def14a
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 (Amendment No. )
Filed by
the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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o
Preliminary Proxy Statement
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o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as |
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permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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þ Definitive Proxy Statement |
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o Definitive Additional Materials |
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o
Soliciting Material Under §240.14a-12 |
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GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing
Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ No fee required.
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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(5) Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing
by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the
date of its filing. |
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(1) Amount previously paid: |
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(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.: |
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(3) Filing party: |
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(4) Date filed: |
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GLADSTONE
INVESTMENT CORPORATION
1521 Westbranch
Drive, Suite 200, McLean, Virginia 22102
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On August 4, 2011
To Our Stockholders:
Notice Is Hereby Given that the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Gladstone Investment Corporation will be held on
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. local time at
the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, located at 8661 Leesburg
Pike, Vienna, Virginia, 22182, for the following purposes:
(1) To elect three directors to hold office until
the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(2) To elect one director to hold office until the
2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(3) To approve a proposal to authorize us, with the
approval of our Board of Directors, to issue and sell shares of
our common stock (during the next 12 months) at a price
below its then current net asset value per share subject to
certain limitations set forth herein (including, without
limitation, that the cumulative number of shares issued and sold
pursuant to such authority does not exceed 25% of our then
outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale).
(4) 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 March 31, 2012.
(5) To transact such other business as may properly
come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the
Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on
Monday, June 6, 2011 as the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at this annual meeting and at any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Stockholders Meeting to be
held on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. local
time at the
Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, located at 8661 Leesburg
Pike, Vienna, Virginia, 22182
The proxy statement and annual report to stockholders are
available at www.proxyvote.com.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Terry L. Brubaker
Secretary
McLean, Virginia
June 17, 2011
All of our stockholders are cordially invited to attend the
Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual
Meeting, you are urged to complete, date, sign and return the
enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible or 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 in person if you attend the
annual 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 in person at the Annual Meeting).
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GLADSTONE
INVESTMENT CORPORATION
1521 Westbranch Drive,
Suite 200, McLean, Virginia 22102
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On August 4, 2011
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 Investment Corporation (we,
us, or the Company) is soliciting your
proxy to vote at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
meeting or annual meeting). You are
invited to attend the annual meeting to vote on the proposals
described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to
attend the meeting 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.
We intend to mail these materials on or about June 17, 2011
to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the annual
meeting.
How can I
attend the annual meeting?
The meeting will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at
11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Eastern
Time) at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, located
at 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia, 22182. Directions to
the annual meeting may be found at www.gladstoneinvestment.com.
Information on how to vote in person at the annual meeting is
discussed below.
Who can
vote at the annual meeting?
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on
June 6, 2011 will be entitled to vote at the annual
meeting. On this record date, there were 22,080,133 shares
of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
Stockholder
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If on June 6, 2011 your shares were registered directly in
your name with our transfer agent, BNY Mellon Shareowner
Services, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder
of record, you may vote in person 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 Registered in the Name of a Broker or
Bank
If on June 6, 2011 your shares were held, not in your name,
but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or
other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of
shares held in street name and these proxy materials
are being forwarded to you by that organization. The
organization holding your account is considered to be the
stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual
meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct
your broker or other agent regarding how to vote the shares in
your account. You are also
invited to attend the annual meeting. However, since you are not
the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in
person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid
proxy from your broker or other agent.
What am I
voting on?
There are four matters scheduled for a vote:
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Election of three directors to serve until the 2014 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders;
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Election of one director to serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders;
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Approval of a proposal to authorize us, with the approval of our
Board of Directors, to issue and sell shares of our common stock
(during the next 12 months) at a price below its then
current net asset value per share subject to certain limitations
set forth herein (including, without limitation, that the
cumulative number of shares issued and sold pursuant to such
authority does not exceed 25% of our then outstanding common
stock immediately prior to each such sale); and
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Approval of a proposal to ratify the selection, by the Audit
Committee of our Board (the Audit Committee), of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as our independent
registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending
March 31, 2012.
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We will hold a conference call to discuss the matters
scheduled for a vote at this years annual meeting on
June 29, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Stockholders will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding
the proposals during the conference call. You may call
(800) 860-2442
(international callers must dial
(412) 858-4600
to enter the conference call). An operator will monitor the call
and set a queue for the questions. The conference call replay
will be available two hours after the call and will be available
through the date of the annual meeting, Thursday, August 4,
2011. To hear the replay, please dial
(877) 344-7529
and use conference code 450883. The call will also be available
via webcast at www.gladstoneinvestment.com. The webcast replay
will also be available through the date of the annual meeting.
In the event of any changes in the scheduled date and time of
the call, we will issue a press release, which will be available
on our website at www.gladstoneinvestment.com.
How do I
vote?
You may either vote For all the nominees to our
Board or you may Withhold your vote for any nominee
you specify. For Proposals 3 and 4, 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 in person at
the annual meeting, vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card,
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 and vote in person, even if you have already
voted by proxy.
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To vote in person, we will give you a ballot when you arrive at
the annual meeting.
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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 August 3, 2011, the day
prior to the annual meeting.
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To vote by proxy over the telephone, dial toll-free,
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 from the enclosed proxy card. To be counted, we must
receive your vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
August 3, 2011, the day prior to the annual meeting.
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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 from the enclosed
proxy card. To be counted, we must receive your vote by
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 3, 2011, the day
prior to the annual meeting.
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Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or
Bank
If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name
of your broker, bank, or other agent, you should have received a
proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials
from that organization, rather than from us. Simply complete and
mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted.
Alternatively, you may vote by proxy over the telephone or
through the internet, as instructed by your broker or bank. To
vote in person at the annual meeting, you must obtain a valid
proxy from your broker, bank or other agent. Follow the
instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy
materials, or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy
form.
We provide internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your
shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the
authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions.
However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated
with your internet access, such as usage charges from internet
access providers and telephone companies.
How many
votes do I have?
On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each
share of common stock you owned as of the close of business on
June 6, 2011.
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 the election of all four nominees for
director and For Proposals 3 and 4. If any
other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxy
holder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will
vote your shares using his or her best judgment.
Who is
paying for this proxy solicitation?
Gladstone Investment Corporation 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. Copies of
solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage
houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding in their names shares
of our common stock beneficially owned by others to forward to
such beneficial owners. We 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, telegram or personal solicitation by directors,
officers or other regular employees of Gladstone Management
Corporation, our investment adviser (the Adviser),
or Gladstone Administration, LLC
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(the Administrator). No additional compensation will
be paid to directors, officers or other regular employees for
such services. We have engaged Georgeson Inc.
(Georgeson) to solicit proxies for the annual
meeting. Georgeson will be paid a fee of approximately $5,500
plus
out-of-pocket
expenses for its basic solicitation services, which include
review of proxy materials, dissemination of broker search cards,
distribution of proxy materials, solicitation of ADP, brokers,
banks and institutional holders, and delivery of executed
proxies. The term of the agreement with Georgeson will last for
the period of the solicitation, and the agreement provides that
we will indemnify and hold harmless Georgeson against any third
party claims, except in the case of Georgesons gross
negligence or intentional misconduct.
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. Please follow the voting instructions on the proxy
cards in the proxy materials to ensure that all of your shares
are voted.
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 August 3, 2011, you may
only do so at the annual meeting. If you are the record holder
of your shares, you may revoke your proxy in any one of the
following ways:
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You may submit another properly completed proxy card with a
later date specified thereon.
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You may grant a subsequent proxy by telephone or through the
internet on a later date.
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You may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your
proxy to Gladstone Investment Corporations secretary at
1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 200, McLean, Virginia
22102.
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You may attend the annual meeting and vote in person. Simply
attending the meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.
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If your shares are held by your broker or bank as a nominee or
agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your
broker or bank.
When are
stockholder proposals due for next years annual
meeting?
We will consider for inclusion in our proxy materials for the
2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders proposals that we receive
not later than April 5, 2012 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 corporate secretary at 1521 Westbranch
Drive, Suite 200, 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 Exchange Act) must comply with the advance notice
provisions and other requirements of Article III,
Section 5 of our Bylaws, a copy of which is on file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and may
be obtained from our corporate 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 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
must be made in writing and submitted to our corporate secretary
at the
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address above no earlier than April 5, 2012 (120 days
before the first anniversary of our 2011 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders) and not later than May 5, 2012 (90 days
before the first anniversary of the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders). You are also advised to review our Bylaws, which
contain additional requirements about advance notice of
stockholder proposals and director nominations.
How are
votes counted?
Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for
the annual meeting, who will separately count For,
Withhold and broker non-votes, and, with respect to
proposals other than the election of directors,
Against votes and abstentions. Abstentions will be
counted towards the vote total and will have the same effect as
Against votes for proposals 3 and 4. Broker
non-votes have no effect and will not be counted towards the
vote total for any proposal except Proposal 3. Because of
the vote required to approve Proposal 3, broker non-votes
will have the same effect as Against votes for
Proposal 3. We expect that our chief financial officer,
David Watson, will be appointed as the inspector of election.
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 broker or nominee holding the
shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting
instructions, the broker 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 the event that a broker,
bank, or other agent indicates on a proxy that it does not have
discretionary authority to vote certain shares on a non-routine
proposal, then those shares will be treated as broker non-votes.
Under applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange,
Proposal 1 and Proposal 2 (election of directors), and
Proposal 3 (approval of proposal authorizing us to issue
and sell shares below net asset value) are
non-routine
proposals. Your broker, bank or other agent is not entitled to
vote your shares without your instructions for Proposals 1,
2 or 3. Proposal 4 (ratification of the appointment of PwC)
is a routine proposal. Your broker, bank or other agent may vote
your shares for Proposal 4 even if it does not receive
instructions from you.
How many
votes are needed to approve each proposal?
Vote
Required
Proposal 1 Election of
Directors. The three nominees receiving the most
For votes (from the holders of votes of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
on the election of directors) will be elected. Only votes
For or Withheld will affect the outcome.
Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this
proposal.
Proposal 2 Election of
Director. The nominee receiving the most
For votes (from the holders of votes of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
on the election of directors) will be elected. Only votes
For or Withheld will affect the outcome.
Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this
proposal.
Proposal 3 Approval of a proposal to
authorize us to issue and sell shares of our common stock at a
price below our then current net asset value per
share. The affirmative vote of each of the
following is required to
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approve this proposal: (1) a majority of our outstanding
voting securities; and (2) a majority of our outstanding
voting securities that are not held by affiliated persons of the
Company. For purposes of this proposal, the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), defines a
majority of the outstanding voting securities as the vote of the
lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the
Company present at the annual meeting, if the holders of more
than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company are
present or represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of
the outstanding voting securities of the Company. Each
abstention and broker non-vote will have the same effect as an
Against vote.
Proposal 4 Ratification of our independent
registered public accounting firm. The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person
or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote is
required to ratify the Audit Committees selection of PwC
as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending March 30, 2012. An abstention will have
the same effect as an Against vote. Broker non-votes
will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
What is
the quorum requirement?
A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A
quorum will be present if at least a majority of our shares
entitled to vote are represented by stockholders present at the
meeting or by proxy. On the record date there were
22,080,133 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Thus,
11,040,067 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
broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote in person at the
meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted
towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, a
majority of the votes present at the meeting may adjourn the
meeting to another date.
How can I
find out the results of the voting at the annual
meeting?
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the annual
meeting. Final voting results will be published in a current
report on
Form 8-K
that we expect to file with the SEC within four business days
after the annual meeting. If final voting results are not
available to us in time to file a
Form 8-K
within four business days after the meeting, 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.
What
proxy materials are available on the internet?
The letter to stockholders, proxy statement,
Form 10-K
and annual report to stockholders are available at
www.proxyvote.com.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes. Two
classes consist of three directorships and one class consists of
four. Each class has a three-year term. Vacancies on the Board
may be filled by persons elected by a majority of the remaining
directors. A director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy in
a class, including any vacancies created by an increase in the
number of directors, shall serve for the remainder of the full
term of that class and until the directors successor is
elected and qualified.
In January 2011, the Board elected Jack Reilly to the Class of
2012 to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Maurice
Coulons resignation (which was effective
September 30, 2010). In addition, in April 2011, the
Board approved the following additional actions to be effective
at the annual meeting, (i) increased the number of
directors in the Class of 2012 to four directors,
(ii) appointed Mr. Gerard Mead to the Class of 2012 to
fill the vacancy, subject to stockholder approval as further
described in Proposal 2 below, and (iii) reduced the number
of directors in the Class of 2014 to three.
The Board of Directors presently has ten members. The Board has
nominated three directors for election to the class whose term
of office expires in 2011. All of the nominees listed below are
also incumbent directors previously elected by the stockholders.
If elected at the annual meeting, each nominee would serve until
the 2014 Annual Meeting and until his or her successor is
elected and has qualified, or, if sooner, until his or her
death, resignation or removal. It is our policy to encourage
directors and nominees for director to attend the annual
meeting. Three of our directors attended the 2010 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
on the election of directors. The three nominees receiving the
highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. Shares
represented by executed proxies will be voted, if authority to
do so is not withheld, for the election of the three nominees
named below. If any nominee becomes unavailable for election as
a result of an unexpected occurrence, your shares will be voted
for the election of a substitute nominee proposed by our
management. Each person nominated for election has agreed to
serve if elected. Our management has no reason to believe that
any nominee will be unable to serve.
PROPOSAL 2
ELECTION
OF DIRECTOR
As previously described above under Proposal 1, in April 2011,
our Board approved the following actions to be effective at the
annual meeting, (i) increased the number of directors in the
Class of 2012 to four directors, (ii) appointed Mr. Gerard Mead
to the Class of 2012 to fill the vacancy, subject to stockholder
approval, and (iii) reduced the number of directors in the Class
of 2014 to three. Mr. Mead currently sits on the Board of
Directors of two of our affiliates, Gladstone Capital
Corporation and Gladstone Commercial Corporation, in the class
of directors whose term expires in 2012. The Board actions
described were taken in an effort to align the board terms for
each of the Gladstone entities on which Mr. Mead serves. While
neither our Bylaws or other governing documents or law requires
stockholder approval of the appointment of Mr. Mead to fill the
vacancy which will exist in the Class of 2012 as a result of
these Board actions, the Board is submitting this vote to
stockholders as a matter of good corporate practice.
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The Board has nominated one director for election to the class
whose term of office expires in 2012. The nominee listed below
is also an incumbent director previously elected by the
stockholders. If elected at the annual meeting, the nominee
would serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting and until his
successor is elected and has qualified, or, if sooner, until his
death, resignation or removal.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
on the election of directors. The nominee receiving the highest
number of affirmative votes will be elected. Shares represented
by executed proxies will be voted, if authority to do so is not
withheld, for the election of the nominee named below. If the
nominee becomes unavailable for election as a result of an
unexpected occurrence, your shares will be voted for the
election of a substitute nominee proposed by our management. The
person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected.
Our management has no reason to believe that the nominee will be
unable to serve.
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, and each executive officer
who is not a director.
Nominees
for a Three-Year Term Expiring at the 2014 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
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Other
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Public Company
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Term of
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Principal
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Directorships
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Position(s)
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Office and
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Occupation(s)
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Held by
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Held With
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Length of
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During the Past
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Director for
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Name, Age, Address
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Company
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Term Served
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Five Years
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Past Five Years
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Disinterested Directors
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Michela A. English (61)(1)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Director
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Term expires at 2011 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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President and Chief Executive Officer of Fight for Children, a
non-profit charitable organization focused on providing
high-quality education and health care services to underserved
youth in Washington, DC. President of Discovery Consumer
Products, the retail, publishing and licensing arm of Discovery
Communications, Inc., the leading global real-world media and
entertainment company, from 1996 to 2004.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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Anthony W. Parker (65)(2)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Director
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Term expires at 2011 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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Founder and Chairman of the Board of Parker Tide Corp. (formerly
known as Snell Professional Corp. and Medical Funding
Corporation) since 1977.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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8
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Other
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Public Company
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Term of
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Principal
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Directorships
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Position(s)
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Office and
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Occupation(s)
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Held by
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Held With
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Length of
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During the Past
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Director for
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Name, Age, Address
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Company
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Term Served
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Five Years
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Past Five Years
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Interested Director
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George Stelljes III (49)(3)*
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Co-Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
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Term expires at 2011 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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Co-Vice Chairman of the Company since April 2008. Chief
Investment Officer of the Company since 2005, and of Gladstone
Capital Corporation since 2004. President of the Company from
inception in 2005 through April 2008. Executive Vice President
and Chief Investment Officer of Gladstone Capital Corporation
from 2002 to 2004, and of Gladstone Commercial Corporation since
2003. President, Chief Investment Officer and a director of our
Adviser. General partner and investment committee member of
Patriot Capital since 2002.
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Gladstone Capital Corporation; Gladstone Commercial Corporation;
Intrepid Capital Corporation
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Nominee
for a One-Year Term Expiring at the 2012 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
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Other
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Public Company
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Term of
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Principal
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Directorships
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Position(s)
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Office and
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Occupation(s)
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Held by
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Held With
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Length of
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During the Past
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Director for
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Name, Age, Address
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Company
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Term Served
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Five Years
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Past Five Years
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Disinterested Director
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Gerard Mead (67)(4)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Director
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Term expires at 2011 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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Chairman and founder of Gerard Mead Capital Management since
2003. Held various positions with Bethlehem Steel Corporation,
including Director of Investment Research, Pension Trust
Chairman and Fund Manager, from 1966 to 2003.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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9
Directors
Continuing in Office Until the 2012 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
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Other
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Public Company
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Term of
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Principal
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Directorships
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Position(s)
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Office and
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Occupation(s)
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Held by
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Held With
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Length of
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During the Past
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Director for
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Name, Age, Address
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Company
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Term Served
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Five Years
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Past Five Years
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Disinterested Director
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John Reilly (68)(5)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Director
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Term expires at 2012 Annual Meeting. Director since 2011.
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President of Reilly Investment Corporation since 1987. From
1976 through 1984, President and CEO of Reilly Mortgage Group,
Inc. From 1971 through 1976, served as Vice President of Walker
& Dunlop, Inc. From 1967 through 1969, served as Research
Engineer for Crane Company.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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Interested Directors
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Terry Lee Brubaker (67)(6)*
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Co-Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary
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Term expires at 2012 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer of the Company
since 2005, and of Gladstone Capital Corporation and Gladstone
Commercial Corporation since 2004. President and Chief Operating
Officer of Gladstone Capital Corporation from 2001 to 2004, and
of Gladstone Commercial Corporation from 2003 to 2004. Vice
Chairman, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of our Adviser.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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David A.R. Dullum (63)(7)*
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Director and President
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Term expires at 2012 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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President of the Company since April 2008. Senior Managing
Director of our Adviser since February 2008. Partner of New
England Partners, a venture capital firm, since 1995. President
and a Director of Harbor Acquisition Corporation from May 2005
until May 2008.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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10
Directors
Continuing in Office Until the 2013 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
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Other
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Public Company
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Term of
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Principal
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Directorships
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Position(s)
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Office and
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Occupation(s)
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Held by
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Held With
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Length of
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During the Past
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Director for
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Name, Age, Address
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Company
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Term Served
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Five Years
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Past Five Years
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Disinterested Directors
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Paul W. Adelgren (68)(8)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Director
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Term expires at 2013 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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Pastor of Missionary Alliance Church since 1997.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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John H. Outland (65)(9)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Director
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Term expires at 2013 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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Private investor since 2006. Vice President of Genworth
Financial, Inc. from 2004 to 2006. Managing Director of 1789
Capital Advisers, a financial consulting company, from 2002 to
2004.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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Interested Director
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David Gladstone (69)(10)*
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
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Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
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Term expires at 2013 Annual Meeting. Director since 2005.
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Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since
our inception in 2005, of Gladstone Capital Corporation since
its inception in 2001, and of Gladstone Commercial Corporation
since its inception in 2003. Founder, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board of our Adviser.
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Gladstone Commercial Corporation; Gladstone Capital Corporation
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* |
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Messrs. Gladstone, Brubaker, Stelljes and Dullum are
interested persons of Gladstone Investment Corporation, within
the meaning of the 1940 Act, due to their positions as our
officers. |
|
(1) |
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Ms. English was selected to serve as an independent
director on our Board, and to be nominated to serve another
directorship term, due to her greater than twenty-five years of
senior management experience at various corporations and
non-profit organizations as well as her past service on our
Board since 2005. |
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(2) |
|
Mr. Parker was selected to serve as an independent director
on our Board, and to be nominated to serve another directorship
term, due to his business expertise of more than twenty-five
years, his wealth of experience as CEO of his own business, his
knowledge in the field of corporate taxation, and his past
service on our Board since 2005. Mr. Parkers
knowledge of corporate tax and operating his own company was
instrumental in his appointment to the chairmanship of our Audit
Committee. |
11
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(3) |
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Mr. Stelljes was selected to serve as a director on our
Board, and to be nominated to serve another directorship term,
due to his more than twenty-five years of experience in the
investment analysis, management, and advisory industries as well
as his past service on our Board since 2005. |
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(4) |
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Mr. Mead was selected to serve as an independent director
on our Board, and to be nominated to serve another directorship
term, due to his more than forty years of experience in various
areas of the investment analysis and management fields as well
as his past service on our Board since 2005. |
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(5) |
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Mr. Reilly was selected to serve as an independent director
on our Board due to his expertise and wealth of experience in
the real estate and mortgage industry and operating his own
business. |
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(6) |
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Mr. Brubaker was selected to serve as a director on our
Board due to his more than thirty years 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. |
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(7) |
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Mr. Dullum was selected to serve as an independent director
on our Board due to his more than thirty years of experience in
various areas of the investment industry as well as his past
service on our Board since 2005. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Adelgren was selected to serve as an independent
director on our Board due to his strength and experience in
ethics, which also led to his appointment to the chairmanship of
our Ethics, Nominating & Corporate Governance
Committee. |
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(9) |
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Mr. Outland was selected to serve as an independent
director on our Board due to his more than twenty years of
experience in the real estate and mortgage industry as well as
his past service on our Board since 2005. |
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(10) |
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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 years of experience in the investment industry,
including his service as our chairman and chief executive since
our inception. |
Executive
Officers Who Are Not Directors
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Term of
|
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Principal
|
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|
Office and
|
|
Occupation(s)
|
|
|
Position(s) Held
|
|
Length of
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|
During the Past
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Name, Age, Address
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With Company
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Term Served
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Five Years
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David Watson (35)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
|
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Chief Financial Officer
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Executive Officer since 2010.
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Chief Financial Officer of the Company since January 2010 and
Chief Financial Officer for Gladstone Capital Corporation since
January 2011. Director of Portfolio Accounting of MCG Capital
from July 2007 until January 2010. Associate Director for
Navigant Consulting Inc. from July 2004 until July 2007.
|
Gary Gerson (46)
Gladstone Investment Corporation
1521 Westbranch Drive
Suite 200
McLean, Virginia 22102
|
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Treasurer
|
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Executive Officer since 2006.
|
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Treasurer since 2006. Treasurer of Gladstone Capital
Corporation, Gladstone Commercial Corporation, and our Adviser
since 2006. Assistant Vice President of Finance at the Bozzuto
Group, a real estate developer, manager and owner, from
2004-2006.
|
THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF
EACH
NAMED NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR UNDER PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
12
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
directors independence, and continually assesses the
independence of each of the directors throughout the year. 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, Mead, Outland,
Parker and Reilly and Ms. English. In making this
determination, our Board found that no director or director
nominee had a material or other disqualifying relationship with
us. Mr. Gladstone, the chairman of our Board and chief
executive officer, Mr. Brubaker, our co-vice chairman,
chief operating officer and secretary, Mr. Stelljes, our
co-vice chairman and chief investment officer, and
Mr. Dullum, a director and our president, are not
independent directors by virtue of their positions as our
officers and their employment by our Adviser.
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
Our Board met four times during the last fiscal year. Each
director 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 the period for which he or she was a
director or committee member.
As required under applicable NASDAQ listing standards, which
require regularly scheduled meetings of independent directors,
our independent directors met four times during fiscal 2011 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. Our Board believes
that our chief executive officer is best situated to serve as
chairman because he is the director most familiar with our
business 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 Director for all
meetings of our independent directors held in executive session.
The Lead Director has the responsibility of presiding at all
executive sessions of our Board, 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 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, the 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. The Board concluded that the combined
role enhances, among other things, the Boards
understanding of our investment portfolio, business, finances
and risk management
13
efforts. In addition, the Board believes that
Mr. Gladstones employment by the Adviser better
allows for the efficient mobilization of the Advisers
resources at the Boards behest and on its behalf.
Our Board has four committees: an Audit Committee, a
Compensation Committee, an Executive Committee and an Ethics,
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The following
table shows the current composition of each of the committees of
our Board:
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Ethics, Nominating and
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Name
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Audit
|
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Compensation
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Executive
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Corporate Governance
|
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Paul W. Adelgren
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X
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*X
|
Terry Lee Brubaker
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X
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Michela English
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X
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David Gladstone
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*X
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John H. Outland
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*X
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X
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Anthony W. Parker
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*X
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X
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Gerard Mead
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X
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X
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Jack Reilly
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X
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Lead Independent Director
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*
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Committee Chairperson
|
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 each committee meets the
applicable NASDAQ rules and regulations regarding
independence 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 (other than
with respect to the Executive Committee, for which there are no
applicable independence requirements).
Audit
Committee
The Audit Committee of our Board oversees our corporate
accounting and financial reporting process. For this purpose,
the Audit Committee performs several functions. The Audit
Committee evaluates the performance of 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
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations. During fiscal 2010,
the Audit Committee was comprised of Messrs. Parker
(Chairperson) and Mead and Ms. English. On January 11,
2011, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Reilly as the
fourth member of the Audit Committee. Messrs. Adelgren and
Outland currently serve as alternate members of the Audit
Committee. Alternate members of the Audit Committee
14
serve and participate in meetings of the Audit Committee only in
the event of an absence of a regular member of the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee met eight times during the last
fiscal year. The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter
that is available to stockholders on our website at
www.gladstoneinvestment.com.
Our Board reviews the NASDAQ listing standards definition of
independence for audit committee members and has determined that
all members and alternate members of our Audit Committee are
independent (as independence is currently defined in
Rule 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ listing standards). No
members of the Audit Committee received any compensation from us
during the last fiscal year other than directors fees. Our
Board has unanimously determined that all Audit Committee
members and alternate members are financially literate under
current NASDAQ rules and that at least one member qualifies as
an audit committee financial expert. 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. Mead, Parker and Reilly
and Ms. English also serve on the audit committees of
Gladstone Commercial Corporation and Gladstone Capital
Corporation. Our Audit Committees alternate members,
Messrs. Adelgren and Outland, also serve as alternate
members on the audit committees of Gladstone Commercial
Corporation and Gladstone Capital Corporation. Our Board has
determined that this simultaneous service does not impair the
respective directors ability to effectively serve on our
Audit Committee.
REPORT OF
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS1
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the
Companys audited financial statements with management and
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm, with and without management
present. The Audit Committee included in its review results of
the independent registered public accounting firms
examinations, the Companys internal controls, and the
quality of the Companys financial reporting. The Audit
Committee also reviewed the Companys procedures and
internal control processes designed to ensure full, fair and
adequate financial reporting and disclosures, including
procedures for certifications by the Companys 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 further reviewed with
the independent registered public accounting firm their opinion
on the effectiveness of the internal control over financial
reporting of the Company. The Audit Committee is satisfied that
the Companys internal control system is adequate and that
the Company employs appropriate accounting and auditing
procedures.
The Audit Committee also has discussed with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP matters relating to the independent
registered public accounting firms judgments about the
quality, as well as the acceptability, of the Companys
accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting as
required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, as
amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU
section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (PCAOB) in Rule 3200T. 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 firms
communications with the audit committee concerning independence
and has discussed with the independent registered public
accounting firm the independent registered public accounting
firms independence (Communications with Audit Committees).
The Audit Committee discussed and reviewed with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the Companys critical
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.
15
accounting policies and practices, internal controls, other
material written communications to management, and the scope of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPs 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 LLPs performance of non-audit
services with the maintenance of PricewaterhouseCoopers
independence as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm.
Based on the Audit Committees review and discussions
referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board
of Directors that the Companys audited financial
statements be included in the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 for filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Audit
Committee approved the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
to serve as the Companys independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.
Submitted by the Audit Committee
Anthony W. Parker, Chairperson
Michela A. English
Gerard Mead
John Reilly
Compensation
Committee
The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a written
charter that is available to stockholders on our website at
www.gladstoneinvestment.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 us and our stockholders.
The committee considers in such periodic reviews, among other
things, whether the salaries and bonuses paid to our executive
officers by our Adviser and our Administrator are consistent
with our compensation philosophies, whether the performance of
our Adviser and our Administrator are 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
and to consider whether to recommend that it be included in
proxy statements and other filings. During the last fiscal year,
the Compensation Committee was comprised of Messrs. Maurice
Coulon (Chairperson), Outland and Mead for the first two
quarters. Mr. Coulon resigned as a director and,
consequently, a committee member, effective September 30,
2010. He was replaced by Mr. Adelgren, who was appointed as
a committee member on October 1, 2010, the same day that
Mr. Outland, was appointed Chairperson. Therefore, for the
final two quarters of the last fiscal year, the Compensation
Committee was comprised of Messrs. Outland (Chairperson),
Adelgren and Mead. Mr. Parker and Ms. English continue
to serve as alternate members of the Compensation Committee.
Alternate members of the Compensation Committee serve and
participate in meetings of the Compensation Committee only in
the event of an absence of a regular member of the Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee met four times during the
last fiscal year.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During the last fiscal year, Messrs. Adelgren, Coulon,
Outland and Mead all served on the Compensation Committee for
one half or all of the fiscal year. None of
Messrs. Adelgren, Coulon, Outland or Mead is or has been
16
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.
REPORT OF
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS2
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 the 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 March 31, 2011.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee
John H. Outland, Chairperson
Paul Adelgren
Gerard Mead
Ethics,
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our
Board 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
regarding the membership of the committees of our Board,
assessing the performance of our Board, and developing our
corporate governance principles. Our Ethics, Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee charter can be found on our
website at www.gladstoneinvestment.com. During the first two
quarters of the last fiscal year, the Ethics, Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee was comprised of
Messrs. Adelgren (Chairperson) and Coulon.
Messrs. Parker, Mead, Outland and Ms. English served
as alternate members of the Ethics, Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee. Mr. Coulon resigned from the Board
and the Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee,
effective September 30, 2010. He was replaced on
October 1, 2010 by Mr. Outland. Currently,
Messrs. Parker and Mead, and Ms. English serve as
alternate committee members. Alternate members of the Ethics,
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee serve and
participate in meetings of the committee only in the event of an
absence of a regular member of the committee. Each member of the
Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is
independent (as independence is currently defined in
Rule 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ listing standards). The
Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four
times during the last fiscal year.
Qualifications
for Director Candidates
The Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
believes 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, Nominating and Corporate Governance 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
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.
17
represent the long-term interests of our stockholders. However,
the Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
retains the right to modify these qualifications from time to
time. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the
context of the current composition of our Board, our operating
requirements and the long-term interests of our stockholders.
Though we have no formal policy addressing diversity, the
Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance 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, the Ethics, Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee considers in its review of
director nominees factors such as values, disciplines, ethics,
age, gender, race, culture, 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 order to maintain a
balance of knowledge, experience and capability.
In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set
to expire, the Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee reviews such directors overall service to us
during 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, Nominating and Corporate Governance
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, Nominating and Corporate Governance 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, Nominating and Corporate
Governance 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, Nominating and Corporate Governance 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, Nominating and
Corporate Governance 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, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will
consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. The
Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not
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,
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to become nominees
for election to our Board may do so by timely delivering a
written recommendation to the Ethics, Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee 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 or other business to
be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder,
the stockholder must comply with the advance notice provisions
and other requirements of Article III, Section 5 of
our Bylaws. These notice provisions require that nominations for
directors must be received no earlier than April 5, 2012
(120 days before the first anniversary of the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders) and no later than May 5, 2012
(90 days before the first anniversary of the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders). In the event that an annual meeting is
advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first
anniversary of the prior years
18
annual meeting, notice by the stockholder, to be timely, must be
delivered not earlier than the close of business on the
120th day prior to such annual meeting date and not later
than the close of business on the later of the 90th day
prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the
day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is
first made.
Submissions must include the full name of the proposed nominee,
a description of the proposed nominees business experience
for at least the previous five years, complete biographical
information, a description of the proposed nominees
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. To date, the Ethics, Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee has not received or rejected
a timely director nominee proposal from a stockholder or
stockholders holding more than 5% of our voting stock.
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 its directors. Persons
interested in communicating with our Board with their concerns
or issues may address correspondence to our Board, to a
particular director, or to the independent directors generally,
in care of Gladstone Investment Corporation, Attention: Investor
Relations, at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 200,
McLean, Virginia 22102. This information is also contained on
our website at www.gladstoneinvestment.com.
Code
of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that
applies to all of our officers and directors and to the
employees of our Adviser and our Administrator. The Ethics,
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews, approves
and recommends to our Board any changes to the Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics (the Code). They also review any
violations of the Code and make recommendations to our Board on
those violations. The Code is available on our website at
www.gladstoneinvestment.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.
The
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee, which is comprised of
Messrs. Gladstone (Chairman), Brubaker and Parker, has the
authority to exercise all powers of our Board except for actions
that must be taken by a majority of independent directors or the
full Board under applicable rules and regulations. The Executive
Committee did not meet during the last fiscal year.
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. In fulfilling his risk management
responsibilities, Mr. Dellafiora works closely with our
internal counsel and members of our executive management
including, among others, our chief executive officer, chief
financial officer, chief investment officer and chief operating
officer.
19
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, as well as the
risks associated with each. Each committee of our Board plays a
distinct role with respect to overseeing management of our risks:
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Audit Committee: Our Audit Committee oversees
the management of enterprise risks. To this end, our Audit
Committee meets at least annually (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.
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Compensation Committee: Our Compensation
Committee oversees 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 to
determine whether the compensation paid to our Adviser was
reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services
performed and whether the provisions of the Advisory Agreement
were being satisfactorily performed.
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Ethics, Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee: Our Ethics, Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee manages risks associated with the
independence of our Board and potential conflicts of interest.
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While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks
and overseeing the management of such risks, the committees each
report to our Board on a regular basis 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.
20
PROPOSAL 3
TO AUTHORIZE US, WITH THE APPROVAL OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO
ISSUE AND SELL SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK (DURING THE NEXT
12 MONTHS) AT A PRICE BELOW ITS THEN CURRENT NET ASSET VALUE PER
SHARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS SET FORTH HEREIN
(INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THAT THE CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF
SHARES ISSUED AND SOLD PURSUANT TO SUCH AUTHORITY DOES NOT
EXCEED 25% OF OUR THEN OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK IMMEDIATELY
PRIOR TO EACH SUCH SALE)
Stockholder
Authorization
The 1940 Act generally prohibits us, as a business development
company (BDC) from issuing and selling shares of our
common stock at a price below the then current net asset value
(NAV) per share of our stock, with certain
exceptions. One such exception would permit us to issue and sell
shares of our common stock at a price below net asset value per
share at the time of sale if our stockholders approve a sale
below net asset value per share within the one year period
immediately prior to any such sale, provided that our Board
makes certain determinations prior to any such sale.
Accordingly, we are seeking the approval of our stockholders so
that we may, in one or more public or private offerings, issue
and sell shares of our common stock at a price below our then
current NAV per share. It should be noted that the maximum
number of shares that we could issue and sell at a per share
price below NAV per share pursuant to this authority would be
limited to 25% of our then outstanding common stock immediately
prior to each such sale. If approved, the authorization would be
effective for a period expiring on the first anniversary of the
date of the stockholders approval of this proposal and
would permit us to engage in such transactions at various times
within that period, subject to further approval from our Board.
Generally, common stock offerings are priced based on the market
prices of the outstanding shares of common stock. Because over
the last two years our common stock has consistently, and at
times significantly, traded at a market price below net asset
value per share, stockholder approval would permit us to issue
and sell shares of our common stock in accordance with pricing
standards that market conditions generally require, and would
also assure stockholders that the number of shares issued and
sold pursuant to such authority does not exceed 25% of our then
outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale. If
stockholders approve this proposal, we should have greater
flexibility in taking advantage of changing market and financial
conditions in connection with an equity offering. As of the date
of this proxy statement, our Board has approved an offering of
this type in principle, but has not approved the terms of a
specific offering, nor does it have any immediate plans to do so.
Reasons
to Offer Common Stock Below Net Asset Value
We believe that market conditions will continue to provide
opportunities to invest new capital at potentially attractive
returns. Although we are seeing increased stability over recent
months, for the past several years, U.S. credit markets,
including many lending institutions, have experienced
significant difficulties resulting from the recent
U.S. recession and current difficult economic conditions.
This has contributed to significant stock price volatility for
capital providers such as our company and has made access to
capital more challenging for many smaller businesses. However,
these changes in the credit market conditions also have
beneficial effects for capital providers like us because small
business are selling for lower prices, are generally willing to
pay higher interest rates and to accept more contractual terms
that are more favorable to us in their investment agreements.
Accordingly, for
21
firms that continue to have access to capital, we believe that
the current environment should provide investment opportunities
on more favorable terms than have been available in recent
periods. Our ability to take advantage of these opportunities is
dependent upon our access to equity capital.
As a BDC and a regulated investment company (RIC)
for tax purposes, we are dependent on our ability to raise
capital through the issuance of common stock. RICs generally
must distribute substantially all of their earnings to
stockholders as dividends in order to achieve pass-through tax
treatment, which prevents us from using those earnings to
support new investments. Further, BDCs must maintain a debt to
equity ratio of less than one dollar of debt for one dollar of
equity, which requires us to finance our investments with at
least as much equity as debt in the aggregate. We maintain
sources of liquidity through a portfolio of liquid assets and
other means but generally attempt to remain close to fully
invested and do not hold substantial cash for the purpose of
making new investments. Therefore, to continue to build our
investment portfolio, and thereby have the ability to support
the maintenance of our dividends, we endeavor to maintain
consistent access to capital through the public and private
equity markets enabling us to take advantage of investment
opportunities as they arise.
Since our initial public offering in 2005, our common stock has
consistently traded at a discount in relation to its net asset
value. The following table lists the high and low closing sales
prices for our common stock, and such closing sales price as a
percentage of net asset value. On June 13, 2011, the last
reported closing sale price of our common stock was $7.17 per
share.
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Discount
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Discount
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Closing Sales
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of High Closing Sales
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of Low Closing Sales
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Price
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Price
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Price
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NAV(1)
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High
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Low
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to NAV(2)
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to NAV(2)
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Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2009
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First Quarter
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$
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10.77
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$
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9.78
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$
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6.31
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9
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%
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41
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%
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Second Quarter
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$
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10.57
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$
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8.08
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$
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6.00
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24
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%
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43
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%
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Third Quarter
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$
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10.15
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$
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6.83
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$
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3.09
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33
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%
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70
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%
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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9.73
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$
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5.85
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$
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2.40
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40
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%
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75
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%
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Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2010
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First Quarter
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$
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9.19
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$
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5.38
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$
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3.52
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41
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%
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62
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%
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Second Quarter
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$
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8.24
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$
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5.37
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$
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4.02
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35
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%
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51
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%
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Third Quarter
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$
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7.93
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$
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5.11
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$
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4.41
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36
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%
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44
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%
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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8.74
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$
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6.23
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$
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4.61
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29
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%
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47
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%
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Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2011
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First Quarter
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$
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8.86
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$
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6.89
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$
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5.13
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22
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%
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42
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%
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Second Quarter
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$
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8.43
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$
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6.93
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$
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5.52
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18
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%
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35
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%
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Third Quarter
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$
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9.00
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$
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7.90
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$
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6.61
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12
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%
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27
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%
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Fourth Quarter
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$
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9.00
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$
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8.28
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$
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6.92
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8
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%
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%
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(1) |
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Net asset value per share is determined as of the last day in
the relevant quarter and, therefore, may not reflect the net
asset value per share on the date of the high and low closing
sales prices. The per share net asset values shown are based on
outstanding shares at the end of each period. |
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(2) |
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Calculated as the difference between the net asset value per
share and the respective high or low closing sales price,
divided by net asset value per share. |
22
The current volatility in the credit market and the uncertainty
surrounding the U.S. economy has led to significant stock
market fluctuations, particularly with respect to the stock of
financial services companies like our company. During times of
increased price volatility, our common stock may be more likely
to trade at a price below its net asset value per share, which
is not uncommon for BDCs like us. As noted above, however, the
current market dislocation has created, and we believe will
continue to create, favorable opportunities to invest in small
businesses, including opportunities that we believe may increase
net asset value over the longer-term, even if financed with the
issuance of common stock below net asset value per share. We
expect that attractive investment opportunities will require us
to make an investment commitment quickly. Because we generally
attempt to remain fully invested and do not intend to maintain
cash for the purpose of making these investments, we may be
unable to capitalize on investment opportunities presented to us
unless we are able to quickly raise capital. We believe that
stockholder approval of the proposal to issue and sell shares
below net asset value per share subject to the conditions
detailed below will provide us with the flexibility to invest in
such opportunities.
The Board believes that having the flexibility to issue and sell
our common stock below net asset value per share in certain
instances is in the best interests of stockholders. If we are
unable to access the capital markets as attractive investment
opportunities arise, our ability to grow over time and continue
to pay steady or increasing dividends to stockholders could be
adversely affected. It could also have the effect of forcing us
to sell assets that we would not otherwise sell, and such sales
could occur at times that are disadvantageous to sell. The Board
also believes that increasing our assets will lower our expense
ratio by spreading our fixed costs over a larger asset base. The
issuance and sale of additional common stock might also enhance
the liquidity of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market. Additionally, while it is possible for a BDC to issue
and sell its shares through a transferable rights offering at a
price that is below net asset value per share, such offerings
may ultimately be at a discount greater than in an offering of
our shares at a market price below our net asset value per
share, thus we believe that having the ability to issue and sell
our common stock below net asset value per share in accordance
with the terms of this proposal would, in many instances, be
preferable to such an issuance pursuant to a transferable rights
offering.
Example
of Dilutive Effect of the Issuance of Shares Below Net
Asset Value
Company XYZ has 1,000,000 total shares outstanding, $15,000,000
in total assets and $5,000,000 in total liabilities. The NAV of
the common stock of Company XYZ is $10.00.
The following table illustrates the reduction to NAV and the
dilution experienced by Stockholder A following the sale of
40,000 shares of the common stock of Company XYZ at $9.50
per share, a price below its then current NAV.
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Prior to Sale
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Following Sale
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Percentage
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Below NAV
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Below NAV
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Change
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Reduction to NAV
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Total Shares Outstanding
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1,000,000
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1,040,000
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4.0
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%
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NAV
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$
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10.00
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$
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9.98
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(0.2
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)%
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Dilution to Stockholder A
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Shares Held by Stockholder A
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10,000
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10,000
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(1)
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Percentage Held by Stockholder A
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1.00
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%
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0.96
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%
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(3.8
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)%
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Total Interest of Stockholder A
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$
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100,000
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$
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99,808
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(0.2
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)%
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(1) |
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Assumes that Stockholder A does not purchase additional shares
in the equity offering of shares below net asset value. |
23
Conditions
to Sales Below Net Asset Value
If this proposal is approved, we would not issue and sell our
common stock below its per share net asset value unless
(i) the number of shares issued and sold pursuant to such
authority does not exceed 25% of our then outstanding common
stock immediately prior to each such sale, and (ii) our
Board concludes that there are attractive near-term investment
opportunities that it reasonably believes will lead to a
long-term increase in net asset value. In making such a
determination, our Board will have a duty to act in the best
interests of us and our stockholders. To the extent we issue and
sell shares of our common stock below net asset value per share
in a publicly registered transaction, our market capitalization
and the amount of our publicly tradable common stock will
increase, thus affording all common stockholders potentially
greater liquidity in the market for our shares.
If this proposal is approved, we will issue and sell shares of
our common stock at a price below net asset value per share only
if a majority of our directors who have no financial interest in
the issuance and sale, and a majority of such directors who are
not interested persons of ours, have determined in good faith
that the price at which such securities are to be issued and
sold is not less than a price which closely approximates the
market value of those securities, less any distributing
commission or discount. This determination must be made in
consultation with the underwriter or underwriters of the
offering, if any, and as of a time immediately prior to the
first solicitation by us or on our behalf of firm commitments to
purchase such securities or immediately prior to the issuance of
such securities.
Key
Stockholder Considerations
Before voting on this proposal or giving proxies with regard to
this matter, stockholders should consider the potentially
dilutive effect of the issuance and sale of shares of our common
stock in accordance with the terms of this proposal, and should
also consider the effect that the expenses associated with such
issuance and sale may have on the net asset value per
outstanding share of our common stock. Any issuance and sale of
common stock at a price below net asset value per share would
result in an immediate dilution to existing common stockholders.
If we issue and sell share in accordance with the terms of this
proposal, the resulting dilution could be substantial. This
dilution would include reduction in the net asset value per
share as a result of the issuance and sale of shares a
proportionately greater decrease in a stockholders
interest in our earnings and assets, and in voting interests,
than the increase in our assets resulting from such issuance and
sale. In addition, any payment of underwriting compensation
could further increase the dilution. Our Board will consider the
potential dilutive effect of the issuance and sale of shares in
accordance with this proposal when considering whether to
authorize any such issuance and sale. It should be noted that
the maximum number of shares that we could issue and sell at a
per share price below NAV per share pursuant to this authority
would be limited to 25% of our then outstanding common stock
immediately prior to each such sale. The 1940 Act establishes a
connection between common share sale price and net asset value
per share because, when stock is sold at a sale price below net
asset value per share, the resulting increase in the number of
outstanding shares is not accompanied by a proportionate
increase in the net assets of the issuer.
24
Required
Vote
The affirmative vote of each of the following is required to
approve this proposal: (1) a majority of our outstanding
voting securities; and (2) a majority of our outstanding
voting securities that are not held by affiliated persons of the
Company. For purposes of this proposal, the 1940 Act defines a
majority of the outstanding voting securities as the vote of the
lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the
Company present at the annual meeting, if the holders of more
than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company are
present or represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of
the outstanding voting securities of the Company. Each
abstention and broker non-vote will have the effect of a vote
against this proposal.
THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
PROPOSAL 3.
25
PROPOSAL 4
RATIFICATION
OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
The Audit Committee of our Board has selected
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm,
which will audit the Companys financial statements for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, and has further directed
that management submit the selection of PwC as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm for
ratification by the stockholders at the annual meeting. PwC has
audited the Companys financial statements since its fiscal
year ended March 31, 2006. 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 ratification of the selection of PwC as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm.
However, the Audit Committee is submitting the selection of PwC
to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good
corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the
selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to
retain that 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 be in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders.
The affirmative vote of the holders of the shares present in
person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote 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 us for the fiscal years ended
March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011 that were billed by
PwC, our principal independent registered public accounting firm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
2010
|
|
Audit Fees
|
|
$
|
283,118
|
|
|
$
|
265,000
|
|
Audit-related Fees(1)
|
|
$
|
18,525
|
|
|
$
|
64,500
|
|
Tax Fees(2)
|
|
$
|
9,500
|
|
|
$
|
9,500
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
311,143
|
|
|
$
|
339,000
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Audit-related Fees consist primarily of fees related
to SEC filings and other related services. |
|
(2) |
|
Tax Fees consist of fees for tax compliance and
preparation services and other state tax research. |
All fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, the aggregate
non-audit fees billed by 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 us was $9,500. All of these fees were for professional
services rendered to our Adviser for audit and tax services. The
Audit Committee has considered whether, and believes that, the
rendering of these services to our Adviser is compatible with
maintaining the independent registered public accounting
firms independence.
26
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 Committees 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 Committees
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 firms independence.
THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
PROPOSAL 4.
27
CONTROL
PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth, as of June 7, 2011 (unless
otherwise indicated), the beneficial ownership of each current
director, each of the executive officers, the executive officers
and directors as a group and each stockholder known to our
management to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding
shares of common stock. Except as otherwise noted, the address
of the individuals below is
c/o Gladstone
Investment Corporation, 1521 Westbranch Drive,
Suite 200, McLean, VA 22102.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficial Ownership(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Range
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Equity Securities
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Range of
|
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of all Funds by
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Equity Securities of
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Directors and
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|
|
|
|
the Company Owned
|
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Executive Officers
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|
|
|
|
|
|
by Directors and
|
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in Family of
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
Percent of
|
|
Executive
|
|
Investment
|
Name and Address
|
|
Shares
|
|
Total
|
|
Officers(2)
|
|
Companies(2)(3)
|
|
Executive Officers and Directors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Gladstone
|
|
|
236,688
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
Terry Lee Brubaker(4)
|
|
|
23,885
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
George Stelljes III
|
|
|
25,286
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
David Watson
|
|
|
5,060
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
10,001-$50,000
|
|
|
$
|
10,001-$50,000
|
|
Gary Gerson(5)
|
|
|
578
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
1-$10,000
|
|
|
$
|
10,001-$50,000
|
|
Anthony W. Parker
|
|
|
7,155
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
50,001-$100,000
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
David A.R. Dullum(6)
|
|
|
32,065
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
Michela A. English
|
|
|
1,333
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
1-$10,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,001-$100,000
|
|
Paul Adelgren
|
|
|
2,674
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
10,001-$50,000
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
John H. Outland
|
|
|
1,956
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
10,001-$50,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,001-$100,000
|
|
Gerard Mead
|
|
|
12,019
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
50,001-$100,000
|
|
|
Over $
|
100,000
|
|
John Reilly
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
$
|
10,001-$50,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,001-$100,000
|
|
All executive officers and directors as a group (12 persons)
|
|
|
352,699
|
|
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Other Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wellington Management Company, LLP(7)
|
|
|
2,084,231
|
|
|
|
9.4
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
280 Congress St.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Boston, MA 02210
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.(8)
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|
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2,345,400
|
|
|
|
10.6
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
181 Bay Street, Suite 4510
Bay Wellington Tower
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Less than 1% |
|
(1) |
|
This table is based upon information supplied by 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 |
28
|
|
|
|
|
respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned.
Applicable percentages are based on 22,080,133 shares
outstanding on June 7, 2011. |
|
(2) |
|
Ownership calculated in accordance with
Rule 16a-1(a)(2)
of the Exchange Act. The dollar range of our equity securities
beneficially owned is calculated by multiplying the closing
price of Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select
Market as of June 7, 2011, times the number of shares
beneficially owned. |
|
(3) |
|
Each of our directors and executive officers, other than
Mr. Watson, is also a director or executive officer, or
both, of Gladstone Capital, our affiliate and a business
development company, and Gladstone Commercial, our affiliate and
a real estate investment trust, each of which is also externally
managed by our Adviser. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 4,178 shares held by Mr. Brubakers
spouse. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 445 shares held by Mr. Gersons spouse. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 1,349 shares held by Mr. Dullums spouse. |
|
(7) |
|
This information has been obtained from a Form 13F filed by
Wellington Management Company, LLP (Wellington) on
May 15, 2011, according to which Wellington has sole voting
and investment power with respect to all 2,084,231 shares
reported as beneficially owned. |
|
(8) |
|
This information has been obtained from a Form 13F filed by
Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. (Burgundy) on
May 12, 2011, according to which Burgundy has sole voting
and investment power with respect to all 2,345,400 shares
reported as beneficially owned. |
SECTION 16(A)
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors
and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten
percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file
with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes
in ownership of common stock and our other equity securities.
Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders
are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such
reports furnished to us and written representations that no
other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2011, all Section 16(a) filing requirements
applicable to our officers, directors and greater than ten
percent beneficial owners were complied with, except that one
report, covering two transactions, was filed 16 days late
by Michael LiCalsi.
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Our chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief
investment officer, chief financial officer and treasurer are
salaried employees of our Adviser and our Administrator, which
are affiliates of ours. Our Adviser and Administrator pay the
salaries and other employee benefits of the persons in their
respective organizations that render services for us. These
services have been and continue to be provided pursuant to the
terms of the Advisory Agreement and the Administration
Agreement, as applicable.
29
Compensation
Philosophy
For our long-term success and enhancement of long-term
stockholder value, we depend on the management and analytical
abilities of our executive officers, who are employees of, and
are compensated by, our Adviser and Administrator. Our
philosophy focuses on attracting, retaining and rewarding
executive officers and others who contribute to our long-term
success and motivating them to enhance stockholder value through
our Compensation Committees oversight of our
Advisers compensation practices under the terms of the
Advisory Agreement. The key elements of our compensation
philosophy include:
|
|
|
|
|
ensuring that base salary paid to our executive officers is
competitive with other leading companies with which we compete
for talented investment professionals;
|
|
|
|
ensuring that bonuses paid to our executive officers are
sufficient to provide motivation to achieve our principal
business and investment goals and to bring total compensation to
competitive levels; and
|
|
|
|
providing incentives to ensure that our executive officers are
motivated over the long term to achieve our business and
investment objectives.
|
Base
Salary and Bonuses
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, the
Compensation Committee fulfilled its oversight role by reviewing
the Advisory Agreement to determine whether the fees paid to our
Adviser were in the best interests of the stockholders. The
Compensation Committee has also reviewed the performance of our
Adviser to determine whether the compensation paid to our
executive officers was reasonable in relation to the nature and
quality of services performed and whether the provisions of the
Advisory Agreement were being satisfactorily performed.
Specifically, the committee considered factors such as:
|
|
|
|
|
the pay practices of our Adviser in relation to those of leading
financial services companies with which our Adviser competes to
attract and retain talented investment professionals;
|
|
|
|
the amount of the fees paid to our Adviser in relation to our
size and the composition and performance of our investments;
|
|
|
|
our Advisers ability to hire, train, supervise and manage
new employees as needed to effectively manage our future growth;
|
|
|
|
the success of our Adviser in generating appropriate investment
opportunities;
|
|
|
|
rates charged to other investment entities by advisers
performing similar services;
|
|
|
|
additional revenues realized by our Adviser and its affiliates
through their relationship with us, whether paid by us or by
others with whom we do business;
|
|
|
|
the value of our assets each quarter;
|
|
|
|
the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by our
Adviser;
|
|
|
|
the quality of our portfolio relative to the investments
generated by our Adviser for its other clients; and
|
|
|
|
the extent to which our Advisers performance helped us to
achieve our principal business and investment objectives of
generating income for our stockholders in the form of quarterly
cash distributions that grow over time and increasing the value
of our common stock.
|
30
The Compensation Committees oversight role also includes
review of the above-described factors with regard to the
compensation of the employees of our Administrator, including
our chief financial officer and treasurer, and our
Administrators performance under the Administration
Agreement. Our Board may, pursuant to the terms of each of the
Advisory and Administration Agreements, terminate either of the
agreements at any time and without penalty, upon sixty
days prior written notice to our Adviser or our
Administrator, as applicable. In the event of an unfavorable
periodic review of the performance of our Adviser or our
Administrator in accordance with the criteria set forth above,
the Compensation Committee would provide a report to our Board
of its findings and provide suggestions of remedial measures, if
any, to be sought from our Adviser or our Administrator, as
applicable. If such recommendations are, in the future, made by
the Compensation Committee and are not implemented to the
satisfaction of the Compensation Committee, it may recommend
exercise of our termination rights under the Advisory Agreement
or Administration Agreement.
Long-Term
Incentives
The Compensation Committee believes that the incentive structure
provided for under the Advisory Agreement is an effective means
of creating long-term stockholder value and promoting executive
retention.
In addition to a base management fee, the Advisory Agreement
includes incentive fees that we pay to our Adviser if our
performance reaches certain benchmarks. These incentive fees are
intended to provide an additional incentive for our Adviser to
achieve targeted levels of net investment income and to increase
distributions to our stockholders. The incentive fee consists of
two parts: an income-based incentive fee and a capital gains
incentive fee. The income-based incentive fee rewards our
Adviser if our quarterly net investment income (before giving
effect to any incentive fee) exceeds 1.75% of our net assets
(the hurdle rate). We pay our Adviser an income
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 (7% annualized);
|
|
|
|
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% in
any calendar quarter (8.75% annualized); and
|
|
|
|
20% of the amount of our pre-incentive fee net investment
income, if any, that exceeds 2.1875% in any calendar quarter
(8.75% annualized).
|
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 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 aggregate unrealized capital depreciation as
of the date of the calculation, as applicable, with respect to
each of the investments in our portfolio.
Income realized by our Adviser from any such incentive fees will
be paid by our Adviser to eligible employees in amounts based on
their respective contributions to our success in meeting our
goals. This incentive compensation structure is designed to
create a direct relationship between the compensation of our
executive officers and other employees of our Adviser and the
income and capital gains realized by us as a result of their
efforts on our behalf. We believe that this structure rewards
our executive officers and other employees of our Adviser for
the accomplishment of long-term goals consistent with the
interests of our stockholders.
31
Personal
Benefits Policies
Our executive officers are not entitled to operate under
different standards than other employees of our Adviser and our
Administrator who work on our behalf. Our Adviser and
Administrator do not have programs for providing personal
benefit perquisites to executive officers, such as permanent
lodging, personal use of company vehicles, or defraying the cost
of personal entertainment or family travel. Our Advisers
and Administrators health care and other insurance
programs are the same for all of its eligible employees,
including our executive officers. We expect our executive
officers to be exemplars under our Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics, which is applicable to all employees of our Adviser and
Administrator who work on our behalf.
Executive
Compensation
None of our executive officers receive 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 and
Administration Agreements, respectively. Mr. Gladstone, our
chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Brubaker, our
vice chairman, chief operating officer and secretary,
Mr. Stelljes, our vice chairman and chief investment
officer, and Mr. Dullum, our president and a director, are
all employees of and compensated directly by our Adviser.
Mr. Watson, our chief financial officer, and
Mr. Gerson, our treasurer, are employees of our
Administrator. Under the Administration Agreement, we reimburse
our Administrator for our allocable portion of the salaries of
Mr. Gerson, our treasurer, and Mr. Watson, our chief
financial officer.
From April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011 (our last
fiscal year), $36,458 of Mr. Watsons salary, $4,742
of his bonus, and $5,556 of the cost of his benefits were paid
by our Administrator. Mr. Watson was appointed as our chief
financial officer on January 25, 2010. From that date
through March 31, 2010, $4,715 of Mr. Watsons
salary and $866 of the cost of his benefits were our allocable
portion of such paid directly by our Administrator.
Mark Perrigo served as our chief financial officer prior to
Mr. Watsons appointment. During the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2010, $27,859 of Mr. Perrigos salary,
$1,313 of his bonus and $1,676 of the costs of his benefits were
paid directly to Mr. Perrigo by our Administrator during
the period that he served as our chief financial officer. During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, $38,628 of
Mr. Perrigos salary, $4,328 of his bonus and $5,330
of the cost of his benefits were paid by our Administrator.
Employment
Agreements
Because our executive officers are employees of our Adviser and
our Administrator, we do not pay cash compensation to them
directly in return for their services to us and we do not have
employment agreements with any of our executive officers.
Pursuant to the terms of the Administration Agreement, we make
payments equal to our allocable portion of our
Administrators overhead expenses in performing its
obligations under the Administration Agreement including, but
not limited to, our allocable portion of the salaries and
benefits expenses of our chief financial officer and treasurer.
For additional information regarding this arrangement, see
Certain Transactions.
Equity,
Post-Employment, Non-Qualified Deferred and
Change-In-Control
Compensation
We do not offer stock options, any other form of equity
compensation, pension benefits, non-qualified deferred
compensation benefits, or termination or
change-in-control
payments to any of our executive officers.
32
Conclusion
We believe that the elements of the Advisers and the
Administrators compensation programs individually and in
the aggregate strongly support and reflect the strategic
priorities on which we have based our compensation philosophy.
Through the incentive structure of the Advisory Agreement
described above, a significant portion of their compensation
programs have been, and continue to be contingent on our
performance, and realization of benefits is closely linked to
increases in long-term stockholder value. We remain committed to
this philosophy of paying for performance that increases
stockholder value. The Compensation Committee will continue its
work to ensure that this commitment is reflected in a total
executive compensation program that enables the Adviser and the
Administrator to remain competitive in the market for talented
executives.
Director
Compensation
The following table shows for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2011 certain information with respect to the
compensation of all our non-employee directors:
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2011
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Total Compensation
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Aggregate
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From Fund and Fund
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Compensation from
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Complex Paid to
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Name
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Fund ($)
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Directors ($)(1)
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Paul W. Adelgren
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$
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31,000
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$
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93,000
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Maurice W. Coulon(2)
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$
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27,000
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$
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39,000
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Michela A. English
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$
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32,000
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$
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95,000
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Gerard Mead
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$
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36,000
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$
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107,000
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John H. Outland
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$
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30,500
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$
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92,750
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Anthony W. Parker
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$
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35,000
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$
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104,000
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John Reilly(3)
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$
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7,000
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$
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45,000
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(1) |
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Includes compensation the director received from Gladstone
Capital 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, although not part of our Fund Complex. |
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(2) |
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In fiscal year 2011, Mr. Coulon served on the Board from
April 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010. |
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(3) |
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In fiscal year 2011, Mr. Reilly served on the Board from
January 11, 2011 through March 31, 2011. |
As compensation for serving on our Board, each of our
independent directors receives an annual fee of $20,000, an
additional $1,000 for each Board meeting attended, and an
additional $1,000 for each committee meeting attended if such
committee meeting takes place on a day other than when the full
Board meets. In addition, the chairperson of the Audit Committee
receives an annual fee of $3,000, and the chairpersons of each
of the Compensation and Ethics, Nominating and Corporate
Governance committees receive annual fees 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
33
our independent directors in its discretion. None of our
independent directors received any compensation from us during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 other than for Board
or committee service and meeting fees.
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 identifying, evaluating, negotiating and consummating
all investment transactions consistent with our investment
objectives and criteria; providing us with all required records
and regular reports to our Board concerning our Advisers
efforts on our behalf; and maintaining compliance with all
regulatory requirements applicable to us. The base management
fee is assessed at an annual rate of 2.0% computed on the basis
of the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two
most recently completed quarters, 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 incentive fee. The income-based incentive fee
rewards our Adviser if our quarterly net investment income
(before giving effect to any incentive fee) exceeds 1.75% of our
net assets (the hurdle rate). We pay our Adviser an
income incentive fee with respect to our pre-incentive fee net
investment income in each calendar quarter as follows:
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no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which our
pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the
hurdle rate (7% annualized);
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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% in
any calendar quarter (8.75% annualized); and
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20% of the amount of our pre-incentive fee net investment
income, if any, that exceeds 2.1875% in any calendar quarter
(8.75% annualized).
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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 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 aggregate unrealized capital depreciation as
of the date of the calculation, as applicable, with respect to
each of the investments in our portfolio.
Under the Administration Agreement, we pay separately for
administrative services, which payments are equal to our
allocable portion of our Administrators 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 and
benefits expenses of our chief financial officer, treasurer,
chief compliance officer and controller and their respective
staffs.
Our Adviser is 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, secretary and director, is a member of
the Board of Directors of our Adviser and its vice chairman and
chief operating officer. George Stelljes III, our vice chairman
and chief
34
investment officer, is also a member of the Board of Directors
of our Adviser and its president, chief investment officer, and
assistant secretary. Gary Gerson, our treasurer, is also
treasurer of our Adviser.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, we incurred
total fees of approximately $6.2 million to our Adviser
under the Advisory Agreement and $0.8 million to our
Administrator under the Administration Agreement. The principal
executive office of each of the Adviser and the Administrator is
located at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 200, McLean,
Virginia 22102.
Loan
Servicing Agreement
Our Adviser services our loan portfolio pursuant to a loan
servicing agreement with our wholly-owned subsidiary, Gladstone
Business Investment, LLC (Business Investment) in
return for a 2.0% annual fee, based on the monthly aggregate
outstanding loan balance of the loans pledged under our credit
facility. Loan servicing fees paid to our Adviser under this
agreement directly reduce the amount of fees payable under the
Advisory Agreement. Loan servicing fees of $2.7 million
were incurred for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, all
of which were directly credited against the amount of the base
management fee due to our Adviser under the Advisory Agreement.
Conflict
of Interest Policy
We have adopted policies to reduce potential conflicts of
interest. In addition, our directors are subject to certain
provisions of Delaware law 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:
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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;
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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
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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).
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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 certificate 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 Delaware 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 officers or directors duties, or reckless
disregard of his or her obligations and duties.
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Each of the Advisory and Administration Agreements 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
Advisers or Administrators services under the
Advisory or Administration Agreements or otherwise as an
investment adviser of ours.
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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, a number of brokers with account holders who are
Gladstone Investment 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 they 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. Direct your written
request to Investor Relations at 1521 Westbranch Drive,
Suite 200, McLean, Virginia, 22102 or call our toll-free
investor relations line at 1-866-366-5745. 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.
OTHER
MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be
presented for consideration at the annual 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.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Terry L. Brubaker
Secretary
June 17, 2011
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GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 4, 2011
The undersigned hereby appoints David Watson 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 Investment Corporation which the undersigned may be
entitled to vote at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Gladstone Investment Corporation to
be held at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, located at 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia,
22182, on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. (local 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 following matters and in accordance with the
following 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 1 and Proposal 2 and in favor of
Proposals 3 and 4 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)
GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 11037
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10203-0037
To change your address, please mark this box o
DETACH PROXY CARD HERE
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
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KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
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The
Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR each nominee for director
listed below: |
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1. |
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To elect three directors to hold office until the
2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. |
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01 Michela A. English
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02 Anthony W. Parker
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03 George Stelljes III
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For
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Withhold
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For
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Withhold
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For
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Withhold |
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2. |
To elect
one director to hold office until the 2012 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. |
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For |
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Withhold |
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01 Gerard Mead |
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The
Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals: |
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3. |
To approve a proposal to authorize us, with the approval of our
Board of Directors, to issue and sell shares of our common stock (during the next 12 months) at
a price below its then current net asset value per share subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that the cumulative number of shares issued and
sold pursuant to such authority does not exceed 25% of our then outstanding
common stock immediately prior to each such sale). |
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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4. |
To ratify our Audit Committees selection of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered
public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. |
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NOTE:
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
For address change/comments, mark here.
(see reverse for instructions)
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Yes
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No
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Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting
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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. |
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
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Signature (Joint Owners) |
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