Prospectus [Rule 424(b)(2)]

N-2

v3.25.2
N-2
Sep. 11, 2025
shares
Cover [Abstract]  
Entity Central Index Key 0001143513
Amendment Flag false
Document Type 424B2
Entity Registrant Name GLADSTONE CAPITAL CORP
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block]
Our Investment Objectives and Strategy
Our investment objectives are to: (1) achieve and grow current income by investing in debt securities of established lower middle market companies (which we generally define as companies with annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $3 million to $25 million) in the U.S. that we believe will provide stable earnings and cash flow to pay expenses, make principal and interest payments on our outstanding indebtedness, and make distributions to stockholders; and (2) provide our stockholders with long-term capital appreciation in the value of our assets by investing in equity securities, in connection with our debt investments, that we believe can grow over time to permit us to sell our equity investments for capital gains. To achieve our objectives, our primary investment strategy is to invest in several categories of debt and equity securities, with each investment generally ranging from $8 million to $40 million, although investment size may vary, depending upon our total assets or available capital at the time of investment. We lend to borrowers that need funds for growth capital, to finance acquisitions, or to recapitalize or refinance their existing debt facilities. We seek to avoid investing in high-risk, early-stage enterprises. Our targeted portfolio companies are generally considered too small for the larger capital marketplace. We expect that our investment portfolio over time will consist of approximately 90.0% debt investments and 10.0% equity investments, at cost. As of June 30, 2025, our investment portfolio was made up of approximately 90.0% debt investments and 10.0% equity investments, at cost. As of June 30, 2025, approximately 81% of our investments, at fair value, were in private equity sponsor-backed portfolio companies.
We invest by ourselves or jointly with other funds and/or management of the portfolio company, depending on the opportunity. In July 2012, the SEC granted us an exemptive order (the
“Co-Investment
Order”) that expanded our ability to
co-invest,
under certain circumstances, with certain of our affiliates, including Gladstone Investment Corporation, a BDC also managed by the Adviser, Gladstone Alternative Income Fund, a registered,
non-diversified,
closed-end
management investment company that operates as an interval fund, and any future BDC or
closed-end
management investment company that is advised (or
sub-advised
if it controls the fund) by the Adviser, or any combination of the foregoing, subject to the conditions in the
Co-Investment
Order. We believe the
Co-Investment
Order has enhanced and will continue to enhance our ability to further our investment objectives and strategies. Since 2012, we have opportunistically made several
co-investments
with Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Alternative Income Fund pursuant to the
Co-Investment
Order. If we are participating in an investment with one or more
co-investors,
whether or not an affiliate of ours, our investment is likely to be smaller than if we were investing alone.
 
In general, our investments in debt securities have a term of no more than seven years, accrue interest at variable rates (generally based on
one-month
Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”)) and, to a lesser extent, at fixed rates. We seek debt instruments that pay interest monthly or, at a minimum, quarterly, may have a success fee or deferred interest provision and are primarily interest only, with all principal and any accrued but unpaid interest due at maturity. Generally, success fees accrue at a set rate and are contractually due upon a change of control of a portfolio company, typically from an exit or sale. Some debt securities have deferred interest whereby some portion of the interest payment is added to the principal balance so that the interest is paid, together with the principal, at maturity. This form of deferred interest is often called
paid-in-kind
interest.
Typically, our equity investments consist of common stock, preferred stock, limited liability company interests, or warrants to purchase the foregoing. Often, these equity investments occur in connection with our original investment, recapitalizing a business, or refinancing existing debt.
From our initial public offering in August 2001 through June 30, 2025, we have made 695 different loans to, or investments in, 287 companies for a total of approximately $3.0 billion, before giving effect to principal repayments on investments and divestitures. We expect that our investment portfolio will primarily include the following three categories of investments in private companies operating in the U.S.:
 
   
Secured First Lien Debt Securities:
We seek to invest a portion of our assets in secured first lien debt securities also known as senior loans, senior term loans, lines of credit and senior notes. Using its assets as collateral, the borrower typically uses first lien debt to cover a substantial portion of the funding needs of the business. These debt securities usually take the form of first priority liens on all, or substantially all, of the assets of the business. First lien debt securities may include investments sourced from the syndicated loan market.
 
   
Secured Second Lien Debt Securities:
We seek to invest a portion of our assets in second lien secured debt securities, also known as subordinated loans, subordinated notes and mezzanine loans. These second lien secured debt securities rank junior to the borrowers’ first lien secured debt securities and may be secured by second priority liens on all or a portion of the assets of the business. Additionally, we may receive other yield enhancements in addition to or in lieu of success fees such as warrants to buy common and preferred stock or limited liability interests in connection with these second lien secured debt securities. Second lien debt securities may include investments sourced from the syndicated loan market.
 
   
Preferred and Common
Equity/Equivalents:
In some cases we will purchase equity securities which consist of preferred and common equity or limited liability company interests, or warrants or options to acquire such securities, and are in combination with our debt investment in a business. Additionally, we may receive equity investments derived from restructurings on some of our existing debt investments. In some cases, we will own a significant portion of the equity and in other cases we may have voting control of the businesses in which we invest.
Under the 1940 Act, we may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in Section 55 of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as “qualifying assets” and generally include each of the investment types listed above, unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets (other than certain assets related to our operations) represent at least 70.0% of our total assets.
We expect that most, if not all, of the debt securities we acquire will not be rated by a credit rating agency. Investors should assume that these loans would be rated below “investment grade” quality. Investments rated below investment grade are often referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds and may be considered higher risk, as compared to investment-grade debt instruments. In addition, many of the debt securities we hold may not amortize prior to maturity.
Risk Factors [Table Text Block]
SUPPLEMENTARY RISK FACTORS
Investing in the Notes involves a number of significant risks. You should carefully consider the risks described below and all other information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making a decision to purchase the Notes. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or not presently deemed material by us, may also impair our operations and performance.
If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. If that happens, our net asset value and the trading price of our securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to the Offering
The Notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we may incur in the future and will rank pari passu with, or equal to, all outstanding and future unsecured indebtedness, including the Existing Notes issued by and us and our general liabilities (total liabilities, less debt).
The Notes will not be secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of our subsidiaries. As a result, the Notes are effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we may incur in the future (or any indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our existing or future secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that indebtedness in order to receive full payment of their indebtedness before the assets may be used to pay other creditors, including the holders of the Notes. In addition, the Notes will rank
pari passu
with all existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness issued by us, including the Existing Notes, and our general liabilities (total liabilities, less debt).
The Notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.
The Notes are obligations exclusively of Gladstone Capital Corporation and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries will be a guarantor of the Notes and the Notes are not required to be guaranteed by any subsidiaries we may acquire or create in the future. Except to the extent we are a creditor with recognized claims against our subsidiaries, all claims of creditors of our subsidiaries will have priority over our equity interests in such subsidiaries (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Notes) with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of one or more of our subsidiaries, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such subsidiary and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such subsidiary senior to our claims. Consequently, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish. As of September 5, 2025, there was approximately $131.1 million of debt outstanding under the Credit Facility. Borrowings under the Credit Facility are the obligation of Gladstone Business Loan, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, and are structurally senior to the Notes. In addition, our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, all of which would be structurally senior to the Notes.
The indenture under which the Notes will be issued will contain limited protection for holders of the Notes.
The indenture under which the Notes will be issued offers limited protection to holders of the Notes. The terms of the indenture and the Notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have an adverse
 
impact on your investment in the Notes. In particular, the terms of the indenture and the Notes will not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:
 
   
issue securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the Notes, (2) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be secured and therefore rank effectively senior in right of payment to the Notes to the extent of the values of the assets securing such debt, (3) indebtedness of ours that is guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries and which therefore is structurally senior to the Notes and (4) securities, indebtedness or obligations issued or incurred by our subsidiaries that would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries and therefore rank structurally senior to the Notes with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries, in each case other than an incurrence of indebtedness or other obligation that would cause a violation of Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, whether or not we continue to be subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act, which generally prohibit us incurring additional debt or issuing additional debt or preferred securities, unless our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 150% after such incurrence or issuance;
 
   
sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);
 
   
enter into transactions with affiliates;
 
   
create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
 
   
make investments; or
 
   
create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.
Furthermore, the terms of the indenture and the Notes do not protect holders of the Notes in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition, results of operations or credit ratings, if any, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity.
Our ability to incur additional debt (including additional debt that matures prior to the maturity of the Notes) and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the Notes may have important consequences for you as a holder of the Notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Notes or negatively affecting the trading value of the Notes.
Other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the indenture and the Notes, including additional covenants and events of default. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for, trading levels, and prices of the Notes.
There is no existing trading market for the Notes and an active trading market for the Notes may not develop, which could limit your ability to sell the Notes and/or the market price of the Notes.
The Notes will be a new issue of debt securities for which there is no trading market. We cannot provide any assurances that an active trading market will develop or be maintained for the Notes or that you will be able to sell your Notes. If the Notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, if any, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. The underwriter has advised us that it intends to make a market in the Notes, but it is not obligated to do so. The underwriter may discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time at its sole discretion.
 
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop or be maintained for the Notes, that you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for the Notes may be adversely affected. Accordingly, you may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Notes for an indefinite period of time.
If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the Notes.
Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under the Credit Facility or other indebtedness to which we may be a party, that is not waived by the required lenders or holders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and substantially decrease the market value of the Notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable,
to
gether with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under the Credit Facility or other debt we may incur in the future could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to refinance or restructure our debt, including the Notes, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, seek to raise additional capital or seek to obtain waivers from the required lenders under the Credit Facility or other debt that we may incur in the future to avoid being in default. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations under the Notes or our other debt. If we breach our covenants under the Credit Facility or other debt and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders or holders. If this occurs, we would be in default under the Credit Facility or other debt, the lenders or holders could exercise their rights as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If we are unable to repay debt, lenders having secured obligations, including the lenders under the Credit Facility, could proceed against the collateral securing the debt. Because the Credit Facility has, and any future credit facilities will likely have, customary cross-default provisions, if the indebtedness under the Notes or the Credit Facility or under any future credit facility is accelerated, we may be unable to repay or finance the amounts due.
Redemption may adversely affect your return on the Notes.
We may not redeem the Notes prior to October 6, 2028. We may redeem for cash all or any portion of the Notes (subject to the “partial redemption limitation” described in “
Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption
”), at our option, on a redemption date on or after October 6, 2028 and on or before the 45th scheduled trading day immediately prior to the maturity date if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. As a result, we may choose to redeem some or all of the Notes, including at times when prevailing interest rates are relatively low. As a result, you may not be able to reinvest the proceeds you receive from the redemption in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on your Notes being redeemed. In addition, despite the partial redemption limitation, a redemption of less than all of the outstanding Notes will likely harm the liquidity of the market for the unredeemed Notes following the redemption. Accordingly, if your Notes are not redeemed in a partial redemption, then you may be unable to sell your Notes at the times you desire or at favorable prices, if at all, and the trading price of your Notes may decline. See “
Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption
.”
 
A downgrade, suspension or wi
th
drawal of any credit rating assigned by a rating agency to us or the Notes or change in the debt markets could cause the liquidity or market value of the Notes to decline significantly.
Any credit rating is an assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in any credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the Notes. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of risks relating to the structure or marketing of the Notes. Credit ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization in its sole discretion. Neither we nor any underwriter undertakes any obligation to obtain or maintain any credit ratings or to advise holders of Notes of any changes in any credit ratings. There can be no assurance that any credit ratings will remain for any given period of time or that such credit ratings will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies if in their judgment future circumstances relating to the basis of the credit ratings, such as adverse changes in our Company, so warrant. The conditions of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the Notes.
Recent and future regulatory actions and other events may adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the Notes.
We expect that many investors in, and potential purchasers of, the Notes will employ, or seek to employ, a convertible arbitrage strategy with respect to the Notes. Investors would typically implement such a strategy by selling short the common stock underlying the Notes and dynamically adjusting their short position while continuing to hold the Notes. Investors may also implement this type of strategy by entering into swaps on our common stock in lieu of or in addition to short selling the common stock. We cannot assure you that market conditions will permit investors to implement this type of strategy, whether on favorable pricing and other terms or at all. If market conditions do not permit investors to implement this type of strategy, whether on favorable pricing and other terms or at all, at any time while the Notes are outstanding, the trading price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected.
The SEC and other regulatory and self-regulatory authorities have implemented various rules and taken certain actions, and may in the future adopt additional rules and take other actions, that may impact those engaging in short selling activity involving equity securities (including our common stock). Such rules and actions include Rule 201 of SEC Regulation SHO, the adoption by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the national securities exchanges of a “Limit
Up-Limit
Down” program, the imposition of market-wide circuit breakers that halt trading of securities for certain periods following specific market declines, and the implementation of certain regulatory reforms required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Any governmental or regulatory action that restricts the ability of investors in, or potential purchasers of, the Notes to effect short sales of our common stock, borrow our common stock or enter into swaps on our common stock could adversely affect the trading price and the liquidity of the Notes.
In addition, the number of shares of our common stock available for lending in connection with short sale transactions and the number of counterparties willing to enter into an equity swap on our common stock with a Note investor may not be sufficient for the implementation of a convertible arbitrage strategy. These and other market events could make implementing a convertible arbitrage strategy prohibitively expensive or infeasible. We cannot assure you that a sufficient number of shares of our common stock will be available to borrow on commercial terms, or at all, to potential purchasers in this offering or holders of the Notes. If investors in this offering or potential purchasers of the Notes that seek to employ a convertible arbitrage strategy are unable to do so on commercial terms, or at all, then the trading price of, and the liquidity of the market for, the Notes may significantly decline.
 
Volatility in the market price and trading volume of our common stock could adversely impact the trading price of the Notes.
The stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies. The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including in response to the risks described in this section, elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the documents we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or for reasons unrelated to our operations, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions or negative announcements by our customers, competitors or suppliers regarding their own performance, as well as industry conditions and general financial, economic and political instability. A decrease in the market price of our common stock would likely adversely impact the trading price of the Notes. The market price of our common stock could also be affected by possible sales of our common stock by investors who view the Notes as a more attractive means of equity participation in us and by hedging or arb
it
rage trading activity that we expect to develop involving our common stock. This trading activity could, in turn, affect the trading price of the Notes.
An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the value of the Notes.
In general, as market interest rates rise, notes bearing interest at a fixed rate generally decline in value because the premium, if any, over market interest rates will decline. Consequently, if you purchase the Notes and market interest rates increase, the market value of your Notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of the Notes in cash or to repurchase the Notes upon a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or repurchase of the Notes.
Holders of the Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any portion of their Notes upon the occurrence of a fundamental change at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date, as described below under “
Description of the Notes—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
.” In addition, upon conversion of the Notes, unless we elect to deliver solely shares of our common stock to settle such conversion (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we will be required to make cash payments in respect of the Notes being converted as described below under “D
escription of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Settlement upon Conversion
.” However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of Notes surrendered therefor or pay cash with respect to Notes being converted. In addition, our ability to repurchase the Notes or to pay cash upon conversions of the Notes may be limited by law, by regulatory authority or by agreements governing our future indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase Notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture governing the Notes or to pay any cash payable on future conversions of the Notes as required by the indenture governing the Notes would constitute a default under the indenture governing the Notes. A default under the indenture governing the Notes or the fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements governing our future indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the Notes or make cash payments upon conversions thereof.
Conversion of the Notes may dilute the ownership interest of our stockholders or may otherwise depress the price of our common stock.
The conversion of some or all of the Notes may dilute the ownership interests of our stockholders. Upon conversion of the Notes, we have the option to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. If we elect to settle our conversion obligation in shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, any sales in the public
 
market of our common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the Notes may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the Notes could be used to satisfy short positions, or anticipated conversion of the Notes into shares of our common stock could depress the price of our common stock.
The accounting method for the Notes could adversely affect our reported financial condition and results.
The accounting method for reflecting the Notes on our balance sheet, accruing interest expense for the Notes and reflecting the underlying shares of our common stock in our reported diluted earnings per share may adversely affect our reported earnings and financial condition.
In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Update
2020-06
(“ASU
2020-06”),
we expect that the Notes we are offering will be reflected as a liability on our balance sheets, with the initial carrying amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes, net of issuance costs. The issuance costs will be treated as a debt discount for accounting purposes, which will be amortized into interest expense over the term of the Notes. As a result of this amortization, the interest expense that we expect to recognize for the Notes for accounting purposes will be greater than the cash interest payments we will pay on the Notes, which will result in lower reported income.
In addition, we expect that the shares of common stock underlying the Notes will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share using the “if converted” method, in accordance with ASU
2020-06.
Under that method, diluted earnings per share would generally be calculated assuming that all the Notes were converted solely into shares of common stock at the beginning of the reporting period, unless the result would be anti-dilutive. The application of the
if-converted
method may reduce our reported diluted earnings per share.
In addition, in the future, we may, in our sole discretion, irrevocably elect to settle the conversion value of the Notes in cash up to the principal amount being converted. Following such an irrevocable election, if the conversion value of the Notes exceeds their principal amount for a reporting period, then we will calculate our diluted earnings per share by assuming that all of the Notes were converted at the beginning of the reporting period and that we issued shares of our common stock to settle the excess, unless the result would be anti-dilutive.
We have not reached a final determination regarding the accounting treatment for the Notes. In addition, accounting standards may change in the future. Accordingly, we may account for the Notes in a manner that is significantly different than described above.
Future sales of our common stock or equity-linked securities in the public market could lower the market price for our common stock and adversely impact the trading price of the Notes.
In the future, we may sell additional shares of our common stock or equity-linked securities to raise capital. In addition, a substantial number of shares of our common stock is reserved for issuance upon the exercise of conversion of the Notes. We cannot predict the size of future issuances or the effect, if any, that they may have on the market price for our common stock. The issuance and sale of substantial amounts of common stock or equity-linked securities, or the perception that such issuances and sales may occur, could adversely affect the trading price of the Notes and the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity or equity-linked securities.
Holders of Notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock, but they will be subject to all changes made with respect to our common stock to the extent our conversion obligation includes shares of our common stock
.
Holders of Notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock (including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our common stock) prior to the conversion date relating to such Notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering
 
solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), but holders of Notes will be subject to all changes affecting our common stock. For example, if an amendment is proposed to our charter or bylaws requiring stockholder approval and the record date for determining the stockholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to the conversion date related to a holder’s conversion of its Notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), such holder will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although such holder will nevertheless be subject to any changes affecting our common stock.
Upon conversion of the Notes, you may receive less valuable consideration than expected because the value of our common stock may decline after you exercise your conversion right but before we settle our conversion obligation.
Under the Notes, a converting holder will be exposed to fluctuations in the value of our common stock during the period from the date such holder surrenders Notes for conversion until the date we settle our conversion obligation.
Upon conversion of the Notes, we have the option to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. If we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation in cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, the amount of consideration that you will receive upon conversion of your Notes will be determined by reference to the volume-weighted average price of our common stock for each trading day in a 40 trading day observation period. If the price of our common stock decreases during this period, the amount and/or value of consideration you receive will be adversely affected. In addition, if the market price of our common stock at the end of such period is below the average volume-weighted average price of our common stock during such period, the value of any shares of our common stock that you will receive in satisfaction of our conversion obligation will be less than the value used to determine the number of shares that you will receive.
If we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation solely in shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Notes, we will be required to deliver the shares of our common stock, together with cash for any fractional share, on the second business day following the relevant conversion date. Accordingly, if the price of our common stock decreases during this period, the value of the shares that you receive will be adversely affected and would be less than the conversion value of the Notes on the conversion date.
The increase in the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption may not adequately compensate you for any lost value of your Notes as a result of such transaction or redemption.
If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date or if we deliver a notice of redemption, we will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of our common stock for Notes converted in connection with such make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption. The increase, if any, in the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption may not adequately compensate you for any lost value of your Notes as a result of such transaction or redemption. In addition, if the “stock price” (as defined below under “
Description of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
”) is greater than $32.50 per share or less than $23.65 per share (in each case, subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate. Moreover, in no event will the conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of Notes as a result of this adjustment exceed 42.2834 shares of common stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under “
Description of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Conversion Rate Adjustments
.”
 
Our obligation to increase the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.
The conversion rate of the Notes may not be adjusted for all dilutive events.
The conversion rate of the Notes is subject to adjustment for certain events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of certain stock dividends on our common stock, the issuance of certain rights or warrants, subdivisions, combinations, distributions of capital stock, indebtedness, or assets, cash dividends (excluding regular monthly dividends in an amount that do not exceed $0.165 per share) and certain issuer tender or exchange offers as described below under “
Description of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Conversion Rate Adjustments
.” However, the conversion rate will not be adjusted for other events, such as a third-party tender or exchange offer or an issuance of common stock for cash, that may adversely affect the trading price of the Notes or our common stock. An event that adversely affects the value of the Notes may occur, and that event may not result in an adjustment to the conversion rate.
Some significant restructuring transactions may not constitute a fundamental change, in which case we would not be obligated to offer to repurchase the Notes.
Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, you have the right to require us to repurchase all or any portion of your Notes. However, the fundamental change provisions will not afford protection to holders of Notes in the event of other transactions that could adversely affect the Notes. For example, transactions such as leveraged recapitalizations, refinancings, restructurings, or acquisitions initiated by us may not constitute a fundamental change requiring us to offer to repurchase the Notes. In the event of any such transaction, the holders would not have the right to require us to repurchase Notes, even though each of these transactions could increase the amount of our indebtedness, or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or any credit ratings, thereby adversely affecting the holders of Notes.
Certain provisions in the indenture governing the Notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover attempt of us.
Certain provisions in the indenture governing the Notes may make it more difficult or expensive for a third party to acquire us. For example, the indenture governing the Notes will require us, except as described in this prospectus supplement, to repurchase the Notes for cash upon the occurrence of a fundamental change and, in certain circumstances, to increase the conversion rate for a holder that converts its Notes in connection with a make-whole fundamental change. A takeover of us may trigger the requirement that we repurchase the Notes and/or increase the conversion rate, which could make it costlier for a potential acquirer to engage in such takeover. Such additional costs may have the effect of delaying or preventing a takeover of us that would otherwise be beneficial to investors.
We may be subject to certain corporate-level taxes, which could adversely affect our cash flow and consequently adversely affect our ability to make payments on the Notes.
We currently are a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes and intend to continue to qualify each year as a RIC. In order to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC, we generally must satisfy certain
source-of-income,
asset diversification and distribution requirements. As long as we so qualify, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent that we distribute investment company taxable income and net capital gain on a timely basis. We may, nonetheless, be subject to certain corporate-level taxes regardless of whether we continue to qualify as a RIC. Additionally, should we fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment, we would be subject to corporate-level taxes on all of our taxable income. The imposition of corporate-level taxes could adversely affect our cash flow and consequently adversely affect our ability to make payments on the Notes.
 
You may be subject to tax if we make or fail to make certain adjustments to the conversion rate of the Notes even though you do not receive a corresponding cash distribution.
The conversion rate of the Notes is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including the payment of cash dividends (excluding regular monthly cash dividends in an amount that does not exceed $0.165 per share). If the conversion rate is adjusted as a result of a distribution that is taxable to our common stockholders, such as a cash dividend, you may be deemed to have received a dividend subject to U.S. federal income tax without the receipt of any cash. In addition, a failure to adjust (or to adjust adequately) the conversion rate after an event that increases your proportionate interest in us could be treated as a deemed taxable dividend to you. If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date or if we deliver a notice of redemption, under some circumstances, we will increase the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with the make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption, as the case may be. Such increase also may be treated as a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a dividend. See “
Material United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences
.” If you are a
non-U.S.
Holder (as defined below under “
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
”), any deemed dividend would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty, which may be set off against subsequent payments on the Notes or any common stock received upon conversion thereof or from any proceeds of any subsequent sale, exchange or other disposition of such Notes (including the retirement of such Notes) or such common stock by such
non-U.S.
Holder or other funds or assets of such
non-U.S.
Holder. See “
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
” in this prospectus supplement and the section titled “
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
” in the accompanying prospectus.
Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may allocate the net proceeds from this offering in ways that you and other securityholders may not approve.
Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “
Use of Proceeds
,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used in ways with which you may not agree or may not otherwise be considered appropriate. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. The failure of our management to use these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may invest a portion of net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to us or our stockholders.
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Capital Stock [Table Text Block]
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2025:
 
   
on an actual basis;
 
   
on a pro forma basis for the Additional Borrowings; and
 
   
on a pro forma
as-adjusted
basis to give effect to the sale of $130.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a public offering price of 98.5% and the application of the estimated net proceeds of the offering, after deducting underwriter’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses of approximately $3.9 million and $0.4 million, respectively, payable by us (and assuming the underwriter’s overallotment option is not exercised). See “
Use of Proceeds
.”
 
          
AS OF JUNE 30, 2025
 
    
ACTUAL
   
PRO FORMA
   
PRO
FORMA AS
ADJUSTED ***
 
          
(Unaudited)
       
          
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Borrowings
      
Borrowings under line of credit, at cost
   $ 27,500     $ 131,100     $ 7,375  
Notes payable, net
     254,752       254,752       254,752  
The Notes offered hereby, net
     —        —        123,725  
  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total borrowings
     282,252       385,852       385,852  
Preferred Stock, at liquidation preference
      
Series A Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share; $25 liquidation preference per share; 6,000,000 shares authorized, actual, as adjusted and pro forma as adjusted; 647,820 shares issued and outstanding, actual, as adjusted and pro forma as adjusted
   $ 14,517     $ 14,517     $ 14,517  
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders
      
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, 44,000,000 shares authorized, actual, as adjusted and pro forma as adjusted; 22,329,852 shares issued and outstanding, actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted*
     44       44       44  
Capital in excess of par value
     494,631       494,631       494,631  
Cumulative net unrealized depreciation of investments
     (26,591     (26,591     (26,591
Underdistributed net investment income
     5,197       5,197       5,197  
Accumulated net realized gains
     1,173       1,173       1,173  
  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total Net Assets Available to Common Stockholders
  
$
474,454
 
 
$
474,454
 
 
$
474,454
 
  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
Total Capitalization**
  
$
756,706
 
 
$
860,306
 
 
 
$860,306
 
  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
*
None of these outstanding shares are held by us or for our account.
**
Excludes preferred stock.
***
Assumes a total of $3.9 million of aggregate underwriting discounts and commissions and $0.4 million of estimated offering costs payable by us in connection with this offering will be capitalized and amortized over the life of the Notes.
 
The following are our outstanding classes of securities as of June 30, 2025.
 
TITLE OF CLASS
  
AMOUNT
AUTHORIZED
    
AMOUNT HELD
BY US OR
FOR OUR
ACCOUNT
    
AMOUNT
OUTSTANDING
(EXCLUSIVE
OF AMOUNTS
HELD BY US
OR FOR OUR
ACCOUNT)
 
Common Stock
     44,000,000 shares        —         22,329,852 shares  
6.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
     6,000,000 shares        —         647,820 shares  
5.125% Notes due 2026
   $ 150,000,000        —       $ 150,000,000  
3.75% Notes due 2027
   $ 50,000,000        —       $ 50,000,000  
7.75% Notes due 2028
   $ 57,000,000        —       $ 57,000,000  
Long Term Debt [Table Text Block]
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
The Notes will be issued under a base indenture dated as of November 6, 2018 and a sixth supplemental indenture thereto to be dated September 12, 2025, between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. We refer to the indenture and the sixth supplemental indenture collectively as the “indenture” and to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association as the “trustee.” The Notes are governed by the indenture, as required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered. An indenture is a contract between us and the financial institution acting as trustee on your behalf, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described under “
—Events of Default
” below. Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us with respect to the Notes.
This section includes a summary description of the material terms of the Notes and the indenture. Because this section is a summary, however, it does not describe every aspect of the Notes and the indenture. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of the Notes. The base indenture has been attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part and the sixth supplemental indenture will be attached as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form
8-K,
which will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, in each case, as filed or as will be filed with the SEC. See “
Where You Can Find More Information
” in this prospectus supplement for information on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.
For purposes of this Description of Notes, references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to Gladstone Capital Corporation and not to its subsidiaries.
General
The Notes will:
 
   
be our general unsecured obligations;
 
   
initially be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000 (or $149,500,000 if the underwriter’s overallotment option is exercised in full);
 
   
bear cash interest from September 12, 2025 at an annual rate of 5.875% payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2026;
 
   
be subject to redemption at our option (subject to the “partial redemption limitation” described in “
—Optional Redemption
”), in whole or in part, on or after October 6, 2028 and on or before the 45th scheduled trading day immediately prior to the maturity date if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date;
 
   
be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders following a fundamental change (as defined below under “
—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
”), at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date;
 
   
mature on October 1, 2030, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased;
 
   
be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000; and
 
   
initially be represented by one or more registered notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by notes in definitive form. See “
—Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance
.”
Subject to satisfaction of certain conditions and during the periods described below, the Notes may be converted at an initial conversion rate of 38.4394 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $26.02 per share of common stock). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment if certain events occur.
We will settle conversions of Notes by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, as described below under “
—Conversion Rights—Settlement upon Conversion
.” Upon conversion, unless you convert after the close of business on a record date for an interest payment but on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, you will receive a cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the conversion date.
The indenture will not limit the amount of debt that may be issued by us or our subsidiaries under the indenture or otherwise, but does contain a covenant regarding our asset coverage that would have to be satisfied at the time of our incurrence of additional indebtedness. The indenture will not contain any financial covenants and will not restrict us from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our other securities. Other than restrictions described under “—
Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
” and “
—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
” below and except for the provisions set forth under “
—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
,” the indenture will not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or in the event of a decline in our credit rating as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect such holders. The Notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries.
We may, without the consent of, or notice to, the holders, reopen the indenture for the Notes and issue additional Notes under the indenture with the same terms as the Notes offered hereby (other than differences in the issue date, issue price and interest accrued prior to the issue date of such additional Notes) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount;
provided
that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes initially offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax or securities law purposes, such additional Notes will have one or more separate CUSIP numbers.
We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.
Except to the extent the context otherwise requires, we use the term “Notes” in this prospectus supplement to refer to each $1,000 principal amount of Notes. We use the term “common stock” in this prospectus supplement to refer to our common stock, $0.001 par value per share. References in this prospectus supplement to a “holder” or “holders” of Notes that are held through DTC are references to owners of beneficial interests in such Notes, unless the context otherwise requires. However, we and the trustee will treat the person in whose name the Notes are registered (Cede & Co., in the case of Notes held through DTC) as the owner of such Notes for all purposes. References herein to the “close of business” refer to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, and to the “open of business” refer to 9:00 a.m., New York City time.
Purchase and Cancell
ation
We will cause all Notes surrendered for payment, repurchase (including as described below), redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion, if surrendered to any person other than the trustee (including any of our agents, subsidiaries or affiliates), to be delivered to the trustee for cancellation. All Notes delivered to the trustee shall be cancelled promptly by the trustee. Except for Notes surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, no Notes shall be authenticated in exchange for any Notes cancelled as provided in the indenture.
 
We may, to the extent permitted by law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to us), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by us or our subsidiaries or through a private or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties to private agreements, including by cash-settled swaps or other derivatives. We will cause any Notes so repurchased (other than Notes repurchased pursuant to cash-settled swaps or other derivatives) to be surrendered to the trustee for cancellation, and they will no longer be considered “outstanding” under the indenture upon their repurchase.
Interest
The Notes will bear cash interest at a rate of 5.875% per year until maturity. Interest on the Notes will accrue from September 12, 2025 or from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or duly provided for. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each, an “interest payment date”), beginning on April 1, 2026.
Interest will be paid to the person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a business day), as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date (each, a “regular record date”). Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a
360-day
year composed of twelve
30-day
months and, for partial months, on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed in a
30-day
month.
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to interest in this prospectus supplement include additional interest, if any, payable at our election as the sole remedy relating to the failure to comply with our reporting obligations as described below under “
—Events of Default
.”
Payment and Paying Agents
We will pay interest to the person listed in the trustee’s records as the owner of the Notes at the close of business on a regular record date in advance of each interest payment date, even if that person no longer owns the Note on the interest payment date. Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the regular record date, holders buying and selling the Notes must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the Notes to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period.
Payments on Global Securities
We will make payments on the Notes so long as they are represented by a global security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants, as described under “—
 Book-Entry Procedures
” below.
Payments on Certificated Securities
In the event the Notes become represented by certificated securities, we will make payments on the Notes as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date to the holder of the Notes as shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, at the office of the applicable trustee in St. Paul, Minnesota and/or at other offices that may be specified in the indenture or a notice to holders against surrender of the Note.
We will pay any interest that becomes due on Notes represented by certificated securities (i) to holders having an aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 or less, by check mailed to the holders of these Notes and (ii) to holders having an aggregate principal amount of more than $2,000,000, either by check mailed to each
 
holder or, upon application by such a holder to the securities registrar not later than the relevant regular record date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to that holder’s account within the United States if such holder has provided us, the trustee or the paying agent (if other than the trustee) with the requisite information necessary to make such wire transfer. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.
Payment When Offices Are Closed
If any payment is due on the Notes on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments made on the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date. Such payment will not result in a default under the Notes or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the payment amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day. The term “business day” means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of a payment under the indenture, the place of payment is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.
Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on the Notes.
Ranking
The Notes will be our direct unsecured obligations and will rank:
 
   
pari passu with our existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness, including the Existing Notes;
 
   
senior to our Series A Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future;
 
   
senior to any of our future indebtedness that expressly provides it is subordinated to the Notes;
 
   
effectively subordinated to any future secured indebtedness of Gladstone Capital Corporation (including indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and
 
   
structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of any of our subsidiaries and any other future subsidiaries of Gladstone Capital Corporation, including borrowings under the Credit Facility.
As of June 30, 2025, after giving effect to the Additional Borrowings, the principal amount of our total consolidated indebtedness for borrowed money would have been $388.1 million, all of which would have been senior indebtedness and of which an aggregate of $131.1 million was secured indebtedness of our subsidiary under the Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2025, after giving effect to the Additional Borrowings and the issuance of the Notes (assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s overallotment option) and the use of proceeds therefrom, the principal amount of our total consolidated indebtedness for borrowed money would have been $394.4 million.
Optional Redemption
No “sinking fund” is provided for the Notes, which means that we are not required to redeem or retire the Notes periodically. Prior to October 6, 2028, the Notes will not be redeemable. On a redemption date on or after October 6, 2028 and on or before the 45th scheduled trading day immediately prior to the maturity date, we may redeem for cash all or any portion of the Notes (subject to the partial redemption limitation set forth below), at our option, if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price
then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption. In the case of any optional redemption, we will provide not less than 45 nor more than 65 scheduled trading days’ written notice before the redemption date to the trustee, the paying agent (if other than the trustee), the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) and each holder of Notes, and the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date (unless the redemption date falls after a regular record date but on or prior to the immediately succeeding interest payment date, in which case we will pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to the holder of record as of the close of business on such regular record date on such interest payment date, and the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed). The redemption date must be a business day. A “redemption period” shall be the period from, and including, the date of issuance of a notice of redemption until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date (or, if we default in the payment of the redemption price, until the redemption price has been paid or duly provided for). If a holder elects to convert Notes during a redemption period, we will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for such Notes as described below under “
—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
.”
The “last reported sale price” of our common stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) on any date means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which our common stock (or such other security) is traded. If our common stock (or such other security) is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “last reported sale price” will be the last quoted bid price for our common stock (or such other security) in the
over-the-counter
market on the relevant date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If our common stock (or such other security) is not so quoted, the “last reported sale price” will be the average of the
mid-point
of the last bid and ask prices for our common stock (or such other security) on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by us for this purpose. The “last reported sale price” will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of regular trading session hours.
Except for purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion, “trading day” means a day on which (i) trading in our common stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if our common stock (or such other security) is not then listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which our common stock (or such other security) is then listed or, if our common stock (or such other security) is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which our common stock (or such other security) is then traded, and (ii) a last reported sale price for our common stock (or closing sale price for such other security) is available on such securities exchange or market. If our common stock (or such other security) is not so listed or traded, “trading day” means a “business day.”
If we elect to redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Notes, at least $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes must be outstanding and not subject to redemption as of, and after giving effect to, delivery of the relevant notice of redemption (such requirement, the “partial redemption limitation”). If we decide to redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Notes and the Notes to be redeemed are global notes, the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by DTC in accordance with applicable DTC procedures. If we decide to redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Notes and the Notes to be redeemed are not global notes then held by DTC, the trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed (in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) by lot, on a
pro rata
basis or by another method the trustee considers to be fair and appropriate.
If the trustee (or DTC, with respect to global Notes) selects a portion of your Notes for partial redemption and you convert a portion of the same Notes, the converted portion will be deemed to be from the portion selected for redemption.
In the event of any redemption in part, we will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
No Notes may be redeemed if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the redemption date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by us in the payment of the redemption price with respect to such Notes).
Conversion Rights
General
Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert all or any portion of their Notes at the conversion rate.
The conversion rate will initially be 38.4394 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $26.02 per share of common stock). Upon conversion of a Note, we will satisfy our conversion obligation by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, all as set forth below under “
—Settlement upon Conversion
.” If we satisfy our conversion obligation solely in cash or through payment and delivery, as the case may be, of a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, the amount of cash and shares of common stock, if any, due upon conversion will be based on a daily conversion value (as defined below under “
—Settlement upon Conversion
”) calculated on a proportionate basis for each trading day in a 40 trading day observation period (as defined below under “
—Settlement upon Conversion
”). The trustee will initially act as the conversion agent.
A holder may convert fewer than all of such holder’s Notes so long as the Notes converted are an integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount.
Upon conversion, unless you convert after the close of business on a regular record date for an interest payment but on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, you will receive a cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the conversion date. If Notes are converted after the close of business on a regular record date for the payment of interest, holders of such Notes at the close of business on such regular record date will receive the full amount of interest payable on such Notes on the corresponding interest payment date notwithstanding the conversion.
We will not issue fractional shares of our common stock upon conversion of Notes. Instead, we will pay cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share as described below under “
—Settlement upon Conversion.
” Our payment and delivery, as the case may be, to you of the cash, shares of our common stock or a combination thereof, as the case may be, into which a Note is convertible will be deemed to satisfy in full our obligation to pay the principal amount of the Note.
Certain Distributions Notice
If, prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding July 1, 2030, we elect to:
 
   
issue to all or substantially all holders of our common stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 60 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to
 
 
subscribe for or purchase shares of our common stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock for the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance (determined in accordance with the provisions described in the third paragraph of clause (2) under “
—Conversion Rate Adjustments
” below); or
 
   
distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock our assets, securities or rights to purchase our securities, which distribution has a per share value, as reasonably determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof, exceeding 10% of the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day preceding the date of announcement for such distribution,
then, in either case, we must notify the holders of the Notes, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) at least 45 scheduled trading days prior to the
ex-dividend
date for such issuance or distribution.
Certain Corporate Events Notice
We will notify in writing holders, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) of any transaction or event that constitutes a “fundamental change” (as defined below under “
—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
”) or a “make-whole fundamental change” (as defined below under “
—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
”) that occurs prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date or if we are a party to a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange, or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets that occurs prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date, in each case, pursuant to which our common stock would be converted into cash, securities or other assets no later than the effective date of such transaction.
Conversion Procedures
If you hold a beneficial interest in a global note, to convert you must comply with DTC’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a global note (at which time such conversion will become irrevocable) and, if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next interest payment date to which you are not entitled. As such, if you are a beneficial owner of the Notes, you must allow for sufficient time to comply with DTC’s procedures if you wish to exercise your conversion rights.
If you hold a certificated Note, to convert you must:
 
   
complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the Note, or a facsimile of the conversion notice;
 
   
deliver the conversion notice and the Note to the conversion agent (at which time such conversion will become irrevocable);
 
   
if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and
 
   
if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next interest payment date to which you are not entitled.
We will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax on the issuance of any shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Notes, unless the tax is due because the holder requests such shares to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name, in which case the holder will pay the tax.
We refer to the date you comply with the relevant procedures for conversion described above as the “conversion date.”
 
If a holder has already delivered a repurchase notice as described below under “
—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
” with respect to a Note, the holder may not
surrender
that Note for conversion until the holder has validly withdrawn the repurchase notice in accordance with the relevant provisions of the indenture. If a holder submits its Notes for required repurchase, the holder’s right to withdraw the repurchase notice and convert the Notes that are subject to repurchase will terminate at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the relevant fundamental change repurchase date.
Settlement upon Conversion
Upon conversion, we may choose to pay or deliver, as the case may be, either cash (“cash settlement”), shares of our common stock (“physical settlement”) or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock (“combination settlement”), as described below. We refer to each of these settlement methods as a “settlement method.”
All conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs on or after July 1, 2030, and all conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs during a redemption period, will be settled using the same settlement method. Except for any conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs during a redemption period, and any conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs on or after July 1, 2030, we will use the same settlement method for all conversions with the same conversion date, but we will not have any obligation to use the same settlement method with respect to conversions with different conversion dates. That is, we may choose for Notes converted on one conversion date to settle conversions in physical settlement, and choose for Notes converted on another conversion date cash settlement or combination settlement.
If we elect a settlement method, we will deliver written notice to holders so converting, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) of the settlement method we have selected no later than the close of business on the trading day immediately following the related conversion date (or in the case of any conversions for which the relevant conversion date occurs (i) during a redemption period, in the related notice of redemption or (ii) on or after July 1, 2030, no later than July 1, 2030). If we do not timely elect a settlement method, we will no longer have the right to elect cash settlement or combination settlement and we will be deemed to have elected physical settlement in respect of our conversion obligation, as described below. If we elect combination settlement, but we do not timely notify converting holders of the specified dollar amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, such specified dollar amount will be deemed to be $1,000.
Settlement amounts will be computed as follows:
 
   
if we elect physical settlement (or are deemed to have elected), we will deliver to the converting holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted a number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate;
 
   
if we elect cash settlement, we will pay to the converting holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted cash in an amount equal to the sum of the daily conversion values for each of the 40 consecutive trading days during the related observation period; and
 
   
if we elect combination settlement, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the converting holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted a “settlement amount” equal to the sum of the daily settlement amounts for each of the 40 consecutive trading days during the relevant observation period.
The “daily settlement amount,” for each of the 40 consecutive trading days during the relevant observation period, shall consist of:
 
   
cash equal to the lesser of (i) the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes to be received upon conversion as specified in the notice specifying our chosen settlement method (the “specified dollar amount”), if any,
divided by
40 (such quotient, the “daily measurement value”) and (ii) the daily conversion value; and
 
   
if the daily conversion value exceeds the daily measurement value, a number of shares equal to (i) the difference between the daily conversion value and the daily measurement value,
divided by
(ii) the daily VWAP for such trading day.
The “daily conversion value” means, for each of the 40 consecutive trading days during the relevant observation period, 1/40th of the product of (1) the conversion rate on such trading day and (2) the daily VWAP for such trading day.
The “daily VWAP” means, for each of the 40 consecutive trading days during the relevant observation period, the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “GLAD <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such trading day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of our common stock on such trading day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by us). The “daily VWAP” will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.
The “observation period” with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion means:
 
   
subject to the immediately succeeding bullet, if the relevant conversion date occurs prior to July 1, 2030, the 40 consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the second trading day immediately succeeding such conversion date;
 
   
if the relevant conversion date occurs during a redemption period, the 40 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 41st scheduled trading day immediately preceding the related redemption date; and
 
   
subject to the immediately preceding bullet, if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after July 1, 2030, the 40 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 41st scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.
For the purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion only, “trading day” means a day on which (i) there is no “market disruption event” (as defined below) and (ii) trading in our common stock generally occurs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if our common stock is not then listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which our common stock is then listed or, if our common stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which our common stock is then listed or admitted for trading. If our common stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “trading day” means a “business day.”
“Scheduled trading day” means a day that is scheduled to be a trading day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading. If our common stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “scheduled trading day” means a “business day.”
For the purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion, “market disruption event” means (i) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which our common stock is listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (ii) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any scheduled trading day for our common stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in our common stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to our common stock.
If more than one Note is surrendered for conversion at any one time by the same holder, the conversion obligation with respect to such Notes shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes surrendered.
 
Except as described below under “
—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
” and “
—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock
,” we will deliver the consideration due in respect of conversion on the second business day immediately following the relevant conversion date, if we elect physical settlement, or on the second business day immediately following the last trading day of the relevant observation period, in the case of any other settlement method.
We will pay cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share of common stock issuable upon conversion based on the daily VWAP for the relevant conversion date (in the case of physical settlement) or based on the daily VWAP for the last trading day of the relevant observation period (in the case of combination settlement).
Each conversion will be deemed to have been effected as to any Notes surrendered for conversion on the conversion date;
provided
,
however
, that the person in whose name any shares of our common stock shall be issuable upon such conversion will become the holder of record of such shares as of the close of business on the conversion date (in the case of physical settlement) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (in the case of combination settlement).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no holder shall be entitled to receive shares of common stock upon conversion to the extent (but only to the extent) that such receipt would cause such converting holder to become, directly or indirectly, a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of more than 5.0% of the shares of common stock outstanding at such time (the “Limitation”). Any purported delivery of shares of common stock upon conversion of Notes shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in the converting holder becoming the beneficial owner of more than the Limitation. If any delivery of shares of common stock owed to a holder upon conversion of Notes is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of the Limitation, our obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and we shall deliver such shares as promptly as practicable after any such converting holder gives us notice that such delivery would not result in it being the beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of the shares of common stock outstanding at such time. The Limitation shall no longer apply following the effective date of any fundamental change. The Trustee shall have no obligation to monitor any holder or beneficial owner’s compliance with the Limitation.
Conversion Rate Adjustments
The conversion rate will be adjusted as described below, except that we will not make any adjustments to the conversion rate if holders of the Notes participate (other than in the case of (x) a share split or share combination or (y) a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of our common stock and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in any of the transactions described below without having to convert their Notes as if they held a number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate,
multiplied by
the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such holder.
(1) If we exclusively issue shares of our common stock as a dividend or distribution on shares of our common stock, or if we effect a share split or share combination, the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:
 
CR
1
 = CR
0
 ×
 
OS
1
 
 
  OS
0
where,
 
CR
0
=
   the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the effective date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;
 
CR
1
=
   the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such
ex-dividend
date or effective date;
OS
0
=
   the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such
ex-dividend
date or effective date; and
OS
1
=
   the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.
Any adjustment made under this clause (1) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the effective date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this clause (1) is declared but not so paid or made, the conversion rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date our board of directors or a committee thereof determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.
(2) If we issue to all or substantially all holders of our common stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 60 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of our common stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock for the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:
 
CR
1
 = CR
0
 ×
 
OS
0
 + X
 
 
  OS
0
+ Y
where,
 
CR
0
=
   the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such issuance;
CR
1
=
   the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such
ex-dividend
date;
OS
0
=
   the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such
ex-dividend
date;
X=    the total number of shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
Y=    the number of shares of our common stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants,
divided by
the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants.
Any increase made under this clause (2) will be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such issuance. To the extent that shares of common stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the conversion rate shall be decreased to the conversion rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of common stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the conversion rate shall be decreased to the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such
ex-dividend
date for such issuance had not occurred.
 
For the purpose of this clause (2) and for the purpose of the first bullet point under “
—General—Certain Distributions Notice
,” in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of the common stock at less than such average of the last reported sale prices for the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of common stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by us for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof.
(3)  If we distribute shares of our capital stock, evidences of our indebtedness, other assets or property of ours or rights, options or warrants to acquire our capital stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, excluding:
 
   
dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected (or would be effected without giving effect to the “deferral exception” (as defined below)) pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above;
 
   
dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which the provisions set forth in clause (4) below shall apply; and
 
   
spin-offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this clause (3) shall apply;
then the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:
 
CR
1
 = CR
0
 ×
  SP
0
 
 
  SP
0
 – FMV
where,
 
CR
0
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such distribution;
CR
1
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such
ex-dividend
date;
SP
0
 =
   the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the
ex-dividend
date for such distribution; and
FMV =
   the fair market value (as determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof) of the shares of capital stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants distributed with respect to each outstanding share of our common stock on the
ex-dividend
date for such distribution.
Any increase made under the portion of this clause (3) above will become effective immediately after the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the conversion rate shall be decreased to be the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP
0
” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of our common stock, the amount and kind of our capital stock, evidences of our indebtedness, other assets or property of ours or rights, options or warrants to acquire our capital stock or other securities that such holder would have received if such holder owned a number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate in effect on the
ex-dividend
date for the distribution.
With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this clause (3) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on our common stock of shares of capital stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest,
 
of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit, that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange, which we refer to as a
“spin-off,”
the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:
 
CR
1
 = CR
0
 ×
  FMV
0
 + MP
0
 
 
  MP
0
where,
 
CR
0
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the end of the valuation period (as defined below);
CR
1
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately after the end of the valuation period;
FMV
0
 =
   the average of the last reported sale prices of the capital stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of our common stock applicable to one share of our common stock (determined by reference to the definition of last reported sale price set forth under “
—Optional Redemption
” as if references therein to our common stock were to such capital stock or similar equity interest) over the first 10 consecutive trading day period after, and including, the
ex-dividend
date of the
spin-off
(the “valuation period”); and
MP
0
 =
   the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the valuation period.
The increase to the conversion rate under the preceding paragraph will occur at the close of business on the last trading day of the valuation period;
provided
that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which physical settlement is applicable, if the relevant conversion date occurs during the valuation period, the reference to “10” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between the
ex-dividend
date for such
spin-off
and such conversion date in determining the conversion rate and (y) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which cash settlement or combination settlement is applicable, for any trading day that falls within the relevant observation period for such conversion and within the valuation period, the reference to “10” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between the
ex-dividend
date for such
spin-off
and such trading day in determining the conversion rate as of such trading day. If any dividend or distribution that constitutes a
spin-off
is declared but not so paid or made, the conversion rate shall be immediately decreased, effective as of the date our board of directors or a committee thereof determines not to pay or make such dividend or distribution to the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared or announced.
(4) If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, other than a regular, monthly cash dividend that does not exceed $0.165 per share (the “initial dividend threshold”), the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:
 
CR
1
 = CR
0
 ×
  SP
0
 – T
 
 
  SP
0
 – C
where,
 
CR
0
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution;
CR
1
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution;
SP
0
 =
   the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution;
 
T =
   the initial dividend threshold;
provided
that if the dividend or distribution is not a regular monthly cash dividend, the initial dividend threshold will be deemed to be zero; and
C =
   the amount in cash per share we distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock.
The initial dividend threshold is subject to adjustment in a manner inversely proportional to adjustments to the conversion rate;
provided
that no adjustment will be made to the initial dividend threshold for any adjustment to the conversion rate under this clause (4).
Any increase made under this clause (4) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the
ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the conversion rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date our board of directors or a committee thereof determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to be the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP
0
” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each holder of a Note shall receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of our common stock, the amount of cash that such holder would have received if such holder owned a number of shares of our common stock equal to the conversion rate on the
ex-dividend
date for such cash dividend or distribution.
(5)  If we or any of our subsidiaries make a payment in respect of a tender or exchange offer for our common stock (other than an odd lot tender offer), to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of common stock exceeds the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period commencing on, and including, the trading day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, the conversion rate will be increased based on the following formula:
 
CR
1
 = CR
0
 ×
 
AC + (SP
1
 x OS
1
)
  OS
0
 x SP
1
where,
 
CR
0
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the 10th trading day immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
CR
1
 =
   the conversion rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the 10th trading day immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
AC =
   the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by our board of directors or a committee thereof) paid or payable for shares purchased in such tender or exchange offer;
OS
0
 =
   the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
OS
1
 =
   the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
SP
1
 =
   the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the 10 consecutive trading day period commencing on, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.
 
The increase to the conversion rate under the preceding paragraph will occur at the close of business on the 10th trading day immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
provided
that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which physical settlement is applicable, if the relevant conversion date occurs during the 10 trading days immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between the expiration date of such tender or exchange offer and such conversion date in determining the conversion rate and (y) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which cash settlement or combination settlement is applicable, for any trading day that falls within the relevant observation period for such conversion and within the 10 trading days immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between the expiration date of such tender or exchange offer and such trading day in determining the conversion rate as of such trading day of such observation period.
If we are obligated to purchase our common stock pursuant to any such tender or exchange offer described in this clause (5) but we are permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchase or all such purchases are rescinded, then the conversion rate will be decreased to be the conversion rate that would then be in effect if such tender or exchange offer had not been made or had been made on in respect of the purchases that have been effected.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a conversion rate adjustment becomes effective on any
ex-dividend
date as described above, and a holder that has converted its Notes on or after such
ex-dividend
date and on or prior to the related record date would be treated as the record holder of shares of our common stock as of the related conversion date as described above under “
—Settlement upon Conversion
” based on an adjusted conversion rate for such
ex-dividend
date, then, notwithstanding the foregoing conversion rate adjustment provisions, the conversion rate adjustment relating to such
ex-dividend
date will not be made for such converting holder. Instead, such holder will be treated as if such holder were the record owner of the shares of our common stock on an unadjusted basis and participate in the related dividend, distribution or other event giving rise to such adjustment.
Except as stated herein, we will not adjust the conversion rate for the issuance of shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or the right to purchase shares of our common stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities.
As used in this section,
“ex-dividend
date” means the first date on which the shares of our common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question, from us or, if applicable, from the seller of our common stock on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market, and “effective date” means the first date on which the shares of our common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.
As used in this section, “record date” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of our common stock (or other applicable security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which our common stock (or such other security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of our common stock (or such other security) entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, statute, contract or otherwise).
Subject to any applicable stock exchange listing rules, we are permitted to increase the conversion rate of the Notes by any amount for a period of at least 20 business days if our board of directors or a committee thereof
 
determines that such increase would be in our best interest. Subject to any applicable stock exchange listing rules, we may also (but are not required to) increase the conversion rate to avoid or diminish income tax to holders of our common stock or rights to purchase shares of our common stock in connection with a dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event.
A holder may, in some circumstances, including a distribution of cash dividends to holders of our shares of common stock, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a result of an adjustment or the nonoccurrence of an adjustment to the conversion rate. For a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an adjustment to the conversion rate, see “
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
.”
If we have a rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Notes into common stock, you will receive, in addition to any shares of common stock received in connection with such conversion, the rights under the rights plan. However, if, prior to any conversion, the rights have separated from the shares of common stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable rights plan, the conversion rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as if we distributed to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, shares of our capital stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants as described in clause (3) above, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights. We do not currently have a rights plan in effect.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the conversion rate will not be adjusted:
 
   
upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on our securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of our common stock under any plan;
 
   
upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by us or any of our subsidiaries;
 
   
upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in the preceding bullet and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued;
 
   
solely for a change in the par value of the common stock; or
 
   
for accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock
In the case of:
 
   
any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our common stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination),
 
   
any consolidation, merger, combination or similar transaction involving us,
 
   
any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of ours and our subsidiaries substantially as an entirety, or
 
   
any statutory share exchange,
in each case, as a result of which our common stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “share exchange event”), then, at and after the effective time of such share exchange event, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any
 
combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of common stock equal to the conversion rate immediately prior to such share exchange event would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “reference property”) upon such share exchange event. However, at and after the effective time of the share exchange event, (i) we, or the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, will continue to have the right to determine the form of consideration to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, upon conversion of Notes, as set forth under “
—Settlement upon Conversion
” and (ii)(x) any amount payable in cash upon conversion of the Notes as set forth under “
—Settlement upon Conversion
” will continue to be payable in cash, (y) any shares of our common stock that we would have been required to deliver upon conversion of the Notes as set forth under “
—Settlement upon Conversion
” will instead be deliverable in the amount and type of reference property that a holder of that number of shares of our common stock would have received in such share exchange event and (z) the daily VWAP will be calculated based on the value of a unit of reference property that a holder of one share of our common stock would have received in such share exchange event. If the share exchange event causes our common stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), the reference property into which the Notes will be convertible will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of our common stock. If the holders of our common stock receive only cash in such share exchange event, then for all conversions that occur after the effective date of such share exchange event (i) the consideration due upon conversion of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the conversion rate in effect on the conversion date (as may be increased as described above under “
—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
”),
multiplied by
the price paid per share of common stock in such share exchange event and (ii) we will satisfy our conversion obligation by paying cash to converting holders on the second business day immediately following the conversion date. We will notify in writing holders, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) of the weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.
The supplemental indenture providing that the Notes will be convertible into reference property will also provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that are as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments described under “
—Conversion Rate Adjustments
” above. If the reference property in respect of any such share exchange event includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets of a company other than us or the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such share exchange event, such other company will also execute such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture will contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the holders, including the right of holders to require us to repurchase their Notes upon a fundamental change as described below under “
—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
” below, as the board of directors reasonably considers necessary by reason of the foregoing. We will agree in the indenture not to become a party to any such share exchange event unless its terms are consistent with the foregoing.
In connection with any share exchange event, the initial dividend threshold shall be subject to adjustment as described in the next three bullets below, as the case may be.
 
   
In the case of a share exchange event in which the reference property (determined, as appropriate, pursuant to the first two paragraphs of this “
—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stoc
k” section and excluding any dissenters’ appraisal rights) is composed entirely of shares of common stock or American depositary receipts (or other interests) in respect thereof (the “share exchange common stock”), the initial dividend threshold at and after the effective time of such share exchange event shall be equal to (x) the initial dividend threshold immediately prior to the effective time of such share exchange event,
 divided by
 (y) the number of shares of share exchange common stock that a holder of one share of common stock would receive in such share exchange event (such quotient rounded down to the nearest cent).
 
   
In the case of a share exchange event in which the reference property (determined, as appropriate, pursuant to the first two paragraphs of this “
—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our
 
 
Common Stock
” section and excluding any dissenters’ appraisal rights) is composed in part of shares of share exchange common stock, the initial dividend threshold at and after the effective time of such share exchange event shall be equal to (x) the initial dividend threshold immediately prior to the effective time of such share exchange event,
 multiplied by
 (y) the share exchange valuation percentage for such share exchange event (such product rounded down to the nearest cent).
 
   
For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of a share exchange event in which the reference property (determined, as appropriate, pursuant to the first two paragraphs of this “
—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock
” section and excluding any dissenters’ appraisal rights) is composed entirely of consideration other than shares of common stock or American depositary receipts (or other interests) in respect thereof, the initial dividend threshold at and after the effective time of such share exchange event shall be equal to zero.
As used in this section, “share exchange valuation percentage”, for any share exchange event shall be equal to (x) the arithmetic average of the last reported sale prices of one share of the share exchange common stock in respect of such share exchange event over the relevant share exchange valuation period (determined as if references to “common stock” in the definition of “last reported sale price” were references to the “share exchange common stock” for such share exchange event),
 divided by
 (y) the arithmetic average of the last reported sale prices of one share of common stock over the relevant share exchange valuation period.
As used in this section, the “share exchange valuation period” for any share exchange event means the five consecutive trading day period immediately preceding, but excluding, the effective date for such share exchange event.
Adjustments of Prices
Whenever any provision of the indenture requires us to calculate the last reported sale prices, the daily VWAPs, the daily conversion values or the daily settlement amounts over a span of multiple days (including an observation period and the period, if any, for determining the “stock price” for purposes of a make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption, as the case may be), our board of directors or a committee thereof will make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the conversion rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the conversion rate where the
ex-dividend
date, effective date or expiration date of the event occurs, at any time during the period when the last reported sale prices, the daily VWAPs, the daily conversion values or the daily settlement amounts are to be calculated.
Adjustments to the conversion rate will be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share. We will not be required to make an adjustment in the conversion rate unless the adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the conversion rate. However, we will carry forward any adjustments that are less than 1% of the conversion rate and make such carried forward adjustment, regardless of whether the aggregate adjustment is less than 1%, upon the earliest to occur of (i) when all such deferred adjustments would result in an aggregate change of at least 1% to the conversion rate; (ii) on the conversion date for any conversions of Notes (in the case of physical settlement); (iii) on each trading day of any observation period related to any conversion of Notes (in the case of cash settlement or combination settlement; (iv) July 1, 2030; (v) on any date on which we deliver a notice of redemption; and (vi) on the effective date of any fundamental change and/or make-whole fundamental change, in each case, unless the adjustment has already been made. We refer to the provision described in this paragraph as the “deferral exception.”
Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
If (i)(a) the “effective date” (as defined below) of a “fundamental change” (as defined below and determined after giving effect to any exceptions to or exclusions from such definition, but without regard to the
proviso
in clause (2) of the definition thereof, a “make-whole fundamental change”) occurs prior to the maturity date of the
 
Notes or if (b) we deliver a notice of redemption as described above under “
—Optional Redemption
” and (ii) a holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption, as the case may be, we will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of common stock (the “additional shares”), as described below. A conversion of Notes will be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” a make-whole fundamental change if the relevant notice of conversion of the Notes is received by the conversion agent from, and including, the effective date of the make-whole fundamental change up to, and including, the business day immediately prior to the related fundamental change repurchase date (or, in the case of a make-whole fundamental change that would have been a fundamental change but for the
proviso
in clause (2) of the definition thereof, the 35th trading day immediately following the effective date of such make-whole fundamental change) (such period, the “make-whole fundamental change period”). A conversion of Notes will be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” a notice of redemption if the relevant notice of conversion of the Notes is received by the conversion agent during the related redemption period.
Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption, we will, at our option, satisfy our conversion obligation by physical settlement, cash settlement or combination settlement, as described above under “
—Conversion Rights—Settlement upon Conversion
.” However, if the consideration for our common stock in any make-whole fundamental change described in clause (2) of the definition of fundamental change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the effective date of such make-whole fundamental change, the conversion obligation will be calculated based solely on the “stock price” (as defined below) for the transaction and will be deemed to be an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to the conversion rate (including any increase to reflect the additional shares as described),
multiplied by
such stock price. In such event, the conversion obligation will be determined and paid to holders in cash on the second business day following the conversion date. We will notify in writing holders, the trustee and the conversion agent (if other than the trustee) of the effective date of any make-whole fundamental change and issue a press release announcing such effective date no later than five business days after such effective date.
The number of additional shares, if any, by which the conversion rate will be increased will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the make-whole fundamental change occurs or becomes effective or the date we deliver the notice of redemption, as the case may be (in each case the “effective date”) and the price (the “stock price”) paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of our common stock in the make-whole fundamental change or determined with respect to the notice of redemption, as the case may be. If the holders of our common stock receive in exchange for their common stock only cash in a make-whole fundamental change described in clause (2) of the definition of fundamental change, the stock price will be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the stock price will be the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock over the five-trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the effective date of the make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption, as the case may be. In the event that a conversion in connection with a make-whole fundamental change would also be deemed to be in connection with a notice of redemption, a holder of the Notes to be converted will be entitled to a single increase to the conversion rate with respect to the first to occur of the effective date of the applicable make-whole fundamental change or the date we deliver the applicable notice of redemption, and the later event will be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of this section.
The stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the conversion rate of the Notes is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted stock prices will equal the stock prices immediately prior to such adjustment,
multiplied by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is the conversion rate as so adjusted. The number of additional shares as set forth in the table below will be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the conversion rate as set forth under “
—Conversion Rate Adjustments
.”
 
The following table sets forth the number of additional shares by which the conversion rate will be increased per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for each stock price and effective date set forth below:
 
   
    
Stock Price
  
 
Effective Date
  
$23.65
  
$24.25
  
$25.00
  
$26.02
  
$27.50
  
$29.50
  
$32.50
                                    
September 12, 2025
   3.8440    3.2808    2.6536    1.9262    1.0978    0.3502    0.0000
October 1, 2026
   3.8440    3.2808    2.6536    1.9262    1.0978    0.3502    0.0000
October 1, 2027
   3.8440    3.2808    2.6536    1.9262    1.0978    0.3502    0.0000
October 1, 2028
   3.8440    3.2808    2.6536    1.9262    1.0978    0.3502    0.0000
October 1, 2029
   3.8440    3.2808    2.5580    1.7168    0.8415    0.1814    0.0000
October 1, 2030
   3.8440    1.7006    0.3372    0.0000    0.0000    0.0000    0.0000
The exact stock prices and effective dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case
 
   
If the stock price is between two stock prices in the table or the effective date is between two effective dates in the table, the number of additional shares by which the conversion rate will be increased will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of additional shares set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later effective dates, as applicable, based on a
365-
or
366-day
year.
 
   
If the stock price is greater than $32.50 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table above), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate.
 
   
If the stock price is less than $23.65 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table above), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of Notes exceed 42.2834 shares of common stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under “
—Conversion Rate Adjustments
.”
Our obligation to increase the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.
Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
If a “fundamental change” (as defined below) occurs at any time, holders will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase for cash all of their Notes, or any portion of the principal thereof that is equal to $1,000 or a multiple of $1,000. The fundamental change repurchase date will be a date specified by us that is not less than 20 or more than 35 calendar days following the date of our fundamental change notice as described below.
The fundamental change repurchase price we are required to pay will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date (unless the fundamental change repurchase date falls after a regular record date but on or prior to the interest payment date to which such regular record date relates, in which case we will instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to the holder of record on such regular record date, and the fundamental change repurchase price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased).
 
A “fundamental change” will be deemed to have occurred at the time after the Notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:
 
  (1)
a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than us, our wholly owned subsidiaries and our and their employee benefit plans, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule
13d-3
under the Exchange Act, of our common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of our common equity;
 
  (2)
the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our common stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which our common stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of us pursuant to which our common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of our wholly owned subsidiaries;
provided
,
however
, that a transaction described in clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of our common equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of common equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a fundamental change pursuant to this clause (2);
 
  (3)
our stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of us; or
 
  (4)
our common stock (or other common stock underlying the Notes) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (or any of their respective successors).
A transaction or transactions described in clause (1) or clause (2) above will not constitute a fundamental change, however, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by our common stockholders, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock that are listed or quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions and as a result of such transaction or transactions the Notes become convertible into such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares (subject to the provisions set forth above under “
—Conversion Rights—Settlement upon Conversion
”).
If any transaction in which our common stock is replaced by the securities of another entity occurs, following completion of any related make-whole fundamental change period (or, in the case of a transaction that would have been a fundamental change or a make-whole fundamental change but for the immediately preceding paragraph, following the effective date of such transaction), references to us in the definition of “fundamental change” above shall instead be references to such other entity.
On or before the 20th day after the occurrence of a fundamental change, we will provide to all holders of the Notes and the trustee and paying agent a notice of the occurrence of the fundamental change and of the resulting repurchase right. Such notice shall state, among other things:
 
   
the events causing a fundamental change;
 
   
the effective date of the fundamental change;
 
   
the last date on which a holder may exercise the repurchase right;
 
   
the fundamental change repurchase price;
 
   
the fundamental change repurchase date;
 
   
the name and address of the paying agent and the conversion agent, if applicable;
 
   
if applicable, the conversion rate and any adjustments to the conversion rate as a result of the fundamental change (or related make-whole fundamental change);
 
   
that the Notes with respect to which a fundamental change repurchase notice has been delivered by a holder may be converted only if the holder validly withdraws the fundamental change repurchase notice in accordance with the terms of the indenture; and
 
   
the procedures that holders must follow to require us to repurchase their Notes.
Simultaneously with providing such notice, we will publish a notice containing this information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on our website or through such other public medium as we may use at that time.
To exercise the fundamental change repurchase right, you must deliver, on or before the business day immediately preceding the fundamental change repurchase date, the Notes to be repurchased, duly endorsed for transfer, or effect book entry transfer of the Notes together with a written repurchase notice, to the paying agent. Each repurchase notice must state:
 
   
if certificated, the certificate numbers of your Notes to be delivered for repurchase;
 
   
the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and
 
   
that the Notes are to be repurchased by us pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and the indenture.
If the Notes are not in certificated form, such repurchase notice must comply with appropriate DTC procedures.
Holders may withdraw any repurchase notice (in whole or in part) by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the paying agent prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the fundamental change repurchase date. The notice of withdrawal shall state:
 
   
the principal amount of the withdrawn Notes;
 
   
if certificated Notes have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn Notes; and
 
   
the principal amount, if any, which remains subject to the repurchase notice.
If the Notes are not in certificated form, such notice of withdrawal must comply with appropriate DTC procedures.
We will be required to repurchase the Notes on the fundamental change repurchase date. Holders who have exercised the repurchase right will receive payment of the fundamental change repurchase price on the later of (i) the fundamental change repurchase date and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of the Notes. If the paying agent holds money sufficient to pay the fundamental change repurchase price of the Notes on the fundamental change repurchase date, then, with respect to the Notes that have been properly surrendered for repurchase and have not been validly withdrawn:
 
   
the Notes will cease to be outstanding and interest will cease to accrue (whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes is made or whether or not the Notes are delivered to the paying agent); and
 
   
all other rights of the holder will terminate (other than the right to receive the fundamental change repurchase price).
 
In connection with any repurchase offer pursuant to a fundamental change repurchase notice, we will, if required:
 
   
comply with the provisions of Rule
13e-4,
Rule
14e-1
and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable;
 
   
file a Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange Act; and
 
   
otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any offer by us to repurchase the Notes;
in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this “
—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
” to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in the indenture.
No Notes may be repurchased on any date at the option of holders upon a fundamental change if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by us in the payment of the fundamental change repurchase price with respect to such Notes).
The repurchase rights of the holders could discourage a potential acquirer of us. The fundamental change repurchase feature, however, is not the result of management’s knowledge of any specific effort to obtain control of us by any means or part of a plan by management to adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions.
The term fundamental change is limited to specified transactions and may not include other events that might adversely affect our financial condition. In addition, the requirement that we offer to repurchase the Notes upon a fundamental change may not protect holders in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, merger or similar transaction involving us.
The definition of fundamental change includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease or other transfer of “all or substantially all” of our consolidated assets. There is no precise, established definition of the phrase “substantially all” under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of the Notes to require us to repurchase its Notes as a result of the sale, lease or other transfer of less than all of our assets may be uncertain.
If a fundamental change were to occur, we may not have enough funds to pay the fundamental change repurchase price. Our ability to repurchase the Notes for cash may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain funds for such repurchase through dividends from our subsidiaries, the terms of our then existing borrowing arrangements or otherwise. See “
Supplementary Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of the Notes or to repurchase the Notes upon a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or repurchase of the Notes
.” If we fail to repurchase the Notes when required following a fundamental change, we will be in default under the indenture. In addition, we have, and may in the future incur, other indebtedness with similar change in control provisions permitting our holders to accelerate or to require us to repurchase our indebtedness upon the occurrence of similar events or on some specific dates.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
The indenture will provide that we shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, another person, unless (i) the resulting, surviving or transferee person (if not us) is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such corporation (if not us) expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of our obligations under the Notes and the indenture; and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture. Upon any such consolidation, merger or sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, the resulting, surviving or transferee person (if not us) shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, ours under the indenture, and we shall be discharged from our obligations under the Notes and the indenture except in the case of any such lease.
 
Although these types of transactions will be permitted under the indenture, certain of the foregoing transactions could constitute a fundamental change permitting each holder to require us to repurchase the Notes of such holder as described above.
Events of Default
Each of the following is an “event of default” with respect to the Notes:
 
  (1)
default in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;
 
  (2)
default in the payment of principal of any Note when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon optional redemption, upon any required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;
 
  (3)
our failure to comply with our obligation to convert the Notes in accordance with the indenture upon exercise of a holder’s conversion right;
 
  (4)
our failure to give a fundamental change notice as described above under “
—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes,
” a notice of corporate transaction as described above under “
Conversion Rights—Certain Corporate Events Notice
,” or a notice of distribution as described above under “
—Conversion Rights—Certain Distributions Notice
,” in each case, when due;
 
  (5)
our failure to comply with our obligations under “
—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
”;
 
  (6)
our failure for 60 days after written notice from the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding has been received to comply with any of our other agreements contained in the Notes or indenture;
 
  (7)
default by us or any of our subsidiaries with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $10,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of us and/or any such subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;
 
  (8)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of us or any of our significant subsidiaries, as defined in Article 1, Rule
1-02
of Regulation
S-X;
 
  (9)
a final judgment or judgments for the payment of $30,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) in the aggregate rendered against us or any of our subsidiaries, which judgment is not discharged, bonded, paid, waived or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished; or
 
  (10)
our failure to comply with our obligations under “
—Covenants—Investment Company Act
”.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee by written notice to us may, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to us and the trustee, may, declare 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. In case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, involving us or a significant subsidiary, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes will automatically become due and payable. Upon such a declaration of acceleration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately, without any action on the part of the trustee. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee may pursue, in its own name or as trustee of an express trust, any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or the indenture. The trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indenture will provide that, to the extent we elect, the sole remedy for an event of default relating to (i) our failure to file with the trustee pursuant to Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act any documents or reports that we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or (ii) our failure to comply with our obligations as set forth under “
—Covenants—Reports
” below, will, for the first 365 days, after the occurrence of such an event of default consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Notes at a rate equal to (i) 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the first 180 days during which such event is continuing beginning on, and including, the date on which such an event of default occurs, and (ii) 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding from the 181st day to, and including the 365th day following the occurrence of an event of default, so long as such event of default is continuing.
If we so elect, such additional interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Notes. On the 366th day after such event of default (if the event of default relating to the reporting obligations is not cured or waived prior to such 366th day), the Notes will be subject to acceleration as provided above. The provisions of the indenture described in this paragraph will not affect the rights of holders of Notes in the event of the occurrence of any other event of default. In the event we do not elect to pay the additional interest following an event of default in accordance with this paragraph or we elected to make such payment but do not pay the additional interest when due, the Notes will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above.
In order to elect to pay the additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 365 days after the occurrence of an event of default relating to the failure to comply with the reporting obligations in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph, we must notify in writing all holders of Notes, the trustee and the paying agent of such election prior to the beginning of such
365-day
period. Upon our failure to timely give such notice, the Notes will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above.
If any portion of the amount payable on the Notes upon acceleration is considered by a court to be unearned interest (through the allocation of the value of the instrument to the embedded warrant or otherwise), the court could disallow recovery of any such portion.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may waive all past defaults (except with respect to nonpayment of principal or interest or with respect to the failure to deliver the consideration due upon conversion) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (i) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) all existing events of default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.
Each holder shall have the right to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, of:
 
   
the principal (including the redemption price and the fundamental change repurchase price, if applicable) of;
 
   
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on; and
 
   
the consideration due upon conversion of,
its Notes, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered, and if requested, provided, to the trustee indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal or interest when due, or the right
 
to receive payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the indenture or the Notes unless:
 
  (1)
such holder has previously given the trustee written notice that an event of default is continuing;
 
  (2)
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the trustee to pursue the remedy;
 
  (3)
such holders have offered, and if requested, provided to, the trustee security and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;
 
  (4)
the trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of such security and/or indemnity; and
 
  (5)
the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such
60-day
period.
Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee. However, the trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture, that may involve the trustee in personal liability, or if it is not provided with security and/or indemnity to its satisfaction and may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from holders. In addition, the trustee will not be required to expend its own funds under any circumstances.
The indenture will provide that in the event an event of default has occurred and is continuing, and if a responsible officer of the trustee has received written notice or actual knowledge of such event, the trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the indenture, the trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to the trustee against any loss, liability or expense caused by taking or not taking such action.
The indenture will provide that if a default or event of default occurs and is continuing and is notified in writing to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall deliver to each holder notice of the default within 90 days after it receives written notice or obtains such knowledge. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any Note or a default in the payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, the trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of trust officers of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders. In addition, we are required to deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any default or event of default that occurred during the previous year. We are also required to deliver to the trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any events which would constitute certain defaults, their status and what action we are taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.
Payments of the redemption price, the fundamental change repurchase price, principal and interest that are not made when due will accrue interest per annum at the then-applicable interest rate
plus
one percent from the required payment date.
Modification or Waiver
Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture or the notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, notes) and,
 
subject to certain exceptions, any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, notes). However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding note affected, no amendment or supplement may, among other things:
 
  (1)
reduce the principal amount of notes whose holders must consent to an amendment;
 
  (2)
reduce the rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any note;
 
  (3)
reduce the principal amount of or extend the stated maturity of any note;
 
  (4)
make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any notes;
 
  (5)
reduce the redemption price or the fundamental change repurchase price of any note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the holders of notes our obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;
 
  (6)
make any note payable in money, or at a place of payment, other than that stated in the note;
 
  (7)
change the ranking of the notes;
 
  (8)
impair the right of any holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s notes; or
 
  (9)
make any change in the amendment provisions that require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions.
We and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the notes without notice to or the consent of any holder of the notes to:
 
  (1)
cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
 
  (2)
provide for the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations under the indenture;
 
  (3)
add guarantees with respect to the notes;
 
  (4)
secure the notes;
 
  (5)
add to our covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon us;
 
  (6)
make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder;
 
  (7)
in connection with any transaction described under “—
Conversion Rights—Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Our Common Stock
” above, provide that the notes are convertible into reference property, subject to the provisions described under “
—Conversion Rights—Settlement upon
Conversion
” above, and make certain related changes to the terms of the notes to the extent expressly required by the indenture;
 
  (8)
comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or
 
  (9)
conform the provisions of the indenture to the “Description of Notes” section in the preliminary prospectus supplement, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet.
Holders do not need to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It will be sufficient if such holders approve the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment under the indenture becomes effective, we are required to deliver to the holders (with a copy to the trustee) a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.
 
Satisfaction and Discharge
We may satisfy and discharge our obligations under the indenture and the notes by delivering to the securities registrar for cancellation all outstanding notes or by depositing with the trustee or delivering to the holders, as applicable, after the notes have become due and payable, whether at maturity, at any redemption date, at any fundamental change repurchase date, upon conversion or otherwise, cash or cash and/or shares of common stock, solely to satisfy outstanding conversions, as applicable, sufficient to pay all of the outstanding notes and paying all other sums payable under the indenture by us. Such discharge is subject to terms contained in the indenture.
The Notes are not subject to defeasance.
Calculations in Respect of Notes
Except as otherwise provided above, we will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the stock price, the last reported sale prices of our common stock, the daily VWAPs, the daily conversion values, the daily settlement amounts, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the conversion rate of the Notes. We will make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, our calculations will be final and binding on holders of Notes. We will provide a schedule of our calculations to each of the trustee, the paying agent and the conversion agent, and each of the trustee, paying agent and the conversion agent has no duty to verify such calculations and is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of our calculations without independent verification. The trustee will forward our calculations to any holder of Notes upon the request of that holder.
Covenants
In addition to standard covenants relating to payment of principal and interest, maintaining an office where payments may be made or securities can be surrendered for payment and related matters, the following covenants apply to the Notes:
Investment Company Act
We agree that for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, we will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, whether or not we continue to be subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act. Currently, these provisions generally prohibit us from incurring additional debt or issuing additional debt or preferred securities, unless our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 150% after such incurrence or issuance.
Reports
The indenture will provide that any documents or reports that we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act must be filed by us with the trustee within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule
12b-25
under the Exchange Act). Documents filed by us with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be filed with the trustee as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR or such successor, it being understood that the trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether such filings have been made.
Trustee
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association serves as the trustee, paying agent, security registrar and conversion agent under the indenture, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association. U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association is also the trustee, security registrar and paying agent for the Existing Notes. In addition, we may maintain banking relationships in the ordinary course of business with the trustee and its affiliates.
 
Governing Law
The indenture will provide that it and the Notes, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the indenture or the Notes, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Book-Entry Procedures
The Notes will be represented by global securities that will be deposited and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. This means that, except in limited circumstances, you will not receive certificates for the Notes. Beneficial interests in the Notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the Notes through either DTC, if they are a participant, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in DTC.
The Notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One fully registered certificate will be issued for each issuance of the Notes, in the aggregate principal amount thereof, and will be deposited with DTC. Interests in the Notes will trade in DTC’s Same Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such Notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. None of the Company, the trustee or the paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments from over 100 countries that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”).
DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). DTC has a Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services’ rating of AA+. The DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com.
Purchases of the Notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security, or the “Beneficial Owner,” is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of
Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the Notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Notes is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the Notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Notes within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
Redemption proceeds, distributions, and interest payments on the Notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the trustee on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC nor its nominee, the trustee, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions, and interest payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the trustee, but disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC identifies as a Beneficial Owner of the related Notes only if:
 
   
DTC notifies us at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days;
 
   
DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days; or
 
   
an event of default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and such Beneficial Owner requests that its Notes be issued in physical, certificated form.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for its accuracy.
Long Term Debt, Structuring [Text Block]
General
The Notes will:
 
   
be our general unsecured obligations;
 
   
initially be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000 (or $149,500,000 if the underwriter’s overallotment option is exercised in full);
 
   
bear cash interest from September 12, 2025 at an annual rate of 5.875% payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2026;
 
   
be subject to redemption at our option (subject to the “partial redemption limitation” described in “
—Optional Redemption
”), in whole or in part, on or after October 6, 2028 and on or before the 45th scheduled trading day immediately prior to the maturity date if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date;
 
   
be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders following a fundamental change (as defined below under “
—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
”), at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date;
 
   
mature on October 1, 2030, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased;
 
   
be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000; and
 
   
initially be represented by one or more registered notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by notes in definitive form. See “
—Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance
.”
Subject to satisfaction of certain conditions and during the periods described below, the Notes may be converted at an initial conversion rate of 38.4394 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $26.02 per share of common stock). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment if certain events occur.
We will settle conversions of Notes by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, as described below under “
—Conversion Rights—Settlement upon Conversion
.” Upon conversion, unless you convert after the close of business on a record date for an interest payment but on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, you will receive a cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the conversion date.
Long Term Debt, Dividends and Covenants [Text Block]
Covenants
In addition to standard covenants relating to payment of principal and interest, maintaining an office where payments may be made or securities can be surrendered for payment and related matters, the following covenants apply to the Notes:
Investment Company Act
We agree that for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, we will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, whether or not we continue to be subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act. Currently, these provisions generally prohibit us from incurring additional debt or issuing additional debt or preferred securities, unless our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 150% after such incurrence or issuance.
Reports
The indenture will provide that any documents or reports that we are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act must be filed by us with the trustee within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule
12b-25
under the Exchange Act). Documents filed by us with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be filed with the trustee as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR or such successor, it being understood that the trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether such filings have been made.
Long Term Debt, Issuance and Substitution [Text Block]
The indenture will not limit the amount of debt that may be issued by us or our subsidiaries under the indenture or otherwise, but does contain a covenant regarding our asset coverage that would have to be satisfied at the time of our incurrence of additional indebtedness. The indenture will not contain any financial covenants and will not restrict us from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our other securities. Other than restrictions described under “—
Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
” and “
—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
” below and except for the provisions set forth under “
—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
,” the indenture will not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or in the event of a decline in our credit rating as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect such holders. The Notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries.
We may, without the consent of, or notice to, the holders, reopen the indenture for the Notes and issue additional Notes under the indenture with the same terms as the Notes offered hereby (other than differences in the issue date, issue price and interest accrued prior to the issue date of such additional Notes) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount;
provided
that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes initially offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax or securities law purposes, such additional Notes will have one or more separate CUSIP numbers.
Outstanding Securities [Table Text Block]
The following are our outstanding classes of securities as of June 30, 2025.
 
TITLE OF CLASS
  
AMOUNT
AUTHORIZED
    
AMOUNT HELD
BY US OR
FOR OUR
ACCOUNT
    
AMOUNT
OUTSTANDING
(EXCLUSIVE
OF AMOUNTS
HELD BY US
OR FOR OUR
ACCOUNT)
 
Common Stock
     44,000,000 shares        —         22,329,852 shares  
6.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
     6,000,000 shares        —         647,820 shares  
5.125% Notes due 2026
   $ 150,000,000        —       $ 150,000,000  
3.75% Notes due 2027
   $ 50,000,000        —       $ 50,000,000  
7.75% Notes due 2028
   $ 57,000,000        —       $ 57,000,000  
The Notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
The Notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we may incur in the future and will rank pari passu with, or equal to, all outstanding and future unsecured indebtedness, including the Existing Notes issued by and us and our general liabilities (total liabilities, less debt).
The Notes will not be secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of our subsidiaries. As a result, the Notes are effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we may incur in the future (or any indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our existing or future secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that indebtedness in order to receive full payment of their indebtedness before the assets may be used to pay other creditors, including the holders of the Notes. In addition, the Notes will rank
pari passu
with all existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness issued by us, including the Existing Notes, and our general liabilities (total liabilities, less debt).
The Notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
The Notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.
The Notes are obligations exclusively of Gladstone Capital Corporation and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries will be a guarantor of the Notes and the Notes are not required to be guaranteed by any subsidiaries we may acquire or create in the future. Except to the extent we are a creditor with recognized claims against our subsidiaries, all claims of creditors of our subsidiaries will have priority over our equity interests in such subsidiaries (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Notes) with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of one or more of our subsidiaries, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such subsidiary and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such subsidiary senior to our claims. Consequently, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish. As of September 5, 2025, there was approximately $131.1 million of debt outstanding under the Credit Facility. Borrowings under the Credit Facility are the obligation of Gladstone Business Loan, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, and are structurally senior to the Notes. In addition, our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, all of which would be structurally senior to the Notes.
The indenture under which the Notes will be issued will contain limited protection for holders of the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
The indenture under which the Notes will be issued will contain limited protection for holders of the Notes.
The indenture under which the Notes will be issued offers limited protection to holders of the Notes. The terms of the indenture and the Notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have an adverse
 
impact on your investment in the Notes. In particular, the terms of the indenture and the Notes will not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:
 
   
issue securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the Notes, (2) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be secured and therefore rank effectively senior in right of payment to the Notes to the extent of the values of the assets securing such debt, (3) indebtedness of ours that is guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries and which therefore is structurally senior to the Notes and (4) securities, indebtedness or obligations issued or incurred by our subsidiaries that would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries and therefore rank structurally senior to the Notes with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries, in each case other than an incurrence of indebtedness or other obligation that would cause a violation of Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, whether or not we continue to be subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act, which generally prohibit us incurring additional debt or issuing additional debt or preferred securities, unless our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 150% after such incurrence or issuance;
 
   
sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);
 
   
enter into transactions with affiliates;
 
   
create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
 
   
make investments; or
 
   
create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.
Furthermore, the terms of the indenture and the Notes do not protect holders of the Notes in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition, results of operations or credit ratings, if any, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity.
Our ability to incur additional debt (including additional debt that matures prior to the maturity of the Notes) and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the Notes may have important consequences for you as a holder of the Notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Notes or negatively affecting the trading value of the Notes.
Other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the indenture and the Notes, including additional covenants and events of default. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for, trading levels, and prices of the Notes.
There is no existing trading market for the Notes and an active trading market for the Notes may not develop, which could limit your ability to sell the Notes and or the market price of the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
There is no existing trading market for the Notes and an active trading market for the Notes may not develop, which could limit your ability to sell the Notes and/or the market price of the Notes.
The Notes will be a new issue of debt securities for which there is no trading market. We cannot provide any assurances that an active trading market will develop or be maintained for the Notes or that you will be able to sell your Notes. If the Notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, if any, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. The underwriter has advised us that it intends to make a market in the Notes, but it is not obligated to do so. The underwriter may discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time at its sole discretion.
 
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop or be maintained for the Notes, that you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for the Notes may be adversely affected. Accordingly, you may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Notes for an indefinite period of time.
If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the Notes.
Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under the Credit Facility or other indebtedness to which we may be a party, that is not waived by the required lenders or holders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and substantially decrease the market value of the Notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable,
to
gether with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under the Credit Facility or other debt we may incur in the future could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to refinance or restructure our debt, including the Notes, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, seek to raise additional capital or seek to obtain waivers from the required lenders under the Credit Facility or other debt that we may incur in the future to avoid being in default. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations under the Notes or our other debt. If we breach our covenants under the Credit Facility or other debt and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders or holders. If this occurs, we would be in default under the Credit Facility or other debt, the lenders or holders could exercise their rights as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If we are unable to repay debt, lenders having secured obligations, including the lenders under the Credit Facility, could proceed against the collateral securing the debt. Because the Credit Facility has, and any future credit facilities will likely have, customary cross-default provisions, if the indebtedness under the Notes or the Credit Facility or under any future credit facility is accelerated, we may be unable to repay or finance the amounts due.
Redemption may adversely affect your return on the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Redemption may adversely affect your return on the Notes.
We may not redeem the Notes prior to October 6, 2028. We may redeem for cash all or any portion of the Notes (subject to the “partial redemption limitation” described in “
Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption
”), at our option, on a redemption date on or after October 6, 2028 and on or before the 45th scheduled trading day immediately prior to the maturity date if the last reported sale price of our common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. As a result, we may choose to redeem some or all of the Notes, including at times when prevailing interest rates are relatively low. As a result, you may not be able to reinvest the proceeds you receive from the redemption in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on your Notes being redeemed. In addition, despite the partial redemption limitation, a redemption of less than all of the outstanding Notes will likely harm the liquidity of the market for the unredeemed Notes following the redemption. Accordingly, if your Notes are not redeemed in a partial redemption, then you may be unable to sell your Notes at the times you desire or at favorable prices, if at all, and the trading price of your Notes may decline. See “
Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption
.”
A downgrade, suspension or withdrawal of any credit rating assigned by a rating agency to us or the Notes or change in the debt markets could cause the liquidity or market value of the Notes to decline significantly [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
A downgrade, suspension or wi
th
drawal of any credit rating assigned by a rating agency to us or the Notes or change in the debt markets could cause the liquidity or market value of the Notes to decline significantly.
Any credit rating is an assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in any credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the Notes. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of risks relating to the structure or marketing of the Notes. Credit ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization in its sole discretion. Neither we nor any underwriter undertakes any obligation to obtain or maintain any credit ratings or to advise holders of Notes of any changes in any credit ratings. There can be no assurance that any credit ratings will remain for any given period of time or that such credit ratings will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies if in their judgment future circumstances relating to the basis of the credit ratings, such as adverse changes in our Company, so warrant. The conditions of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the Notes.
Recent and future regulatory actions and other events may adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Recent and future regulatory actions and other events may adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the Notes.
We expect that many investors in, and potential purchasers of, the Notes will employ, or seek to employ, a convertible arbitrage strategy with respect to the Notes. Investors would typically implement such a strategy by selling short the common stock underlying the Notes and dynamically adjusting their short position while continuing to hold the Notes. Investors may also implement this type of strategy by entering into swaps on our common stock in lieu of or in addition to short selling the common stock. We cannot assure you that market conditions will permit investors to implement this type of strategy, whether on favorable pricing and other terms or at all. If market conditions do not permit investors to implement this type of strategy, whether on favorable pricing and other terms or at all, at any time while the Notes are outstanding, the trading price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected.
The SEC and other regulatory and self-regulatory authorities have implemented various rules and taken certain actions, and may in the future adopt additional rules and take other actions, that may impact those engaging in short selling activity involving equity securities (including our common stock). Such rules and actions include Rule 201 of SEC Regulation SHO, the adoption by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the national securities exchanges of a “Limit
Up-Limit
Down” program, the imposition of market-wide circuit breakers that halt trading of securities for certain periods following specific market declines, and the implementation of certain regulatory reforms required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Any governmental or regulatory action that restricts the ability of investors in, or potential purchasers of, the Notes to effect short sales of our common stock, borrow our common stock or enter into swaps on our common stock could adversely affect the trading price and the liquidity of the Notes.
In addition, the number of shares of our common stock available for lending in connection with short sale transactions and the number of counterparties willing to enter into an equity swap on our common stock with a Note investor may not be sufficient for the implementation of a convertible arbitrage strategy. These and other market events could make implementing a convertible arbitrage strategy prohibitively expensive or infeasible. We cannot assure you that a sufficient number of shares of our common stock will be available to borrow on commercial terms, or at all, to potential purchasers in this offering or holders of the Notes. If investors in this offering or potential purchasers of the Notes that seek to employ a convertible arbitrage strategy are unable to do so on commercial terms, or at all, then the trading price of, and the liquidity of the market for, the Notes may significantly decline.
Volatility in the market price and trading volume of our common stock could adversely impact the trading price of the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Volatility in the market price and trading volume of our common stock could adversely impact the trading price of the Notes.
The stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies. The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including in response to the risks described in this section, elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the documents we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or for reasons unrelated to our operations, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions or negative announcements by our customers, competitors or suppliers regarding their own performance, as well as industry conditions and general financial, economic and political instability. A decrease in the market price of our common stock would likely adversely impact the trading price of the Notes. The market price of our common stock could also be affected by possible sales of our common stock by investors who view the Notes as a more attractive means of equity participation in us and by hedging or arb
it
rage trading activity that we expect to develop involving our common stock. This trading activity could, in turn, affect the trading price of the Notes.
An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the value of the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the value of the Notes.
In general, as market interest rates rise, notes bearing interest at a fixed rate generally decline in value because the premium, if any, over market interest rates will decline. Consequently, if you purchase the Notes and market interest rates increase, the market value of your Notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of the Notes in cash or to repurchase the Notes upon a fundamental change [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle conversions of the Notes in cash or to repurchase the Notes upon a fundamental change, and our future debt may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion or repurchase of the Notes.
Holders of the Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any portion of their Notes upon the occurrence of a fundamental change at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased,
plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date, as described below under “
Description of the Notes—Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require Us to Repurchase Notes
.” In addition, upon conversion of the Notes, unless we elect to deliver solely shares of our common stock to settle such conversion (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we will be required to make cash payments in respect of the Notes being converted as described below under “D
escription of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Settlement upon Conversion
.” However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of Notes surrendered therefor or pay cash with respect to Notes being converted. In addition, our ability to repurchase the Notes or to pay cash upon conversions of the Notes may be limited by law, by regulatory authority or by agreements governing our future indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase Notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture governing the Notes or to pay any cash payable on future conversions of the Notes as required by the indenture governing the Notes would constitute a default under the indenture governing the Notes. A default under the indenture governing the Notes or the fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements governing our future indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the Notes or make cash payments upon conversions thereof.
Conversion of the Notes may dilute the ownership interest of our stockholders or may otherwise depress the price of our common stock [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Conversion of the Notes may dilute the ownership interest of our stockholders or may otherwise depress the price of our common stock.
The conversion of some or all of the Notes may dilute the ownership interests of our stockholders. Upon conversion of the Notes, we have the option to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. If we elect to settle our conversion obligation in shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, any sales in the public
 
market of our common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the Notes may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the Notes could be used to satisfy short positions, or anticipated conversion of the Notes into shares of our common stock could depress the price of our common stock.
The accounting method for the Notes could adversely affect our reported financial condition and results [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
The accounting method for the Notes could adversely affect our reported financial condition and results.
The accounting method for reflecting the Notes on our balance sheet, accruing interest expense for the Notes and reflecting the underlying shares of our common stock in our reported diluted earnings per share may adversely affect our reported earnings and financial condition.
In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Update
2020-06
(“ASU
2020-06”),
we expect that the Notes we are offering will be reflected as a liability on our balance sheets, with the initial carrying amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes, net of issuance costs. The issuance costs will be treated as a debt discount for accounting purposes, which will be amortized into interest expense over the term of the Notes. As a result of this amortization, the interest expense that we expect to recognize for the Notes for accounting purposes will be greater than the cash interest payments we will pay on the Notes, which will result in lower reported income.
In addition, we expect that the shares of common stock underlying the Notes will be reflected in our diluted earnings per share using the “if converted” method, in accordance with ASU
2020-06.
Under that method, diluted earnings per share would generally be calculated assuming that all the Notes were converted solely into shares of common stock at the beginning of the reporting period, unless the result would be anti-dilutive. The application of the
if-converted
method may reduce our reported diluted earnings per share.
In addition, in the future, we may, in our sole discretion, irrevocably elect to settle the conversion value of the Notes in cash up to the principal amount being converted. Following such an irrevocable election, if the conversion value of the Notes exceeds their principal amount for a reporting period, then we will calculate our diluted earnings per share by assuming that all of the Notes were converted at the beginning of the reporting period and that we issued shares of our common stock to settle the excess, unless the result would be anti-dilutive.
We have not reached a final determination regarding the accounting treatment for the Notes. In addition, accounting standards may change in the future. Accordingly, we may account for the Notes in a manner that is significantly different than described above.
Future sales of our common stock or equitylinked securities in the public market could lower the market price for our common stock and adversely impact the trading price of the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Future sales of our common stock or equity-linked securities in the public market could lower the market price for our common stock and adversely impact the trading price of the Notes.
In the future, we may sell additional shares of our common stock or equity-linked securities to raise capital. In addition, a substantial number of shares of our common stock is reserved for issuance upon the exercise of conversion of the Notes. We cannot predict the size of future issuances or the effect, if any, that they may have on the market price for our common stock. The issuance and sale of substantial amounts of common stock or equity-linked securities, or the perception that such issuances and sales may occur, could adversely affect the trading price of the Notes and the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity or equity-linked securities.
Holders of Notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Holders of Notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock, but they will be subject to all changes made with respect to our common stock to the extent our conversion obligation includes shares of our common stock
.
Holders of Notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock (including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our common stock) prior to the conversion date relating to such Notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering
 
solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), but holders of Notes will be subject to all changes affecting our common stock. For example, if an amendment is proposed to our charter or bylaws requiring stockholder approval and the record date for determining the stockholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to the conversion date related to a holder’s conversion of its Notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), such holder will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although such holder will nevertheless be subject to any changes affecting our common stock.
Upon conversion of the Notes, you may receive less valuable consideration than expected because the value of our common stock may decline after you exercise your conversion right but before we settle our conversion obligation [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Upon conversion of the Notes, you may receive less valuable consideration than expected because the value of our common stock may decline after you exercise your conversion right but before we settle our conversion obligation.
Under the Notes, a converting holder will be exposed to fluctuations in the value of our common stock during the period from the date such holder surrenders Notes for conversion until the date we settle our conversion obligation.
Upon conversion of the Notes, we have the option to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. If we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation in cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, the amount of consideration that you will receive upon conversion of your Notes will be determined by reference to the volume-weighted average price of our common stock for each trading day in a 40 trading day observation period. If the price of our common stock decreases during this period, the amount and/or value of consideration you receive will be adversely affected. In addition, if the market price of our common stock at the end of such period is below the average volume-weighted average price of our common stock during such period, the value of any shares of our common stock that you will receive in satisfaction of our conversion obligation will be less than the value used to determine the number of shares that you will receive.
If we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation solely in shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Notes, we will be required to deliver the shares of our common stock, together with cash for any fractional share, on the second business day following the relevant conversion date. Accordingly, if the price of our common stock decreases during this period, the value of the shares that you receive will be adversely affected and would be less than the conversion value of the Notes on the conversion date.
The increase in the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a makewhole fundamental change [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
The increase in the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption may not adequately compensate you for any lost value of your Notes as a result of such transaction or redemption.
If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date or if we deliver a notice of redemption, we will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of our common stock for Notes converted in connection with such make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption. The increase, if any, in the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption may not adequately compensate you for any lost value of your Notes as a result of such transaction or redemption. In addition, if the “stock price” (as defined below under “
Description of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Increase in Conversion Rate upon Conversion upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption
”) is greater than $32.50 per share or less than $23.65 per share (in each case, subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate. Moreover, in no event will the conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of Notes as a result of this adjustment exceed 42.2834 shares of common stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under “
Description of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Conversion Rate Adjustments
.”
 
Our obligation to increase the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change or a notice of redemption could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.
The conversion rate of the Notes may not be adjusted for all dilutive events [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
The conversion rate of the Notes may not be adjusted for all dilutive events.
The conversion rate of the Notes is subject to adjustment for certain events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of certain stock dividends on our common stock, the issuance of certain rights or warrants, subdivisions, combinations, distributions of capital stock, indebtedness, or assets, cash dividends (excluding regular monthly dividends in an amount that do not exceed $0.165 per share) and certain issuer tender or exchange offers as described below under “
Description of the Notes—Conversion Rights—Conversion Rate Adjustments
.” However, the conversion rate will not be adjusted for other events, such as a third-party tender or exchange offer or an issuance of common stock for cash, that may adversely affect the trading price of the Notes or our common stock. An event that adversely affects the value of the Notes may occur, and that event may not result in an adjustment to the conversion rate.
Some significant restructuring transactions may not constitute a fundamental change, in which case we would not be obligated to offer to repurchase the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Some significant restructuring transactions may not constitute a fundamental change, in which case we would not be obligated to offer to repurchase the Notes.
Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, you have the right to require us to repurchase all or any portion of your Notes. However, the fundamental change provisions will not afford protection to holders of Notes in the event of other transactions that could adversely affect the Notes. For example, transactions such as leveraged recapitalizations, refinancings, restructurings, or acquisitions initiated by us may not constitute a fundamental change requiring us to offer to repurchase the Notes. In the event of any such transaction, the holders would not have the right to require us to repurchase Notes, even though each of these transactions could increase the amount of our indebtedness, or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or any credit ratings, thereby adversely affecting the holders of Notes.
Certain provisions in the indenture governing the Notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover attempt of us [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Certain provisions in the indenture governing the Notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover attempt of us.
Certain provisions in the indenture governing the Notes may make it more difficult or expensive for a third party to acquire us. For example, the indenture governing the Notes will require us, except as described in this prospectus supplement, to repurchase the Notes for cash upon the occurrence of a fundamental change and, in certain circumstances, to increase the conversion rate for a holder that converts its Notes in connection with a make-whole fundamental change. A takeover of us may trigger the requirement that we repurchase the Notes and/or increase the conversion rate, which could make it costlier for a potential acquirer to engage in such takeover. Such additional costs may have the effect of delaying or preventing a takeover of us that would otherwise be beneficial to investors.
We may be subject to certain corporatelevel taxes, which could adversely affect our cash flow and consequently adversely affect our ability to make payments on the Notes [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
We may be subject to certain corporate-level taxes, which could adversely affect our cash flow and consequently adversely affect our ability to make payments on the Notes.
We currently are a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes and intend to continue to qualify each year as a RIC. In order to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC, we generally must satisfy certain
source-of-income,
asset diversification and distribution requirements. As long as we so qualify, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent that we distribute investment company taxable income and net capital gain on a timely basis. We may, nonetheless, be subject to certain corporate-level taxes regardless of whether we continue to qualify as a RIC. Additionally, should we fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment, we would be subject to corporate-level taxes on all of our taxable income. The imposition of corporate-level taxes could adversely affect our cash flow and consequently adversely affect our ability to make payments on the Notes.
You may be subject to tax if we make or fail to make certain adjustments to the conversion rate of the Notes even though you do not receive a corresponding cash distribution [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
You may be subject to tax if we make or fail to make certain adjustments to the conversion rate of the Notes even though you do not receive a corresponding cash distribution.
The conversion rate of the Notes is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including the payment of cash dividends (excluding regular monthly cash dividends in an amount that does not exceed $0.165 per share). If the conversion rate is adjusted as a result of a distribution that is taxable to our common stockholders, such as a cash dividend, you may be deemed to have received a dividend subject to U.S. federal income tax without the receipt of any cash. In addition, a failure to adjust (or to adjust adequately) the conversion rate after an event that increases your proportionate interest in us could be treated as a deemed taxable dividend to you. If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date or if we deliver a notice of redemption, under some circumstances, we will increase the conversion rate for Notes converted in connection with the make-whole fundamental change or notice of redemption, as the case may be. Such increase also may be treated as a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a dividend. See “
Material United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences
.” If you are a
non-U.S.
Holder (as defined below under “
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
”), any deemed dividend would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty, which may be set off against subsequent payments on the Notes or any common stock received upon conversion thereof or from any proceeds of any subsequent sale, exchange or other disposition of such Notes (including the retirement of such Notes) or such common stock by such
non-U.S.
Holder or other funds or assets of such
non-U.S.
Holder. See “
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
” in this prospectus supplement and the section titled “
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
” in the accompanying prospectus.
Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may allocate the net proceeds from this offering in ways that you and other securityholders may not approve [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may allocate the net proceeds from this offering in ways that you and other securityholders may not approve.
Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “
Use of Proceeds
,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used in ways with which you may not agree or may not otherwise be considered appropriate. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. The failure of our management to use these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may invest a portion of net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to us or our stockholders.
Common Shares [Member]  
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] Common Stock
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 44,000,000
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] 22,329,852
6.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]  
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] 6.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 6,000,000
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] 647,820
5.125% Notes due 2026 [Member]  
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] 5.125% Notes due 2026
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 150,000,000
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] 150,000,000
3.75% Notes due 2027 [Member]  
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] 3.75% Notes due 2027
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 50,000,000
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] 50,000,000
7.75% Notes due 2028 [Member]  
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] 7.75% Notes due 2028
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 57,000,000
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] 57,000,000