Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-228720
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated February 5, 2019)
Up to $60,000,000
Common Stock
We operate as an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company and have elected to be treated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). For federal income tax purposes, we have elected to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Our investment objectives are to: (1) achieve and grow current income by investing in debt securities of established lower middle market companies in the U.S. that we believe will provide stable earnings and cash flow to pay expenses, make principal and interest payments on our outstanding indebtedness and make distributions to stockholders that grow over time; and (2) provide our stockholders with long-term capital appreciation in the value of our assets by investing in equity securities of established businesses that we believe can grow over time to permit us to sell our equity investments for capital gains.
We have entered into an equity distribution agreement, dated May 10, 2021 (the “Sales Agreement”), with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), relating to the sale of shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The Sales Agreement provides that we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $60,000,000 from time to time through Jefferies, as sales agent.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made by transactions that are deemed to be part of an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Jefferies is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amounts of securities but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Jefferies and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement. The offering of shares of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the sale of shares having an aggregate offering price of $60,000,000 or (2) the termination of the Sales Agreement by us or Jefferies.
Jefferies will be entitled to compensation under the terms of the Sales Agreement at a commission of up to 2.0% of the gross sales price per share of common stock sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of shares of our common stock on our behalf, the Sales Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of the Sales Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Sales Agent against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-14 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to Jefferies.
Our common stock is traded on Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GLAD.” On May 7, 2021 the last reported sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $10.99 per share. The net asset value (“NAV”) per share of our common stock on March 31, 2021 (the last date prior to the date of this prospectus supplement as of which we determined NAV) was $8.11. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of our common stock. The sales price per share of our common stock offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, less Jefferies’s commission, will not be less than the NAV per share of our common stock at the time of such sale.
The securities in which we invest generally would be rated below investment grade if they were rated by rating agencies. Below investment grade securities, which are often referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. They may also be difficult to value and are illiquid.
Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount to their NAV. If our shares trade at a discount to our NAV, it will likely increase the risk of loss for purchasers in this offering. Investing in shares of our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before investing, you should read the material risks described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-11 of this prospectus supplement and page 13 of the accompanying prospectus and under similar headings in the other documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including any documents incorporated by reference herein, contain important information you should know before investing in our common stock, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and retain it for future reference. Additional information about us, including our annual, quarterly and current reports, has been filed with the SEC, and can be accessed at its website at www.sec.gov. This information is also available free of charge by calling us collect at (703) 287-5893 or on the investors section of our corporate website located at www.gladstonecapital.com. You may also call us collect at this number to request other information or to make a shareholder inquiry. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page S-16 of this prospectus supplement.
The SEC has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Jefferies
The date of this prospectus supplement is May 10, 2021