UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 14, 2018

 

 

Gladstone Investment Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   814-00704   83-0423116

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia   22102
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (703) 287-5800

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Introductory note.

All statements contained herein, other than historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements may relate to, among other things, the Company’s future performance and the closing of any transaction. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “estimate,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “future,” “intend,” “expect,” “if” or the negative of such terms or comparable terminology. Factors that may cause the Company’s 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 include, among others, those factors listed under the caption “Risk Factors” of the Company’s final prospectus supplement for the offering described herein, dated August 14, 2018, and the accompanying base prospectus dated July 13, 2018, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. 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, after the date of this report.

 

Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 14, 2018, Gladstone Investment Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named in Exhibit A annexed thereto (the “Underwriters”). Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to sell 2,600,000 shares of 6.375% Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Stock due 2025, par value $0.001 per share, at a purchase price to the public of $25.00 per share (“Series E Term Preferred Shares”). Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company also granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 390,000 shares of Series E Term Preferred Shares on the same terms and conditions solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The Series E Term Preferred Shares are being offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated August 14, 2018, and a base prospectus, dated July 13, 2018, which are part of the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-225447). The Company expects the transaction to close on or about August 22, 2018. A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03.

Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The authorization and issuance of the Series E Term Preferred Shares on or about August 22, 2018 materially impacts the rights of the holders of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) as follows: (i) consistent with the rights of the Company’s existing and outstanding 6.75% Series B Cumulative Term Preferred Shares, par value $0.001 (“Series B Term Preferred Shares”), 6.50% Series C Cumulative Term Preferred Shares, par value $0.001 (“Series C Term Preferred Shares”) and the 6.25% Series D Cumulative Term Preferred Shares (“Series D Term Preferred Shares”), the Certificate of Designation (defined below) prohibits the Company from issuing dividends or making distributions to the holders of its Common Stock while any shares of Series E Term Preferred Shares are outstanding, unless all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Series E Term Preferred Shares are paid in their entirety; (ii) consistent with the rights of the Series B Term Preferred Shares, Series C Term Preferred Shares and Series D Term Preferred Shares, the holders of the Series E Term Preferred Shares, together with the holders of the Series B Term Preferred Shares, Series C Term Preferred Shares, Series D Term Preferred Shares and holders of shares of any other Preferred Stock (defined below), have the exclusive right to elect two directors of the Company; (iii) consistent with the Series B Term Preferred Shares, Series C Term Preferred Shares and Series D Term Preferred Shares in the event that the Company owes accumulated dividends, whether or not earned or declared, on its Series E Term Preferred Shares equal to at least two full years of dividends, the holders of the Series E Term Preferred Shares have the right to elect a majority of the Board; (iv) similar to the Series B Term Preferred Shares, Series C Term Preferred Shares and Series D Term Preferred Shares, the Series E Term Preferred Shares have a liquidation preference equal to $25.00 plus all accrued but unpaid dividends in the event of an acquisition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company; and (v) consistent with the voting rights of the Series B Term Preferred Shares, Series C Term Preferred Shares and Series D Term Preferred Shares, the holders of Series E Term Preferred Shares generally vote together with the holders of the Common Stock.

 

Item 5.03.

Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

The Company’s Certificate of Designation of the 6.375% Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Stock due 2025 (the “Certificate of Designation”) setting forth the terms of the Series E Term Preferred Shares created thereby, was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 15, 2018. The following is a summary of the material terms of the Certificate of Designation, as it pertains specifically to the Series E Term Preferred Shares:

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company’s affairs, holders of the Series E Term Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive a liquidation distribution per share equal to $25.00 per share (the “Liquidation Preference”), plus an amount equal to all accrued but unpaid dividends, if any, and distributions accumulated up to (but excluding) the date fixed for distribution or payment, whether or not earned or declared by the Company, but excluding interest on any such distribution or payment.


Dividends

The Series E Term Preferred Shares will pay a monthly dividend at a fixed annual rate of 6.375% of the Liquidation Preference, or $1.5938 per share per year. Cumulative cash dividends or distributions of each share of Series E Term Preferred Stock will be payable monthly when, as and if declared, or under authority granted by the Company’s Board of Directors out of funds legally available for such payment. The first dividend will be declared in September 2018 and expected to be paid on September 30, 2018 to holders of record as of the close of business on September 19, 2018.

Redemption

Term Redemption . The Company is required to redeem all outstanding Series E Term Preferred Shares on August 31, 2025 (the “Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to the Liquidation Preference, plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends, if any, on such shares up to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. If the Company fails to redeem the Series E Term Preferred Stock pursuant to the mandatory redemption required on August 31, 2025, or in any other circumstance in which the Company is required to redeem the Series E Term Preferred Stock, then the dividend rate will increase by three percent (3.00%) per annum for so long as such failure continues.

Mandatory Asset Coverage Redemption . The Company may also be required to redeem certain outstanding Series E Term Preferred Shares if the Company fails to maintain an Asset Coverage (as defined below) of at least the minimum amount required pursuant to Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act as of the time of any of the following: declaration of dividends or distributions on Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock) after deducting such dividend or distribution, the time of purchase by the Company of shares of Common Stock, or issuance of any senior security as defined in the 1940 Act that is stock. If the Company shall fail to maintain such Asset Coverage on the date of the aforementioned instances and such failure is not cured by the date that is ninety (90) calendar days following the date of such failure (referred to in this report as an Asset Coverage Cure Date), the Company is required to redeem, within 90 calendar days of the Asset Coverage Cure Date, shares of the Company’s preferred stock (which may include the Series E Term Preferred Shares) (the “Preferred Stock”) equal to the lesser of (1) the minimum number of shares of Preferred Stock that will result in the Company having an Asset Coverage ratio of at least the minimum amount required by Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act and (2) the maximum number of shares of Preferred Stock that can be redeemed out of funds legally available for such redemption. Also, at the Company’s sole discretion, the Company may redeem such number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Shares that will result in the Company having an Asset Coverage of up to and including a percentage that is 50% higher than the minimum amount required pursuant to Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act as in effect at such time. “Asset Coverage” for purposes of the Preferred Stock is calculated under Sections 18(h) and 61 of the 1940 Act, in effect on the date of determination, and is determined on the basis of values calculated as of a time within two business days preceding each determination.

Change of Control Redemption . Upon certain change of control triggering events, the Company will be required to redeem all of the outstanding Series E Term Preferred Shares.

Optional Redemption . On or after August 31, 2020, the Company may redeem the Series E Term Preferred Shares in whole or from time to time, in part at its option.

In each of the above cases of redemption, term redemption, mandatory asset coverage redemption, change of control redemption and optional redemption, the Series E Term Preferred Shares are to be redeemed at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions on such share accumulated up to, but excluding, the redemption date. If such redemption date occurs after the applicable record date for a dividend but on or prior to the related dividend payment date, the dividend payable on such dividend payment date to the holders of record of such shares shall be payable to the holders of Series E Term Preferred Shares at the close of business on the applicable record date, and shall not be payable as part of the redemption price.

Voting

Except as otherwise provided in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by law (1) each holder of the Preferred Stock (including the Series E Term Preferred Shares) will be entitled to one vote for each share of Preferred Stock held by such holder on each matter submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders and (2) the holders of all outstanding Preferred Stock and Common Stock will vote together as a single class; provided that holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, will elect at least two of the Company’s directors and will be entitled to elect a majority of the Company’s directors if the Company fails to pay dividends on any outstanding shares of Preferred Stock in an amount equal to two full years of dividends and continuing during that period until the Company corrects that failure. Preferred Stock holders will also vote separately as a class on any matter that materially and adversely affects any preference, right or power of holders of Preferred Stock.

Issuance of Additional Preferred Stock

So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock (including the Series E Term Preferred Shares) are outstanding, the Company may, without the vote or consent of the holders thereof, authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of a class of its senior securities representing stock under Section 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act, ranking on parity with the Series E Term Preferred Shares as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Company, in addition to then-outstanding Preferred Stock, including the Series E Term Preferred Shares, in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Company, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such additional Preferred Stock and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of Preferred Stock with such proceeds, will have Asset Coverage as required by Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act.


The foregoing description of the Certificate of Designation is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Designation, which is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 8.01.

Other Events.

The Company also issued a press release announcing it plans to redeem all of its outstanding Series B Term Preferred Shares and its Series C Term Preferred Shares, contingent upon the Company’s successful completion of the public offering of its newly designated Series E Term Preferred Stock discussed above. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of its Series E Term Preferred Stock plus borrowings under its credit facility, as necessary, to redeem all of the outstanding Series B Term Preferred Shares and its Series C Term Preferred Shares. A copy of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2018.
  3.1    Certificate of Designation of 6.375% Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Stock.
  4.1    Specimen 6.375% Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Stock Certificate.
99.1    Press Release issued by Gladstone Investment Corporation, dated as of August 15, 2018.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

     

Gladstone Investment Corporation

      (Registrant)
August 15, 2018     By:  

/s/ Julia Ryan                                    

      (Julia Ryan, Chief Financial Officer)

Exhibit 1.1

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

2,600,000

Shares of Preferred Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

August 14, 2018

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

As representatives of the several underwriters named in Exhibit A

c/o BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

c/o Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

1717 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Gladstone Investment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Gladstone Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Adviser ”), and Gladstone Administration, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Administrator ”), each confirms with BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“ BMO ”) and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“ Janney ”) and each of the other underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as provided in Section  8 hereof), for whom BMO and Janney are acting as the representatives (in such capacity, the “ Representatives ”) with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of 2,600,000 shares (the “ Initial Securities ”) of the Company’s 6.375% Series E Cumulative Term preferred stock due 2025, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Exhibit A hereto, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters of the option described in Section  3(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 390,000 additional shares of Preferred Stock (the “ Option Securities ”) to cover over-allotments, if any. The Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Option Securities are hereinafter called, collectively, the “ Securities .”

The Company has entered into an investment advisory and management agreement, dated as of June 22, 2005 (as re-approved through August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2019 by the board of directors of the Company on July 11, 2017 and July 10, 2018, respectively, the “ Investment Advisory Agreement ”), with the Adviser. The Company has entered into an administration agreement, dated as of June 22, 2005 (the “ Administration Agreement ”), with the Administrator.


The Company has filed, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “ 1933 Act ”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a universal shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-225447), which registers the offer and sale of certain securities to be issued from time to time by the Company, including the Securities.

The registration statement as amended, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time it became effective on July 13, 2018 and any post-effective amendment thereto and including any information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act (“ Rule 497 ”) with respect to the offer, issuance and/or sale of the Securities and deemed to be a part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430C under the 1933 Act, and also including any registration statement relating to the Securities filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the 1933 Act (a “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ”), is hereinafter referred to as the “ Registration Statement .” The prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective on July 13, 2018 is hereinafter referred to as the “ Base Prospectus .” The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 a “ Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ,” which means the preliminary prospectus supplement used in connection with the offer of the Securities and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 prior to execution and delivery of this Agreement. “ Final Prospectus Supplement ” means the prospectus supplement containing all information omitted from the Base Prospectus and Preliminary Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rules 430B or 430C under the 1933 Act which will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497. “ Prospectus ” means, collectively, the Base Prospectus and Final Prospectus Supplement. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the Final Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any supplements or amendments thereto, filed with the Commission after the date of filing of the Prospectus under Rule 497 and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities by the Underwriters.

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR).

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

1. Representations and Warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator . The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to and agree with the Underwriters as of the date of this Agreement, as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing Date and as of each Option Closing Date (as such terms are defined in Sections 1(a) , 3(c) and 3(b) , respectively, hereof), as follows:

(a) A registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-225447) with respect to the Securities has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the 1933 Act, has been filed with the Commission and has been declared effective. The Company meets the requirements of and complies with the conditions for the use of Form N-2 under the

 

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1933 Act. Copies of the Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act) contained therein and the exhibits, financial statements and schedules, as finally amended and revised, have heretofore been delivered by the Company to the Representatives. As of the Applicable Time, the Base Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the information included in Exhibit  B hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the General Disclosure Package or the Registration Statement in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters through the Representatives, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section  7 herein. As of the date set forth on its cover page (solely in the case of the Prospectus), the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriters through the Representatives, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section  7 herein. As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement, the term “ Applicable Time ” means 6:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date of this Agreement or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Representatives.

The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Securities, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act has been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Registration Statement contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto contain and will contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and conform and will conform to the requirements of, the 1933 Act. At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective and as of the Applicable Time, the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date (if any), the Registration Statement did not, and will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriters through the Representatives, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section  7 herein.

 

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(b) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as currently carried on and described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus except where the failure of the Company to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not result in a Company Material Adverse Effect (defined below). Each of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries other than those entities which would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X (collectively, the “ Subsidiaries ”) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company or corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with all requisite power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as currently carried on and described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the Subsidiaries’ failure to be so qualified would not (i) have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the earnings, business, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (the occurrence of any such effect or any such prevention described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to as a “ Company Material Adverse Effect ”). Each of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for such jurisdictions where failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. The outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are wholly owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding. As of June 30, 2018, the Company did not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or other entity other than those corporations or other entities described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Portfolio Companies” (each, a “ Portfolio Company ,” and collectively, the “ Portfolio Companies ”), and the Subsidiaries listed in Item 28 of the Registration Statement. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of the respective dates set forth therein, the Company does not control (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “ 1940 Act ”)) any of the Portfolio Companies.

(c) The outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the Securities to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for as contemplated herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders exist with respect to any of the Securities or the issue and sale thereof. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any shares of Preferred Stock or any other class of securities of the Company.

 

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(d) The information set forth under the captions “Description of Our Securities” and “Description of the Series E Term Preferred Stock” in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the 1940 Act, Delaware law and the Securities, fairly and accurately summarize such provisions in all material respects. All of the Securities materially conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The form of certificates for the Securities conforms to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, any requirements of the Company’s organizational documents and the listing requirements for the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“ NASDAQ ”). Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein or in this Agreement or as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.

(e) The Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered and currently is a party to or payee with respect to the promissory notes and other agreements evidencing the investments described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Portfolio Companies” (each, a “ Portfolio Company Agreement ”). Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge, each Portfolio Company is current with all its obligations under the applicable Portfolio Company Agreements, no event of default (or a default which with the giving of notice or the passage of time would become an event of default) has occurred under such agreements, except to the extent that any such failure to be current in its obligations and any such default would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(f) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or other materials, if any, permitted by the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act.

(g) The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Subsidiaries, as of the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted principles of accounting (“ GAAP ”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have been made. The summary and selected consolidated financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, and such data have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the 1933 Act)

 

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comply with Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “ Exchange Act ”), and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, to the extent applicable. The Company and the Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810), which are not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not included as required.

(h) Any audited consolidated financial statements of a Portfolio Company, together with related notes and schedules, included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of such Portfolio Company, as of the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such audited consolidated financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein.

(i) PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, who has certified certain of the financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

(j) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is aware of (i) any material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting or (ii) any change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(k) Solely to the extent that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission and NASDAQ thereunder (collectively, the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) have been applicable to the Company, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(l) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries before any court or administrative agency or otherwise, which if determined adversely to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries would have a Company Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(m) The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets reflected in the consolidated financial statements hereinabove described or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subject to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind, except those reflected

 

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in such financial statements or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or which are not material in amount. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and the Subsidiaries are not party to any leases, except for such leases entered into after the effective date of the Prospectus and such leases that would not be reasonably likely to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(n) The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and have paid all taxes indicated by such returns and all assessments received by them or any of them to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being contested in good faith and for which an adequate reserve for accrual has been established in accordance with GAAP, other than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except where the failure to so file or pay would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of the Company, and the Company does not know of any actual or proposed additional material tax assessments.

(o) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change or any development that is reasonably likely to involve a prospective material adverse change in the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business, and there has not been any material transaction entered into, or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into, by the Company or the Subsidiaries, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented. The Company and the Subsidiaries have no material contingent obligations which are not disclosed in the Company’s financial statements which are included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(p) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will be as of the Applicable Time, the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date: (i) in violation of its certificate or articles of incorporation (including any certificate of designation), bylaws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents or (ii) in violation of or in default under any agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound and, solely with respect to this clause (ii), which violation or default would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a breach of (i) any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties is bound, (ii) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or (iii) any law, order, rule or regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary of any court or of any government, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) only, such conflicts, or breaches as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(q) The execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of their obligations under, this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action or limited liability company action, as applicable, on the part of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator.

(r) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (except (i) the post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement adding certain documents related to the offering of the Securities as exhibits thereto and (ii) such additional steps as may be (w) required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”); (x) required in connection with the filing of a certificate of designation of the Company establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designation ”); (y) required by NASDAQ in connection with the listing of the Securities; or (z) necessary to qualify the Securities for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect.

(s) The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and each of the Subsidiaries hold all licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities which are necessary to the conduct of their businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to hold such licenses, certificates or permits would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect; the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Subsidiaries each own or possess rights to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, license rights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) and other intellectual property rights (“ Intellectual Property ”) necessary to carry on their businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in all material respects; none of the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator or any of the Subsidiaries has infringed, and none of the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator or the Subsidiaries has received notice of conflict with, any Intellectual Property of any other person or entity. None of the technology employed by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator has been obtained or is being used by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons; none of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator has received any written or oral communications alleging that the Company has violated, infringed or conflicted with, or, by conducting its business as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, would violate, infringe or conflict with, any of the Intellectual Property of any other person or entity, except for such violations, infringements or conflicts that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, none of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator knows of any infringement by others of Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator.

 

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(t) Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any of its affiliates, has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of shares of the Preferred Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market-making transactions in the Securities on NASDAQ in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

(u) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ Advisers Act ”), and the approvals by the board of directors and the Company’s stockholders, as applicable, of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been obtained in accordance with the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.

(v) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(w) The Company has established and maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act); the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” are reasonably designed to ensure that all material information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act, and that all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company required under the Exchange Act.

(x) The statistical, industry-related and market-related data, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

(y) The operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act

 

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of 1970, as amended, those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions in which the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries conduct business, and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any or its consolidated subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

(z) Neither the Company nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries, nor, any director or officer of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or representative of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries, or other person acting on behalf of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department or the U.S. Department of State and including the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor is the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the target of Sanctions, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Crimean region, Sudan and Syria (each, a “ Sanctioned Country ”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any unlawful activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any unlawful activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(aa) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the Company deems adequate for the conduct of their respective business and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses.

(bb) Each of the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company and each Subsidiary would have any liability; the Company and each Subsidiary has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or

 

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withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “ Code ”); and each “pension plan” for which the Company or any Subsidiary would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(cc) To the Company’s knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of FINRA and any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% or greater securityholders except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(dd) There are no relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which have not been described as required.

(ee) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law, which violation is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

(ff) As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding personal loans made, directly or indirectly, by the Company to any director or executive officer of the Company.

(gg) Any advertising, sales literature or other promotional material (including “prospectus wrappers,” “broker kits,” “road show slides,” “road show scripts” and “electronic road show presentations”) authorized in writing by or prepared by the Company to be used in connection with the public offering of the Securities (collectively, “ Sales Material ”) do not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. Moreover, all Sales Material complies and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act (except that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Sales Material made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company by the Underwriters expressly for use therein).

(hh) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the Company’s credit facility with KeyBank National Association, and as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, no Subsidiary of the Company is prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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(ii) None of the Adviser, the Administrator, the Company, nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company nor any director, officer, agent or affiliate of any consolidated subsidiary of the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee of any consolidated subsidiary of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “ FCPA ”), or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offense under any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, including making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the any applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, and the Adviser, the Administrator, the Company, the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries and their respective affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with any applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws and have instituted, maintained and enforced and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(jj) The Company and its Subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, access for disabled persons, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Laws, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

(kk) The Company has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act and has filed with the Commission, pursuant to Section 54(a) of the 1940 Act, a duly completed and executed Form N-54A (the “ Company BDC Election ”); the Company has not filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the Company BDC Election pursuant to Section 54(c) of the 1940 Act; the Company BDC Election remains in full force and effect and, to the Company’s actual knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of such election under the 1940 Act has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission. The operations of the Company are in compliance with the provisions of the 1940 Act applicable to business development companies, except where such non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ll) The Company is currently organized and operates in compliance in all material respects with the requirements to be taxed as, and has duly elected to be taxed as (which election has not been revoked), a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. The Company intends to direct the investment of the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Use of Proceeds” and in such a manner as to continue to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code.

(mm) There are no contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been so described and filed as required. All descriptions of contracts or documents described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date hereof, the Company has not filed this Agreement, the Certificate of Designation or the opinion of Company Counsel (as defined below) with respect to the legality of the Securities as exhibits to the Registration Statement, although all such exhibits will be filed by post-effective amendment pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the 1933 Act by the Closing Date.

(nn) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) no person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act; and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Underwriters.

(oo) The Preferred Stock, by the Closing Date, will be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Preferred Stock under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or FINRA is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The application for listing of the Preferred Stock for trading on NASDAQ has been submitted by the Company.

(pp) The Common Stock and each of the Company’s outstanding series of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, conform in all material respects to all of the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and such statements conform to the rights set forth in the respective instruments and agreements defining the same.

(qq) The Securities conform to the provisions of the Certificate of Designation and the relative rights, preferences, interests and powers of such Securities are set forth in the Certificate of Designation. The Certificate of Designation has been, or by the Closing Date will be, duly authorized and executed by the Company in compliance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Certificate of Designation is, or by the Closing Date will be, in full force and effect.

 

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(rr) As of the date of this Agreement and on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of proceeds therefrom, the Company will be in compliance with the applicable asset coverage requirements set forth in Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act.

(ss) This Agreement complies in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator (as applicable) to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Adviser and the Administrator . The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Underwriters as of the date of this Agreement, as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing Date and as of each Option Closing Date, and agree with the Underwriters as follows:

(a) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, or in the earnings, business affairs, operations or regulatory status of the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective subsidiaries, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, would otherwise reasonably be expected to prevent the Adviser from carrying out its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement (an “ Adviser Material Adverse Effect ”) or would otherwise reasonably be expected to prevent the Administrator from carrying out its obligations under the Administration Agreement (an “ Administrator Material Adverse Effect ”).

(b) Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; the Adviser has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement; the Administrator has the power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement; and each of the Adviser, the Administrator and their respective subsidiaries is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the conduct of business, except, in each case, where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.

(c) The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, any facts or circumstances the existence of which could reasonably be expected to lead to any proceeding, which might adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with the Commission.

 

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(d) There is no action, suit or proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective subsidiaries, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Adviser or the Administrator, threatened, against or affecting the Adviser or the Administrator which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or Administrator Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement or the Administration Agreement; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to their business, would not reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.

(e) None of the Adviser, the Administrator or any of their respective subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its organizational or governing documents or (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or the Administrator is subject (collectively, the “ Agreements and Instruments ”), or (iii) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Adviser and the Administrator with their respective obligations hereunder and under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Adviser or the Administrator pursuant to the Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the bylaws or limited liability company operating agreement of the Adviser or Administrator, respectively; nor will such action result in any violation of any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Adviser or the Administrator or any of their respective assets, properties or operations.

 

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(f) This Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable. The Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement are valid and binding obligations of the Adviser or the Administrator, respectively, enforceable against them in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(g) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Adviser or the Administrator of their respective obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”), except such as have been already obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act or will be obtained by the Closing Date.

(h) The descriptions of the Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(i) The Adviser and the Administrator possess such licenses issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them (“ Governmental Licenses ”), except where the failure so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate, result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable; the Adviser and the Administrator are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable; and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.

 

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(j) Each of the Adviser and the Administrator maintains data processing, communications and other technology systems sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iii) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent data breaches and other breaches of applicable privacy laws.

(k) Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is aware that (i) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company (if any), the Adviser (to the extent any such person devotes substantive attention to matters involving the Company) or the Administrator (to the extent any such person devotes substantive attention to matters involving the Company) plans to terminate employment with the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, or (ii) any such executive or key employee is subject to any non-compete, nondisclosure, confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company or the Adviser except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.

3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities .

(a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, the respective numbers of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of the Underwriter in Exhibit A hereto, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the respective number of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Exhibit A hereto, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section  8 hereof, subject to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities, in each case at a purchase price of $24.21875 per share (the “ Purchase Price ”).

(b) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to 390,000 Option Securities at a price per share equal to the Purchase Price; provided that the price per share for any Option Securities shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on such Option Securities. The option may be exercised only to cover over-allotment options in the sale of the Initial Securities by the Underwriters. The option hereby granted will expire at 11:59 P.M. (New York City time) on the 30th day after the date hereof and may be exercised on up to three occasions in whole or in part only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (an “ Option Closing Date ”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be earlier than three or later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date. If the option is

 

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exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, the Company will sell to the Underwriters that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased, and each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased, which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Exhibit A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section  8 hereof, bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representatives in their discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(c) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of any certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Proskauer Rose LLP at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 600 South, Washington, D.C. 20004 or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on August 22, 2018 (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section  8 ), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “ Closing Date ”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the Purchase Price for, and delivery of any certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Option Closing Date.

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a single bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for their accounts, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(d) Certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least two full business days before the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

4. Expenses . The Company agrees to pay the reasonable costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto) and the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to either of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and

 

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packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the costs and expenses incurred by the Company arising out of the marketing of the sale of the Securities to investors; (iv) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (v) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all closing documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (vi) the listing of the Securities on NASDAQ; (vii) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states and the securities laws of Canada (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification, and, if requested by the Representatives, the preparation of a “Canadian wrapper”); and (viii) any filings required to be made with FINRA (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters, in an amount not to exceed $7,500, relating to such filings). The Company further agrees to pay: (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including 1940 Act Counsel) for the Company; and (x) all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

5. Agreements of the Company . The Company agrees with the Underwriters that:

(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished the Representatives copies for their review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment, supplement or Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to which the Representatives reasonably objects. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration Statement has become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A under the 1933 Act, or filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 497, the Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (1) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement will have been filed with the Commission, (2) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement will have been filed or become effective, (3) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (4) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (5) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

 

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(b) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B and 430C under the 1933 Act and will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Securities or the filing of any supplement or amendment to the Prospectus, (ii) the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of a new registration statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or such new registration statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will promptly effect the filings required under Rule 497, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 497, notify the Representatives of the filing thereof, and take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 497 was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file the Prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(c) If at any time when the Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act or the Exchange Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event will occur or condition will exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the Underwriters or the Company, to amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it will be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of such outside counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement, to file a new registration statement, or to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the Company will (i) promptly prepare and file with the Commission, such amendment, supplement or new registration statement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to comply with such requirements, provided that the Company shall not make any filing to which the Representatives reasonably objects, (ii) use its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iii) furnish to the Representatives, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment, supplement or new registration statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

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(d) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in endeavoring to qualify the Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose; provided the Company will not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Securities.

(e) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the 1933 Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representatives at or before the Closing Date, a copy of the signed Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested) and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(f) The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the Exchange Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus.

(g) If the General Disclosure Package is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event will occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or to make the statements therein not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package to comply with any law, the Company promptly will prepare, file with the Commission (if required) and furnish to the Underwriters and any dealers an appropriate amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package.

(h) The Company will make generally available to its security holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, an earnings statement or statements (which need not be audited), which will satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 under the 1933 Act and will advise the Representatives in writing when such statement has been so made available.

(i) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Preferred Stock or derivative of Preferred Stock (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 45 days after the date of the Prospectus, directly or indirectly, by the Company otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

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(j) The Company has caused certain of its executive officers and each director of the Company to furnish to the Representatives, on or prior to the date of this Agreement, a letter or letters, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ Lockup Agreement ”). During the Lock-Up Period (as defined in the Lockup Agreement), the Company will enforce all agreements between the Company and any of its security holders that restrict or prohibit, expressly or in operation, the offer, sale or transfer of the securities subject thereto or any of the other actions restricted or prohibited under the terms thereof.

(k) The Company will apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Securities as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(l) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the Preferred Stock.

(m) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities, except as may be allowed by law.

(n) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1933 Act, the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act within the time periods required by such act, rule or regulation. To the extent the distribution of Securities has been completed, the Company will not be required to provide the Underwriters with reports it is required to file with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

(o) The Company has obtained an initial no objections letter and the Underwriters will obtain a final no objection letter from FINRA regarding the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

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

(a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments thereto shall have become effective and the Prospectus shall have been filed as required by Rules 430A, 430B, 430C or 497 under the 1933 Act, as applicable, within the time period prescribed by, and in compliance with the 1933 Act, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the 1933 Act shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated or threatened by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Securities.

 

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(b) The Representatives shall have received from Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, counsel for the Company (the “ Company Counsel ”), an opinion and a negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representatives in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(c) The Representatives shall have received from Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP, special 1940 Act counsel for the Company (“ 1940 Act Counsel ”), opinions dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters, regarding matters relating to the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and other matters relating to the Adviser, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(d) The Representatives shall have received from Proskauer Rose LLP, counsel to Underwriters (“ Underwriters’ Counsel ”), an opinion dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(e) The Representatives shall have received, on each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date, the letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered in accordance with Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the financial statements and certain financial and statistical information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(f) Each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall have furnished to the Representatives, on the Closing Date and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 6(f) .

(g) The Lockup Agreements described in Section  5(j) are in full force and effect.

(h) Each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling the Underwriters to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated.

(i) The application for listing of the Securities shall have been submitted to NASDAQ.

The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Underwriters’ Counsel.

 

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If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section  6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in writing at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 4 and 7 hereof).

7. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriters and each person who controls the Underwriters within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, arising out of any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof (and including any post-effective amendment), the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any sales material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arising out of or based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the General Disclosure Package, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: (i) their names and (ii) the fourth paragraph, the eighth through eleventh paragraphs and the thirteenth paragraph of text under the caption “Underwriting.”

 

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(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, each of their respective directors, each of their respective officers who sign the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the indemnity from the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator to the Underwriters set forth in Section  7(a)(i) and the proviso thereto, but only with reference to written information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. The Underwriters agree to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action to which they are entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section  7(b) . This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have.

(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section  7 , such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section  7 shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section  7(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section  7 . In case any such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section  7(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section  7(b) . The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying

 

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party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding and does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section  7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section  7(a) or (b)  above in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section  7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section  7(d) . The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section  7(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section  7(d) , (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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(e) Any contribution by the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and Investment Company Act Release 11330, as amended or updated.

8. Default by One or More Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “ Defaulted Securities ”), the Representatives shall use reasonable efforts, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36-hour period, then:

(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters; or

(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Option Closing Date which occurs after the Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities that were to have been purchased and sold on such Option Closing Date, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section  8 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of an Option Closing Date which is after the Closing Date, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, the Representatives shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “ Underwriter ” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section  8 .

9. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company (a) at any time prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date (if different from the Closing Date and then only as to Option Securities) if any of the following has occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any material adverse change or

 

27


any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which the Representatives deems to materially impair the investment quality of the Securities, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis (including, without limitation, an act of terrorism) or change in economic or political conditions, if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets of the United States would, in the judgment of the Representatives, materially impair the investment quality of the Securities, (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading), (iv) the declaration of a banking moratorium by United States or New York State authorities, (v) the suspension of trading of any security of the Company by NASDAQ, the Commission or any other governmental authority or (vi) the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in the opinion of the Representatives has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or (b) as provided in Section  6 of this Agreement.

10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section  8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Section  4 , Section  7 , Section  10 , Section  13 , Section  15 and Section  16 shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

11. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and will be mailed (postage prepaid, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested), delivered or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication:

 

  (a)

if to the Underwriters:

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

(212) 702-1205 (fax)

Attention: Legal Department

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

1717 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(410) 665-6197 (fax)

Attention: John Nelson

 

28


with an additional copy to:

Proskauer Rose LLP

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Suite 600

Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 416-6899 (fax)

Attention: William J. Tuttle (which copy shall not constitute notice)

 

  (b)

if to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator:

Gladstone Investment Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, VA 22102

(703) 287-5801(fax)

Attention: David Gladstone

with an additional copy to:

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

150 Third Avenue South, Suite 2800

Nashville, TN 37201

(615) 742-2780 (fax)

Attention: Lori B. Morgan (which copy shall not constitute notice)

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

13. No Fiduciary Duty . The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the offering and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which an Underwriter may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters), and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that any Underwriter has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

29


14. Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the subject matter hereof.

15. Applicable Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

16. Waiver of Jury Trial . The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

17. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

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

19. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

 

30


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,
Gladstone Investment Corporation
By:  

/s/ David Gladstone

Name:   David Gladstone
Title:   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gladstone Management Corporation
By:  

/s/ David Gladstone

Name:   David Gladstone
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Gladstone Administration, LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael B. LiCalsi

Name:   Michael B. LiCalsi
Title:   President

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


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

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp.
By:  

/s/ Brian Riley

Name:   Brian Riley
Title:   Director, Equity-Linked Capital Markets
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
By:  

/s/ John Nelson

Name:   John Nelson
Title:   Director

For themselves and as Representatives of the Underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

UNDERWRITERS

 

Name of Underwriter

   Number of Initial Securities  

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

     520,000  

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

     741,000  

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

     520,000  

B. Riley FBR, Inc.

     286,000  

J.J.B. Hilliard W.L. Lyons, LLC

     130,000  

Wedbush Securities Inc.

     130,000  

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

     156,000  

National Securities Corporation

     65,000  

Boenning and Scattergood, Inc.

     52,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

     2,600,000  
  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A-1


EXHIBIT B

PRICE-RELATED INFORMATION

Number of Initial Securities:         2,600,000

Number of Option Securities:         390,000

 

     Per Share  

Public offering price

   $ 25.00  

Sales load (underwriting discounts and commissions)

   $ 0.78125  

Proceeds to the Company, before expenses

   $ 24.21875  

Dividend Yield:

     6.375

Pricing Date:

     August 14, 2018  

Closing Date (T+5):

     August 22, 2018  

Liquidation Preference:

   $
 

25.00 per share
plus accumulated
and unpaid
dividends
 
 
 
 

Mandatory Redemption Date:

     August 31, 2025  

Net proceeds after payment of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses of the offering payable by the Company will be approximately $62.7 million.

 

Exhibit B-1


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

As representatives of the several underwriters named in Exhibit A of the Underwriting

Agreement

c/o BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

c/o Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

1717 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, as representatives (the “ Representatives ”) of the several underwriters (the “ Underwriters ”), proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with Gladstone Investment Corporation (the “ Company ”), providing for the public offering by the Underwriters, including the Representatives, of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Securities ) , of the Company (the “ Public Offering ”). Capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, pledge, contract to sell (including any short sale), grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of any shares of the Securities or shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”), which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned on the date hereof in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Securities and Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant and any other security convertible into or exchangeable for the Securities or Common Stock or enter into any Hedging Transaction (as defined below) relating to the Securities or Common Stock (each of the foregoing referred to as a “ Disposition ) during the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until, and including, the date that is 45 days after the date of the final prospectus supplement relating to the Public Offering (the “ Lock-Up Period ”). The foregoing restriction is expressly intended to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any Hedging Transaction or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition during the Lock-Up Period even if the securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. “ Hedging Transaction ” means any short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from the Securities or Common Stock.

 

Exhibit C-1


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may (a) transfer the Securities and Common Stock acquired in open market transactions by the undersigned after the completion of the Public Offering, (b) transfer any or all of the Securities and Common Stock or other Company securities if the transfer is by (i) gift, will or intestacy, or (ii) distribution to partners, members or shareholders of the undersigned; provided, however, that in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding the securities subject to the provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement, and (c) transfer Common Stock pursuant to any written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), in effect on or prior to the date of this Lock-Up Agreement relating to the sale of the undersigned’s Common Stock.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the undersigned may enter into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (a “ New 10b5-1 Plan ”) after the date of this Lock-Up Agreement relating to the sale of the undersigned’s Securities or Common Stock, provided that the New 10b5-1 Plan does not provide for the transfer of the undersigned’s Securities or Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period.

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

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

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

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the closing of the Public Offering has not occurred prior to September 30, 2018, this agreement shall be of no further force or effect.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

Exhibit C-2


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

 

Signature:  

 

Print Name:  

 

 

Exhibit C-3

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

OF

6.375% SERIES E CUMULATIVE TERM PREFERRED STOCK DUE 2025

OF

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Pursuant to Section 151 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

Gladstone Investment Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), certifies that pursuant to the authority contained in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and in accordance with the provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“ DGCL ”), the Board of Directors has duly approved and adopted the following resolutions on August 14, 2018:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ” which term as used herein shall include any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors) by the Certificate of Incorporation and as set forth in Section 151 of the DGCL, the Board of Directors does hereby approve to classify 3,500,000 authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation without designation as to series, with a par value of $0.001 per share, as 6.375% Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Stock due 2025 (“ Series E Term Preferred Stock ”), having the designations, preferences, relative, participating, optional and other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof that are set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and in this resolution as follows:

1.1 Definitions . Unless the context or use indicates another or different meaning or intent, each of the following terms when used in this Certificate of Designation shall have the meaning ascribed to it below:

1940 Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute.

1940 Act Asset Coverage ” means “asset coverage,” as defined for purposes of Sections 18(h) and 61 of the 1940 Act, in an amount at least equal to the minimum asset coverage applicable to the Corporation pursuant to Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act, as such sections may be amended from time to time, with respect to all outstanding senior securities of the Corporation, including all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.

Adviser ” means Gladstone Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or such other entity as shall be then serving as the investment adviser of the Corporation, and shall include, as appropriate, any sub-adviser duly appointed by the Adviser and approved in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

Asset Coverage ” means “asset coverage” of a class of senior security, as defined for purposes of Sections 18(h) and 61 of the 1940 Act, determined for the Corporation and its majority-owned subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act and subject to any exemptive relief from the SEC) on a consolidated basis and on the basis of values calculated as of a time within 48 hours (only including Business Days) next preceding the time of such determination in an amount at least equal to the minimum asset coverage applicable to the Corporation as set forth in Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act, as such sections may be amended from time to time.

Asset Coverage Cure Date ” means, with respect to the failure by the Corporation to have Asset Coverage at the time specified in Section  2.4(a) , the date that is ninety (90) calendar days following the date of such failure.

Board of Directors ” has the meaning as set forth in the Preamble of this Certificate of Designation.

Business Day ” means any calendar day on which the NASDAQ is open for trading.

By-laws ” means the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Corporation, as amended or restated from time to time.

Calendar Quarter ” means any of the three month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 of each year.

Capital Stock ” means the capital stock of the Corporation authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation.

Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation, as amended from time to time.


Certificate of Incorporation ” has the meaning as set forth in the Preamble to this Certificate of Designation.

Change of Control Redemption ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.5(d) .

Change of Control Redemption Date ” means a date selected by the Corporation for the Change of Control Redemption, which date shall be within three (3) Business Days after the occurrence of the applicable Change of Control Triggering Event.

Change of Control Redemption Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.5(d) .

Change of Control Triggering Event ” 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 more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets and the assets of the Corporation’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than the Corporation or one of the Corporation’s subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person 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 Corporation’s outstanding Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Corporation’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) the Corporation consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Corporation, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Corporation’s outstanding Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Corporation’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or (4) the adoption of a plan relating to the Corporation’s liquidation or dissolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control Triggering Event under clause (2) above if (i) the Corporation becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Corporation’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no Person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Common Stock ” means the shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share, of the Corporation.

Corporation ” has the meaning as set forth in the Preamble to this Certificate of Designation.

Custodian ” means a bank, as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act, that has the qualifications prescribed in paragraph 1 of Section 26(a) of the 1940 Act, or such other entity as shall be providing custodian services to the Corporation as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, and shall include, as appropriate, any similarly qualified sub-custodian duly appointed by the Custodian.

Custodian Agreement ” means the Custodian Agreement by and among the Custodian and the Corporation with respect to the Series E Term Preferred Stock.

Date of Original Issue ” means August 22, 2018.

Default ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.2(g)(i) .

Default Period ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.2(g)(i) .

Default Rate ” has the meanings as set forth in Section  2.2(g)(i) .

Deposit Securities ” means, as of any date, any United States dollar-denominated security or other investment of a type described below that either (i) is a demand obligation payable to the holder thereof on any Business Day or (ii) has a maturity date, mandatory redemption date or mandatory payment date, on its face or at the option of the holder, preceding the relevant Redemption Date, Dividend Payment Date or other payment date in respect of which such security or other investment has been deposited or set aside as a Deposit Security:

 

  (A)

cash or any cash equivalent;


  (B)

any U.S. Government Obligation;

 

  (C)

any Short-Term Money Market Instrument;

 

  (D)

any investment in any money market fund registered under the 1940 Act that qualifies under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, or similar investment vehicle described in Rule 12d1-1(b)(2) under the 1940 Act, that invests principally in Short-Term Money Market Instruments or U.S. Government Obligations or any combination thereof; or

 

  (E)

any letter of credit from a bank or other financial institution that has a credit rating from at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such rating agency to bank deposits or short-term debt of similar banks or other financial institutions as of the date of this Certificate of Designation (or such rating’s future equivalent).

DGCL ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Certificate of Designation.

Dividend Default ” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section  2.2(g)(i) .

Dividend Payment Date ” means the last Business Day of each Dividend Period.

Dividend Period ” means, with respect to each share of Series E Term Preferred Stock, in the case of the first Dividend Period, the period beginning on the Date of Original Issue and ending on and including September 30, 2018 and for each subsequent Dividend Period, the period beginning on and including the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the previous Dividend Period ended and ending on and including the last calendar day of such month.

Dividend Rate ” means, as of any date, the Fixed Dividend Rate as adjusted, if a Default Period shall be in existence on such date, in accordance with the provisions of Section  2.2(g) .

Electronic Means ” means email transmission, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission (but excluding online communications systems covered by a separate agreement) acceptable to the sending party and the receiving party, in any case if operative as between any two parties, or, if not operative, by telephone (promptly confirmed by any other method set forth in this definition), which, in the case of notices to the Redemption and Paying Agent and the Custodian, shall be sent by such means to each of its representatives set forth in the Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement and the Custodian Agreement, respectively.

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Fixed Dividend Rate ” means 6.375% per annum.

Holder ” means, with respect to the Series E Term Preferred Stock or any other security issued by the Corporation, a Person in whose name such security is registered in the registration books of the Corporation maintained by the Redemption and Paying Agent or otherwise.

Liquidation Preference ” means $25.00 per share.

Mandatory Redemption Price ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.5(b)(i) .

Market Value ” of any asset means, for securities for which market quotations are readily available, the market value thereof determined by an independent third-party pricing service designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Market Value of any asset shall include any interest accrued thereon. The pricing service values portfolio securities at the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined by the pricing service using methods that include consideration of: yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating; indications as to value from dealers; and general market conditions. The pricing service may employ electronic data processing techniques or a matrix system, or both, to determine recommended valuations.

NASDAQ ” means the Nasdaq Global Select Market.


Non-Call Period ” means the period beginning on the Date of Original of Issue and ending at the close of business on August 30, 2020, during which the Series E Term Preferred Stock shall not be subject to redemption at the option of the Corporation.

Notice of Redemption ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.5(e) .

Optional Redemption Date ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.5(c)(i) .

Optional Redemption Price ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.5(c)(i) .

Outstanding ” means, as of any date with respect to the Series E Term Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock theretofore issued by the Corporation except (without duplication):

 

  (i)

any shares of the Series E Term Preferred Stock theretofore cancelled or redeemed or delivered to the Redemption and Paying Agent for cancellation or redemption in accordance with the terms hereof;

 

  (ii)

any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock as to which the Corporation shall have given a Notice of Redemption and irrevocably deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent sufficient Deposit Securities to redeem such shares in accordance with Section  2.5 hereof; and

 

  (iii)

any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock as to which the Corporation shall be the Holder or the beneficial owner.

Person ” means and includes an individual, a partnership, a trust, a corporation, a limited liability company, an unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Preferred Stock ” means any Capital Stock of the Corporation classified as preferred stock, now or hereafter issued by the Corporation, and any other shares of Capital Stock hereafter authorized and issued by the Corporation of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payments of dividends.

Redemption and Paying Agent ” means Computershare Inc. and its successors or any other redemption and paying agent appointed by the Corporation with respect to the Series E Term Preferred Stock.

Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement ” means the Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement or other similarly titled agreement by and among the Redemption and Paying Agent for the Series E Term Preferred Stock and the Corporation.

Redemption Date ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.5(e) .

Redemption Default ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.2(g)(i) .

Redemption Price ” means the Term Redemption Price, the Mandatory Redemption Price, the Optional Redemption Price or the Change of Control Redemption Price, as applicable.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SEC Report ” means, with respect to any Calendar Quarter, the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Corporation with the SEC with respect to such Calendar Quarter (or, in the case of the Calendar Quarter that is the last Calendar Quarter in the Corporation’s fiscal year, with respect to the fiscal year that includes such Calendar Quarter).

Securities Depository ” means The Depository Trust Company and its successors and assigns or any other securities depository selected by the Corporation that agrees to follow the procedures required to be followed by such securities depository as set forth in this Certificate of Designation with respect to the Series E Term Preferred Stock.

“Series E Term Preferred Stock” has the meaning as set forth in the preamble hereto.

Short-Term Money Market Instruments ” means the following types of instruments if, on the date of purchase or other acquisition thereof by the Corporation, the remaining term to maturity thereof is not in excess of 180 days:

 

  (i)

commercial paper rated A-1 if such commercial paper matures within 30 days or A-1+ if such commercial paper matures in over 30 days;


  (ii)

demand or time deposits in, and bankers’ acceptances and certificates of deposit of (A) a depository institution or trust company incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (B) a United States branch office or agency of a foreign depository institution (provided that such branch office or agency is subject to banking regulation under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia); and

 

  (iii)

overnight funds.

Term Redemption Date means August 31, 2025.

“Term Redemption Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.5(a).

U.S. Government Obligations ” means direct obligations of the United States or of its agencies or instrumentalities that are entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States and that, other than United States treasury bills, provide for the periodic payment of interest and the full payment of principal at maturity or call for redemption.

Voting Period ” has the meaning as set forth in Section  2.6(b)(i) .

Voting Stock ” means, with respect to any specified Person that is a corporation as of any date, the capital stock of such Person that is as of such date entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of such Person.

1.2 Interpretation . The headings preceding the text of the Sections included in this Certificate of Designation are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Certificate of Designation or be given any effect in interpreting this Certificate of Designation. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words herein shall not limit any provision of this Certificate of Designation. The use of the terms “including” or “include” shall in all cases herein mean “including, without limitation” or “include, without limitation,” respectively. Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns to the extent such successors and assigns are permitted by the terms of any applicable agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually.

Reference to any agreement (including this Certificate of Designation), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or re-enacted, in whole or in part, including rules, regulations, enforcement procedures and any interpretations promulgated thereunder. Underscored references to Sections shall refer to those portions of this Certificate of Designation. The use of the terms “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall refer to this Certificate of Designation as a whole and not to any particular Section or clause of this Certificate of Designation.

2.1 Number of Shares; Ranking.

(a) A series of 3,500,000 shares of Preferred Stock are hereby designated as the Series E Term Preferred Stock. Each share of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall have such preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, in addition to those required by applicable law and those that are expressly set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, as are set forth in this Certificate of Designation. The Series E Term Preferred Stock shall constitute a separate series of Capital Stock and each share of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be identical. No fractional shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be issued.

(b) The Series E Term Preferred Stock shall rank on parity with shares of any other series of Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. The Series E Term Preferred Stock shall have preference with respect to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation over the Common Stock as set forth herein.

(c) No Holder of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall have, solely by reason of being such a Holder, any preemptive or other right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any share of Preferred Stock or share of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation that it may hereafter issue or sell.


2.2 Dividends and Distributions.

(a) The Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of funds legally available therefor and in preference to dividends and distributions on the Common Stock, cumulative cash dividends and distributions on each share of Series E Term Preferred Stock, calculated separately for each Dividend Period for the Series E Term Preferred Stock at the Dividend Rate in effect from time to time for the Series E Term Preferred Stock during such Dividend Period, computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, on an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference for a share of the Series E Term Preferred Stock, and no more. Dividends and distributions on the Series E Term Preferred Stock shall accumulate from the Date of Original Issue and shall be payable monthly in arrears as provided in Section  2.2(f) . Dividends payable on the Series E Term Preferred Stock for any period of less than a full monthly Dividend Period (including the period of less than a full calendar month included in the first Dividend Period) or upon any redemption of such shares on any Redemption Date other than on a Dividend Payment Date, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed for any period of less than one month.

(b) Dividends on shares of the Series E Term Preferred Stock with respect to any Dividend Period shall be declared to the Holders of record of such shares as their names shall appear on the registration books of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be such date designated by the Board of Directors that is not more than twenty (20) nor less than seven (7) calendar days prior to the Dividend Payment Date with respect to such Dividend Period, and shall be paid as provided further in Section  2.2(f) hereof; provided , however , that dividends with respect to the first Dividend Period of the Series E Term Preferred Stock will be paid on September 28, 2018 to holders of record of such Series E Term Preferred Stock as their names appear on the registration books of the Corporation at the close of business on September 19, 2018.

 

  (c)(i)

No full dividends and distributions shall be declared or paid on shares of the Series E Term Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period or part thereof unless full cumulative dividends and distributions due through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor for all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor. If full cumulative dividends and distributions due have not been declared and paid on all outstanding Preferred Stock of any series, any dividends and distributions being declared and paid on the Series E Term Preferred Stock will be declared and paid as nearly pro rata as possible in proportion to the respective amounts of dividends and distributions accumulated but unpaid on each such series of Preferred Stock on the relevant dividend payment date for such series. No Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to any dividends and distributions, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends and distributions as provided in this Section  2.2(c)(i) on the Series E Term Preferred Stock.

 

  (ii)

For so long as any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation shall not: (x) declare any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Common Stock) in respect of the Common Stock, (y) call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Stock, or (z) pay any proceeds of the liquidation of the Corporation in respect of the Common Stock, unless, in each case, (A) immediately thereafter, the Corporation shall have 1940 Act Asset Coverage after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution or redemption or purchase price or liquidation proceeds, (B) all cumulative dividends and distributions on all shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and all other Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Term Preferred Stock due on or prior to the date of the applicable dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition shall have been declared and paid (or shall have been declared and Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock) for the payment thereof shall have been deposited irrevocably with the paying agent for such Preferred Stock) and (C) the Corporation shall have deposited Deposit Securities pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements of Section  2.5(e)(ii) hereof with respect to Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed pursuant to Section  2.5(a) , Section  2.5(b) , or Section  2.5(d) hereof for which a Notice of Redemption shall have been given or shall have been required to be given in accordance with the terms hereof on or prior to the date of the applicable dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition.

 

  (iii)

Any dividend payment made on shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the dividends and distributions accumulated with respect to the earliest Dividend Period for which dividends and distributions have not been paid.

(d) Not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation shall deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on such date sufficient to pay the dividends and distributions that are payable on such Dividend Payment Date. The Corporation may direct the Redemption and Paying Agent with respect to the investment or reinvestment of any such Deposit Securities prior to the Dividend Payment Date, provided that such investment consists exclusively of Deposit Securities and provided further that the proceeds of any such investment will be available as same day funds at the opening of business on such Dividend Payment Date.


(e) All Deposit Securities paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent for the payment of dividends payable on the Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be held in trust for the payment of such dividends by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders entitled to the payment of such dividends pursuant to Section  2.2(f) . Any moneys paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent in accordance with the foregoing but not applied by the Redemption and Paying Agent to the payment of dividends, including interest earned on such moneys while so held, will, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Corporation as soon as possible after the date on which such moneys were to have been so applied, upon request of the Corporation.

(f) Dividends on shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be paid on each Dividend Payment Date to the Holders of shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Corporation at the close of business on the applicable record date for such dividend. Dividends in arrears on shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock for any past Dividend Period may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Corporation on such date, not exceeding twenty (20) nor less than seven (7) calendar days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

 

  (g)(i)

The Dividend Rate on the Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be adjusted to the Default Rate (as defined below) in the following circumstances. Subject to the cure provisions below, a “ Default Period ” with respect to the Series E Term Preferred Stock shall commence on any date the Corporation fails to deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (A) a Dividend Payment Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Redemption and Paying Agent on such Dividend Payment Date sufficient to pay the full amount of any dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date (a “ Dividend Default ”) or (B) an applicable Redemption Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Redemption and Paying Agent on such Redemption Date sufficient to pay the full amount of the Redemption Price payable in respect of such Series on such Redemption Date (a “ Redemption Default ” and together with a Dividend Default, hereinafter referred to as “ Default ”). Subject to the cure provisions of Section  2.2(g)(ii) below, a Default Period with respect to a Default on the Series E Term Preferred Stock shall end on the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and any unpaid Redemption Price shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the Redemption and Paying Agent. In the case of any Default on the Series E Term Preferred Stock, the Dividend Rate for each calendar day during the Default Period will be equal to the Default Rate. The “ Default Rate ” on the Series E Term Preferred Stock for any calendar day shall be equal to the Fixed Dividend Rate plus 3.00% per annum.

 

  (ii)

No Default Period for the Series E Term Preferred Stock with respect to any Default on the Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be deemed to commence if the amount of any dividend or any Redemption Price due in respect of the Series E Term Preferred Stock (if such Default is not solely due to the willful failure of the Corporation) is deposited irrevocably in trust, in same-day funds, with the Redemption and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day that is not later than five (5) Business Days after the applicable Dividend Payment Date or Redemption Date with respect to which such Default occurred, together with an amount equal to the Default Rate applied to the amount and period of such non-payment based on the actual number of calendar days comprising such period divided by 360.

2.3 Liquidation Rights.

(a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, after satisfying claims of creditors but before any distribution or payment shall be made in respect of the Common Stock, a liquidation distribution equal to the Liquidation Preference for such shares, plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions on such shares accumulated up to, but excluding, the date fixed for such distribution or payment on such shares (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation, but excluding interest thereon), and such Holders shall be entitled to no further participation in any distribution or payment in connection with any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

(b) If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution among the Holders of all Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and any other outstanding Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment in full to such Holders of the Liquidation Preference of such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock plus accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions on such shares as provided in Section  2.3(a) above and the amounts due upon liquidation with respect to such other Preferred Stock, then such available assets shall be distributed among the Holders of such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and such other Preferred Stock ratably in proportion to the respective preferential liquidation amounts to which they are entitled. In connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, unless and until the Liquidation Preference on each Outstanding share of Series E Term Preferred Stock plus accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions on such shares as provided in Section  2.3(a) above have been paid in full to the Holders of such shares, no dividends, distributions or other payments will be made on, and no redemption, purchase or other acquisition by the Corporation will be made by the Corporation in respect of, shares of the Common Stock.


(c) Neither the sale of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Corporation into or with any other business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of any other business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity into or with the Corporation shall be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, for the purpose of this Section  2.3 .

2.4 Coverage Test.

(a) Asset Coverage Requirement . For so long as any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation shall have Asset Coverage as of the time of any of the following: declaration of dividends or distributions on Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock) after deducting such dividend or distribution, the time of purchase by the Corporation of shares of Common Stock, or issuance of any senior security as defined in the 1940 Act that is stock. If the Corporation shall fail to maintain such Asset Coverage as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined as aforesaid, the provisions of Section  2.5(b)(i) shall be applicable, which provisions shall constitute the sole remedy for the Corporation’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section  2.4(a) .

(b) Calculation of Asset Coverage . For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section  2.4(a) are satisfied, (i) no Series E Term Preferred Stock or other Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of any computation required by Section  2.4(a) if, prior to or concurrently with such determination, either (x) sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of any Preferred Stock) to pay the full redemption price for the Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been deposited in trust with the paying agent for the Preferred Stock and the requisite notice of redemption for the Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been given or (y) sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock) to pay the full redemption price for the Preferred Stock (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been segregated by the Custodian and the Corporation from the assets of the Corporation, by means of appropriate identification on the Custodian’s books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, and (ii) the Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds that shall have been deposited with the applicable paying agent and/or segregated by the Custodian, as applicable, as provided in clause (i) of this sentence shall not be included as assets of the Corporation for purposes of such computation.

2.5 Redemption . Shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be subject to redemption by the Corporation as provided below:

(a) Term Redemption . The Corporation shall redeem all shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock on the Term Redemption Date, at a price per share equal to the Liquidation Preference per share plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions on such share accumulated up to, but excluding, the Term Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation, but excluding interest thereon) (the “ Term Redemption Price ”).

(b) Asset Coverage Mandatory Redemption.

 

  (i)

If the Corporation fails to comply with the Asset Coverage requirement as provided in Section  2.4(a) and such failure is not cured as of the Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Corporation shall, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law, by the close of business on such Asset Coverage Cure Date, fix a redemption date and proceed to redeem in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock, a sufficient number of shares of Preferred Stock, which at the Corporation’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law) may include any number or proportion of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, to enable it to meet the requirements of Section  2.5(b)(ii) . In the event that any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock then Outstanding are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section  2.5(b)(i) , the Corporation shall redeem such shares at a price per share (the “ Mandatory Redemption Price ”) equal to (y) the Liquidation Preference per share plus (z) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions on such share accumulated up to, but excluding, the date fixed for such redemption by the Board of Directors (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation, but excluding interest thereon).

 

  (ii)

On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by Section  2.5(b)(i) , the Corporation shall redeem, out of funds legally available therefor, such number of shares of Preferred Stock (which may include at the sole option of the Corporation any number or proportion of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock) as shall be equal to the lesser of (x) the minimum number of shares of Preferred Stock, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, would result in the Corporation having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date ( provided , however , that if there is no such minimum number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock the redemption or retirement of which would have such result, all shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be redeemed), and (y) the maximum number of shares of Preferred Stock that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available


  therefor in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, provided further , that in connection with redemption for failure to maintain such Asset Coverage requirement, the Corporation may at its sole option, but is not required to, redeem a sufficient number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section  2.5(b) that, when aggregated with other shares of Preferred Stock redeemed by the Corporation, would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, in the Corporation having ”asset coverage” (as defined for purposes of Sections 18(h) and 61 of the 1940 Act) of a percentage that is up to and including 50% higher than Asset Coverage. The Corporation shall effect such redemption on the date fixed by the Corporation therefor, which date shall not be later than ninety (90) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, except that if the Corporation does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the required number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock which have been designated to be redeemed or the Corporation otherwise is unable to effect such redemption on or prior to ninety (90) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Corporation shall redeem those shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and other shares of Preferred Stock which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section  2.5(b) , the number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be redeemed (A) pro rata among the Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Directors may determine to be fair and equitable.

(c) Optional Redemption.

(i) Subject to the provisions of Section  2.5(c)(ii) , on any Business Day following the expiration of the Non-Call Period for shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock (any such Business Day referred to in this sentence, an “ Optional Redemption Date ”), the Corporation may redeem in whole or from time to time in part the Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, at a redemption price per share (the “ Optional Redemption Price ”) equal to (y) the Liquidation Preference per share plus (z) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions on such share of Series E Term Preferred Stock accumulated up to, but excluding, the Optional Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation, but excluding interest thereon).

(ii) If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to Section  2.5(c)(i) , the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either (A) pro rata, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Directors may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions of this Certificate of Designation and applicable law, the Board of Directors will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock will be redeemed pursuant to this Section  2.5(c) from time to time.

(iii) The Corporation may not on any date deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section  2.5(e) in respect of a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Section  2.5(c) unless on such date the Corporation has available Deposit Securities for the Optional Redemption Date contemplated by such Notice of Redemption having a Market Value not less than the amount due to Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock by reason of the redemption of such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock on such Optional Redemption Date.

(d) Change of Control Redemption. If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Corporation has exercised the option to redeem such Series E Term Preferred Stock pursuant to Section  2.5(c) , the Corporation shall redeem all of the outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock on the Change of Control Redemption Date, at a price per share (the “ Change of Control Redemption Price ”) equal to (y) the Liquidation Preference per share plus (z) an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions on such share up to, but excluding the Change of Control Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation, but excluding interest thereon) (the “ Change of Control Redemption ”).

(e) Procedures for Redemption.

 

  (i)

If the Corporation shall determine or be required to redeem, in whole or in part, shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock pursuant to Section  2.5(b), (c)  or (d) , the Corporation shall deliver a notice of redemption (the “ Notice of Redemption ”), by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to Holders thereof, or request the Redemption and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Corporation, to promptly do so by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means. A Notice of Redemption shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the date fixed for redemption in such Notice of Redemption (the “ Redemption Date ”); provided , however , that, in the event of a Change of Control Redemption, the Notice of Redemption will, if mailed prior to the date of


  consummation of the Change of Control Triggering Event, state that the Change of Control Redemption is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring and, provided further , that if, by the date that is three (3) Business Days prior to the date fixed for redemption in such Notice of Redemption, the Change of Control Triggering Event shall not have occurred, the Redemption Date shall be extended until a date, to be selected by the Corporation, that is no more than three (3) Business Days after the date on which the Change of Control Triggering Event occurs. Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (A) the Redemption Date; (B) the number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (C) the CUSIP number for shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock; (D) the applicable Redemption Price on a per share basis; (E) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors requires and the Notice of Redemption states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (F) that dividends on the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and (G) the provisions of this Certificate of Designation under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed from such Holder or the method of determining such number. The Corporation may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Certificate of Designation that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and that the Corporation shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

 

  (ii)

If the Corporation shall give a Notice of Redemption, then at any time from and after the giving of such Notice of Redemption and prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date (so long as any conditions precedent to such redemption have been met or waived by the Corporation), the Corporation shall (A) deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on the date thereof no less than the Redemption Price of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to be redeemed on the Redemption Date and (B) give the Redemption and Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holders of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock called for redemption on the Redemption Date. The Corporation may direct the Redemption and Paying Agent with respect to the investment of any Deposit Securities consisting of cash so deposited prior to the Redemption Date, provided that the proceeds of any such investment shall be available at the opening of business on the Redemption Date as same day funds.

 

  (iii)

Upon the date of the deposit of such Deposit Securities, all rights of the Holders of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall cease and terminate except the right of the Holders thereof to receive the Redemption Price thereof and such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever (other than (A) the transfer thereof prior to the applicable Redemption Date and (B) the accumulation of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms hereof up to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, which accumulated dividends, unless previously or contemporaneously declared and paid as contemplated by the last sentence of Section  2.5(e)(vi) below, shall be payable only as part of the applicable Redemption Price on the Redemption Date). The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, promptly after the Redemption Date, any Deposit Securities in excess of the aggregate Redemption Price of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock called for redemption on the Redemption Date. Any Deposit Securities so deposited that are unclaimed at the end of ninety (90) calendar days from the Redemption Date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Corporation, after which the Holders of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the Redemption Price thereof. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the Term Redemption Date, any interest on the Deposit Securities so deposited.


  (iv)

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section  2.5 , except as otherwise required by law, the Corporation shall not redeem any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions on all Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series E Term Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and distributions for all applicable past dividend periods (whether or not earned or declared by the Corporation) (x) shall have been or are contemporaneously paid or (y) shall have been or are contemporaneously declared and Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock) for the payment of such dividends and distributions shall have been or are contemporaneously deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent for such Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock pursuant to an otherwise lawful purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to Holders of all Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock for which all accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions have not been paid.

 

  (v)

To the extent that any redemption for which Notice of Redemption has been provided is not made by reason of the absence of legally available funds therefor in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, such redemption shall be made as soon as practicable to the extent such funds become available. No Redemption Default shall be deemed to have occurred if the Corporation shall fail to deposit in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (1) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (2) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that a Notice of Redemption has been provided with respect to any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock in accordance with their terms if Deposit Securities for the payment of the Redemption Price of such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall not have been deposited in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent for that purpose.

 

  (vi)

Notwithstanding Section  2.5(a), (b), (c)  and (d) , if such Redemption Date occurs after the applicable record date for a dividend but on or prior to the related Dividend Payment Date, the dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date in respect of such Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be payable on such Dividend Payment Date to the holders of record of such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock at the close of business on the applicable record date, and shall not be payable as part of the Redemption Price for such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock.

(f) Redemption and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Corporation . All Deposit Securities transferred to the Redemption and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock so to be redeemed until paid to such Holders in accordance with the terms hereof or returned to the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section  2.5(e)(iii) above.

(g) Compliance With Applicable Law . In effecting any redemption pursuant to this Section  2.5 , the Corporation shall use its best efforts to comply with all applicable conditions precedent to effecting such redemption under the 1940 Act and any applicable Delaware law, but shall effect no redemption except in accordance with the 1940 Act and any applicable Delaware law.

(h) Modification of Redemption Procedures . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  2.5 , the Corporation may, in its sole discretion and without a stockholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of redemption for the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, provided that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock or cause the Corporation to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Redemption and Paying Agent without its prior consent.

2.6 Voting Rights.

(a) One Vote Per Share of Series E Term Preferred Stock . Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by applicable law, (i) each Holder of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Series E Term Preferred Stock held by such Holder on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation, and (ii) the holders of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, including Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, and of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class; provided , however , that the holders of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, including Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, shall be entitled, as a class, to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of Capital Stock of the Corporation, to elect two Directors of the Corporation at all times. Subject to Section  2.6(b) , the Holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, including shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, shall elect the balance of the Directors.


(b) Voting For Additional Directors .

 

  (i)

Voting Period . During any period in which any one or more of the conditions described in clauses (A) or (B) of this Section  2.6(b)(i) shall exist (such period being referred to herein as a “ Voting Period ”), the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be automatically increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two Directors elected exclusively by the Holders of Preferred Stock, including shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, would constitute a majority of the Board of Directors as so increased by such smallest number; and the Holders of Preferred Stock, including Series E Term Preferred Stock, shall be entitled, voting as a class on a one-vote-per-share basis (to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of capital stock of the Corporation), to elect such smallest number of additional Directors, together with the two Directors that such Holders are in any event entitled to elect. A Voting Period shall commence:

 

  (A)

if, at the close of business on any dividend payment date for any outstanding Preferred Stock including any Outstanding shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, accumulated dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such outstanding share of Preferred Stock equal to at least two (2) full years’ dividends shall be due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities shall not have been deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent for the payment of such accumulated dividends; or

 

  (B)

if at any time Holders of shares of Preferred Stock are otherwise entitled under the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act to elect a majority of the Board of Directors.

Upon the termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in this Section  2.6(b)(i) shall cease, subject always, however, to the revesting of such voting rights in the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock upon the further occurrence of any of the events described in this Section  2.6(b)(i) .

 

  (ii)

Notice of Special Meeting . As soon as practicable after the accrual of any right of the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors as described in Section  2.6(b)(i) , the Corporation shall call a special meeting of such Holders and notify the Redemption and Paying Agent and/or such other Person as is specified in the terms of such Preferred Stock to receive notice (i) by mailing or delivery by Electronic Means or (ii) in such other manner and by such other means as are specified in the terms of such Preferred Stock, a notice of such special meeting to such Holders, such meeting to be held not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the delivery by Electronic Means or mailing of such notice. If the Corporation fails to call such a special meeting, it may be called at the expense of the Corporation by any such Holder on like notice. The record date for determining the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock entitled to notice of and to vote at such special meeting shall be the close of business on the fifth (5th) Business Day preceding the calendar day on which such notice is mailed. At any such special meeting and at each meeting of Holders of shares of Preferred Stock held during a Voting Period at which Directors are to be elected, such Holders, voting together as a class (to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of capital stock of the Corporation), shall be entitled to elect the number of Directors prescribed in Section  2.6(b)(i) on a one-vote-per-share basis.

 

  (iii)

Terms of Office of Existing Directors . The terms of office of the incumbent Directors of the Corporation at the time of a special meeting of Holders of the shares of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors in accordance with Section  2.6(b)(i) shall not be affected by the election at such meeting by the Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and such other Holders of shares of Preferred Stock of the number of Directors that they are entitled to elect, and the Directors so elected by the Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and such other Holders of shares of Preferred Stock, together with the two (2) Directors elected by the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with Section  2.6(a) hereof and the remaining Directors elected by the holders of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, shall constitute the duly elected Directors of the Corporation.

 

  (iv)

Terms of Office of Certain Directors to Terminate Upon Termination of Voting Period . Simultaneously with the termination of a Voting Period, the terms of office of the additional Directors elected by the Holders of the shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section  2.6(b)(i) shall terminate, the remaining Directors shall constitute the Directors of the Corporation and the voting rights of the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors pursuant to Section  2.6(b)(i) shall cease, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of Section  2.6(b)(i) .


(c) Holders of Shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to Vote on Certain Matters .

 

  (i)

Certain Amendments Requiring Approval of Series E Term Preferred Stock . Except as otherwise permitted by the terms of this Certificate of Designation, so long as any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting together as a separate class, amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, or this Certificate of Designation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock or the Holders thereof; provided , however , that (i) a change in the capitalization of the Corporation in accordance with Section  2.7 hereof shall not be considered to materially and adversely affect the rights and preferences of the Series E Term Preferred Stock, and (ii) a division of a share of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be deemed to affect such preferences, rights or powers only if the terms of such division materially and adversely affect the Holders of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock. For purposes of the foregoing, no matter shall be deemed to adversely affect any preference, right or power of a share of Series E Term Preferred Stock or the Holder thereof unless such matter (i) alters or abolishes any preferential right of such share of Series E Term Preferred Stock, or (ii) creates, alters or abolishes any right in respect of redemption of such share of Series E Term Preferred Stock(other than as a result of a division of a share of Series E Term Preferred Stock). So long as any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, file a voluntary application for relief under Federal bankruptcy law or any similar application under state law for so long as the Corporation is solvent and does not foresee becoming insolvent. The Corporation cannot change the Fixed Dividend Rate or amend, alter or repeal its obligation to redeem all of the Series E Term Preferred Stock on August 31, 2025 without the prior unanimous consent of the holders of Series E Term Preferred Stock.

 

  (ii)

1940 Act Matters . Unless a higher percentage is provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the Holders of at least “a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock,” including shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, shall be required (A) to approve the Corporation ceasing to be a business development company, or to approve the Corporation’s withdrawal of its election to be regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act, or (B) to approve any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares. For purposes of the foregoing, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock” means the vote at an annual or special meeting duly called of (i) sixty-seven percent (67%) or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the Holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of such shares are present or represented by proxy at such meeting, or (ii) more than fifty percent (50%) of such shares, whichever is less.

(d) Voting Rights Set Forth Herein Are Sole Voting Rights . Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall not have any relative rights or preferences or other special rights with respect to voting other than those specifically set forth in this Section  2.6 .

(e) No Cumulative Voting . The Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall have no rights to cumulative voting.

(f) Voting for Directors Sole Remedy for Corporation’s Failure to Declare or Pay Dividends . In the event that the Corporation fails to declare or pay any dividends on shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock on the Dividend Payment Date therefor, the exclusive remedy of the Holders of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be the right to vote for Directors pursuant to the provisions of this Section  2.6 . Nothing in this Section  2.6(f) shall be deemed to affect the obligation of the Corporation to accumulate and, if permitted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Certificate of Designation, pay dividends at the Default Rate in the circumstances contemplated by Section  2.2(g) hereof.

(g) Holders Entitled to Vote . For purposes of determining any rights of the Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock to vote on any matter, whether such right is created by this Certificate of Designation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, by statute or otherwise, no Holder of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote any share of Series E Term Preferred Stock and no share of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be “Outstanding” for the purpose of voting or determining the number of shares required to constitute a quorum if, prior to or concurrently with the time of determination of shares entitled to vote or the time of the actual vote on the matter, as the case may be, the requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall have been given in accordance with this Certificate of Designation and Deposit Securities for the payment of the Redemption Price of such share of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall have been deposited in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent for that purpose. No share of Series E Term Preferred Stock held by the Corporation shall have any voting rights or be deemed to be outstanding for voting or for calculating the voting percentage required on any other matter or other purposes.


2.7 Issuance of Additional Preferred Stock.

So long as any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, the Corporation may, without the vote or consent of the Holders thereof, authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of a class of senior securities of the Corporation representing stock under Sections 18 and 61 of the 1940 Act, ranking on a parity with the Series E Term Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, in addition to then Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, and authorize, issue and sell additional shares of any such series of Preferred Stock then outstanding or so established and created, including additional shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock, in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Corporation shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such additional shares of Preferred Stock and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of shares of Preferred Stock with such proceeds, have Asset Coverage.

2.8 Status of Redeemed or Repurchased Series E Term Preferred Stock.

Shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock that at any time have been redeemed or purchased by the Corporation shall, after such redemption or purchase, have the status of authorized but unissued shares of Capital Stock.

2.9 Global Certificate.

Prior to the commencement of a Voting Period, (i) all shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock Outstanding from time to time shall be represented by one global certificate registered in the name of the Securities Depository or its nominee and (ii) no registration of transfer of shares of such Series E Term Preferred Stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation to any Person other than the Securities Depository or its nominee. The foregoing restriction on registration of transfer shall be conspicuously noted on the face or back of the global certificates.

2.10 Notice.

All notices or communications hereunder, unless otherwise specified in this Certificate of Designation, shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person, by Electronic Means or by overnight mail or delivery or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section  2.10 shall be deemed given on the date received or, if mailed by first class mail, on the date five (5) calendar days after which such notice is mailed.

2.11 Termination.

In the event that no shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are Outstanding, all rights and preferences of the shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock established and designated hereunder shall cease and terminate, and all obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation with respect to such Series E Term Preferred Stock shall terminate.

2.12 Amendment.

The Board of Directors may, by resolution duly adopted, without stockholder approval (except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Designation or required by applicable law) amend this Certificate of Designation so as to reflect any amendments to the terms applicable to the Series E Term Preferred Stock, including an increase in the number of authorized shares of the Series E Term Preferred Stock.

2.13 Actions on Other than Business Days.

Unless otherwise provided herein, if the date for making any payment, performing any act or exercising any right, in each case as provided for in this Certificate of Designation, is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made, act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made or done on the nominal date provided therefor, and, with respect to any payment so made, no dividends, interest or other amount shall accrue for the period between such nominal date and the date of payment.

2.14 Modification.

The Board of Directors, without the vote of the Holders of Series E Term Preferred Stock, may interpret, supplement or amend the provisions of this Certificate of Designation to supply any omission, resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity or to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, including any provision that becomes defective after the date hereof because of impossibility of performance or any provision that is inconsistent with any provision of any other Capital Stock of the Corporation.


2.15 Information Rights.

During any period in which the Corporation is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and any shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation will provide holders of Series E Term Preferred Stock, without cost, copies of SEC Reports that the Corporation would have been required to file pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if the Corporation was subject to such provisions or, alternatively, the Corporation will voluntarily file SEC Reports as if the Corporation was subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

2.16 No Additional Rights.

Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Holders of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock shall not have any relative rights or preferences or other special rights other than those specifically set forth in this Certificate of Designation.

[Signature Page Begins on the Following Page]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Designation to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer as of this15th day of August, 2018.

 

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ David Gladstone

  Name: David Gladstone
  Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 4.1

 

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. ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS# 6.375% SERIES E CUMULATIVE TERM 6.375% SERIES E CUMULATIVE TERM PREFERRED STOCK DUE 2025 PREFERRED STOCK DUE 2025 MRPO PAR VALUE $0.001 ADD ADD ADD ADD 4 32 1 A BOX DESIGNATION SAMPLE Certificate Shares 43004, * * 000000 ****************** (IF Number * * * 000000 ***************** ANY) ZQ00000000 **** 000000 **************** Providence, GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION ***** 000000 *************** RI ****** 000000 ************** INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS 02940 **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David - THIS CERTIFIES THAT Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. 3004 Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** CUSIP 376546 60 2 Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample SPECIMEN **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample is the owner of **000000**Shares****000000** Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares*** *000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares**** 000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0 THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN 00000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00 0000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000 CITIES DESIGNATED BY THE TRANSFER 000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000 AGENT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 00**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00000 0**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000 www.computershare.com **Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000* *Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000** Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**S FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF 6.375% SERIES E CUMULATIVE TERM PREFERRED STOCK DUE 2025, PAR VALUE OF $0.001 OF Gladstone Investment Corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”), transferable on the books of the Total DTC Corporation in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Holder Certificate and the shares represented hereby, are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Number Certificateof Insurance ID Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and the By-Laws, as amended, of the Corporation (copies of which are on Value file with the Corporation and with the Transfer Agent), to all of which each holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. Transaction Shares CUSIP/IDENTIFIER Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Witness the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. DATED DD-MMM-YYYY estmen COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: 6 5 4 3 2 1 nv t 12345678 eI Co Num/No n rp COMPUTERSHARE INC. . t o o s r TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR, d a t i a l n o 6 5 4 3 2 1 Chairman & Chief Executive Officer G Denom 2005 DELAWARE . XXXXXX 1,000,000 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 . XX Total 123456789012345 123456 00 XXXXXXXXXX X By Secretary AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE


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GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE CORPORATION A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE. THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION, AS AMENDED, CONTAIN CERTAINS RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A FULL STATEMENT REGARDING SUCH RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT CHARGE AND UPON REQUEST. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act.. (State) JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIF TRF MIN ACT -.Custodian (until age) and not as tenants in common (Cust) under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (Minor) (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the Preferred Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: 20 Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. The IRS requires that we report the cost basis of certain shares acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares were covered by the legislation and you have sold or transferred the shares and requested a specific cost basis calculation method, we have processed as requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please visit our website or consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with us or do not have any activity in your account for the time periods specified by state law, your property could become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state.

Exhibit 99.1

 

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August 15, 2018

Gladstone Investment Announces Intent to Redeem

All Outstanding Shares of Existing Series B Term Preferred Stock and Series C Term Preferred Stock

MCLEAN, VA, August 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gladstone Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: GAIN) (the “Company”) today announced that it plans to redeem all of its outstanding shares of its 6.75% Series B Cumulative Term Preferred Stock due 2021 (the “Series B Term Preferred Stock”) and its 6.50% Series C Cumulative Term Preferred Stock due 2023 (the “Series C Term Preferred Stock”), contingent upon the Company’s successful completion of the public offering of its newly designated 6.375% Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Stock due 2025 (the “Series E Term Preferred Stock”). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of its Series E Term Preferred Stock plus borrowings under its credit facility, as necessary, to redeem all outstanding shares of its Series B Term Preferred Stock and its Series C Term Preferred Stock.

A notice of redemption on a conditional basis will be mailed to all registered holders of the Series B Term Preferred Stock and Series C Term Preferred Stock by Computershare, Inc., as the Redemption and Paying Agent, in accordance with the requirements of the Company’s Certificates of Designation of Series B Term Preferred Stock and Series C Term Preferred Stock, respectively. The anticipated redemption date is August 31, 2018 at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, which represents the liquidation preference per share, and such redemption price payment shall be made after the payment of the August dividend to the Series B Term Preferred Stock and Series C Term Preferred Stock holders of record on August 21, 2018.

This communication does not constitute a notice of redemption under the Certificates of Designation of Series B Term Preferred Stock and Series C Term Preferred Stock, respectively, nor an offer to tender for, or purchase of, any shares of Series B Term Preferred Stock or Series C Term Preferred Stock or any other security.

About Gladstone Investment Corporation: Gladstone Investment Corporation is a publicly traded business development company that seeks to make secured debt and equity investments in lower middle market businesses in the United States in connection with acquisitions, changes in control, and recapitalizations. The Company has paid 157 consecutive monthly cash distributions on its common stock. Information on the business activities of all the Gladstone funds can be found at www.gladstonecompanies.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements as to the Company’s intentions and expectations of the outcome of future events that are forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These statements relate to the offering of shares of Series E Term Preferred Stock and the anticipated use of the net proceeds by the Company for the redemption of its Series B Term Preferred Stock and its Series C Term Preferred Stock. Completion of the transaction on the terms described above is subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, and such transaction may not be completed on the terms described, or at all. 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, except as required by law. For a description of certain risks to which the Company is or may be subject, please refer to the factors discussed under the captions “ Forward-Looking Statements ” and “ Risk Factors ” included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (accessible at www.sec.gov).

CONTACT: Investor Relations Inquiries: Please call +1-703-287-5893