Gladstone Investment Corporation Reports Financial Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2010



- Net Investment Income for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2010 was $7.6 million and $14.2 million, or $0.34 and $0.65 per share, respectively



- Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2010 was $15.1 million and $13.6 million, or $0.69 and $0.62 per share, respectively

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gladstone Investment Corporation (Nasdaq: GAIN) (the "Company") today announced earnings for the third quarter ended December 31, 2010.  All per share references are per basic and diluted weighted average common share outstanding, unless noted otherwise.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101005/GLADSTONEINVESTMENT)

Net Investment Income for 3 Months:  Net Investment Income for the quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $7.6 million, or $0.34 per share, and $3.1 million, or $0.14 per share, respectively, an increase in Net Investment Income of 147.0%.  The increase in Net Investment Income was primarily driven by income recognized during the current quarter from the sale of one of the Company's portfolio companies, Chase II Holding Corp. ("Chase"), which was partially offset by lower interest income resulting from a reduction in the size of the Company's investment portfolio prior to September 30, 2010.

Net Investment Income for 9 Months:  Net Investment Income for the nine months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $14.2 million, or $0.65 per share, and $7.9 million, or $0.36 per share, respectively, an increase in Net Investment Income of 80.5%. The increase in Net Investment Income was primarily driven by income recognized during the nine months ended December 31, 2010 from the sales of two portfolio companies, A. Stucki Holding Corp. ("A. Stucki") and Chase, and income recognized from the prepayments of success fees by certain portfolio companies, partially offset by lower interest income resulting from a reduction in the size of the Company's investment portfolio subsequent to December 31, 2009.

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations for 3 Months:  Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations for the quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $15.1 million, or $0.69 per share, and ($4.4 million), or ($0.20) per share, respectively. The increase in the Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations between the quarter ended December 31, 2010 and the prior year's period was primarily due to the net gain (loss) on the Company's investment portfolio.  The Company recorded a net gain on investments of $7.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, compared to a net loss of $7.5 million for the prior year period, which was largely impacted by significant devaluations, primarily in the Company's equity holdings of its Control investments.

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations for 9 Months:  Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $13.6 million, or $0.62 per share, and ($31.7) million, or ($1.44) per share, respectively. The increase in the Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations between the nine months ended December 31, 2010 and the prior year period was primarily due to the large net loss on the Company's investment portfolio during the prior year period.  The Company recorded a net loss on investments of $0.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2010, compared to a net loss on investments of $39.6 million for the prior year period, which was largely impacted by significant devaluations, primarily in the Company's equity holdings of its Control investments.

Investment Portfolio Fair Value:  The aggregate investment portfolio appreciated during the quarter ended December 31, 2010, primarily due to notable appreciations in the equity of certain of the Company's proprietary investments.  As of December 31, 2010, the entire portfolio was fair valued at 77.1% of cost, compared to 90.9% as of March 31, 2010.  The decrease was primarily due to the monetization of A. Stucki and Chase, both of which had significant unrealized appreciation as of March 31, 2010.

Net Asset Value:  Net asset value was $9.00 per share outstanding at December 31, 2010, as compared to $8.74 per share outstanding at March 31, 2010.

Asset Characteristics:  Total assets were $277.9 million at December 31, 2010, as compared to $297.2 million at March 31, 2010. At December 31, 2010, the Company had investments in 17 portfolio companies with an aggregate cost basis of $195.9 million and an aggregate fair value of $151.1 million.  As of December 31, 2010, the Company's investment portfolio at fair value was comprised of 79.7% in debt securities and 20.3% in equity securities.  Additionally, the Company held $80.0 million in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2010, including $67.4 million from a short-term loan that was subsequently repaid.

Investment Yield:  The annualized weighted average yield on the Company's portfolio, excluding cash and cash equivalents, was 10.8% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, as compared to 10.7% for the quarter ended December 31, 2009.  The weighted average yield varies from period to period based on the current stated interest rate on interest-bearing investments and the amounts of loans for which interest is not accruing.  The increase in the weighted average yield for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 resulted primarily from the Company's sales and exits of lower interest-bearing loans.

Highlights for Quarter:  During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the following significant events occurred:


Comments from President Dave Dullum:  "We are finding an increase in the number of new investment opportunities consistent with our investing strategy, as demonstrated by our new investments in Venyu and Precision during the quarter.  Additionally, we continue to devote management resources to our existing portfolio, which is performing well, and, where prudent, we are seeking to execute on strategic liquidity events, as we did with Chase.  We hope to finish out the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2011 with continued investment activity and to carry that momentum into the next fiscal year."

Subsequent Events:  After December 31, 2010, the following occurred:


Declared


X-Date


Record Date


Payment Date


Cash Distribution


January 11

January 19

January 21

January 31

$0.04

January 11

February 16*

February 21

February 28

0.04

January 11

March 17

March 21

March 31

0.04

Total for the Quarter:

0.12



*Please note that the Company's press release, dated January 11, 2011, had erroneously used an ex-dividend date of February 17, 2011.  The proper ex-dividend date for the February dividend is February 16, 2011.



Summary Information:  The following chart is a summary of some of the information reported above (dollars in thousands, except per share data):


December 31, 2010


December 31, 2009

For quarter ended:






   Net investment income

$

7,591



$

3,073


   Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

15,135



(4,420)


   Average yield on portfolio

10.81%



10.68%


   Total dollars invested

$

36,622



$

595


   Total dollars repaid

21,130



4,496








For 9 months ended:






   Net investment income

14,238



7,889


   Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

13,643



(31,699)


   Average yield on portfolio

10.61%



10.16%


   Total dollars invested

$

41,616



$

2,413


   Total dollars repaid

61,774



14,828








As of:

December 31, 2010


March 31, 2010

   Fair value as a percent of cost

77.1%



90.9%


   Net asset value per share

$

9.00



$

8.74


   Number of investments

17



16


   Total assets

$

277,940



$

297,161




Conference Call for Stockholders: The Company will hold a conference call Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 8:30 am EST.  Please call (800) 860-2442 to enter the conference.  An operator will monitor the call and set a queue for the questions. A replay of the conference call will be available through March 3, 2011.  To hear the replay, please dial (877) 344-7529 and use conference number 447110.  The replay will be available approximately one hour after the call concludes.

The live audio broadcast of the Company's quarterly conference call will be available online at www.GladstoneInvestment.com. The event will be archived and available for replay on the Company's website through April 2, 2011.

Warning: The financial statements below are without footnotes, so readers should obtain and carefully review the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, including the footnotes to the financial statements contained therein. The Company has filed the Form 10-Q today with the SEC, which can be retrieved from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from the Company's website at www.GladstoneInvestment.com. A paper copy can be obtained free of charge by writing to the Company at 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 200, McLean, VA  22102.

Who we are:  Gladstone Investment Corporation is a publicly traded business development company that seeks to make debt and equity investments in small and mid-sized businesses in the United States in connection with acquisitions, changes in control and recapitalizations. Information on the business activities of all the Gladstone funds can be found at www.gladstonecompanies.com.

For Investor Relations inquiries related to any of the monthly dividend paying Gladstone funds, please visit www.gladstone.com.

The statements in this press release regarding the soundness and performance of the Company's portfolio, the Company's projected investment activities, the Company's ability to generate liquidity events and provide financial support to existing portfolio companies and other such statements are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements inherently involve certain risks and uncertainties, although they are based on the Company's current plans that are believed to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include, among others, the duration and effects of current economic instability, the Company's ability to access debt and equity capital and those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" of the Company's Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (No. 333-160720) as filed with the SEC on November 22, 2010. The risk factors set forth in the Form N-2 under the caption "Risk Factors" are specifically incorporated by reference into this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

(UNAUDITED)




December 31,


March 31,



2010


2010






ASSETS





Cash and cash equivalents


$

79,963


$

87,717

Investments at fair value





   Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments (Cost of $15,784 and $22,674, respectively)


14,565


20,946

   Control investments (Cost of $134,293 and $152,166, respectively)


101,791


148,248

   Affiliate investments (Cost of $45,805 and $52,727, respectively)


34,754


37,664

       Total investments (Cost of $195,882 and $227,567, respectively)


151,110


206,858

Interest receivable


748


1,234

Due from custodian


40,289


935

Deferred financing fees


480


83

Prepaid assets


319


221

Other assets


5,031


113

TOTAL ASSETS


$

277,940


$

297,161






LIABILITIES





Borrowings at fair value





   Short-term loan (Cost of $67,400 and $75,000, respectively)


$

67,400


$

75,000

   Credit Facility (Cost of $8,000 and $27,800, respectively)


8,000


27,812

       Total borrowings (Cost of $75,400 and $102,800, respectively)


75,400


102,812

Accounts payable and accrued expenses


198


206

Fee due to Administrator


143


149

Fees due to Adviser


2,184


721

Other liabilities


1,333


295

TOTAL LIABILITIES


79,258


104,183

NET ASSETS


$

198,682


$

192,978






ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS:





Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 22,080,133
  shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2010


$

22


$

22

Capital in excess of par value


257,216


257,206

Net unrealized depreciation of investment portfolio


(44,772)


(20,710)

Net unrealized depreciation of derivatives


(74)


(39)

Net unrealized appreciation of borrowings


-


(12)

Accumulated net realized investment loss


(13,710)


(43,489)

TOTAL NET ASSETS


$

198,682


$

192,978






NET ASSETS PER SHARE


$

9.00


$

8.74



GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

(UNAUDITED)



Three Months Ended December 31,


Nine Months Ended December 31,


2010


2009


2010


2009

INVESTMENT INCOME








   Interest income








       Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments

$

391


$

489


$

1,175


$

1,840

       Control investments

2,557


2,856


7,701


8,593

       Affiliate investments

970


1,605


3,031


4,533

       Cash and cash equivalents

7


1


21


1

           Total interest income

3,925


4,951


11,928


14,967

   Other income

6,812


970


10,358


1,066

           Total investment income

10,737


5,921


22,286


16,033









EXPENSES








       Loan servicing fee

634


886


2,124


2,892

       Base management fee

343


113


846


588

       Incentive fee

1,898


588


2,949


588

       Administration fee

142


156


582


527

       Interest expense

135


385


558


1,640

       Amortization of deferred financing fees

116


436


383


1,187

       Professional fees

84


182


306


502

       Stockholder related costs

26


49


245


276

       Insurance expense

74


71


219


190

       Directors fees

43


48


152


147

       Other expenses

101


61


314


198

           Expenses before credits from Adviser

3,596


2,975


8,678


8,735

       Credits to fees from Adviser

(450)


(127)


(630)


(591)

           Total expenses net of credits to fees

3,146


2,848


8,048


8,144









NET INVESTMENT INCOME

7,591


3,073


14,238


7,889









REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON:








       Realized gain (loss) on sale of investments

6,514


(1,318)


23,489


(35,922)

       Realized loss on termination of derivative

-


-


-


(53)

       Net unrealized appreciation of Non-Control/Non-Affiliate investments

52


1,383


509


36,597

       Net unrealized depreciation of Control investments

(1,399)


(8,853)


(28,583)


(35,234)

       Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of Affiliate investments

2,373


1,257


4,011


(4,862)

       Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of derivatives

4


(7)


(34)


19

       Net unrealized depreciation (appreciation) of borrowings

-


45


13


(133)

           Net gain (loss) on investments, derivatives and borrowings

7,544


(7,493)


(595)


(39,588)









NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

$

15,135


$

(4,420)


$

13,643


$

(31,699)









NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS PER COMMON SHARE:








           Basic and diluted

$

0.69


$

(0.20)


$

0.62


$

(1.44)









WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING:








           Basic and diluted weighted average shares

22,080,133


22,080,133


22,080,133


22,080,133



GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND PER UNIT DATA)

(UNAUDITED)



Three months ended December 31,


Nine months ended December 31,


2010


2009


2010


2009

Per Share Data(1)








Net asset value at beginning of period

$             8.43


$

8.24


$

8.74


$

9.73









Income  from investment operations








Net investment income(2)

0.34


0.14


0.65


0.36

Realized gain (loss) on exit(2)

0.30


(0.05)


1.06


(1.63)

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(2)

0.05


(0.28)


(1.09)


(0.17)

Total from investment operations

0.69


(0.19)


0.62


(1.44)









Distributions from:








Net investment income

(0.12)


(0.12)


(0.36)


(0.36)

Total distributions(3)

(0.12)


(0.12)


(0.36)


(0.36)









Net asset value at end of period

$           9.00


$

7.93


$

9.00


$

7.93









Per share market value at beginning of period

$           6.75


$

4.83


$

6.01


$

3.67

Per share market value at end of period

7.65


4.56


7.65


4.56

Total return(4)

15.14%


(3.18)%


34.48%


34.06%

Shares outstanding at end of period

22,080,133


22,080,133


22,080,133


22,080,133









Statement of Assets and Liabilities Data:








Net assets at end of period

$     198,682


$

175,001


$

198,682


$

175,001

Average net assets(5)

189,420


179,155


191,299


194,783









Senior Securities Data:








Total borrowings

$      75,400


$

101,883


$

75,400


$

101,883

Asset coverage ratio(6)

343%


270%


343%


270%

Asset coverage per unit(7)

$        3,429


$

2,703


$

3,429


$

2,703









Ratios/Supplemental Data:








Ratio of expenses to average net assets(8), (9)

7.59%


6.64%


6.05%


5.98%

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets(8), (10)

6.64


6.36


5.61


5.57

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(8)

16.03


6.86


9.92


5.40


(1)  Based on actual shares outstanding at the end of the corresponding period.

(2)  Based on weighted average basic per share data.

(3)  Distributions are determined based on taxable income calculated in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from amounts determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(4)  Total return equals the change in the market value of the Company's common stock from the beginning of the period, taking into account dividends reinvested in accordance with the terms of the Company's dividend reinvestment plan.

(5)  Calculated using the average of the balance of net assets at the end of each month of the reporting period.

(6)  As a business development company, the Company is generally required to maintain an asset coverage ratio of at least 200% of total consolidated assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, to total borrowings and guaranty commitments.

(7)  Asset coverage per unit is the asset coverage ratio expressed in terms of dollar amounts per one thousand dollars of indebtedness.

(8)  Amounts are annualized.

(9)  Ratio of expenses to average net assets is computed using expenses before credits from the Adviser.

(10)  Ratio of net expenses to average net assets is computed using total expenses net of credits to the management fee.





CONTACT:  Gladstone Investment Corporation, +1-703-287-5893