own any Notes. The Notes will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “—Defeasance—Full Defeasance” below.

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of the Notes that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. However, the record date may not be earlier than 30 days before the date of the first solicitation of holders to vote on or take such action and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of the Notes, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of the Notes on the record date and must be taken within eleven months following the record date.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the Notes or request a waiver.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect with respect to the Notes when:

 

•

Either

 

•

all the Notes that have been authenticated have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

31

•

all the Notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation:

 

•

have become due and payable, or

 

•

will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or

 

•

are to be called for redemption within one year,

and we, in the case of the first, second and third sub-bullets above, have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, in amounts as will be sufficient, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness (including all principal, premium, if any, and interest) on such Notes not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

•

we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the indenture with respect to the Notes; and

 

•

we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and legal opinion, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture and the Notes have been complied with.

Defeasance

The following provisions will be applicable to the Notes. “Defeasance” means that, by depositing with a trustee an amount of cash and/or government securities sufficient to pay all principal and interest, if any, on the Notes when due and satisfying any additional conditions noted below, we will be deemed to have been discharged from our obligations under the Notes. In the event of a “covenant defeasance,” upon depositing such funds and satisfying similar conditions discussed below we would be released from certain covenants under the indenture relating to the Notes.

Covenant Defeasance

Under the indenture, we can make the deposit described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture under which the Notes were issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay your Notes. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, the following must occur:

 

•

Since the Notes are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of the Notes a combination of cash and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates;

 

•

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that, under current U.S. federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the Notes any differently than if we did not make the deposit;

 

•

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the 1940 Act, and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to covenant defeasance have been complied with;

 

•

Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or result in a default under, the indenture or any of our other material agreements or instruments; and

 

•

No default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing and no defaults or events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization shall occur during the next 90 days.

 

32

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the Notes if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. In fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred (such as our bankruptcy) and the Notes became immediately due and payable, there might be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

Full Defeasance

The Notes are subject to full defeasance. Full defeasance means that we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the Notes, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including, but not limited to that (a) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) a ruling, or (b) there is a change in U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that the holders of the Notes and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred (called “full defeasance”), and that we put in place the following other arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

•

Since the Notes are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of the Notes a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates;

 

•

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change in current U.S. federal tax law or an IRS ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the Notes any differently than if we did not make the deposit;

 

•

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the 1940 Act, and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to defeasance have been complied with;

 

•

Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any of our other material agreements or instruments; and

 

•

No default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing and no defaults or events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization shall occur during the next 90 days.

If we ever did accomplish full defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the Notes. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall.

Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became bankrupt or insolvent.

Covenants

In addition to standard covenants relating to payment of principal and interest, maintaining an office where payments may be made or securities can be surrendered for payment and related matters, the following covenants will apply to the Notes:

 

•

We agree that for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, we will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, whether or not we continue to be subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act. Currently, these provisions generally prohibit us from incurring additional debt or issuing additional debt or preferred securities, unless our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 150% after such incurrence or issuance.

 

33

•

We will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions thereto of the 1940 Act giving effect to any no-action relief granted by the SEC to another BDC and upon which we may reasonably rely (or to us if we determine to seek such similar no-action or other relief) permitting the BDC to declare any cash dividend or distribution notwithstanding the prohibition contained in Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act in order to maintain such BDC’s status as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. These provisions generally prohibit us from declaring any cash dividend or distribution upon any class of our capital stock, or purchasing any such capital stock if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is below 150% at the time of the declaration of the dividend or distribution or the purchase and after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase.

 

•

If, at any time, we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the SEC, we agree to furnish to holders of the Notes and the trustee, for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, our audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 90 days of our fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 45 days of our fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP.

Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities

If registered Notes cease to be issued in book-entry form, they will be issued:

 

•

only in fully registered certificated form;

 

•

without interest coupons; and

 

•

unless we indicate otherwise, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Holders may exchange their certificated securities for Notes of smaller denominations or combined into fewer Notes of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed and as long as the denomination is equal to or greater than $2,000.

Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities at the office of the trustee. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering Notes in the names of holders transferring Notes. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their certificated securities, but they may be required to pay any tax (including a withholding tax) or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.

We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If any certificated securities of a particular series are redeemable and we redeem less than all the Notes, we may block the transfer or exchange of those Notes selected for redemption during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any certificated Notes selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any Note that will be partially redeemed.

If registered Notes are issued in book-entry form, only the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the Notes as described in this subsection, since it will be the sole holder of the Notes.

 

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Resignation of Trustee

The trustee may resign or be removed with respect to the Notes provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to the Notes. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of indenture securities under the indenture, each of the trustees will be a trustee of a trust separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee.

Governing Law

The indenture and the Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Indenture Provisions—Ranking

The Notes will be our direct unsecured obligations and will rank:

 

•

pari passu with our existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness, including the 2026 Notes;

 

•

senior to any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future;

 

•

senior to any of our future indebtedness that expressly provides it is subordinated to the Notes; and

 

•

effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness (including indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and

 

•

structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of any of our subsidiaries and any other future subsidiaries of the Company, including, without limitation, borrowings under the Credit Facility.

The Trustee under the Indenture

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor-in-interest to U.S. Bank National Association) serves as the trustee, paying agent, and security registrar under the indenture.

Book-Entry Procedures

The Notes will be represented by global securities that will be deposited and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. This means that, except in limited circumstances, you will not receive certificates for the Notes.

Beneficial interests in the Notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the Notes through either DTC, if they are a participant, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in DTC.

The Notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One fully registered certificate will be issued for each issuance of the Notes, in the aggregate principal amount thereof, and will be deposited with DTC. Interests in the Notes will trade in DTC’s Same Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such Notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. None of Gladstone Capital, the trustee or the paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

35

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments from over 100 countries that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”).

DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). DTC has a Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services’ rating of AA+. The DTC Rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.

Purchases of the Notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security, or the “Beneficial Owner,” is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the Notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the Notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Notes within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.

Redemption proceeds, distributions, and interest payments on the Notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the

 

36

trustee on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC nor its nominee, the trustee, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions, and interest payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the trustee, but disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the Notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or to the trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, certificates are required to be printed and delivered. We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.

 

37

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for Restricted Notes where such Restricted Notes were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities (other than Restricted Notes acquired directly from the Company) may exchange such Notes for Exchange Notes in the exchange offer. However, such broker-dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale or other transfer of such Exchange Notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by such a broker-dealer in connection with resales or other transfers of such Exchange Notes. To the extent any such broker-dealer participates in the exchange offer, we have agreed that, for a period of up to 180 days after the completion of the exchange offer, upon request of such broker-dealer, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to such broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resales or other transfers of Exchange Notes, and will deliver as many additional copies of this prospectus and each amendment or supplement to this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus as such broker-dealer may reasonably request.

We will not receive any proceeds from any resales or other transfers of Exchange Notes by such broker-dealers. Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealers for their own accounts pursuant to the exchange offer may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Notes or a combination of these methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Notes. Any such broker-dealer that resells Exchange Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” of the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The accompanying Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, such broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” of the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information contained under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II. Item 7 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Item 2 of our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is incorporated by reference herein.

SENIOR SECURITIES

The information contained under the caption “Senior Securities” in Part II. Item 5 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

BUSINESS

The information contained under the caption “Business” in Part I. Item 1 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The information in “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 and “Financial Statements (Unaudited)” in Part I, Item 1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 is incorporated herein by reference.

PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2021, regarding each portfolio company in which we had a debt or equity security as of such date. All such investments have been made in accordance with our investment objectives and strategies and our investment policies and procedures described in this prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, we may not acquire any non-qualifying assets unless, at the time such acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of our total assets. As of December 31, 2021, our investments in Leeds Novamark Capital I, L.P. and Funko Acquisition Holdings, LLC was considered a non-qualifying asset under Section 55 of the 1940 Act and represented 1.1% of total investments, at fair value.

 

Company		Industry		Investment		Percentage of Class Held on a Fully Diluted Basis				Cost				Fair Value
										(Dollar amounts in thousands) (unaudited)
NON-CONTROL/NON-AFFILIATE INVESTMENTS
Proprietary Investments:
ALS Education, LLC 5850 T.G. Lee Blvd. Suite 345 Orlando, FL 32822		Healthcare, Education and Childcare		Secured First Lien Line of Credit						$	—			$	—
				Secured First Lien Debt							20,350				20,375
Antenna Research Associates, Inc.		Aerospace and Defense		Secured First Lien Debt							11,718				11,718
11850 Baltimore Ave, Suite H Beltsville, MD 20705				Common Equity Units			30.86	%			4,283				13,609
Arc Drilling Holdings LLC 9551 Corporate Circle Valley View, OH 44125		Machinery		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							125				122
				Secured First Lien Debt							5,793				5,591
				Common Stock			16.67	%			1,500				52
Belnick, Inc. 4350 Ball Ground Hwy Canton, GA 30114		Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares and Durable Consumer Products		Secured Second Lien Debt							10,000				10,000
B+T Group Acquisition Inc. 1717 Boulder Ave #3000 Tulsa, OK 74119		Telecommunications		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							1,200				1,179
				Secured First Lien Debt							6,000				5,895
				Preferred Stock			27.6	%			2,024				5,696
				Common Stock Warrant			1.5	%			—				331
Café Zupas		Beverage, Food and Tobacco		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							—				—
460 W Universal Circle Sandy, UT 84070				Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan							1,970				1,980
				Secured First Lien Debt							24,000				24,120
Chinese Yellow Pages Company		Printing and publishing		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							107				—
9550 Flair Drive Suite 200 El Monte, CA 91731
DKI Ventures, LLC		Diversified/conglomerate service		Secured First Lien Debt							5,804				4,975
25 Northwest Point Blvd Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

 

39

Company		Industry		Investment		Percentage of Class Held on a Fully Diluted Basis				Cost				Fair Value
										(Dollar amounts in thousands) (unaudited)
Eegee’s LLC		Beverage, Food and Tobacco		Secured First Lien Line of Credit						$	—			$	—
3360 E. Ajo Way Tucson, AZ 85713				Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan							—				—
				Secured First Lien Debt							17,000				16,958
EL Academies, Inc. 1650 Tysons Blvd Suite 630 McLean, VA 22102		Healthcare, Education, and Childcare		Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan							16,000				16,040
				Secured First Lien Debt							12,000				12,030
ENET Holdings, LLC 7201 I-40 West, Suite 319 Amarillo, TX 79106		Diversified/conglomerate service		Secured First Lien Debt							1,000				820
				Secured First Lien Debt							29,000				23,780
Engineering Manufacturing Technologies, LLC. 101 Delaware Ave Endicott, NY 13760.		Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							—				—
				Secured First Lien Debt							22,500				22,500
				Common Stock			33.33	%			3,000				3,000
FES Resources Holdings LLC		Oil and gas		Preferred Equity Units			55.95	%			6,350				—
PO Box 1694 Crowley, LA 70526				Common Equity Units			46.75	%			—				—
Fix-It Group, LLC 7700 East Arapahoe Rd, Suite 220 Centennial, CO 80112		Diversified/Conglomerate Service		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							—				—
				Secured First Lien Debt							10,000				10,000
				Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan							—				—
Frontier Financial Group, Inc. 1400 I Street NW, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20005		Diversified/conglomerate service		Unsecured Debt							198				66
				Preferred Stock			0.99	%			500				—
				Preferred Stock Warrant			0.22	%			—				—
Funko Acquisition Holdings, LLC 1202 Shuksan Way Everett, WA 98203		Personal and non-durable consumer products		Common Units			0.01	%			30				80
GFRC Holdings, LLC		Buildings and real estate		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							700				697
118 North Shiloh Road Garland, TX 75042				Secured First Lien Debt							1,000				996
				Preferred Stock			100.00	%			1,025				825
				Common Stock Warrants			45.00	%			—				—
Gray Matter Systems, LLC 100 Global View Drive Suite 200 Warrendale, PA 15086		Diversified/conglomerate service		Secured Second Lien Debt							8,065				8,120
GSM MidCo LLC 1650 Tysons Blvd Suite 630 McLean, VA 22102		Healthcare, Education, and Childcare		Common Stock			0.53	%			767				940
HH-Inspire Acquisition, Inc. 1010 South Federal Highway Delray Beach, FL 33483		Healthcare, Education and Childcare		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							—				—
				Secured First Lien Debt							16,000				16,000
				Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan							—				—
				Preferred Stock			3.50	%			750				750
Imperative Holdings Corporation		Oil and gas		Secured Second Lien Debt							25,934				24,184
201 W. Wall Street Midland, TX 79707				Preferred Equity Units			1.22	%			632				1,629
Leeds Novamark Capital I, L.P. 590 Madison Avenue, 41st Floor New York, NY 10022		Private equity fund — healthcare, education and childcare		Limited Partnership Interest			3.44	%			1,358				6,487
MCG Energy Solutions, LLC 901 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55402		Diversified/conglomerate service		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							—				—
				Secured First Lien Debt							20,274				19,767
				Preferred Stock			100.00	%			7,000				8,624

 

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Company		Industry		Investment		Percentage of Class Held on a Fully Diluted Basis				Cost				Fair Value
										(Dollar amounts in thousands) (unaudited)
NetFortris Corp.		Telecommunications		Secured First Lien Debt						$	27,586			$	27,871
5601 6th Ave S, Suite 201 Seattle, WA 98108				Preferred Stock			0.96	%			789				425
				Common Stock Warrant			2.48	%			1				—
Ohio Armor Holdings, LLC		Aerospace and Defense		Secured First Lien Debt							19,500				19,524
3500 N Ridge Road West Ashtabula, OH 44004				Common Equity			3.87	%			1,000				1,931
R2i Holdings, LLC 400 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201		Diversified/ conglomerate service		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							829				792
				Secured First Lien Debt							18,750				17,906
Sea Link International IRB, Inc.		Automobile		Secured Second Lien Debt							10,949				10,333
13151 66th St N Largo, FL 33773				Preferred Stock			1.96	%			98				133
				Common Equity Units			1.80	%			823				17
SpaceCo Holdings, LLC		Aerospace and Defense		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							1,600				1,604
1430 Amro Way South El Monte, CA 91733				Secured First Lien Debt							31,864				32,418
Springfield, Inc. 420 West Main Street Geneseo, IL 61254		Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing		Secured Second Lien Debt							30,000				30,000
Triple H Food Processors, LLC		Beverage, Food and Tobacco		Preferred Stock			5.69	%			75				106
5821 Wilderness Avenue Riverside, CA 92504				Common Stock			5.69	%			250				1,328
Turn Key Health Clinics, LLC 900 NW 12th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73106		Healthcare, Education and Childcare		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							500				500
				Secured First Lien Debt							11,000				11,000
Unirac, Inc. 1411 Broadway Boulevard NE Albuquerque, NM 87102		Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							627				628
				Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan							—				—
				Secured First Lien Debt							11,665				11,951
WorkforceQA, LLC 1430 S Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115		Diversified / Conglomerate Service		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							—				—
				Secured First Lien Debt							10,000				10,000
				Common Stock			3.25	%			500				500
Subtotal – Non-Control/ Non-Affiliate Proprietary Investments										$	474,363			$	478,903
Syndicated Investments:
8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc.		Beverage, Food and Tobacco		Secured Second Lien Debt							3,701				3,526
1335 Strassner Drive Brentwood, MO 63144
CHA Holdings, Inc. III Winners Circle PO Box 5269 Albany, NY 12205		Diversified/conglomerate service		Secured Second Lien Debt							2,961				2,760
CPM Holdings, Inc.		Machinery		Secured Second Lien Debt							798				795
2975 Airline Circle Waterloo, IA 50703
Keystone Acquisition Corp. 3204 McKnight E Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15237		Diversified/conglomerate service		Secured Second Lien Debt							3,957				3,840

 

41

Company		Industry		Investment		Percentage of Class Held on a Fully Diluted Basis				Cost				Fair Value
										(Dollar amounts in thousands) (unaudited)
Tailwind Smith Cooper Intermediate Corporation		Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing		Secured Second Lien Debt						$	4,808			$	4,769
2 Holland Way Exeter, NH 03833
Targus Cayman HoldCo, Ltd.		Textiles and leather		Common Stock			3.82	%			2,062				10,151
1211 North Miller Street Anaheim, CA 92806
Total Safety Holdings, LLC		Oil and gas		Common Equity			0.06	%			499				92
11111 Wilcrest Green Drive #300 Houston, TX 77042
Subtotal—Non-Control / Non-Affiliate Syndicated Investments										$	18,786			$	25,933
Total Non-Control/Non-Affiliate Investments (represented 87.6% of total investments at fair value)										$	493,149			$	504,836
AFFILIATE INVESTMENTS
Proprietary Investments:
Canopy Safety Brands, LLC 322 Industrial Court Concord, NC 28025		Personal and non-durable consumer products		Preferred Stock			7.85	%			500				754
				Common Stock			4.57	%			300				763
Edge Adhesives Holdings, Inc.		Diversified/conglomerate manufacturing		Secured First Lien Debt							6,140				6,079
5117 Northeast Pkwy Fort Worth, TX 76106				Preferred Stock			25.16	%			5,466				0
Encore Dredging Holdings, LLC		Diversified / Conglomerate Service		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							2,000				2,005
103 N. King Avenue Dyersburg, TN 38024				Secured First Lien Debt							23,500				23,559
				Secured First Lien Delayed Draw Term Loan							—				—
				Preferred Stock			8.36	%			3,200				4,518
Total Affiliate Investments (represented 6.5% of total investments at fair value)										$	41,106			$	37,678
CONTROL INVESTMENTS
Proprietary Investments:
Defiance Integrated Technologies, Inc.		Automobile		Secured Second Lien Debt							7,905				7,905
800 Independence Dr Napoleon, OH 43545				Preferred Stock			83.09	%			250				273
				Common Stock			76.20	%			580				2,326
LWO Acquisitions Company LLC		Diversified/conglomerate manufacturing		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							6,000				2,530
1920 Hurd Drive Irving, TX 75038				Secured First Lien Debt							10,632				—
				Unsecured Debt							95				—
				Common Units			9.51	%			921				—
PIC 360, LLC		Machinery		Common Equity Units			75.00	%			1				4,471
7000 S Edgerton Road Brecksville, OH 44141
TNCP Intermediate HoldCo, LLC		Printing and publishing		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							1,200				1,200
1301 Riverfront Parkway, Suite 112 Chattanooga, TN 37402				Common Equity Units			79.00	%			500				1,983
WB Xcel Holdings, LLC		Personal and Non-Durable Consumer Products		Secured First Lien Line of Credit							668				668
66-590 Kamehameha Hwy #2A Haleiwa, HI 96712				Secured First Lien Debt							9,975				9,975
				Preferred Stock			33.33	%			2,750				2,750
Total Control Investments (represented 5.9% of total investments at fair value)										$	41,477			$	34,081
Total Investments										$	575,732			$	576,595

 

42

Significant Portfolio Companies

Set forth below is a brief description of each portfolio company in which we have made an investment whose fair value represented greater than 5% of our total assets as of December 31, 2021. Because of the relative size of our investments in these companies, we are exposed to a greater degree to the risks associated with these companies.

Encore Dredging Holdings, LLC

Our investment in Encore Dredging Holdings, LLC (“Encore”) has an aggregate fair value of $30.1 million as of December 31, 2021 consisting of secured first lien debt with a principal amount outstanding of $23.5 million, which matures on December 31, 2025, a secured first lien line of credit with a principal amount outstanding of $2.0 million, which matures on December 31, 2025, and preferred stock with a cost basis of $3.2 million.

Encore provides mid-sized cutter suction and mechanical marine dredging services for navigable water-ways in the Southeast and Gulf regions of the US, which includes maintenance dredging, deepening projects, and coastal restoration, among others.

Encore generates revenue and measures profitability according to scheduled contracts from its largest customer, the US Army Corps of Engineers. Given the high reliance on fixed assets to complete the work, Encore’s scheduled revenue and profitability can be impacted by unplanned downtime with the dredges, bad weather, or labor availability.

Encore’s principal executive offices are located at 3027 Marina Bay Drive, League City, TX 77573.

SpaceCo Holdings, LLC

Our investment in SpaceCo Holdings, LLC (“SpaceCo”) has an aggregate fair value of $34.0 million as of December 31, 2021 consisting of secured first lien debt with a principal amount outstanding of $32.3 million, which matures on December 21, 2025, and a secured first lien line of credit with a principal amount outstanding of $1.6 million, which matures on December 21, 2025.

SpaceCo is a premier manufacturer of flight-critical and high temperature assemblies and components for space and defense end-markets.

A significant portion of SpaceCo’s revenues are directly or indirectly derived from contracts with various government entities which are dependent on funding from federal, state, and/or local governments. A large decline in government funding for such contracted goods or services, whether due to a changing political landscape or the de-prioritization of such spending, could negatively affect SpaceCo’s revenue generation.

SpaceCo’s principal executive offices are located at 1430 Amro Way, South El Monte, CA 91733.

Springfield, Inc.

Our investment in Springfield, Inc. (“Springfield”) has an aggregate fair value of $30.0 million as of December 31, 2021, consisting of secured second lien debt with a principal amount outstanding of $30.0 million, which matures on December 23, 2026.

Springfield provides a range of branded firearms and accessories for the consumer market.

Springfield’s revenue is derived from the sale of firearms and accessories across multiple channels. A large decline in consumer firearms demand or a ban on the sale of certain firearms by state or local governments could negatively impact Springfield’s sales.

Springfield’s principal executive offices are located at 420 West Main Street, Geneseo, IL 61254.

 

43

MANAGEMENT

The information contained under the captions “Proposal 1—Election of Directors,” “Information Regarding the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance—Director Independence,” “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation” and “Certain Transactions” in the Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and “Business” in Part I. Item 1 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

We are externally managed by our Adviser, an affiliate of ours, under the Advisory Agreement and another of our affiliates, the Administrator, provides administrative services to us pursuant to the Administration Agreement. Each of the Adviser and Administrator are privately-held companies that are indirectly owned and controlled by David Gladstone, our chairman and chief executive officer. Mr. Gladstone and Terry Lee Brubaker, our vice chairman and chief operating officer, also serve on the board of directors of the Adviser, the board of managers of the Administrator, and serve as executive officers of the Adviser and the Administrator. Our Adviser directly employs personnel that manage our portfolio investments and directly pays our payroll, benefits and general expenses regarding such personnel. The Administrator employs, among others, our chief financial officer and treasurer, chief valuation officer, chief compliance officer, general counsel and secretary (who also serves as the president of the Administrator) and their respective staffs. In addition to the fees payable under the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement (as described below), we pay our direct expenses, including directors’ fees, legal and accounting fees and stockholder related expenses. The Adviser and Administrator have extensive experience in our lines of business and also provide investment advisory and administrative services, respectively, to our affiliates, including the Affiliated Public Funds. In the future, the Adviser and Administrator may provide investment advisory and administrative services, respectively, to other funds and companies, both public and private.

The principal executive office of the Adviser and Administrator is 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102.

Management Services Provided to Us by our Adviser

Our Adviser is a Delaware corporation registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. Subject to the overall supervision of our Board of Directors, our Adviser provides investment advisory and management services to us. Under the terms of our Advisory Agreement, our Adviser has investment discretion with respect to our capital and, in that regard:

 

•

determines the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to our portfolio, and the manner of implementing such changes;

 

•

identifies, evaluates, and negotiates the structure of the investments we make (including performing due diligence on our prospective portfolio companies);

 

•

closes and monitors the investments we make; and

 

•

makes available on our behalf, and provides if requested, managerial assistance to our portfolio companies.

Our Adviser’s services under the Advisory Agreement are not exclusive, and it is free to furnish similar services to other entities, provided that its services to us are not impaired.

Portfolio Management

Our Adviser takes a team approach to portfolio management; however, the following persons are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of our portfolio and comprise our Adviser’s investment committee:

 

44

David Gladstone, Terry Lee Brubaker and Robert L. Marcotte, whom we refer to collectively as the Portfolio Managers. Our investment decisions are made on our behalf by the investment committee of our Adviser by unanimous decision.

Mr. Gladstone has served as the chairman and the chief executive officer of the Adviser, since he founded the Adviser in 2002, along with Mr. Brubaker. Mr. Brubaker has served as the vice chairman and chief operating officer of the Adviser since 2002 and served as secretary of the Adviser from 2002 to February 2011. Mr. Marcotte has served as an executive managing director of the Adviser since December 2013 and as our president since January 2014. For more complete biographical information on Messrs. Gladstone, Brubaker and Marcotte, see “Proposal 1—Election of Directors” in our most recent Definitive Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders which is incorporated by reference herein.

As discussed above, the Portfolio Managers are all officers or directors, or both, of our Adviser, and Messrs. Gladstone and Brubaker are managers of the Administrator. Mr. Gladstone is also the controlling stockholder of the parent company of the Adviser and the Administrator. Although we believe that the terms of the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement are no less favorable to us than those that could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties in arms’ length transactions, our Adviser and Administrator and their officers and its directors have a material interest in the terms of these agreement.

Our Adviser and Administrator provide investment advisory and administration services, respectively, to the other Affiliated Public Funds. As such, certain of our Portfolio Managers also are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portfolios of other pooled investment vehicles in the Affiliated Public Funds that are managed by the Adviser. As of the date hereof, Messrs. Gladstone, Brubaker and David Dullum (the president of Gladstone Investment and an executive managing director of the Adviser) are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portfolio of Gladstone Investment, another publicly-traded BDC; Messrs. Gladstone, Brubaker and Robert Cutlip (the president of Gladstone Commercial and an executive managing director of the Adviser) are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Gladstone Commercial, a publicly-traded real estate investment trust; and Messrs. Gladstone and Brubaker are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Gladstone Land, a publicly traded real estate investment trust. As of December 31, 2021, the Adviser had an aggregate of approximately $3.5 billion in total assets under management in the Company and the Affiliated Public Funds, all of which is subject to performance-based advisory fees and for which Messrs. Gladstone and Brubaker are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management.

Conflicts of Interest

As discussed above, the Portfolio Managers who are our executive officers and directors, and the officers and directors of the Adviser, serve or may serve as officers, directors, or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do or of investment funds managed by our affiliates. Accordingly, they may have obligations to investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which might not be in the best interests of us or our stockholders. For example, Mr. Gladstone, our chairman and chief executive officer, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Adviser, the Administrator and the Affiliated Public Funds. In addition, Mr. Brubaker, our vice chairman and chief operating officer, is vice chairman and chief operating officer of the Adviser, the Administrator and the Affiliated Public Funds. Mr. Marcotte, our president, is an executive managing director of the Adviser. Moreover, the Adviser may establish or sponsor other investment vehicles which from time to time may have potentially overlapping investment objectives with ours and accordingly may invest in, whether principally or secondarily, asset classes we target. While the Adviser generally has broad authority to make investments on behalf of the investment vehicles that it advises, the Adviser has adopted investment allocation procedures to address these potential conflicts and intends to direct investment opportunities to the Company or the Affiliated Public Fund with the investment strategy that most closely fits the investment opportunity. Nevertheless, the management of the Adviser may face conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities to other entities managed by the Adviser. As a result, it is possible that we may not be given the opportunity to participate in certain investments made by other funds managed by the Adviser.

 

45

In certain circumstances, we may make investments in a portfolio company in which one of our affiliates has or will have an investment, subject to satisfaction of any regulatory restrictions and, where required, the prior approval of our Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2021, our Board of Directors has approved the following types of transactions:

 

•

Our affiliate, Gladstone Commercial, may, under certain circumstances, lease property to portfolio companies that we do not control. We may pursue such transactions only if (i) the portfolio company is not controlled by us or any of our affiliates, (ii) the portfolio company satisfies the tenant underwriting criteria of Gladstone Commercial, and (iii) the transaction is approved by a majority of our independent directors and a majority of the independent directors of Gladstone Commercial. We expect that any such negotiations between Gladstone Commercial and our portfolio companies would result in lease terms consistent with the terms that the portfolio companies would be likely to receive were they not portfolio companies of ours.

 

•

We may invest simultaneously with our affiliate Gladstone Investment in senior loans in the broadly syndicated market whereby neither we nor any affiliate has the ability to dictate the terms of the loans.

 

•

Pursuant to the Co-Investment Order, under certain circumstances, we may co-invest with Gladstone Investment and any future BDC or closed-end management investment company that is advised by the Adviser (or sub-advised by the Adviser if it controls the fund) or any combination of the foregoing subject to the conditions included therein.

Certain of our officers, who are also officers of the Adviser, may from time to time serve as directors of certain of our portfolio companies. If an officer serves in such capacity with one of our portfolio companies, such officer will owe fiduciary duties to stockholders of the portfolio company, which duties may from time to time conflict with the interests of our stockholders.

In the course of our investing activities, we will pay management and incentive fees to the Adviser and will reimburse the Administrator for certain expenses it incurs. As a result, investors in our common stock will invest on a “gross” basis and receive distributions on a “net” basis after expenses, resulting in a lower rate of return than one might achieve through our investors themselves making direct investments. As a result of this arrangement, there may be times when the management team of the Adviser has interests that differ from those of our stockholders, giving rise to a conflict. In addition, as a BDC, we make available significant managerial assistance to our portfolio companies and provide other services to such portfolio companies. While neither we nor the Adviser currently receive fees in connection with managerial assistance, the Adviser and Gladstone Securities have, at various times, provided other services to certain of our portfolio companies and received fees for services other than managerial assistance as discussed in “Business—Ongoing Management of Investments and Portfolio Company Relationships—Managerial Assistance and Services” in Part I, Item 1 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Portfolio Manager Compensation

The Portfolio Managers receive compensation from our Adviser in the form of a base salary plus a bonus. Each Portfolio Manager’s base salary is determined by a review of salary surveys for persons with comparable experience who are serving in comparable capacities in the industry. Each Portfolio Manager’s base salary is set and reviewed yearly. Like all employees of the Adviser, a Portfolio Manager’s bonus is tied to the post-tax performance of the Adviser and the entities that it advises. A Portfolio Manager’s bonus increases or decreases when the Adviser’s income increases or decreases. The Adviser’s income, in turn, is directly tied to the management and incentive fees earned in managing its investment funds, including Gladstone Capital. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser receives a base management fee and an incentive fee based on net investment income in excess of the hurdle rates and capital gains as set out in the Advisory Agreement. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we incurred net fees of approximately $11.5 million, $7.8 million and $9.6 million, respectively, to our Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. See “Business—

 

46

Transactions with Related Parties – Investment Advisory and Management Agreement” in Part I, Item 1 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for a full discussion of how such fees are computed and paid. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors approving the Advisory Agreement is available in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

Portfolio Manager Beneficial Ownership

The following table sets forth, as of September 30, 2021, the dollar range of equity securities that are beneficially owned by each of our Portfolio Managers.

 

Name		Dollar Range of Equity Securities of the Company Owned by Directors (1)(2)
David Gladstone		Over $1,000,000
Terry Lee Brubaker		Over $1,000,000
Robert L. Marcotte		Over $1,000,000

 

(1)	Ownership is calculated in accordance with Rule 16-1(a)(2) of the Exchange Act.

(2)	The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned is calculated by multiplying the closing price of the respective class as reported on Nasdaq as of September 30, 2021, times the number of shares of the respective class so beneficially owned and aggregated accordingly.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The information contained under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated by reference herein.

 

47

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR

CHARTER AND BYLAWS

Our charter and bylaws and the MGCL contain certain provisions that could make more difficult the acquisition of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our Board of Directors. We believe that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the potential disadvantages of discouraging such proposals because, among other things, negotiation of such proposals might result in an improvement of their terms. The description set forth below is intended as a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter and bylaws, as amended, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Classified Board of Directors

In accordance with our bylaws, our Board of Directors is divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms, with the term of directors in each class expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Two classes have two directors and one class has threee directors. A classified board may render more difficult a change in control of us or removal of our incumbent management. We believe, however, that the longer time required to elect a majority of a classified board of directors will help to ensure continuity and stability of our management and policies.

Our classified board could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time consuming and difficult. Because our directors may only be removed for cause, at least two annual meetings of stockholders, instead of one, will generally be required to effect a change in a majority of our Board of Directors. Thus, our classified board could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. The staggered terms of directors may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or an attempt to change control of us or another transaction that might involve a premium price for our common stock that might be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Number of Directors; Removal; Vacancies

Our charter provides that the number of directors will be determined pursuant to our bylaws and our bylaws provide that a majority of our entire Board of Directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of directors. In addition, our bylaws provide that the number of directors shall not be increased by 50% or more in any 12-month period without the approval of two-thirds of the members of our Board of Directors then in office. Our bylaws provide that any vacancies may be filled only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, and the directors so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Our directors may only be removed for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast by our stockholders generally in the election of directors. This provision, when coupled with the power of our Board of Directors to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, precludes stockholders from removing incumbent directors except for cause and upon a substantial affirmative vote and could preclude stockholders from filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Proposals

Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before an annual or special meeting of our stockholders, which we refer to as the stockholder notice procedure.

The stockholder notice procedure provides that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to our Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered

 

48

by our stockholders at an annual meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of our board of directors or (3) by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws, including a requirement to provide certain information about the stockholder and the nominee or business proposal, as applicable. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (1) by or at the direction of our board of directors or (2) by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws, including a requirement to provide certain information about the stockholder and the nominee.

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our Board of Directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and the advisability of the other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give our Board of Directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals for action, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.

Authority to Issue Preferred Stock without Stockholder Approval

Our charter permits our Board of Directors to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of capital stock. Our Board of Directors may classify or reclassify any unissued common stock or preferred stock into other classes or series of stock and establish the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of any such stock. Thus, our Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have a priority as to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation over the rights of the holders of our common stock.

Amendment of Charter and Bylaws

Our charter may be amended, altered, changed or repealed, subject to the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, only if advised by our Board of Directors and approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Our charter also provides that the bylaws may be adopted, amended, altered, changed or repealed by our Board of Directors. Any action taken by our stockholders with respect to adopting, amending, altering, changing or repealing our bylaws may be taken only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our capital stock, voting together as a single class.

These provisions are intended to make it more difficult for stockholders to circumvent certain other provisions contained in our charter and bylaws, such as those that provide for the classification of our Board of Directors. These provisions, however, also will make it more difficult for stockholders to amend the charter or bylaws without the approval of the Board of Directors, even if a majority of the stockholders deems such amendment to be in the best interests of all stockholders.

Indemnification and Limitation of Liability of Directors and Officers

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting

 

49

from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates the liability of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires us (unless our charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits us to indemnify our present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

 

•

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

•

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

•

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

Under the MGCL, we may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by us or on our behalf in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to us or in a suit in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or on our behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits us to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon our receipt of:

 

•

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by us; and

 

•

a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by us if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct.

Our bylaws permit us to advance expenses so long as, in addition to the requirements above, we obtain security for the advance from the director or officer, we obtain insurance against losses arising by reason of lawful advances or we determine that there is reason to believe that the director or officer will be found entitled to indemnification.

Subject to the 1940 Act, or any valid rule, regulation or order of the SEC thereunder, our charter obligates us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any director or officer, whether serving our company or at our request any other entity. Our charter also permits us to indemnify and advance expenses to any employee or agent of our company to the extent authorized by our board of directors or the bylaws and permitted by law.

Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent required by Maryland law or the charter, to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was our director, officer, employee or agent, or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, manager, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise if our board of directors determines that such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably

 

50

believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of our company, and, in the case of any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. However, our bylaws permit us to advance expenses only so long as, in addition to the requirements above, we obtain security for the advance from the director or officer, we obtain insurance against losses arising by reason of lawful advances or we determine that there is reason to believe that the director or officer will be found entitled to indemnification.

These provisions on indemnification and limitation of liability are subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act that prohibit us from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

 

51

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDUES

We have delegated our proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser. The proxy voting policies and procedures of the Adviser are set out below. The guidelines are reviewed periodically by the Adviser and our directors who are not “interested persons,” and, accordingly, are subject to change.

Introduction

As an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, the Adviser has a fiduciary duty to act solely in our best interests. As part of this duty, the Adviser recognizes that it must vote our securities in a timely manner free of conflicts of interest and in our best interests.

The Adviser’s policies and procedures for voting proxies for its investment advisory clients are intended to comply with Section 206 of, and Rule 206(4)-6 under, the Advisers Act.

Proxy Policies

The Adviser votes proxies relating to our portfolio securities in what it perceives to be the best interest of our stockholders. The Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted to a stockholder vote to determine its effect on the portfolio securities we hold. In most cases the Adviser will vote in favor of proposals that the Adviser believes are likely to increase the value of the portfolio securities we hold.

Although the Adviser will generally vote against proposals that may have a negative effect on our portfolio securities, the Adviser may vote for such a proposal if there exist compelling long-term reasons to do so.

Our proxy voting decisions are made by our Adviser’s portfolio managers. To ensure that the Adviser’s vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, the Adviser requires that (1) anyone involved in the decision-making process disclose to our Adviser’s investment committee any potential conflict that he or she is aware of and any contact that he or she has had with any interested party regarding a proxy vote; and (2) employees involved in the decision-making process or vote administration are prohibited from revealing how the Adviser intends to vote on a proposal in order to reduce any attempted influence from interested parties. Where conflicts of interest may be present, the Adviser will disclose such conflicts to us, including our independent directors and may request guidance from us on how to vote such proxies.

Proxy Voting Records

You may obtain information without charge about how the Adviser voted proxies by calling (toll-free) 1 (866) 214-7543 or by making a written request for proxy voting information to:

Michael LiCalsi, General Counsel and Secretary

c/o Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, VA 22102

 

52

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

Our transfer agency and services agreement with our transfer agent, Computershare, Inc. (“Computershare”), authorizes Computershare to provide a dividend reinvestment plan that allows for reinvestment of our distributions on behalf of our common stockholders upon their election as provided below. As a result, if our Board of Directors authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend, then our common stockholders who have “opted in” to the dividend reinvestment plan will not receive cash dividends but, instead, such cash dividends will automatically be reinvested in additional shares of our common stock.

Pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan, if your shares of our common stock are registered in your own name you can have all distributions reinvested in additional shares of our common stock by Computershare, as the plan agent, if you enroll in the dividend reinvestment plan by delivering an enrollment form to the plan agent prior to the corresponding dividend record date, available at www.computershare.com/investor. The plan agent will effect purchases of our common stock under the dividend reinvestment plan in the open market.

If you do not elect to participate in the dividend reinvestment plan, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you (or if you hold your shares in street or other nominee name, then to your nominee) as of the relevant record date, by the plan agent, as our distribution disbursing agent. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee, you can transfer the shares into your own name and then enroll in the dividend reinvestment plan or contact your broker or nominee to determine if they offer a dividend reinvestment plan.

The plan agent serves as agent for the holders of our common stock in administering the dividend reinvestment plan. After we declare a dividend, the plan agent will, as agent for the participants, receive the cash payment and use it to buy common stock on Nasdaq or elsewhere for the participants’ accounts. The price of the shares will be the weighted average price of all shares purchased by the plan agent on such trade date or dates.

Stockholders can obtain additional information about, and participants in the dividend reinvestment plan may withdraw from, the dividend reinvestment plan at any time by contacting Computershare online at www.computershare.com/investor, via telephone at (781) 575-2000 or by mailing a request to 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021 or by selling or transferring all applicable shares. If the plan agent receives a request to withdraw near a dividend record date, the plan agent, in its sole discretion, may either distribute such dividends in cash or reinvest the shares on behalf of the withdrawing participant. If such dividends are reinvested, the plan agent will process the withdrawal as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business days after the reinvestment is completed.

The plan agent will maintain each participant’s account in the dividend reinvestment plan and will furnish periodic written confirmations of all transactions in such account, including information needed by the stockholder for personal and tax records. Common stock in the account of each dividend reinvestment plan participant will be held by the plan agent in non-certificated form in the name of such participant; however participants may request that such shares be certificated in their name. The plan agent will provide proxy materials relating to our stockholders’ meetings that will include those shares purchased through the plan agent, as well as shares held pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan.

We pay the plan agent’s fees for the handling or reinvestment of dividends and other distributions. If a participant elects by written notice to the plan agent prior to termination of his or her account to have the plan agent sell part or all of the shares held by the plan agent in the participant’s account and remit the proceeds to the participant, the plan agent is authorized to deduct a transaction fee of $15.00 for each batch order sale and $25.00 for each market order, day limit order and good-til-canceled limit order sale, plus brokerage commissions of $0.10 per share, from the proceeds. The participants in the dividend reinvestment plan will also bear a transaction fee of up to $5.00, plus per share brokerage commissions of $0.10, incurred with respect to open market purchases.

 

53

Distributions are taxable whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares, and the reinvestment of distributions pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan will not relieve participants of any U.S. federal income tax or state income tax that may be payable or required to be withheld on such distributions. For more information regarding taxes that our stockholders may be required to pay, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in Part I. Item 1 “Business” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference herein.

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

Since we generally acquire and dispose of our investments in privately negotiated transactions, we will infrequently use securities brokers or dealers in the normal course of our business. Subject to policies established by our Board of Directors, our Adviser will be primarily responsible for ensuring the execution of transactions involving publicly traded securities and the review of brokerage commissions in respect thereof, if any. In the event that our Adviser ensures the execution such transactions, we do not expect our Adviser to execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer, but we would expect our Adviser to seek to obtain the best net results for us, taking into account such factors as price (including any applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the broker dealer and the broker dealer’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities. While we expect that our Adviser generally will seek reasonably competitive trade execution costs, we will not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available. Subject to applicable legal requirements, our Adviser may select a broker dealer based partly upon brokerage or market research services provided to us, our Adviser and any of its other clients, if any. In return for such services, we may pay a higher commission than other broker dealers would charge if our Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker dealer viewed in terms either of the particular transaction or our Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to all of our Adviser’s clients.

We have not paid any brokerage commissions during the three most recent fiscal years to any affiliated person of us or our Adviser.

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR

The securities we hold in our portfolio companies are held under a custodian agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. The address of the custodian is: 500 Ross Street, Suite 935, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15262. Our assets are held under bank custodianship in compliance with the 1940 Act. Securities held through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Business Investment, are held under a custodian agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon Corp., which acts as collateral custodian pursuant to the Credit Facility. The address of the collateral custodian is 2322 French Settlement Road, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75212. Computershare acts as our transfer and dividend paying agent and registrar. The principal business address of Computershare is 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, telephone number (781) 575-2000. Computershare also maintains an internet website at www.computershare.com and one specifically for shareholders at www.computershare.com/investor.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the Exchange Notes offered by this prospectus have been passed upon for us by Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland and Proskauer Rose LLP, Washington, D.C.

 

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EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The address of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is 655 New York Avenue, Washington, DC 20001.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form N-14 under the Securities Act with respect to the Exchange Notes offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to our business and the Exchange Notes, reference is made to the registration statement, including the amendments, exhibits and schedules thereto.

We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge through the investors section of our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as well as our definitive proxy statement and Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5. Our website address is www.gladstonecapital.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, except as described below, a part of this prospectus or incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with it which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to comprise a part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We previously filed the following documents with the SEC, and such filings are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

•

Our Annual Report on Form  10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on November 15, 2021 (including portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders incorporated therein by reference);

 

•

Our Quarterly Report on Form  10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 2, 2022; and

 

•

Our Current Reports on Form  8-K, filed with the SEC on October  28, 2021, November  4, 2021, January  10, 2022 and February 3, 2022.

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, from the filing of this prospectus until all of the

 

55

securities offered by this prospectus have been sold or we otherwise terminate the offering of these securities, including all filings made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement; provided, however, that information “furnished” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC which is not deemed filed is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Information that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and may supersede information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.

These filings may also be accessed on the investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You may also request a copy of these filings (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents) at no cost by writing, emailing or calling Investor Relations at the following address and telephone number:

Investor Relations

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

(703) 287-5893

capital@gladstonecompanies.com

 

56

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 15.

Indemnification.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates the liability of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”) requires us (unless our charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits us to indemnify our present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

 

•

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

•

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

•

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

Under the MGCL, we may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by us or on our behalf in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to us or in a suit in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or on our behalf, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits us to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon our receipt of:

 

•

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by us; and

 

•

a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by us if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct.

Subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or any valid rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) thereunder, our charter obligates us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any director or officer, whether serving our company or at our request any other entity. Our charter also permits us to indemnify and advance expenses to any employee or agent of our company to the extent authorized by our board of directors or the bylaws and permitted by law.

Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent required by Maryland law or the charter, to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened action, suit or proceeding,

 

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whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was our director, officer, employee or agent, or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, manager, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise if our board of directors determines that such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of our company, and, in the case of any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. However, our bylaws permit us to advance expenses only so long as, in addition to the requirements above, we obtain security for the advance from the director or officer, we obtain insurance against losses arising by reason of lawful advances or we determine that there is reason to believe that the director or officer will be found entitled to indemnification.

These provisions on indemnification and limitation of liability are subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act that prohibit us from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

In addition, the investment advisory and management agreement between us and our investment adviser, Gladstone Management Corporation (the “Adviser”), as well as the administration agreement between us and our administrator Gladstone Administration, LLC (the “Administrator”), each provide that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of their respective duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of their respective duties and obligations, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, and their respective officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members, and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the Adviser’s services under the investment advisory and management agreement or otherwise as our investment adviser, or the rendering of the Administrator’s services under the administration agreement, as applicable.

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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Item 16.

Exhibits.

 

(1)(a)		Articles of Amendment and Restatement to the Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.a.2 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-63700), filed July 27, 2001.
(1)(b)		Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Term Preferred Shares, including Appendix A thereto relating to the Term Preferred Shares, 7.125% Series 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.a.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-162592), filed October 31, 2011.
(1)(c)		Certificate of Correction to Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Term Preferred Shares, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-00237), filed October 29, 2015.
(1)(d)		Articles Supplementary, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No.  814-00237), filed September 21, 2017.
(2)(a)		By-laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.b to Pre-Effective Amendment No.  1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-63700), filed July 27, 2001.
(2)(b)		Amendment to By-laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No.  814-00237), filed February 17, 2004.
(2)(c)		Second Amendment to By-laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No.  814-00237), filed July 10, 2007.
(2)(d)		Third Amendment to By-laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No.  814-00237), filed June 10, 2011.
(2)(e)		Fourth Amendment to By-laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No.  814-00237), filed November 29, 2016.
(3)		Not applicable
(4)		Not applicable
(5)(a)		Base Indenture between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated as of November  6, 2018, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.d.10 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-208637), filed November 6, 2018.
(5)(b)		Fourth Supplemental Indenture between Gladstone Capital Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, dated as of November  4, 2021, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-00237), filed November 4, 2021.
(5)(c)		Form of Global Note with respect to 3.75% Notes due 2027 sold in reliance on Rule 144A of the Securities Act, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (5)(b).
(5)(d)		Form of Global Note with respect to 3.75% Notes due 2027 sold in reliance on Rule 501 of the Securities Act, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (5)(b).
(5)(e)		Form of Global Note with respect to 3.75% Notes due 2027 issued in connection with the exchange offer.
(5)(f)		Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2021, by and between Gladstone Capital Corporation and Raymond James  & Associates, Inc., as representative of the several initial purchasers, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-00237), filed November 4, 2021.
(6)		Third Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Management Agreement between the Registrant and Gladstone Management Corporation, dated as of April 13, 2021, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 814-00237), filed on May 4, 2021.

 

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(7)		Not applicable.
(8)		Not applicable.
(9)(a)		Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York, dated as of May  5, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 814-00237), filed August 1, 2006.
(9)(b)		Custodial Agreement (with respect to Credit Facility), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.j.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No.  1 to Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-185191), filed December 23, 2013.
(9)(c)		Amendment No.  1 to Custodial Agreement (with respect to Credit Facility), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.j.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-185191), filed December 23, 2013.
(9)(d)		Amendment No.  2 to Custodial Agreement (with respect to Credit Facility), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.j.4 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-185191), filed December 23, 2013.
(10)		Not applicable
(11)(a)		Opinion and Consent of Venable LLP*
(11)(b)		Opinion and Consent of Proskauer Rose LLP*
(12)		Not applicable
(13)(a)		Stock Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.k.1 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-63700), filed July 27, 2001.
(13)(b)		Administration Agreement between the Registrant and Gladstone Administration, LLC, dated as of October  1, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-00237), filed October 5, 2006.
(13)(c)		Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May  13, 2021 by and among Gladstone Business Loan, LLC as Borrower, Gladstone Management Corporation as Servicer, KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent and the financial institutions from the time to time party thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-00237), filed May 13, 2021.
(14)		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP*
(15)		Not applicable
(16)		Power of Attorney (Included on signature page hereto).
(17)(a)		Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee*
(17)(b)		Form of Letter of Transmittal*
(18)		Fee table

 

*	Filed herewith.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

 

(1)

The undersigned registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act, the reoffering prospectus will

 

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contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for the reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.

 

(2)

The undersigned registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment will be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them.

 

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SIGNATURES

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed on behalf of the registrant, in the City of McLean and the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the 23^rd day of February 2022.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints David Gladstone, Nicole Schaltenbrand and Michael LiCalsi and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ David Gladstone David Gladstone		Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (principal executive officer)		February 23, 2022
/s/ Nicole Schaltenbrand Nicole Schaltenbrand		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial and accounting officer)		February 23, 2022
/s/ Terry L. Brubaker Terry L. Brubaker		Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer, and Director		February 23, 2022
/s/ Anthony W. Parker Anthony W. Parker		Director		February 23, 2022
/s/ Michela A. English Michela A. English		Director		February 23, 2022
/s/ Paul W. Adelgren Paul W. Adelgren		Director		February 23, 2022
/s/ John H. Outland John H. Outland		Director		February 23, 2022
/s/ Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr. Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.		Director		February 23, 2022

 

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