UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

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 Preliminary Proxy Statement

 Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 Definitive Proxy Statement

 Definitive Additional Materials

 Soliciting Material Under to §240.14a-12

GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Not Applicable

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

  

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

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GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 3, 2022[], 2023

 

 

To the Stockholders of Gladstone Capital Corporation:

Notice Is Hereby Given that the 2022 Annuala Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual“Special Meeting”) of Gladstone Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2022,November [●], 2023, at 11:0010:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The AnnualSpecial Meeting will be a completely “virtual meeting.” You will be able to attend the meeting, as well as vote and submit your questions during the live webcast of the meeting, by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLAD2022GLAD2023SM and entering the company number and control number included on your proxy card or in the instructions that accompany your proxy materials.

At the AnnualSpecial Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following proposals:proposal:

 

 (1)

To elect three directors, Paul W. Adelgren, John H. Outlandapprove a new investment advisory agreement between the Company and David Gladstone to serve untilManagement Corporation, the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualified; and

(2)

To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.Company’s investment adviser.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

We intend to mail these materials on or about December 17, 2021September [●], 2023 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the AnnualSpecial Meeting. Our Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on Friday, December 3, 2021September [●], 2023 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the AnnualSpecial Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the AnnualSpecial Meeting to be

held on Thursday, February 3, 2022November [], 2023 at 11:0010:30 a.m. Eastern Time, virtually, in a live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLADGLAD2023SM2022.

The Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 areis also available at www.proxyvote.com.


By Order of the Board of Directors

 

LOGO

LOGO

 

Michael LiCalsi

General Counsel and Secretary

McLean, Virginia

December 17, 2021September [●], 2023

ALL OF OUR STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING VIA WEBCAST. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, SUBMIT YOUR PROXY ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE INTERNET, OR VOTE BY PROXY OVER THE TELEPHONE, AS INSTRUCTED IN THESE MATERIALS. SUBMITTING YOUR PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS PROMPTLY WILL ASSIST US IN REDUCING THE EXPENSES OF ADDITIONAL PROXY SOLICITATION, BUT IT WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING (AND, IF YOU ARE NOT A STOCKHOLDER OF RECORD, YOU HAVE OBTAINED A LEGAL PROXY FROM THE BANK, BROKER, TRUSTEE OR OTHER NOMINEE THAT HOLDS YOUR SHARES GIVING YOU THE RIGHT TO VOTE THE SHARES AT THE ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING).


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

NOTICE OF ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY  3, 2022NOVEMBER [●], 2023

  

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2022 ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

   1 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING

   1 

PROPOSAL 1—ELECTIONAPPROVAL OF DIRECTORSNEW ADVISORY AGREEMENT

   8

INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

17

PROPOSAL  2—RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

24

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

267 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

   28

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

31

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

32

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

3316 

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

   3419 

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

   3721 

OTHER MATTERS

   3822

SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

22 


GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2022 ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held On February 3, 2022November [], 2023

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING

Why am I receiving these materials?

We have sent you this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card because the board of directors (the “Board”) of Gladstone Capital Corporation (“we,” “us,” or the “Company”) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2022 Annual Meetingspecial meeting of StockholdersCompany stockholders to be held on November [●], 2023 (the “meeting” or “annual“special meeting”), including adjournments or postponements thereof, if any. You are invited to attend the annualspecial meeting to vote on the proposalsproposal described in this Proxy Statement, which meeting will take place through a live webcast by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLAD2022GLAD2023SM. However, you do not need to attend the meeting through the webcast to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card, or follow the instructions below to vote by proxy over the telephone or through the Internet prior to the annualspecial meeting.

We intend to mail these materials on or about December 17, 2021September [●], 2023 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the annualspecial meeting.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR SHARES EITHER BY MAIL, BY TELEPHONE, OR THROUGH THE INTERNET.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 3, 2022:NOVEMBER [], 2023:

The Notice of AnnualSpecial Meeting and this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 are available at the following Internet address: www.proxyvote.com.

How can I attend the annualspecial meeting?

The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2022,November [●], 2023, at 11:0010:30 a.m. Eastern Time, virtually, in a live webcast on the website www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLAD2022GLAD2023SM where you will be able to vote your shares during the meeting and submit any questions. You will need to enter the company number and the control number included on your proxy card or in the instructions that accompany your proxy materials to enter the meeting.

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Who can vote at the annualspecial meeting?

Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on December 3, 2021September [●], 2023 will be entitled to vote at the annualspecial meeting. On the record date, there were 34,304,371[●] shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If at the close of business on December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare, Inc., then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote at the meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card or vote by proxy over the telephone or through the Internet as instructed below to ensure your vote is counted.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Held in the Name of a Broker, Bank, Nominee, or other Similar Organization

If at the close of business on December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, your shares were held, not in your name, but in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization or nominee (collectively, a “Brokerage Firm”), then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that Brokerage Firm because the Brokerage Firm holding your account or its nominee is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annualspecial meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your Brokerage Firm regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the annualspecial meeting via live webcast on the website: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLAD2022GLAD2023SM. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your Brokerage Firm.

What am I voting on?

There are two mattersis one matter scheduled for a vote:

 

 1.

Proposal 1, to elect three directors, Paul W. Adelgren, John H. OutlandTo approve a new investment advisory agreement (the “New Advisory Agreement”) between the Company and David Gladstone to serve untilManagement Corporation (the “Adviser”), the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualified; and

2.

Proposal 2, to ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of our BoardCompany’s investment adviser (the “Audit Committee”“Proposal”) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2022..

How do I vote?

For the Proposal, 1, you may either vote “FOR ALL” nominees for directors of our Board, “WITHHOLD ALL,” meaning that you do not vote for any nominee for director, or you may vote “FORALL EXCEPT,” meaning that you vote for all nominees for director except any nominee you specify. For

Proposal 2, you may vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” from voting. The procedures for voting are as follows:

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote at the annualspecial meeting, vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card and return envelope, or vote by proxy over the telephone or through the Internet. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the meeting via webcast and vote in person, even if you have already voted by proxy.

 

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To vote virtually during the live webcast of the annualspecial meeting, please follow the instructions for attending and voting at the annualspecial meeting posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLAD2022GLAD2023SM. You will need the company number and control number included on the enclosed proxy card. All votes must be received by the inspectors of election appointed for the meeting before the polls close at the annualspecial meeting.

 

To vote using the enclosed proxy card, simply complete, sign, date, and return it promptly in the envelope provided. To be counted, we must receive your signed proxy card by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 2, 2022,November [●], 2023, the day prior to the annualspecial meeting.

 

To vote by proxy over the telephone, dial toll-free, 1-800-690-6903,[1-800-690-6903], using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number included on the enclosed proxy card. To be counted, we must receive your vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 2, 2022,November [●], 2023, the day prior to the annualspecial meeting.

 

  

To vote by proxy through the Internet, go to www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number included on the enclosed proxy card. To be counted, we must receive your vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 2, 2022,November [●], 2023, the day prior to the annualspecial meeting.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Held in the Name of Broker, Bank, Nominee, or other Similar Organization

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your Brokerage Firm, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization, rather than from us. Simply follow the instructions provided by your Brokerage Firm to ensure that your vote is counted. To vote virtually during the live webcast of the annualspecial meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your Brokerage Firm. Follow the instructions from your Brokerage Firm, included with these proxy materials, or contact your Brokerage Firm to request a proxy form.

How many votes do I have?

On all matters that properly come before the annualspecial meeting, you have one vote for each share of common stock that you owned as of the close of business on December 3, 2021.September [●], 2023.

How are votes counted?

Votes will be counted by the inspectors of election appointed for the annualspecial meeting, who will separately countFORALL,” “WITHHOLD ALL,” and “FOR ALL EXCEPT” for the election of directors and, with respect to proposals other than the election of directors,FOR,” “AGAINST” and “ABSTAIN” votes. The effects of abstentions and broker non-voteson each proposalthe Proposal are described below under the question “How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?the Proposal?” We expect that Nicole Schaltenbrand, our chief financial officer and treasurer, and Michael LiCalsi, our general counsel and secretary, will be appointed as the inspectors of election.

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How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?the Proposal?

Vote Required

Proposal 1—ElectionApproval of Directors. Each of Paul W. Adelgren, John H. Outland and David Gladstone must be elected by a plurality of votes cast at the annual meeting. Only votes “FOR ALL” or “FOR ALL EXCEPT” will affectNew Advisory Agreement requires the outcome of this proposal. Under a plurality vote standard the nominees that receive the highest number of votes cast will be elected regardless of whether they receive a majority of votes cast. Broker non-votes and withheld votes will not be counted as votes cast with respect to the proposal and will have no effect on the outcome of such proposal; however, they will be counted towards the quorum requirement.

Proposal 2—Ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm. The affirmative vote of a majority“majority of the votes castoutstanding voting securities” of the Company. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), a “majority of outstanding voting securities” means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Company’s common stock present or represented by common stockholdersproxy at the annualspecial meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock are present or represented by proxy at the special meeting or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” this proposal. If the Proposal is requiredapproved by the Company’s stockholders, the New Advisory Agreement is expected to ratifybe entered into by the Audit Committee’s selectionrelevant parties on the date following receipt of PwC as our independent registered public accounting firmstockholder approval of the Proposal. If the Proposal is not approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Board will consider alternatives for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Abstentions will not be counted as votes cast for this proposal; however, they will be counted towardsCompany, including seeking subsequent approval of a different new investment advisory agreement by the quorum requirement.Company’s stockholders.

What are “broker non-votes?”

Broker non-votes occur when a beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” does not give instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares as to how to vote on matters deemed “non-routine.” Generally, if shares are held in street name, the beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the brokerBrokerage Firm or nominee holding the shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the brokerBrokerage Firm or nominee can still vote the shares with respect to matters that are considered to be “routine,” but not with respect to “non-routine” matters. In

Please note that to be sure your vote is counted on the event that a broker, bank, or other agent indicates on a proxy that it does not have discretionary authorityProposal, you should instruct your Brokerage Firm how to vote certain shares on a non-routine proposal, then those shares will be treated as broker non-votes.

your shares. Because it is a non-routine proposal, your broker, bank or other agentBrokerage Firm is not entitled to vote your shares without your instructions with respect to Proposal 1 (election of directors). However, Proposal 2 (ratificationthe approval of the appointment of PwC) is a routine proposal andNew Advisory Agreement. Thus, if you do not vote or give your broker, bank or other agent mayBrokerage Firm specific instructions on how to vote for you, your sharesBrokerage Firm cannot vote with respect to the Proposal 2 even if it doesand your shares will not receive instructions from you.be treated as present for quorum purposes.

What is the quorum requirement?

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if a majority of all of our outstanding shares of common stock are represented by stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy. On the record date there were 34,304,371[●] shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Thus, 17,152,186[●] shares must be represented by stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy to have a quorum.

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your Brokerage Firm or other nominee) or if you vote in person at the meeting. Withhold votes, abstentions and broker non-votesAbstentions will be counted towards the quorum requirement. Broker non-votes will not be treated as shares present for quorum purposes. If there is no quorum, the stockholders present and entitled to vote at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another date.

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What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?

If you return a signed and dated proxy card, or otherwise vote by proxy without making any voting selections, your shares will be voted “FOR ALLnominees for director in Proposal 1 and “FOR” Proposal 2.the Proposal. If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxy holder (one of the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card) will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the meeting. If you wish to revoke your proxy after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 2, 2022,November [●], 2023, you may only do so at the annualspecial meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares, you may revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:

 

You may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date specified thereon.

 

  

You may grant a subsequent proxy by telephone or through the Internet through www.proxyvote.com on a later date.

 

You may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our secretary at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102.

 

You may attend the annualspecial meeting and vote virtually during the live webcast. Simply attending the meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.

If your shares are held by your Brokerage Firm, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or bank.

What does it mean if I receive more than one set of proxy materials?

If you receive more than one set of proxy materials, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts at your Brokerage Firm(s). Please follow the voting instructions on the proxy cards in each set of the proxy materials to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

How can I find out the results of the voting at the annualspecial meeting?

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the annualspecial meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K that we expect to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) within four business days after the annualspecial meeting. If final voting results are not available to us to timely file a Form 8-K, we intend to file a Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an additional Form 8-K to publish the final results.

When are stockholder proposals due for next year’s annual meeting?

We will consider for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2023 annual meeting proposals that we receive not later than August 19, 2021 and that comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and our bylaws, as amended (“Bylaws”). Stockholders must submit their proposals to our secretary at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102.

In addition, any stockholder who wishes to propose a nominee to our Board or propose any other business to be considered by the stockholders (other than a stockholder proposal to be included in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the 1934 Act) must comply with the advance notice provisions and other requirements of Article II, Section 4(b) of our Bylaws, a copy of which is on file with the SEC and may be obtained without charge from our secretary upon request.

These notice provisions require that nominations of persons for election to our Board and proposals of business to be considered by the stockholders for the 2023 annual meeting must be made in writing and submitted to our secretary at the address above no earlier than November 5, 2022 (90 days before the first anniversary of our 2022 Annual Meeting) and not later than December 5, 2022 (60 days before the first anniversary of the 2022 Annual Meeting). You are also advised to review our Bylaws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

Gladstone Capital CorporationThe Adviser will bear the cost of solicitation of proxies, including preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement, the proxy card and any additional information furnished to stockholders.

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Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and other custodians holding in their names shares of our common stock beneficially owned by others to forward to such beneficial owners. WeThe Company intends to use the services of Alliance Advisors, LLC (“Alliance”) to aid in the distribution and collection of proxies for an estimated fee of approximately $[●] plus pass through charges, payable by the Adviser. Alliance could contact you by telephone on behalf of the Company and urge you to vote. Alliance will not attempt to influence how you vote your shares, but will only ask that you take the time to cast a vote. The Adviser may reimburse persons representing beneficial owners of our common stock for their costs of forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Original solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, electronic mail or personal solicitation by directors, officers or other regular employees of Gladstone Management Corporation, our investment adviser (the “Adviser”),the Adviser or Gladstone Administration, LLC (the “Administrator”). No additional compensation will be paid to directors, officers or other regular employees for such services. In addition to these written proxy materials, our officers and directors may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication; however, our officers and directors will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. WeThe Adviser may also reimburse Brokerage Firms and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners and obtaining your voting instructions.

What proxy materials are available on the Internet?

The Notice of the AnnualSpecial Meeting and Proxy Statement are also available at www.proxyvote.com.

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PROPOSAL 1

APPROVAL OF THE NEW ADVISORY AGREEMENT

We are asking the Company’s stockholders to approve the New Advisory Agreement, pursuant to which the Adviser will continue to serve as the investment adviser to the Company.

Background

The Adviser has provided investment advisory services to the Company since its inception. Subject to the oversight of the Board, the Adviser serves as the Company’s investment adviser and Annual Reportis responsible for managing the Company’s investments on Forma 10-Kday-to-day basis. David Gladstone founded the Adviser and has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company since its inception.

The proposal to approve the New Advisory Agreement is the result of an anticipated change in control of the Adviser. The Adviser was organized as a corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law on July 2, 2002. From inception, the Adviser has been controlled by David Gladstone. Shortly after approval of the New Advisory Agreement, the Adviser intends to enter into a Voting Trust Agreement, among David Gladstone, Lorna Gladstone, Laura Gladstone, Kent Gladstone and Jessica Martin, each as a trustee and collectively, as the board of trustees of the voting trust (the “Voting Trust Board”), the Adviser and certain stockholders of the Adviser (the “Voting Trust Agreement”), pursuant to which David Gladstone will deposit all of his indirect interests in the Adviser, which represented 100% of the voting and economic interests thereof, with the voting trust.

Pursuant to the Voting Trust Agreement, prior to its Effective Date (as defined below) David Gladstone will, in his sole discretion, have the full, exclusive and unqualified right and power to vote in person or by proxy all of the shares of common stock of the Adviser deposited with the voting trust at all meetings of the stockholders of the Adviser in respect of any and all matters on which the stockholders of the Adviser are entitled to vote under the Adviser’s certificate of incorporation or applicable law, to give consents in lieu of voting such shares of common stock of the Adviser at a meeting of the stockholders of the Adviser in respect of any and all matters on which stockholders of the Adviser are entitled to vote under its certificate of incorporation or applicable law, to enter into voting agreements, waive notice of any meeting of stockholders of the Adviser in respect of such shares of common stock of the Adviser and to grant proxies with respect to all such shares of common stock of the Adviser with respect to any lawful corporate action (collectively, the “Voting Powers”). Commencing on the Effective Date, the Voting Trust Board shall have the full, exclusive and unqualified right and power to exercise the Voting Powers. Each member of the Voting Trust Board shall hold 20% of the voting power of the Voting Trust Board as of the Effective Date. The “Effective Date” shall occur on the earliest of (i) the death of David Gladstone, (ii) David Gladstone’s election (in his sole discretion) and (iii) five years from the date the Voting Trust Agreement is entered into. Following entry into the Voting Trust Agreement, the current members of senior management of the Adviser will continue to manage the day-to-day aspects of the Adviser. Because David Gladstone indirectly beneficially owns greater than 25% of the voting shares of the Company, and because all power to vote these shares will be transferred to the Voting Trust Board by the Voting Trust Agreement, a “change in control” of the Adviser will be deemed to have occurred under the 1940 Act as a

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result of the occurrence of the Effective Date. However, all of the current key portfolio management personnel of the Adviser are currently expected to continue their relationship with the Adviser.

Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act provides that the transfer of a controlling interest of an investment adviser, such as will be caused by the change in control, constitutes an “assignment,” and Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act provides that any investment advisory contract must terminate on its “assignment.” Effective upon the change in control, the then-existing investment advisory agreement between the Company and the Adviser (the “Original Advisory Agreement”) will terminate. In order for the Adviser to continue serving as the Company’s investment adviser following the termination of the Original Advisory Agreement, the Company’s stockholders must approve a new investment advisory agreement for the Company. As a result, we are asking the Company’s stockholders to approve the New Advisory Agreement.

The 1940 Act requires that the New Advisory Agreement be approved by the Company’s stockholders in order for it to become effective. At an in-person meeting held August 22, 2023, the Board discussed whether it would be in the best interests of the Company to approve the New Advisory Agreement, to take effect as of the date such agreement is approved by the Company’s stockholders pursuant to the Proposal. The Board, including all of the independent directors, unanimously approved the New Advisory Agreement and recommended that it be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for approval at the special meeting.

There are no changes to the terms of the Original Advisory Agreement in the New Advisory Agreement, including the fee structure and services to be provided.

If the Proposal is approved by the Company’s stockholders, the New Advisory Agreement is expected to be entered into by the Company and the Adviser on the date following receipt of stockholder approval of the Proposal. If the Proposal is not approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Board will consider alternatives for the Company, including seeking subsequent approval of a new investment advisory agreement by the Company’s stockholders.

Summary of the New Advisory Agreement

A copy of the form of the New Advisory Agreement, marked against the Original Advisory Agreement, is attached to this proxy statement as Exhibit A. The following description of the material terms of the New Advisory Agreement is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit A.

Duration and Termination

The Original Advisory Agreement originally was in effect for an initial two-year term and was continued thereafter for a one-year period following annual approval in the manner required by the 1940 Act. If the stockholders of the Company approve the New Advisory Agreement for the Company, the New Advisory Agreement will be in effect for an initial two-year term and will continue thereafter for successive one-year periods following annual approval in the manner required by the 1940 Act.

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Like the Original Advisory Agreement, the New Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty (i) by vote of the Board, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or (ii) by the Adviser, each upon not less than sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other. In addition, each of the Original Advisory Agreement and the New Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

Advisory Services

Subject to the overall supervision of our Board, the Adviser manages the day-to-day operations of, and provides investment management services to us. Under each of the Original Investment Advisory Agreement and New Advisory Agreement, the Adviser (i) determines the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to our portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes; (ii) identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments we make (including performing due diligence on our prospective portfolio companies); (iii) closes, monitors and administers the investments we make, including the exercise of any voting or consent rights (iv) determines the securities and other assets that the Company will purchase, retain, or sell; (v) performs due diligence on prospective portfolio companies; and (vi) provides the Company with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its funds.

Advisory Fees

Each of the Original Advisory Agreement and New Advisory Agreement provide that the Adviser receives a base management fee and an incentive fee.

Additionally, pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Adviser makes available significant managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. The Adviser may also provide other services to our portfolio companies under certain agreements and may receive fees for services other than managerial assistance. Such services may include: (i) assistance obtaining, sourcing or structuring credit facilities, long term loans or additional equity from unaffiliated third parties; (ii) negotiating important contractual financial relationships; (iii) consulting services regarding restructuring of the portfolio company and financial modeling as it relates to raising additional debt and equity capital from unaffiliated third parties; and (iv) taking a primary role in interviewing, vetting and negotiating employment contracts with candidates in connection with adding and retaining key portfolio company management team members. The Adviser non-contractually, unconditionally, and irrevocably credits 100% of any fees for such services against the base management fee that we would otherwise be required to pay to the Adviser. The Adviser additionally non-contractually, unconditionally, and irrevocably credits back to us 100% of the loan servicing fees described below under “Certain Transactions – Loan Servicing Fees”. Our Board of Directors accepted a non-contractual, unconditional, and irrevocable credit from the Adviser to reduce the annual base management fee on syndicated loan participations to 0.5%, to the extent that proceeds resulting from borrowings were used to purchase such syndicated loan participations, for the year ended September 30, 20212022.

After giving effect to the amount of management fees credited back to us by the Adviser, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Adviser earned an aggregate amount of $13.0 million under the

9


Original Advisory Agreement, which represents management fees and incentive fees in the amount of $5.9 million and $7.1 million, respectively. The New Advisory Agreement includes the same base management fee and incentive fee currently in place under the Original Advisory Agreement.

Management Fee

The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of our gross assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed funds, and is payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee is calculated based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Base investment advisory fees for any partial month or quarter are appropriately pro rated.

Incentive Fee

The incentive fee consists of two components, the income-based incentive fee and the capital gains-based incentive fee, that are independent of each other, with the result that one component may be payable even if the other is not.

The Advisory Agreement also availableprovides for an incentive fee, which consists of two parts: an income-based incentive fee and a capital gains-based incentive fee. The income-based incentive fee rewards the Adviser if our quarterly net investment income (before giving effect to any incentive fee) exceeds 1.75% of our net assets, which we define as total assets less liabilities and before taking into account any incentive fees payable or contractually due but not payable during the period (the “hurdle rate”), at www.proxyvote.com the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter. We pay our Adviser an income-based incentive fee with respect to our pre-incentive fee net investment income in each calendar quarter as follows:

no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which our pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the hurdle rate;

100.0% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.1875% of our net assets, adjusted appropriately for any share issuances or repurchases during the period, in any calendar quarter; and

20.0% of the amount of our pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds 2.1875% of our net assets, adjusted appropriately for any share issuances or repurchases during the period, in any calendar quarter.

The second part of the incentive fee is a capital gains-based incentive fee that is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date), and equals 20% of our realized capital gains as of the end of the fiscal year. In determining the capital gains-based incentive fee payable to our Adviser, we calculate the cumulative aggregate realized capital gains and cumulative aggregate realized capital losses since our inception, and the entire portfolio’s net unrealized capital depreciation, if any, as of the date of the calculation, as applicable, with respect to each of the investments in our portfolio.

10


Examples of how the incentive fee would be calculated are as follows:

Assuming pre-incentive fee net investment income of 0.55%, there would be no income-based incentive fee because such income would not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.75%.

Assuming pre-incentive fee net investment income of 2.00%, the income-based incentive fee would be as follows:

= 100% × (2.00% - 1.75%)

= 0.25%

Assuming pre-incentive fee net investment income of 2.30%, the income-based incentive fee would be as follows:

= (100% × (“catch-up”: 2.1875% - 1.75%)) + (20% × (2.30% - 2.1875%))

= (100% × 0.4375%) + (20% × 0.1125%)

= 0.4375% + 0.0225%

= 0.46%

Assuming net realized capital gains of 6% and realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation of 1%, the capital gains-based incentive fee would be as follows:

= 20% × (6% - 1%)

= 20% × 5%

= 1%

Other Provisions

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Each of the Original Advisory Agreement and the New Advisory Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of their duties and obligations (as the same may be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder), our Adviser and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with them are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of our Adviser’s services under the Original Advisory Agreement and New Advisory Agreement, or otherwise as an investment adviser of ours.

Approval

The Original Advisory Agreement was most recently approved by the Board, including a majority of the independent directors, on July 11, 2023, and was last approved by the Company’s stockholders on December 2, 2005.

11


PROPOSAL 1Executive Officers and Directors of the Adviser

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our BoardInformation regarding the directors and principal executive officers of the Adviser before and after the change of control is divided into three classes, with staggered three-year terms. Currently our Boardset forth below. The Adviser is comprised of eight directors, six of whom are independent.

There are three directors in the class whose term expires in 2022 that have been nominated to stand for re-election: Paul W. Adelgren, John H. Outland100% indirectly owned and controlled by David Gladstone. Both Paul W. Adelgren and John H. Outland are independent directors. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater numberThe address of persons than the number of nominees named. If elected at the annual meeting, each nominee would serve until the 2025 annual meeting and until his successor is elected and qualified, or, if sooner, until his death, resignation or removal. The Company’s Ethics, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (the “Ethics Committee”) nominated three incumbent directors, Paul W. Adelgren, John H. Outland and David Gladstone, for election for a term expiring at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.

Each directorAdviser and its executive officers is elected by a plurality1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102. The following are the directors and executive officers of the votes cast at the annual meeting. Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted, if the authority to do so is not withheld, for the electionAdviser and employees of the three nominees. In the event that anyAdviser who are officers or directors of the nominees should be unavailable for election as a resultCompany:

Before the Change of an unexpected occurrence, such shares will be voted for the election of such substitute nominees as management may propose. Each person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected, and management has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve.

We encourage all of our directors and nominees for director to attend the annual meeting; however, attendance is not required. None of our directors attended the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Set forth below is biographical information for each person nominated, each person whose term of office as a director will continue after the annual meeting, each executive officer and certain other officers who are not also directors.

Nominees for a Three-Year Term to Expire at the 2025 Annual Meeting of StockholdersControl

 

Name Address, and Age

 

Position(s)

Held With

CompanyPosition with Adviser

  

Term ofPrincipal Occupation/Position with
the Company

Office and

Length of Time Served

Principal

Occupation(s)

During the

Past Five Years

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director During the

Past Five Years

Disinterested Directors

Paul W. Adelgren (78)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

DirectorTerm expires at 2022 annual meeting. Director since January 2003.Retired; Pastor of Missionary Alliance Church from 1997 to January 2018.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation, Gladstone Acquisition Corporation

John H. Outland (76)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

DirectorTerm expires at 2022 annual meeting. Director since December 2003.Private investor since June 2006.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation, Gladstone Acquisition Corporation

Name, Address, and Age

Position(s)

Held With

Company

Term of

Office and

Length of Time Served

Principal

Occupation(s)

During the

Past Five Years

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director During the

Past Five Years

Interested Director

David Gladstone (79)*

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

 Chairman of the Board,and Chief Executive Officer  Term expires at 2022 annual meeting. Director since our inception in 2001.Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since our inception in 2001. President from February 2013 through January 2014. Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Gladstone Investment Corporation since its inception in 2005, Gladstone Commercial Corporation since its inception in 2003, and Gladstone Land Corporation since its inception in 1997. Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of our Adviser. Since 2010, Mr. Gladstone has also served on the board of managers of Gladstone Securities, LLC, a broker dealer that is an affiliate of the Company.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation, Gladstone Acquisition Corporation

Directors Continuing in Office Until the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Name, Address, and Age

Position(s)

Held With

Company

Term of

Office and

Length of Time Served

Principal

Occupation(s)

During the
Past Five Years

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director During the

Past Five Years

Independent Directors

Michela A. English (71)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

DirectorTerm expires at 2023 annual meeting. Director since June 2002.Director of Fight For Children, a non-profit charitable organization focused on providing high-quality education and health care services to underserved youth in Washington, D.C., since January 2017. President and Chief Executive Officer of Fight For Children from June 2006 until December 2016. Director of the Hershey Trust Company and the Milton Hershey School since January 2018. Director of the Educational Testing Service since 2000, the D.C. Preparatory Academy since 2004, and the District of Columbia Public Education Fund since 2007.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation, Gladstone Acquisition Corporation

Anthony W. Parker (76)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

DirectorTerm expires at 2023 annual meeting. Director since our inception in 2001.Founder and Chairman of the Board of Parker Tide Corp., a federal government contracting company providing human resources, procurement and adjudication services to the federal government, with projects in 12 different states, since 1997.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation, Gladstone Acquisition Corporation

Directors Continuing in Office Until the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Name, Address, and Age

Position(s)

Held With

Company

Term of

Office and

Length of Time Served

Principal

Occupation(s)

During the

Past Five Years

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director During the

Past Five Years

Independent Directors

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr. (75)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

DirectorTerm expires at 2024 annual meeting. Director since October 2014.Founder and former General Partner of Kitty Hawk Capital, a venture capital firm, from its founding in 1980 through 2016. Board member of RF Micro Devices, Inc. from 1992, serving as its chairman from July 2008 until January 2015, when it merged to form QORVO, Inc. Lead independent director of QORVO, Inc. from January 2015 until August 2018 (and was a director and Chair of its Governance and Nominating Committee until August 2021, when he retired). Board member of the N.C. State University Foundation from June 2007 until June 2015. Board member of the Carolinas Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors from July 2012 until December 2015 and Chairman of its Board of Directors from July 2012 until August 2014.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation; Gladstone Acquisition Corporation, RF Micro Devices; QORVO, Inc.

Name, Address, and Age

Position(s)

Held With

Company

Term of

Office and

Length of Time Served

Principal

Occupation(s)

During the

Past Five Years

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director During the

Past Five Years

Caren D. Merrick (61)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

DirectorTerm expires at 2024 annual meeting. Director since November 2014.CEO of Virginia Ready Initiative, a partnership between businesses and the Virginia Community College system that offers reskilling for Virginians whose employment was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since 2020. Founder and CEO of Caren Merrick & Co., an advisory firm on growth strategies since 2014. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pocket Mentor, a mobile application and digital publishing company focused on leadership development and career advancement, from 2014 until 2017. Partner with Bibury Partners, an investment and advisory firm that focuses on enterprise and consumer technology sectors, from 2004 until 2019. Board member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority from October 2012 until October 2018 and WashingtonFirst Bankshares, Inc. from May 2015 until January 2018, where she chaired the Technology Committee.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation; Gladstone Acquisition Corporation, Washington First Bankshares, Inc.

Name, Address, and Age

Position(s)

Held With

Company

Term of

Office and

Length of Time Served

Principal

Occupation(s)

During the

Past Five Years

Other

Directorships

Held by

Director During the

Past Five Years

Interested Director

Terry Lee Brubaker (78)*

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

 

Vice Chairman,

Chief Operating Officer

and Assistant

Secretary

Term expires at 2024 annual meeting. Director since our inception in 2001.Vice Chairman since 2004. Our Chief Operating Officer since our inception in 2001 and of Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Commercial Corporation since 2005 and 2003, respectively, and Secretary of Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Capital Corporation until October 2012. Vice Chairman of Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Commercial Corporation since 2005 and 2007, respectively. Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer and a director of our Adviser since 2006 and Secretary of our Adviser from 2006 until February 2011. Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Gladstone Land Corporation since April 2007.Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Land Corporation; Gladstone Investment Corporation, Gladstone Acquisition Corporationand Assistant Secretary

Executive Officers and Certain Other Officers Who Are Not Directors

Name, Address, and AgeMichael Malesardi

 

Position(s) Held

With Company

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  

Term of Office and

Length of Time Served

N/A

Principal Occupation(s)

During the Past

Five Years

Michael LiCalsi (51)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

 General Counsel and Secretary  General Counsel since October 2009;and Secretary since October 2012.

Jack Dellafiora

 General Counsel for all of the Gladstone affiliated companies since October 2009. Secretary of all of the Gladstone affiliated companies since October 2012. President of Gladstone Administration, LLC since July 2013. Managing Principal and Chief LegalCompliance Officer of Gladstone Securities, LLC and member of its board of managers since 2010.Chief Compliance Officer

Paula Novara

Head of Resources ManagementDirector; Head of Resources Management

Robert L. Marcotte (63)

Gladstone Capital Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

Executive Vice President of Private Equity (Debt)  President

After the Change of Control

President since January 2014.President since January 2014. Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Asset Management with MCG Capital Corp. from 2007 to December 2013.

Nicole Schaltenbrand (39)Name

Position with Adviser

Principal Occupation/Position with
the Company

David Gladstone Capital Corporation

Chairman and Chief Executive OfficerChairman and Chief Executive Officer

1521 Westbranch DriveTerry Lee Brubaker

Vice Chairman and Chief Operating OfficerChief Operating Officer and Assistant Secretary

Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102Michael Malesardi

  Chief Financial Officer;Officer and Treasurer  Chief Accounting Officer from November 2015 to March 2016; Chief Financial OfficerN/A

Michael LiCalsi

General Counsel and Treasurer since March 2016.SecretaryGeneral Counsel and Secretary

12


Name

Position with Adviser

Principal Occupation/Position with
the Company

Jack Dellafiora

  Chief AccountingCompliance Officer from November 2015 to March 2016; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since March 2016. Senior Manager of SEC reporting and accounting policy at National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation from May 2012 to November 2015. Senior Audit Manager and other positions within the assurance practice at KPMG LLP from September 2004 through May 2012.

*

Messrs. Gladstone and Brubaker are interested persons of Gladstone Capital Corporation, within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), due to their positions as officers of the Company, and our Adviser and their employment by our Adviser.

Qualifications of Director Nominees

When considering whether our director nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, taken as a whole, to enable our Board to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our operational and organizational structure, the Ethics Committee and our Board focused primarily on the information discussed in each of the individual backgrounds set forth above and on the following particular attributes:

  

Mr. Adelgren was selected to serve as an independent director on our Board due to his strength and experience in ethics as well as his past service on our Board since 2003. Mr. Adelgren’s strength in ethics led to his appointment as the chairman of our Ethics Committee.

Chief Compliance Officer

Paula Novara

  

Mr. Gladstone was selected to serve as a director on our Board due to the fact that he is our founder and has greater than thirty yearsHead of experience in the industry, including his service as our chairman and chief executive officer since our inception.

Resources Management  

Mr. Outland was selected to serve as an independent director on our Board due to his more than twenty yearsDirector; Head of experience in the real estate and mortgage industry.

Resources Management

Qualifications of Incumbent Directors Serving Until the 2023 or 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

When considering whether our directors have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, taken as a whole, to enable our Board to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our operational and organizational structure, the Ethics Committee and our Board focused primarily on the information discussed in each of the individual backgrounds set forth above and on the following particular attributes:

Robert L. Marcotte

  

Mr. Brubaker was selected to serve as a director on our Board, and as a nominee for another directorship term, due to his more than thirty yearsExecutive Vice President of experience in various mid-level and senior management positions at several corporations as well as his past service on our Board since our inception.

Private Equity (Debt)  

Ms. English was selected to serve as an independent director on our Board due to her greater than twenty years of senior management experience at various corporations and non-profit organizations as well as her past service on our Board since 2002.

President

Ms. Merrick was selected to serve as an independent director on our Board, and as a nominee for another directorship term, due to her knowledge and managerial expertise in the area of small business, which she gained from overseeing the successful growth of her own business and several large and small businesses, charities and non-profits.

Mr. Parker was selected to serve as an independent director on our Board due to his expertise and experience in the field of corporate taxation as well as his past service on our Board since our inception in 2001. Mr. Parker’s knowledge of corporate tax was instrumental in his appointment to the chairmanship of our Audit Committee.

Mr. Wilkinson was selected to serve as an independent director on our Board, and as a nominee for another directorship term, due to his vast experience in various areas of the investment industry as well as his experience in serving on boards of various organizations.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” EACH NAMED NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR IN PROPOSAL 1.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE

GOVERNANCE

Director Independence

As required under The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) listing standards, our Board annually determines each director’s independence. The Nasdaq listing standards provide that a director of a business development company is considered to be independent if he or she is not an “interested person” of ours, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act defines an “interested person” to include, among other things, any person who has, or within the last two years had, a material business or professional relationship with us.

Consistent with these considerations, after review of all relevant transactions or relationships between each director, or any of his or her family members, and us, our senior management and our independent registered public accounting firm, our Board has affirmatively determined that the following six directors are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards: Messrs. Adelgren, Outland, Parker, and Wilkinson and Mses. English and Merrick. In making this determination, our Board found that none of these directors or nominees for director had a material or other disqualifying relationship with us. Mr. Gladstone, the chairman of our Board and our chief executive officer, and Mr. Brubaker, the vice chairman of our Board and our chief operating officer and assistant secretary, are not independent directors by virtue of their positions as officers of the Company and our Adviser and their employment by our Adviser.

MeetingsRecommendation of the Board of Directors

Our Board met four times during fiscal year 2021. Each Board member attended 75% or more of the aggregate of the meetings of our Board and of the committees on which he or she served that were held during fiscal year 2021.

Our independent directors met four times during fiscal year 2021 in regularly scheduled executive sessions, at which only independent directors were present.

Corporate Leadership Structure

Since our inception, Mr. Gladstone has served as chairman of our Board and our chief executive officer. He also served as our president from February 2013 through December 2013. OurThe Board believes that our chief executive officer is best situated to serve as chairman because he is the director most familiar with our businessterms and industry, and most capable of effectively identifying strategic priorities and leading the discussion and execution of strategy. In addition, Mr. Adelgren, one of our independent directors, serves as the Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director has the responsibility of presiding at all executive sessions of our independent directors, consulting with the chairman and chief executive officer on Board and committee meeting agendas, acting as a liaison between management and the independent directors and facilitating teamwork and communication between the independent directors and management.

Our Board believes the combined role of chairman and chief executive officer, together with an independent Lead Independent Director, is in the best interest of stockholders because it provides the appropriate balance between strategic development and independent oversight of risk management. In coming to this conclusion, our Board considered the importance of having an interested chairperson that is familiar with our day-to-day management activities, our portfolio companies and the operations of our Adviser. Our Board concluded that the combined role enhances, among other things, our Board’s understanding of our investment portfolio, business, finances and risk management efforts. In addition, our Board believes that Mr. Gladstone’s employment by the Adviser better allows for the efficient mobilizationconditions of the Adviser’s resources at our Board’s behestNew Advisory Agreement are fair to, and on its behalf.

Information Regarding Committees of the Board of Directors

The following table identifies our standing committees and their current members, all of which also served on such committees during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and the number of meetings held by each committee during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021:

Name

  Audit   Compensation   Ethics, Nominating and
Corporate Governance
   Executive   Offering   Valuation 

Paul W. Adelgren**

     X    *X       

Terry Lee Brubaker

         X    X   

Michela A. English

   X           

David Gladstone

         *X    *X   

Caren D. Merrick

   X            *X 

John H. Outland

   X    *X    X        X 

Anthony W. Parker

   *X        X    X    X 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

     X    X        X 

Meetings Held in 2021

   8    4    4    -    -    4 

*

Committee Chairperson

**

Lead Independent Director

Below is a description of each committee of our Board. All committees other than the Executive Committee have the authority to engage legal counsel or other experts or consultants as they deem appropriate to carry out their responsibilities. Our Board has determined that each member of the Audit, Compensation and Ethics Committees meets the applicable Nasdaq rules and regulations regarding “independence” of such committees’ members and that each member is free of any relationship that would interfere with his or her individual exercise of independent judgment with regard to us.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process. For this purpose, the Audit Committee performs several functions. It evaluates the performance and assesses the qualifications of the independent registered public accounting firm; determines and approves the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm; determines whether to retain or

terminate the existing independent registered public accounting firm or to appoint and engage a new independent registered public accounting firm; reviews and approves the retention of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any proposed permissible non-audit services; monitors the rotation of partners of the independent registered public accounting firm on our audit engagement team as required by law; confers with management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting; establishes procedures, as required under applicable law, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; and meets to review our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, including reviewing our disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter that is available to stockholders in the Investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com.

Our Board has determined that all members of our Audit Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rules 5605(a)(2) and 5605(c)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards). No member of the Audit Committee received any compensation from us during the last three fiscal years other than directors’ fees. Our Board has unanimously determined all Audit Committee members are financially literate under current Nasdaq rules and that Messrs. Adelgren, Outland, Parker and Wilkinson and Mses. English and Merrick each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in applicable SEC rules. Our Board made a qualitative assessment of the members’ level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including formal education and experience. Messrs. Parker and Outland and Mses. English and Merrick also serve on the audit committees of Gladstone Commercial Corporation, Gladstone Land Corporation, Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Acquisition Corporation. Our Board has determined that this simultaneous service does not impair the respective directors’ ability to effectively serve on our Audit Committee.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a written charter that is available to stockholders in the Investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com. The Compensation Committee conducts periodic reviews of our investment advisory and management agreement with our Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”) and our administration agreement with our Administrator (the “Administration Agreement”) to evaluate whether the fees paid to our Adviser and our Administrator under the agreements are in the best interests of, usthe Company and ourits stockholders. The committee considersBoard believes that, upon stockholder approval of the Proposal, the Adviser will continue providing the same level of services as it currently provides under the Original Advisory Agreement. The Board was presented with information demonstrating that the New Advisory Agreement would enable the Company’s stockholders to continue to obtain quality services at a cost that was fair and reasonable.

The Board noted that the terms of the New Advisory Agreement, including the fees payable thereunder, are identical to those of the Original Advisory Agreement relating to the Company. The Board considered that the services to be provided and the standard of care under the New Advisory Agreement are the same as the Original Advisory Agreement. The Board noted the change in control of the Adviser does not alter the Adviser’s responsibilities and that the Adviser had indicated that it did not anticipate any material changes to the services provided to the Company as a result of the change in control. The Board also observed that approval of the New Advisory Agreement now would allow for continuity of the provision of services to the Company in the event of the death of Mr. Gladstone.

In considering the New Advisory Agreement, the Board took into consideration (i) the nature, extent and quality of the advisory and other services provided by the Adviser under the Original Advisory Agreement; (ii) historical performance of the Company; (iii) comparative data with respect to advisory fees or similar expenses paid by other business development companies with similar investment objectives; (iv) the Company’s projected operating expenses and expense ratio compared to business development companies with similar investment objectives; (v) any existing and potential sources of indirect income to the Adviser or the Administrator from their relationships with the Company and the profitability of those relationships; (vi) information about the services to be performed and the personnel performing such periodic reviews,services under the Original Advisory Agreement; (vii) the organizational capability and financial condition of the Adviser and its affiliates; (viii) the Adviser’s practices regarding the selection and compensation of brokers that may execute the Company’s portfolio transactions and the brokers’ provision of brokerage and research services to the Adviser; (ix) the possibility of obtaining similar services from other third party service providers or through an internally managed structure; and (x) other factors the Board deemed to be relevant. In its deliberations, the Board did not identify any single piece of information discussed below that was all-important, controlling or determinative of its decision.

13


Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided

The Board considered the Adviser’s specific responsibilities in all aspects of day-to-day management of the Company, noting that the services to be provided under the New Advisory Agreement are identical to those services provided under the Original Advisory Agreement. In particular, they noted that the Adviser has served as the Company’s investment adviser since 2004.

In considering the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser, the Board considered the quality of the Adviser’s compliance infrastructure and past reports from the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Board noted that it had previously reviewed the Adviser’s registration on Form ADV, as well as the response of the Adviser to a detailed series of questions which included, among other things, whetherinformation about the background and experience of the Adviser’s management and staff. The Board also considered its experience with the Adviser providing investment management services to the Company.

The Board also considered other services to be provided to the Company, such as monitoring adherence to the Company’s investment guidelines and monitoring compliance with various Company policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. Based on the factors above, as well as those discussed below, the Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided to the Company by the Adviser.

Comparison of Management Fee and Expense Ratio to Other Business Development Companies

The Board reviewed and considered comparative data with respect to the expense ratios and the amount and structure of the expenses paid by other externally managed business development companies. The Board noted that the Company’s base management fee of 1.75% was within the range of base management fees charged by other similar externally managed business development companies. The Board also discussed that the incentive fee was consistent with the range of other externally managed business development companies. The comparative data assisted the Board in assessing the fairness and reasonableness of the management and incentive fees to be paid under the New Advisory Agreement as well as the total estimated expenses to our Adviserbe paid by the Company. Based on the information reviewed and our Administrator arethe considerations detailed above, the Board, including the independent directors, concluded that the fee and expense structure is fair and reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and whether the provisions of the Advisory and Administration Agreements are being satisfactorily performed. The Compensation Committee also reviews with management our Compensation Discussion and Analysis to consider whether to recommend that it be included in proxy statements and other filings.

Our Board has determined that all members of our Compensation Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards). No members of the

Compensation Committee received compensation from us during the last fiscal year other than directors’ fees. Messrs. Outland, Adelgren and Wilkinson also serve on the compensation committees of Gladstone Commercial Corporation, Gladstone Land Corporation and Gladstone Investment Corporation. Our Board has determined that this simultaneous service does not impair the respective directors’ ability to effectively serve on our Compensation Committee.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Compensation Committee ever served as one of our executive officers. Further, none of our executive officers has ever served as a member of the Compensation Committee or as a director of another entity any of whose executive officers served on our Compensation Committee.provided.

Ethics, NominatingExperience of Management Team and Corporate Governance CommitteePersonnel

The Ethics Committee is responsible for identifying, reviewing and evaluating candidates to serve as our directors (consistent with criteria approved by our Board), reviewing and evaluating incumbent directors, recommending to our Board for selection candidates for election to our Board, making recommendations to our Board regardingdiscussed the membershipexperience of current key personnel of the committees of ourAdviser and its affiliates. The Board assessing the performance of our Board, and developing our corporate governance principles. Our Ethics Committee charter can be found in the Investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com. Each member of the Ethics Committee is independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards).

Information Regarding the Process for Nominating Director Candidates

The Ethics Committee believesconsidered that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including being able to read and understand basic financial statements, being over 21 years of age and having the highest personal integrity and ethics. The Ethics Committee also considers such factors as possessing relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management, having sufficient time to devote to our affairs, demonstrated excellence in his or her field, having the ability to exercise sound business judgment and having the commitment to rigorously represent the long-term interests of our stockholders. However, the Ethics Committee retains the right to modify these qualifications from time to time. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the contextall of the current composition of our Board, our operating requirements and the long-term interests of our stockholders.

The Ethics Committee and Board believe that diversity is an important attribute of directors and that our Board should be the culmination of an array of backgrounds and experiences and be capable of articulating a variety of viewpoints. Accordingly, under the Ethics Committee charter (as amended and restated in May 2021), the Ethics Committee considers and discusses diversity in its annual reviewkey portfolio management personnel of the Board and its review of director nominees. Factors considered by the Board in reviewing the diversity on our Board include honesty, loyalty, personal lifestyle, values, disciplines, ethics, age, experience, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, expertise, background and skills, all in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of us and our Board at that point in time in orderAdviser are currently expected to create and maintain

a balance of knowledge, experience and capability that will best serve us and our stockholders. Similarly, upon the occurrence of any vacancy on the Board, the Ethics Committee will actively seek out highly qualified candidates (including female candidates and racially or ethnically diverse candidates) to include in the pool from which an ultimate nominee for director is chosen.

In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Ethics Committee reviews such directors’ overall service to us duringcontinue their term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance, and any other relationships and transactions that might impair such directors’ independence. In the case of new director candidates, the Ethics Committee also determines whether such new nominee must be independent for Nasdaq purposes, which determination is based upon applicable Nasdaq listing standards, applicable SEC rules and regulations and the advice of counsel, if necessary. The Ethics Committee then uses its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems appropriate, a professional search firm. The Ethics Committee conducts any appropriate and necessary inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates after considering the function and needs of our Board. The Ethics Committee meets to discuss and consider such candidates’ qualifications and then selects a nominee for recommendation to our Board by majority vote. To date, the Ethics Committee has not paid a fee to any third party to assist in the process of identifying or evaluating director candidates.

Stockholder Recommendation of Director Candidates to the Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Ethics Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. The Ethics Committee does not intend to alter the manner in which it evaluates candidates, including the minimum criteria set forth above, based on whether the candidate was recommended by a stockholder or not. Stockholders who wish to recommend individuals for consideration by the Ethics Committee to become nominees for election to our Board may do so by delivering a written recommendation to our secretary at the address set forth on the cover page of this Proxy Statement and containing the information required by our Bylaws.

For nominations for election to our Board to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must complyrelationship with the advance notice provisions and other requirements of Article II, Section 4 of our Bylaws. These notice provisions require that nominations for directors for the 2023 annual meeting must be received no earlier than November 5, 2022 (90 days before the first anniversary of our 2022 Annual Meeting) and not later than December 5, 2022 (60 days before the first anniversary of our 2022 Annual Meeting).

Submissions must include the full name of the proposed nominee, a description of the proposed nominee’s business experience for at least the previous five years, complete biographical information, a description of the proposed nominee’s qualifications as a director and a representation that the nominating stockholder is a beneficial or record owner of our stock. Any such submission must be accompanied by the written consent of the proposed nominee to be named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected. The Ethics Committee has not received or rejected a timely director nominee proposal from a stockholder or stockholders.

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

Our Board has adopted a formal process by which our stockholders may communicate with our Board or any of our directors. Persons interested in communicating their concerns or issues may address correspondence to our Board, to a particular director, or to the independent directors generally, in care of Gladstone Capital Corporation, Attention: Investor Relations, at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102. This information is also contained in the Investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to all of our officers and directors and to the employees of our Adviser and our Administrator. The Ethics Committee reviews, approves and recommends to our Board any changes to the Code. It also reviews any violations of the Code and makes recommendations to our Board on those violations. The Code is available in the Investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com. If we make any substantive amendments to the Code or grant any waiver from a provision of the Code to any executive officer or director, we will promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our website.Adviser.

The Executive CommitteeHistorical Performance

The Executive Committee, which is composed of Messrs. Gladstone (Chairman), Brubaker and Parker, has the authority to exercise all powers of our Board except for actionsconsidered that must be taken by a majority of independent directors or the full Board under applicable rules and regulations.

The Offering Committee

The Offering Committee is responsible for assisting our Board in discharging its responsibilities regarding the offering from time to time of our securities. The Offering Committee has all powers of our Board that are necessary or appropriate and may lawfully be delegated to the Offering Committee in connection with an offering of our securities. Our Offering Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which can be found in the Investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com.

The Valuation Committee

The Valuation Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in determining the fair value of our investment portfolio or other assets in compliance with the 1940 Act and assisting the Board’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as risk management, related to valuation. The Valuation Committee operates pursuant to a written charter, which can be found in the Investors section of our website at www.gladstonecapital.com.

Oversight of Risk Management

Since September 2007, Jack Dellafiora has served as our chief compliance officer and, in that position, Mr. Dellafiora directly oversees our enterprise risk management function and reports to our chief

executive officer, the Audit Committee and our Board in this capacity. Mr. Dellafiora also serves as chief compliance officer of Gladstone Commercial Corporation, Gladstone Land Corporation, Gladstone Investment Corporation, the Adviser the Administrator and Gladstone Securities, LLC. Mr. Dellafiora also serves ashas demonstrated a managing principalstrong track record of and is on the board of managers of Gladstone Securities, LLC. In fulfilling his risk management responsibilities, Mr. Dellafiora works closely with our general counsel and other members of senior management including, among others, our chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer and chief operating officer.

Our Board, in its entirety, plays an active role in overseeing management of our risks. Our Board regularly reviews information regarding our credit, liquidity and operations,funding portfolio companies as well as the risks associated with each. Eachhistorical management of the following committeesCompany by the Adviser. Based on the information reviewed, the Board concluded that it was satisfied by the historical performance of our Board plays a distinct role with respect to overseeing management of our risks:the Adviser.

 

Audit Committee: Our Audit Committee oversees the management of enterprise risks. To this end, our Audit Committee meets at least quarterly (i) to discuss our risk management guidelines, policies and exposures and (ii) with our independent registered public accounting firm to review our internal control environment and other risk exposures.

14

Compensation Committee: Our Compensation Committee oversees


Costs of Services Provided and Economies of Scale

The Board considered the costs incurred by the Company and the Adviser to provide services to the Company, the expected costs to be incurred by the Adviser, the profit that the Adviser may realize, and the Adviser’s financial condition. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the management of risks relating to the fees paid to our Adviser and Administrator under the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, respectively. In fulfillment of this duty, the Compensation Committee meets at least annually to review these agreements. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews the performance of our Adviser and our Administrator to determine whether the fees paid to our Adviser and Administrator were reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and whether the provisions of the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement were being satisfactorily performed.

Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee: Our Ethics Committee manages risks associated with the composition and independence of our Board and potential conflicts of interest.

Valuation Committee: Our Valuation Committee manages risks associated with valuation of our investment portfolio and other assets. In addition, the Valuation Committee facilitates communication between the Board, our senior and financial management and our independent public accountants related to valuation matters.

While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risksfinancially able to provide the Company with the services enumerated in the New Advisory Agreement.

The Board considered the extent to which economies of scale may be realized as the Company grows, but concluded that material economies of scale are unlikely given the amount of time and overseeingeffort involved in originating investments consistent with the managementCompany’s current investment strategy limits the Company’s ability to realize economies of such risks,scale regardless of the committees each reportCompany’s size.

Conclusion

No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to ourapprove the New Advisory Agreement; rather, the Board based its determination on the total mix of information available to it. Based on a regular basisconsideration of all the factors in their totality, the Board, including a majority of the independent directors, determined that the New Advisory Agreement, including the compensation payable under the agreement, was fair and reasonable to apprise our Board regarding the status of remediation efforts of known risks and of any new risks that may have arisen since the previous report.

PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of our Board has selected PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, which will audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.Company. The Board, has further directed that management submit the selection of PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the annual meeting. PwC has audited the Company’s financial statements since its fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Neither our Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratificationincluding each of the selectionindependent directors, therefore determined that the approval of PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain PwC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion and subject to approval by our Board in accordance with the 1940 Act, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would beNew Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting will be required to ratify the selection of PwC. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be considered present and entitled to vote for the purpose of determining whether a quorum exists, although they will not be counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

The following table represents the aggregate amount of fees capitalized or expensed by the Company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 that were billed by PwC, our principal independent registered public accounting firm.

   2021  2020 

Audit Fees

  $622,023(1)  $599,616(2) 

Audit-related Fees

   -   - 

Tax Fees

   -   - 

All Other Fees

   -   - 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total

  $622,023  $599,616 

(1)

Includes approximately $146,000 in fees related to our at-the-market offering program and underwritten notes offerings.

(2)

Includes approximately $123,182 in fees related to our at-the-market offering program and an underwritten notes offering.

Audit Fees. Audit fees include fees for services that normally would be provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements and that generally only the independent accountant can provide. In addition to fees for the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our quarterly financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, this category contains fees for comfort letters, statutory audits, consents, and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.

Audit Related Fees. Audit related fees are assurance related services that traditionally are performed by the independent accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These types of assurance services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation.

Tax Fees. Tax fees include corporate and subsidiary compliance and consulting.

All Other Fees. Fees for other services would include fees for products and services other than the services reported above, including any non-audit fees.

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, the aggregate non-audit fees paid to PwC for services rendered to our Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with our Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Company were $328,335 and $328,482, respectively. These fees were for primarily for tax and compliance services. The Audit Committee has considered whether, and determined that, the rendering of these services to our Adviser and the entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with our Adviser is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy and procedures for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm, PwC. The policy generally pre-approves specified services in the defined categories of audit services, audit-related services, and tax services up to specified amounts. Pre-approval may also be given as part of the Audit Committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm or on an individual explicit case-by-case basis before the independent registered public accounting firm is engaged to provide each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee’s members, but the decision must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of the services other than audit services currently being provided by PwC is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

During fiscal years 2021 and 2020, 100% of our audit fees associated with our independent registered public accounting firm were pre-approved by our Audit Committee.

THE BOARD, INCLUDING EACH OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERSYOU VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2022.

Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors1

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present. The Audit Committee included in its review results of the independent registered public accounting firm’s examinations, the Company’s internal controls, and the quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee also reviewed the Company’s procedures and internal control processes designed to ensure full, fair and adequate financial reporting and disclosures, including procedures for certifications by the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer that are required in periodic reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee is satisfied that the Company’s internal control system is adequate and that the Company employs appropriate accounting and auditing procedures.

Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2021 were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under Auditing Standard No. 1301 (Communications with Audit Committees) as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), which addresses communication between audit committees and independent registered public accounting firms. The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence (Communications with Audit Committees). The Audit Committee discussed and reviewed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the Company’s critical accounting policies and practices, internal controls, other material written communications to management, and the scope of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s audits and all fees paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP during the fiscal year. The Audit Committee adopted guidelines requiring review and pre-approval by the Audit Committee of audit and non-audit services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the Company.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and considered the compatibility of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s performance of non-audit services with the maintenance of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s independence as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and has concluded that independence has been maintained.APPROVAL OF THE NEW ADVISORY AGREEMENT.

 

1

The material in this report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or the 1934 Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.

Based on the Audit Committee’s review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Audit Committee has engaged PwC to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.

Submitted by the Audit Committee

Anthony W. Parker, Chairperson

Caren D. Merrick

Michela A. English

John H. Outland15


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF

CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the common stock of the Company as of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, by: (i) each current director; (ii) each of our named executive officers; (iii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group; and (iv) all those known by us to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock. Except as otherwise noted, the address of the individuals below is c/o Gladstone Capital Corporation, 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, VA 22102. As of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, no independent director (or his/her immediate family members) owned securities of our Adviser.

 

Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock (1)(2) 

Name and Address

  Number of
Common
Shares
  Percent
of
Total
Common
Shares
 

Directors:

   

David Gladstone

   1,196,124(3)   3.49

Terry Lee Brubaker

   -   * 

Paul W. Adelgren

   12,315   * 

Michela A. English

   1,588(4)   * 

Caren D. Merrick

   2,835   * 

John H. Outland

   3,523   * 

Anthony W. Parker

   -   * 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

   19,437   * 

Named Executive Officers (that are not also Directors):

   

Nicole Schaltenbrand

   4,351(5)   * 

All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons) (6)

   1,767,595   5.15% 
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock (1)(2)

Name and Address

Number of
Common
Shares
Percent
of
Total
Common
Shares

Directors:

Paul W. Adelgren

[●]        *

Michela A. English

[●](3) *

David Gladstone

[●](4) [●]

Paula Novara

[●]*

John H. Outland

[●]*

Anthony W. Parker

-*

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

[●]*

Named Executive Officers (that are not also Directors):

Nicole Schaltenbrand

[●](5) *

All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons) (6)

[●][●]%

 

*

Less than 1%

(1)

This table is based upon information supplied by executive officers, directors and principal stockholders. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe that each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and sole investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned. Applicable percentages are based on 34,304,371[●] shares of common stock outstanding on December 3, 2021.September [●], 2023.

(2)

Ownership calculated in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Act.as amended (the “1934 Act”).

(3)

Includes 187,259 shares and 26,405 shares held indirectly through The Gladstone Companies, Ltd. and Gladstone International Corporation, Ltd., respectively.

(4)

Includes 1,588[●] shares that are pledged as collateral in connection with a margin account.

(4)

Includes [●] shares held indirectly through The Gladstone Companies, Ltd. and [●] shares held indirectly through Gladstone International Corporation, Ltd.

(5)

Includes 880[●] shares held indirectly by Ms. Schaltenbrand’s spouse.

(6)

There are no employees compensated by the Company. All the employees are compensated by the Adviser and/or Administrator.

16


The following table sets forth, as of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, the dollar range of equity securities that are beneficially owned by each of our directors in the Company and in both the Company and Gladstone Investment Corporation in the aggregate. Gladstone Investment Corporation is our affiliate and a business development company that is also externally managed by our Adviser.

 

Name

  Dollar Range of
Equity Securities of
the Company Owned by
Director or Nominee (1)(2)
   Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities
in All Funds Overseen
or to be Overseen by Director orin
Nominee in Family of Investment Companies (1)(2)
 

Interested Directors:

    

David Gladstone

   Over $100,000    Over $100,000 

Terry Lee BrubakerPaula Novara

   None$10,000-$50,000    Over $100,000$10,000-$50,000 

Independent Directors:

    

Paul W. Adelgren

   Over $100,000    Over $100,000 

Michela A. English

   $10,001-10,000-$50,000    $10,001-10,000-$50,000

Caren D. Merrick

$10,001-$50,000$50,001-$100,000 

John H. Outland

   $10,001-10,000-$50,000    Over $100,000 

Anthony W. Parker

   None    Over $100,000 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

   Over $100,000    Over $100,000 

 

(1)

Ownership is calculated in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the 1934 Act.

(2)

The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned is calculated by multiplying the closing price of the respective class as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market as of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, by the number of shares of the respective class so beneficially owned and aggregated accordingly.

Gladstone Commercial Corporation, our affiliate and a real estate investment trust, is also managed by our Adviser. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the common and preferred stock of Gladstone Commercial Corporation as of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, by each independent incumbent director and nominee.director. As of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, none of our independent directors owns any class of stock of Gladstone Commercial Corporation, other than common stock.

 

Name

  Number of
Common
Shares
  Percent of
Class of
Common Shares
   Value of
Securities($) (1)
 

Independent Directors:

     

Paul W. Adelgren

   13,743   *   $309,080 

Michela A. English

   1,761(2)   *   $39,605 

Caren D. Merrick

   2,816   *   $63,332 

John H. Outland

   3,027   *   $68,077 

Anthony W. Parker

   37,410   *   $841,351 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

   10,287   *   $231,355 

Name

Number of
Common
Shares
Percent of
Class of
Common Shares
Value of
Securities($) (1)

Independent Directors:

Paul W. Adelgren

[●] *$[●] 

Michela A. English

[●](2) *$[●] 

John H. Outland

[●] *$[●] 

Anthony W. Parker

[●] *$[●] 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

[●] *$[●] 

 

*

Less than 1%

(1)

Ownership calculated in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the 1934 Act. The value of securities beneficially owned is calculated by multiplying the closing price of the respective class as reported on

17


 

The Nasdaq Global Select Market as of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, by the number of shares of the respective class so beneficially owned and aggregated accordingly.

(2)

Includes 1,761[●] shares that are pledged as collateral in connection with a margin account.

Gladstone Land Corporation, our affiliate and a real estate investment company,trust, is also managed by our Adviser. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the common stock of Gladstone Land Corporation as of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, by each independent incumbent director and nominee.director. As of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, none of our independent directors owns any preferred stock of Gladstone Land Corporation.

 

Name

  Number of
Common
Shares
  Percent of
Class of
Common Shares
   Value of Securities($) (1) 

Independent Directors:

     

Paul W. Adelgren

   13,644   *   $391,583 

Michela A. English

   845(2)   *   $24,251 

Caren D. Merrick

   5,432   *   $155,898 

John H. Outland

   2,043   *   $58,634 

Anthony W. Parker

   6,357   *   $182,446 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

   11,281   *   $323,765 

Name

Number of
Common
Shares
Percent of
Class of
Common Shares
Value of
Securities($) (1)

Paul W. Adelgren

[●] *$[●] 

Michela A. English

[●](2) *$[●] 

John H. Outland

[●] *$[●] 

Anthony W. Parker

[●] *$[●] 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

[●] *$[●] 

 

*

Less than 1%

(1)

Ownership calculated in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the 1934 Act. The value of securities beneficially owned is calculated by multiplying the closing price of the respective class as reported on The Nasdaq Global Market as of December 3, 2021,September [●], 2023, by the number of shares of the respective class so beneficially owned and aggregated accordingly.

(2)

Includes 845[●] shares that are pledged as collateral in connection with a margin account.

Insider Trading Policy

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that, among other things, prohibits directors, officers and other employees of Gladstone Land Corporation, Gladstone Commercial Corporation or Gladstone Investment Corporation (collectively, with the Company, the “Funds”), the Company, the Administrator or the Adviser, including such persons’ immediate family members, from entering into a short sale transaction or trading in options (including puts and calls), warrants, convertible securities, appreciation rights or other derivative securities, with respect to the Company’s securities (or securities of the Funds) or use any other derivative transaction or instrument to take a short position in respect of such Fund’s securities.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

None of our executive officers receives direct compensation from us. We do not currently have any employees and do not expect to have any employees in the foreseeable future. The services necessary for the operation of our business are provided to us by our officers and the other employees of our Adviser and Administrator, pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement, respectively. Mr. Gladstone, our chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Marcotte, our president, and Mr. Brubaker, our vice chairman, chief operating officer and assistant secretary, are all employees of and compensated directly by our Adviser. Ms. Schaltenbrand, our chief financial officer and treasurer, is an employee of our Administrator.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, we incurred total fees of approximately $11.5 million to our Adviser under the Advisory Agreement and $1.4 million to our Administrator under the Administration Agreement. For a discussion of the terms of our Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement, see “Certain Transactions” below.18

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table shows for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 certain information with respect to the compensation of all directors that are not also executive officers. Our executive officers do not receive any compensation for their service as directors:

Name

  Aggregate Compensation
from Fund
   Total Compensation
from Fund and Fund
Complex Paid to
Directors (1)
 

Paul W. Adelgren

  $38,000   $152,000 

Michela A. English

  $37,000   $148,000 

Caren D. Merrick

  $44,000   $169,000 

John H. Outland

  $52,000   $204,000 

Anthony W. Parker

  $48,500   $190,000 

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

  $41,000   $160,000 

(1)

Includes compensation the director received from Gladstone Investment Corporation, as part of our Fund Complex. Also includes compensation the director received from Gladstone Commercial Corporation, our affiliate and a real estate investment trust, and Gladstone Land Corporation, our affiliate and a real estate investment trust, although not part of our Fund Complex.

For our fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, as compensation for serving on our Board, each of our independent directors received an annual fee of $25,000, an additional $1,000 for each Board meeting attended, and an additional $1,000 for each committee meeting attended if such committee meeting took place on a day other than when the full Board met. In addition, the chairperson of the Audit Committee received an annual fee of $7,500, the chairpersons of the Compensation and Valuation Committees received an annual fee of $3,000, and the chairperson of the Ethics Committee received an annual fee of $1,000 for their additional services in these capacities. We also reimburse our directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending Board and committee meetings.

We do not pay any compensation to directors who also serve as our officers, or as officers or directors of our Adviser or our Administrator, in consideration for their service to us. Our Board may change the compensation of our independent directors in its discretion. None of our independent directors received any compensation from us during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, other than for Board or committee service and meeting fees.

Compensation Committee Report2

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) contained in this Proxy Statement. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to our Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

Submitted by the Compensation Committee

John H. Outland, Chairperson

Paul W. Adelgren

Walter H. Wilkinson, Jr.

2

The material in this report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, other than our Annual Report on Form 10-K, where it shall be deemed to be “furnished,” whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.


CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Advisory and Administration Agreements

Under the Advisory Agreement our Adviser is responsible for our day-to-day operations and administration, record keeping and regulatory compliance functions. Specifically, these responsibilities included (i) identifying, evaluating, negotiating and consummating all investment transactions consistent with our investment objectives and criteria; (ii) providing us with all required records and regular reports to our Board concerning our Adviser’s efforts on our behalf; and (iii) maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements applicable to us. The base management fee pursuant to the Advisory Agreement is assessed at an annual rate of 1.75% computed on the basis of the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed quarters (inclusive of the current quarter), which are total assets, including investments made with proceeds of borrowings, less any uninvested cash or cash equivalents resulting from borrowings. The Advisory Agreement also provides for an incentive fee, which consists of two parts: an income-based incentive fee and a capital gains-based incentive fee. The income-based incentive fee rewards the Adviser if our quarterly net investment income (before giving effect to any incentive fee) exceeds 1.75% (2.0% during the period from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022) of our net assets, which we define as total assets less liabilities and before taking into account any incentive fees payable or contractually due but not payable during the period (the “hurdle rate”), at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter. We pay our Adviser an income-based incentive fee with respect to our pre-incentive fee net investment income in each calendar quarter as follows:

no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which our pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the hurdle rate;

100% of our pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.1875% (2.4375% during the period from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022) in any calendar quarter; and

20% of the amount of our pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds 2.1875% (2.4375% during the period from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022) in any calendar quarter.

The second part of the incentive fee is a capital gains incentive fee that is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date), and equals 20% of our realized capital gains as of the end of the fiscal year. In determining the capital gains-based incentive fee payable to our Adviser, we calculate the cumulative aggregate realized capital gains and cumulative aggregate realized capital losses since our inception, and the entire portfolio’s net unrealized capital depreciation, if any, as of the date of the calculation, as applicable, with respect to each of the investments in our portfolio.

Additionally, pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Adviser makes available significant managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. The Adviser may also provide other services to our portfolio companies under certain agreements and may receive fees for services other than managerial assistance. Such services may include: (i) assistance obtaining, sourcing or structuring credit facilities, long term loans or additional equity from unaffiliated third parties; (ii) negotiating important contractual

financial relationships; (iii) consulting services regarding restructuring of the portfolio company and financial modeling as it relates to raising additional debt and equity capital from unaffiliated third parties; and (iv) taking a primary role in interviewing, vetting and negotiating employment contracts with candidates in connection with adding and retaining key portfolio company management team members. The Adviser non-contractually, unconditionally, and irrevocably credits 100% of any fees for such services against the base management fee that we would otherwise be required to pay to the Adviser; however, pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, a small percentage of certain of such fees, totaling $0.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was retained by the Adviser in the form of reimbursement, at cost, for tasks completed by personnel of the Adviser primarily for the valuation of portfolio companies.

Under the Administration Agreement, we pay separately for administrative services including record keeping and regulatory compliance functions. Payments under the Administration Agreement are equal to our allocable portion of our Administrator’s overhead expenses in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent for the space occupied by our Administrator, and our allocable portion of the salaries, bonuses, and benefits expenses of our chief financial officer, treasurer, chief valuation officer, chief compliance officer, general counsel and secretary and their respective staffs. Our allocable portion of the Administrator’s expenses are generally derived by multiplying our Administrator’s total expenses by the approximate amount of time the Administrator’s employees perform services for us in relation to their time spent performing services of all companies serviced by our Administrator under contractual agreements.

Our Adviser and Administrator areis 100% indirectly owned and controlled by David Gladstone, the chairman of our Board and our chief executive officer. Mr. Gladstone is also the chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of our Adviser. Terry Lee Brubaker, our vice chairman, chief operating officer and assistant secretary, is a member of the board of directors of our Adviser and its vice chairman, chief operating officer and assistant secretary. Ms. Novara, a member of our Board, is Head of Human Resources, Facilities & Office Management and IT of our Adviser. Although we believe that the terms of the Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement are no less favorable to us than those that could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties in arms’ length transactions, our Adviser and Administrator, their officers and their directors have a material interest in the terms of these agreements.

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

Loan Servicing Fee

The Adviser also services the loans held by Gladstone Business Loan, LLC (“Business Loan”), the borrower under our line of credit, in return for which the Adviser receives a 1.5% annual fee payable monthly based on the aggregate outstanding balance of loans pledged under our line of credit. Since Business Loan is a consolidated subsidiary of ours, and the total base management fee paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Original Advisory Agreement cannot exceed 1.75% of total assets (including investments made with proceeds of borrowings, less any uninvested cash and cash equivalents resulting from borrowings) during any given calendar year, we treat payment of the loan servicing fee pursuant to our line of credit as a pre-payment of a portion of the base management fee under the Original Advisory Agreement. Accordingly, these loan

servicing fees are 100% voluntarily, irrevocably and unconditionally credited back to us by the Adviser. Loan servicing fees of approximately $5.6$6.3 million were incurred for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021,2022, all of which were directly credited against the amount of the base management fee due to our Adviser under the Original Advisory Agreement.

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Investment Banking Services

Gladstone Securities, LLC, an affiliated broker dealer which is 100% indirectly owned and controlled by Mr.David Gladstone, provides investment banking services to most of our portfolio companies for which it receives a fee (paid by such portfolio companies) in an amount not greater than 1% of each investment at closing. Messrs. Gladstone, LiCalsi and Dellafiora serve on the board of managers of Gladstone Securities LLC and certain of the employees of the Adviser, who are also registered representatives of Gladstone Securities, perform the investment banking services on behalf of Gladstone Securities. Such investment bankingAny such fees are outside ofpaid by portfolio companies to Gladstone Securities do not impact the scope offees we pay to the Advisory AgreementAdviser or the non-contractual, unconditional, and irrevocable credits against the Administration Agreement.base management fee. Therefore, they are not credited back to the Company and are entirely retained by Gladstone Securities. The fees received by Gladstone Securities LLC.from portfolio companies during the year ended September 30, 2022 totaled $1.1 million.

Conflict of Interest Policy

We have adopted written policies to reduce potential conflicts of interest. In addition, our directors are subject to certain provisions of Maryland law (as we are a Maryland corporation) that are designed to minimize conflicts. Under our current conflict of interest policy, without the approval of a “required majority,” as defined under the 1940 Act, which means both a majority of directors who have no financial interest in the transaction and a majority of directors who are not interested persons of ours, we will not:

 

acquire from or sell to any of our officers, directors or employees, or any entity in which any of our officers, directors or employees has an interest of more than 5%, any assets or other property;

 

borrow from any of our directors, officers or employees, or any entity in which any of our officers, directors or employees has an interest of more than 5%; or

 

engage in any other transaction with any of our directors, officers or employees, or any entity in which any of our directors, officers or employees has an interest of more than 5% (except that our Adviser may lease office space in a building that we own, provided that the rental rate under the lease is determined by our independent directors to be at a fair market rate).

Where allowed by applicable rules and regulations, from time to time we may enter into transactions with our Adviser or one or more of its affiliates. A required majority of our directors, as defined under the 1940 Act, must approve all such transactions with our Adviser or its affiliates.

Indemnification

In our articles of incorporation and bylaws, we have agreed to indemnify certain officers and directors by providing, among other things, that we will indemnify such officer or director, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for therein, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he or she

may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he or she is or may be made a party by reason of his or her position as our director, officer or other agent, to the fullest extent permitted under Maryland law and our bylaws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification provisions shall not protect any officer or director from liability to us or our stockholders as a result of any action that would constitute willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of such officer’s or director’s duties, or reckless disregard of his or her obligations and duties.

20


Each of the Original Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement provides, and the New Advisory Agreement will provide, that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of their duties and obligations (as the same may be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder), our Adviser, our Administrator and their respective officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with them are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of our Adviser’s or Administrator’s services under the Original Advisory Agreement, Administration Agreement or AdministrationNew Advisory Agreement, respectively, or otherwise as an investment adviser of ours.

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for annual meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single set of annual meeting materials addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

This year,In connection with the special meeting, a number of brokers with account holders who are Gladstone Capital Corporation stockholders will be “householding” our proxy materials. A single set of annual meeting materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that it will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate set of annual meeting materials, please notify your broker. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the annual meeting materials at their addresses and would like to request “householding” of their communications should contact their brokers. Stockholders of record can direct their written request for “householding” or to receive separate proxy materials to Investor Relations at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102 or call our toll-free investor relations line at (866) 366-5745.

21


OTHER MATTERS

Our Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the annualspecial meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.

We will furnish, without charge, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2022, including consolidated financial statements, but not including exhibits, to each of our stockholders of record on September [], 2023, and to each beneficial stockholder on that date upon written request made to our secretary at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102 or by calling toll-free (866) 366-5745. Such request must set forth a good faith representation that the requesting party was a beneficial owner of our common stock on September [], 2023. The Annual Report with exhibits is also available at no cost through the SEC’s EDGAR database available at www.sec.gov.

SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

We will consider for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2024 annual meeting proposals that we receive not later than August 18, 2023 and that comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the 1934 Act, and our bylaws. Stockholders must submit their proposals to our secretary at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102.

In addition, any stockholder who wishes to propose a nominee to our Board or propose any other business to be considered by the stockholders (other than a stockholder proposal to be included in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the 1934 Act) must comply with the advance notice provisions and other requirements of Article II, Section 4(b) of our bylaws, a copy of which is on file with the SEC and may be obtained without charge from our secretary upon request.

These notice provisions require that nominations of persons for election to our Board and proposals of business to be considered by the stockholders for the 2024 annual meeting must be made in writing and submitted to our secretary at the address above no earlier than November 4, 2023 (90 days before the first anniversary of our 2023 annual meeting) and not later than December 4, 2023 (60 days before the first anniversary of the 2023 annual meeting). You are also advised to review our bylaws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

LOGOLOGO

 

Michael LiCalsi

General Counsel and Secretary

December 17, 2021September [●], 2023

22

LOGO

GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION 1521 WESTBRANCH DRIVE, SUITE 100 MCLEAN, VA 22102 SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE Proxy Card For Common Stockholders VOTE BY INTERNET Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLAD2022 You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS D63307-P64239 THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: 1. Election of Directors Nominees: 01) Paul W. Adelgren 02) John H. Outland 03) David Gladstone For All Withhold All For All Except To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal: For Against Abstain 2. To ratify our Audit Committee’s selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date


LOGO

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com. D63308-P64239 GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORPORATION Annual Meeting of Stockholders February 3, 2022 - 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors PROXY FOR COMMON SHARES The undersigned hereby appoints Nicole Schaltenbrand and Michael LiCalsi, and each of them acting individually, as attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all of the shares of stock of Gladstone Capital Corporation which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Gladstone Capital Corporation to be held virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/GLAD2022, on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and at any and all postponements, continuations and adjournments thereof, with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present, upon and in respect of the matters on the reverse side, and in accordance with the instructions, with discretionary authority as to any and all other matters that may properly come before the meeting. Unless a contrary direction is indicated, this proxy will be voted in favor of each of the nominees listed in Proposal 1and in favor of Proposal 2 as more specifically described in the proxy statement. If specific instructions are indicated, this proxy will be voted in accordance therewith. Continued and to be signed on reverse side