Gladstone Capital Corporation Reports Results for the First Quarter Ended December 31, 2009

  --   Net Investment Income was $4.4 million or $0.21 per common share
  --  Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations was $6.3 million or
      $0.30 per common share

MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 1, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gladstone Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:GLAD) (the "Company") today announced earnings for the first quarter ended December 31, 2009. All per share references are per basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, unless otherwise noted.

Net Investment Income for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was $4.4 million, or $0.21 per share, as compared to $5.9 million, or $0.28 per share, for the prior year period, a decrease in Net Investment Income of 25% and a decrease of 25% per share. Net Investment Income decreased primarily due to a decline in investment income resulting from the repayment and sale of loans subsequent to December 31, 2008 and lower transaction fees paid by portfolio companies since there were fewer transactions in the current year period than during the prior year period.

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was $6.3 million, or $0.30 per share, as compared to a Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations of $9.1 million, or $0.43 per share, for the prior year period. The improvement in Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations between the current and prior year periods was primarily due to the net gain on the Company's investment portfolio. The Company recorded net gain on investments of $1.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009, compared to net loss of $15.0 million for the prior year period.

The aggregate investment portfolio has appreciated during the three months ended December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, the entire portfolio was fair valued at 88% of cost, which was unchanged from September 30, 2009.

Total assets were $328.5 million at December 31, 2009, as compared to $335.9 million at September 30, 2009. Net asset value was $11.92 per actual common share outstanding at December 31, 2009, as compared to $11.81 per actual common share outstanding at September 30, 2009.

The annualized weighted average yield on the Company's portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, was 10.6% for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, as compared to 9.8% for the prior year period. The weighted average yield varies from period to period based on the current stated interest rate on interest-bearing investments and the amounts of loans for which interest is not accruing. The increase in the weighted average yield for the current quarter results primarily from the Company's sale of lower interest-bearing senior syndicated loans. The effect of continuing reductions in LIBOR has been mitigated by the presence of a rate floor or fixed rate on most of the non-syndicated loans held in the Company's portfolio as of December 31, 2009.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the Company reported the following significant activity:

  --  Funded approximately $0.2 million of a new investment and approximately
      $2.0 million of additional investments to existing portfolio companies,
      for an aggregate of $2.2 million;
  --  Received principal repayments of approximately $15.4 million, which
      included scheduled principal payments and one full repayment;
  --  Received proceeds of approximately $2.8 million from the sale of 2
      syndicated loans (which resulted in the Company's exit from 2 portfolio
      companies) and recorded a corresponding realized net loss of
      approximately $0.9 million;
  --  Received approximately $538,000 in success fees in connection with the
      refinancing and amendment of two investments;
  --  Reduced the size of its credit facility by $25.0 million from $127.0
      million to $102.0 million, which did not affect the Company's available
      borrowing capacity;
  --  Filed a registration statement on Form N-2 (the "Registration
      Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on
      October 20, 2009; and
  --  Paid monthly cash distributions of $0.07 per share for each of the
      months of October, November and December 2009.

At December 31, 2009, the Company had investments in 46 private companies with an aggregate cost basis of $347.5 million and an aggregate fair value of $306.6 million, as noted in the following table.


                                      December 31, 2009
                                    ---------------------

                                                   Fair
                                       Cost       Value
                                    ----------  ---------
                                       (in thousands)
  Senior Term Debt                    $224,663   $198,577
  Senior Subordinated Term Debt        117,323    106,609
  Preferred Equity Securities            2,028         --

  Common Equity Securities               3,450      1,452
                                    ----------  ---------

  Total Investments                   $347,464   $306,638
                                    ==========  =========

"The difficult economic climate continues and is compounded by a still difficult lending environment," said Chip Stelljes, President and Chief Investment Officer. "We expect the majority of the portfolio to continue paying as agreed, although we are working hard with our portfolio companies on their performance as we move through this difficult economic and financial cycle. We are seeing some strengthening in the secondary loan market although loans continue to trade at discounts to original cost. While the values did not change materially this quarter, we are not seeing resurgence in valuations and still believe the valuations are more reflective of the overall market for loans, rather than the performance of our specific portfolio."

Subsequent to December 31, 2009, the Company:

  --  Funded approximately $2.7 million of additional investments to existing
      portfolio companies;
  --  Received approximately $6.8 million of repayments, including scheduled
      amortizations and a repayment from one company;
  --  Received notice on January 28, 2010 that the SEC declared effective its
      Registration Statement, which was filed on October 20, 2009.  This will
      permit the Company to issue, through one or more transactions, up to an
      aggregate of $300 million in securities, consisting of common stock,
      senior common stock, preferred stock, subscription rights, debt
      securities and warrants to purchase common stock, or a combination of
      these securities; and
  --  Declared monthly cash distributions of $0.07 per common share for each
      of the months of January, February and March 2010.

The financial statements below are without footnotes so readers should obtain and carefully review the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, including the footnotes to the financial statements contained therein. The Company has filed the Form 10-Q today with the SEC, which can be retrieved from the SEC's website at sec.gov or from the Company's website at GladstoneCapital.com. A paper copy can be obtained free of charge by writing to us at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 200, McLean, VA 22102.

The Company will hold a conference call Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 8:30 am EST. Please call (877) 407-8031 to enter the conference. An operator will monitor the call and set a queue for the questions. A replay of the conference call will be available through March 2, 2010. To hear the replay, please dial (877) 660-6853, access playback account 286 and use ID code 342050. The replay will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes.

The live audio broadcast of Gladstone Capital's quarterly conference call will be available online at GladstoneCapital.com and investorcalendar.com. The event will be archived and available for replay on the Company's website through June 2, 2010.

The statements in this press release regarding the longer-term prospects of and expected continued current payments from the Company's portfolio companies and the state of the secondary loan markets are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements inherently involve certain risks and uncertainties, although they are based on the Company's current plans that are believed to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include, among others, the duration and potential future effects of the current economic downturn on its portfolio companies and on the senior loan market, and those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, as filed with the SEC on November 23, 2009. The risk factors set forth in the Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors" are specifically incorporated by reference into this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

             GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION
     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS &
                      LIABILITIES
    (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE
                         DATA)
                     (UNAUDITED)


                                 December  September
                                 31, 2009   30, 2009
                                 --------  ---------
  ASSETS
  Non-Control/Non-Affiliate
   investments (Cost 12/31/09:
   $293,830; 9/30/09: $312,043)  $272,380   $286,997
  Control investments (Cost
   12/31/09: $53,634; 9/30/09:
   $52,350)                        34,258     33,972
                                 --------  ---------
  Total investments at fair
   value (Cost 12/31/09:
   $347,464; 9/30/09: $364,393)   306,638    320,969
  Cash                              6,374      5,276
  Interest receivable --
   investments in debt
   securities                       3,159      3,048
  Interest receivable --
   employees                          113         85
  Due from custodian                9,770      3,059
  Due from Adviser                     --         69
  Deferred financing fees             640      1,230
  Prepaid assets                      381        341
  Receivable from portfolio
   companies, less allowance
   for uncollectible
   receivables of $32 and $0 at
   December 31, 2009 and
   September 30, 2009,
   respectively                       611      1,528

  Other assets                        828        305
                                 --------  ---------

  TOTAL ASSETS                   $328,514   $335,910
                                 ========  =========

  LIABILITIES
  Accounts payable                    $--        $67
  Interest payable                    339        378
  Fee due to Administrator            178        216
  Due to Adviser                    1,285        834
  Borrowings under line of
   credit at fair value (Cost
   12/31/09: $73,400; 9/30/09:
   $83,000)                        73,531     83,350
  Accrued expenses and deferred
   liabilities                      1,688      1,800

  Funds held in escrow                 44        189
                                 --------  ---------

  TOTAL LIABILITIES                77,065     86,834
                                 --------  ---------

  NET ASSETS                     $251,449   $249,076
                                 ========  =========

  ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
  Common stock, $0.001 par
   value, 50,000,000 shares
   authorized and 21,087,574
   shares issued and
   outstanding at December 31,
   2009 and September 30, 2009        $21        $21
  Capital in excess of par
   value                          328,164    328,203
  Notes receivable -- employees   (8,504)    (9,019)
  Net unrealized depreciation
   on investments                (40,826)   (43,425)
  Net unrealized appreciation
   on borrowings under line of
   credit                           (131)      (350)
  Accumulated Net Realized
   Losses                        (27,275)   (26,354)
                                 --------  ---------

  TOTAL NET ASSETS               $251,449   $249,076
                                 ========  =========

  NET ASSETS PER SHARE             $11.92     $11.81
                                 ========  =========
                 GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION
       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
     (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                         (UNAUDITED)


                                        Three Months Ended
                                           December 31,
                                      ----------------------

                                         2009        2008
                                      ----------  ----------
  INVESTMENT INCOME
   Interest income --
    Non-Control/Non-Affiliate
    investments                           $8,984     $11,661
   Interest income -- Control
    investments                              693          20
   Interest income -- Cash                    --          10
   Interest income -- Notes
    receivable from employees                113         117

   Prepayment fees and other income           14          --
                                      ----------  ----------

    Total investment income                9,804      11,808
                                      ----------  ----------

  EXPENSES
   Interest expense                        1,535       2,461
   Loan servicing fee                        929       1,623
   Base management fee                       721         434
   Incentive fee                             375       1,176
   Administration fee                        178         227
   Professional fees                         912         313
   Amortization of deferred
    financing fees                           494         719
   Stockholder related costs                  78          89
   Directors fees                             48          48
   Insurance expense                          68          57

   Other expenses                             67          66
                                      ----------  ----------
    Expenses before credit from
     Adviser                               5,405       7,213
                                      ----------  ----------
  Credit to base management and
   incentive fees                           (29)     (1,286)
                                      ----------  ----------
  from Adviser
    Total expenses net of credit to
     base management
    and incentive fees                     5,376       5,927
                                      ----------  ----------


  NET INVESTMENT INCOME                    4,428       5,881
                                      ----------  ----------

  REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN
   (LOSS)
  ON INVESTMENTS AND DERIVATIVE:
   Net realized loss on investments        (920)     (1,731)
   Net unrealized appreciation
    (depreciation) on investments          2,599    (13,253)
   Net unrealized depreciation on
    borrowings under line of credit          219          --
                                      ----------  ----------
    Net gain (loss) on investments         1,898    (14,984)

  NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
   ASSETS
  RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS               $6,326    $(9,103)
                                      ==========  ==========

  NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
   ASSETS
  RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS PER
   COMMON SHARE:

    Basic and Diluted                      $0.30     $(0.43)
                                      ==========  ==========

  WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OF
   COMMON
STOCK OUTSTANDING:
    Basic and Diluted                 21,087,574  21,087,574
                     GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION
                         FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
   (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND PER UNIT DATA)
                              (UNAUDITED)


                                                 Three months ended
                                                    December 31,
                                               ----------------------

                                                  2009        2008
                                               ----------  ----------

  Per Share Data (1)
  -------------------------------------------

   Net asset value at beginning of period          $11.81      $12.89
                                               ----------  ----------
   Income from investment operations:
    Net investment income (2)                        0.21        0.28
    Net realized loss on investments (2)           (0.04)      (0.08)
    Net unrealized appreciation
     (depreciation) on investments (2)               0.12      (0.63)
    Net unrealized depreciation on borrowings
     under line of credit (2)                        0.01          --
                                               ----------  ----------

   Total from investment operations                  0.30      (0.43)
                                               ----------  ----------

   Distributions to stockholders (3)               (0.21)      (0.42)
   Reclassification of principal on employee
    note (3)                                         0.02          --
                                               ----------  ----------

   Net asset value at end of period                $11.92      $12.04
                                               ==========  ==========

   Per share market value at beginning of
    period                                          $8.93      $15.24
   Per share market value at end of period          $7.69       $8.09
   Total return (4)(5)                           (11.58)%    (44.09)%
   Shares outstanding at end of period         21,087,574  21,087,574

   Statement of Assets and Liabilities Data:
   Net assets at end of period                   $251,449    $253,790
   Average net assets (6)                        $248,874    $262,001
   Senior Securities Data:
   Borrowings under line of credit                $73,531    $146,470
   Asset coverage ratio (7)(8)                       442%        273%
   Asset coverage per unit (8)                     $4,420      $2,733
   Ratios/Supplemental Data:
   Ratio of expenses to average net
    assets-annualized (9)                           8.69%      11.01%
   Ratio of net expenses to average net
    assets-annualized(10)                           8.64%       9.05%
   Ratio of net investment income to average
    net assets-annualized                           7.12%       8.98%


  (1)  Based on actual shares outstanding at the end of
   the corresponding period.
  (2) Based on weighted average basic per
   share data.
  (3) Distributions are determined based on taxable income calculated in
   accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from amounts
   determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the
   United States of America.
  (4) Total return equals the change in the ending market value of the
   Company's common stock from the beginning of the period taking into
   account distributions reinvested in accordance with the terms of the
   Company's dividend reinvestment plan. Total return does not take into
   account distributions that may be characterized as a return of
   capital.
  (5) Amounts were not annualized.
  (6) Average net assets are computed using
   the average of the balance of net assets
   at the end of each month of the reporting
   period.
  (7) As a business development company, the Company is generally
   required to maintain a ratio of at least 200% of total assets, less
   all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior
   securities, to total borrowings.
  (8) Asset coverage ratio is the ratio of the carrying value of the
   Company's total consolidated assets, less all liabilities and
   indebtedness not represented by senior securities, to the aggregate
   amount of senior securities representing indebtedness. Asset coverage
   per unit is the asset coverage ratio expressed in terms of dollar
   amounts per $1 thousand of indebtedness.
  (9) Ratio of expenses to average net assets is computed using expenses
   before credits from Adviser to the base management and incentive fees
   and including income tax expense.
  (10) Ratio of net expenses to average net assets is computed using
   total expenses net of credits from Adviser to the base management and
   incentive fees and including income tax expense.
CONTACT:  Gladstone Capital Corporation
          Investor Relations
          703-287-5839