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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2014

Securities Act File No. 333-189938

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-2

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

o Pre-Effective Amendment No.
x Post-Effective Amendment No. 1

STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200
Houston, TX 77027

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(713) 292-5400

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Robert T. Ladd
Chief Executive Officer and President
Stellus Capital Investment Corporation
4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200
Houston, TX 77027

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

COPIES TO:

Steven B. Boehm, Esq.
Harry S. Pangas, Esq.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001-3980
Tel: (202) 383-0100
Fax: (202) 637-3593

Approximate date of proposed public offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this form are offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box. x

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-189938) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), solely for the purpose of adding exhibits to such Registration Statement. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 consists only of a facing page, this explanatory note, and Part C of the Registration Statement on Form N-2. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 does not change the form of prospectus relating to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 previously filed with the SEC. As permitted by Rule 462(d), this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 shall become effective upon filing with the SEC.

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STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

PART C
OTHER INFORMATION

Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(1)

Financial statements

None.

(2)

Exhibits


(a)(1)		Articles of Amendment and Restatement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(b)(1)		Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(1) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(c)		Not applicable
(d)(1)		Form of Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(d)(2)		Form of Indenture.⁽³⁾
(d)(3)		Form of Global Note (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(1) filed herewith).
(d)(4)		Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1.⁽³⁾
(d)(5)		Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate.⁽¹⁾
(d)(6)		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.⁽¹⁾
(d)(7)		Form of Subscription Certificate.⁽¹⁾
(d)(8)		First Supplemental Indenture relating to the 6.50% Notes due 2019, between the Registrant and U.S. National Bank Association, as trustee.⁽²⁾
(e)		Dividend Reinvestment Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(f)		Not applicable
(g)(1)		Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Stellus Capital Management, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(g)(2)		Letter Agreement between the Registrant and Stellus Capital Management, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on November 7, 2012).
(h)(1)		Underwriting Agreement, dated April 29, 2014, by and between Registrant, Stellus Capital Management, LLC and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. as representatives of the several underwriters named in Exhibit A thereto.⁽²⁾
(i)		Not applicable
(j)		Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (j) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(k)(1)		Administration Agreement between Registrant and Stellus Capital Management, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(1) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(k)(2)		Form of License Agreement between the Registrant and Stellus Capital Management, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(2) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).

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(k)(3)		Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and the directors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(3) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).


(k)(4)		Form of Purchase Agreement between the Registrant, D. E. Shaw Direct Capital Portfolios, L.L.C. and DC Funding SPV, L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(4) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on November 7, 2012).
(k)(5)		Form of Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement among the Registrant and SunTrust Bank (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(5) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on November 7, 2012).
(k)(6)		Form of Guarantee and Security Agreement among the Registrant and SunTrust Bank (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(6) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on November 7, 2012).
(k)(7)		Form of Senior Secured Term Credit Agreement among the Registrant and SunTrust Bank (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(7) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on November 7, 2012).
(k)(8)		Form of Security Agreement among the Registrant and SunTrust Bank (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(8) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on November 7, 2012).
(k)(9)		Form of Letter Agreement between the Registrant, D. E. Shaw Direct Capital Portfolios, L.L.C. and DC Funding SPV, L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (k)(9) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on November 7, 2012).
(l)		Form of Opinion and Consent of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, special counsel for Registrant.⁽³⁾
(l)(1)		Opinion and Consent of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, counsel to the Registrant.⁽²⁾
(m)		Not applicable
(n)(1)		Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.⁽³⁾
(n)(2)		Report of Grant Thornton LLP with respect to the “Senior Securities” table.⁽³⁾
(p)		Not applicable
(q)		Not applicable
(r)(1)		Code of Ethics of Stellus Capital Investment Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (r)(1) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).
(r)(2)		Code of Ethics of Stellus Capital Management, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (r)(2) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184195), filed on October 23, 2012).

(1)

To be filed by post-effective amendment, if applicable.

(2)

Filed herewith.

(3)

Previously filed as an exhibit to this registration statement.

Item 26. Marketing Arrangements

The information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” on this Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference and any information concerning any underwriters will be contained in an accompanying prospectus supplement, if any.

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Item 27. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution


Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee	$	42,349
FINRA filing fee		49,820
New York Stock Exchange listing fees⁽¹⁾		70,000
Printing expenses⁽¹⁾		100,000
Accounting fees and expenses⁽¹⁾		80,000
Legal fees and expenses⁽¹⁾		200,000
Miscellaneous⁽¹⁾		20,000
Total	$	562,169

(1)

These amounts are estimates.

Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control

None.

Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities

The following table sets forth the approximate number of record holders of the Company’s common stock as of April 30, 2014.


Title of Class	Number of Record Holders
Common Stock, $0.001 par value		23

Item 30. Indemnification

Reference is made to Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, Article VII of the Registrant’s charter and Article XI of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. The Registrant’s charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

The Registrant’s charter authorizes the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while serving as the Registrant’s director or officer and at the Registrant’s request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The Registrant’s bylaws obligate the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while serving as the Registrant’s director or officer and at the Registrant’s request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The charter and bylaws also permit the Registrant to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of the Registrant in any of the capacities described above and any of the Registrant’s employees or agents or any employees or agents of the Registrant’s predecessor. In accordance with the 1940 Act, the Registrant will not indemnify any person for any liability to which such

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person would be subject by reason of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which the Registrant’s charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer in advance of final disposition of a proceeding upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

Adviser and Administrator

The investment advisory agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, Stellus Capital Management LLC (the “investment adviser”) and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from the Registrant for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the investment adviser’s services under the investment advisory agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Registrant.

The administration agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, Stellus Capital Management LLC and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from the Registrant for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of Stellus Capital Management LLC’s services under the administration agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Registrant.

The law also provides for comparable indemnification for corporate officers and agents. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors. The indemnification agreements are intended to provide the Registrant’s directors the maximum indemnification permitted under Maryland law and the 1940 Act. Each indemnification agreement provides that the Registrant shall indemnify

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the director who is a party to the agreement (an “Indemnitee”), including the advancement of legal expenses, if, by reason of his or her corporate status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to or a witness in any threatened, pending, or completed proceeding, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the Registrant.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

A description of any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which the Adviser, and each managing director, director or executive officer of the Adviser, is or has been during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is set forth in Part A of this Registration Statement in the sections entitled “Management.” Additional information regarding the Adviser and its officers and directors is set forth in its Form ADV, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records

All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of:

(1)

the Registrant, Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, 4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200, Houston, TX 77027;

(2)

the Transfer Agent, State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110;

(3)

the Custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110; and

(4)

the Adviser, Stellus Capital Management, LLC, 4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200, Houston, TX 77027.

Item 33. Management Services

Not Applicable.

Item 34. Undertakings

(1)

Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of the shares of common stock covered hereby until it amends its prospectus contained herein if (a) subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement, its net asset value per share of common stock declines more than 10% from its net asset value per share of common stock as of the effective date of this Registration Statement, or (b) its net asset value per share of common stock increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus contained herein.

(2)

Not applicable.

(3)

Registrant undertakes in the event that the securities being registered are to be offered to existing stockholders pursuant to warrants or rights, and any securities not taken by shareholders are to be reoffered to the public, to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent underwriting thereof. Registrant further undertakes that if any public offering by the underwriters of the securities being registered is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, the Registrant shall file a post-effective amendment to set forth the terms of such offering.

(4)

Registrant undertakes:

(a)

to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)

to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii)

to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,

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individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

(iii)

to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(b)

that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(c)

to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

(d)

that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C [17 CFR 230.430C]: Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the Securities Act of 1933 [17 CFR 230.497(b), (c), (d) or (e)] as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933 [17 CFR 230.430A], shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use; and

(e)

that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(i)

any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act of 1933 [17 CFR 230.497];

(ii)

the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act of 1933 [17 CFR 230.482] relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iii)

any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

(f)

To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement, and to suspend any offers or sales pursuant the registration statement until such post-effective amendment has been declared effective under the 1933 Act, in the event the shares of Registrant are trading below its net asset value and either (i) Registrant receives, or has been advised by its independent registered accounting firm that it will receive, an audit report reflecting substantial doubt regarding the Registrant’s ability to continue as a going concern or (ii) Registrant has concluded that a material adverse change has occurred in its financial position or results of operations that has caused the financial statements and other disclosures on the basis of which the offering would be made to be materially misleading.

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(5)

For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of a registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(b)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(6)

The Registrants undertake to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information.

(7)

The Registrant undertakes to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with any rights offering off of the registration statement.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in The City of Houston, in the State of Texas, on the 2nd day of May, 2014.

STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

By:

/s/ Robert T. Ladd

Name: Robert T. Ladd
Title: Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:


Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Robert T. Ladd Robert T. Ladd	Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	May 2, 2014
/s/ W. Todd Huskinson W. Todd Huskinson	Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	May 2, 2014
* Dean D’Angelo	Director	May 2, 2014
* Joshua T. Davis	Director	May 2, 2014
* J. Tim Arnoult	Director	May 2, 2014
* Bruce R. Bilger	Director	May 2, 2014
* Paul Keglevic	Director	May 2, 2014
* William C. Repko	Director	May 2, 2014

*Signed by Robert T. Ladd pursuant to a power of attorney signed by each individual on December 4, 2013.

Exhibit (d)(8)

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

between

STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

Dated as of May 5, 2014

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of May 5, 2014, is between Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of May 5, 2014 (the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of the Company’s unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Indenture.

The Company desires to issue and sell up to $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount (or up to $28,750,000 aggregate principal amount if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Notes is exercised in full) of the Company’s 6.50% Notes due April 30, 2019 (the “Notes”).

Sections 901(4) and 901(6) of the Base Indenture provide that without the consent of Holders of the Securities of any series issued under the Indenture, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to (i) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and (ii) establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 201 and Section 301 of the Base Indenture.

The Company desires to establish the form and terms of the Notes and to modify, alter, supplement and change certain provisions of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes (except as may be provided in a future supplemental indenture to the Indenture (“Future Supplemental Indenture”)).

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes and all acts and things necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding, and legal obligation of the Company and to constitute a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done and performed.

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE I

TERMS OF THE NOTES

Section 1.01. Terms of the Notes. The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

(a) The Notes shall constitute a series of Senior Securities having the title “6.50% Notes due April 30, 2019.” The Notes shall bear a CUSIP number of 858568 207 and an ISIN number of 8585682078.

(b) The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305 of the Base Indenture, and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 303 of the Base Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under the Indenture) shall be $25,000,000 (or up to $28,750,000 aggregate principal amount if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Notes is exercised in full). Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case “Additional Notes”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes. Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Notes herein shall include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.

(d) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 6.50% per annum (the “Applicable Interest Rate”). The date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be May 5, 2014, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2014 (if an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment); the initial interest period will be the period from and including May 5, 2014, to, but excluding, the initial Interest Payment Date, and the subsequent interest periods will be the periods from and including an Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on the Notes will be made at the office of the Trustee located at 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, Attention: Stellus Capital Investment Corporation (6.50% Notes Due April 30, 2019) and at such other address as designated by the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; provided, further, however, that so long as the Notes are registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(e) The Notes shall be initially issuable in global form (each such Note, a “Global Note”). The Global Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this First Supplemental Indenture. Each Global Note shall represent the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar, in accordance with Sections 203 and 305 of the Base Indenture.

(f) The depositary for such Global Notes (the “Depositary”) shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. The Security Registrar with respect to the Global Notes shall be the Trustee.

(g) The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1402 or Section 1403 of the Base Indenture. Covenant defeasance contained in Section 1403 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the covenants contained in Sections 1007, 1008, and 1009 of the Indenture.

(h) The Notes shall be redeemable pursuant to Section 1101 of the Base Indenture and as follows:

(i) The Notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after April 30, 2016, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest payments otherwise payable for the then-current quarterly interest period accrued to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

(ii) Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 1104 of the Base Indenture.

(iii) Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Notes will be done in compliance with the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

(iv) If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Notes, the Trustee will determine the method for selecting the particular Notes to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 1103 of the Base Indenture and the Investment Company Act and the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Notes are listed, in each case to the extent applicable.

(v) Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption hereunder.

(i) The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund pursuant to Section 1201 of the Base Indenture.

(j) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof.

(k) Holders of the Notes will not have the option to have the Notes repaid prior to the Stated Maturity.

(l) The Notes are hereby designated as “Senior Securities” under the Indenture.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 2.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article I of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 101 in appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:

“‘Exchange Act’ means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any statute successor thereto.”

“‘GAAP’ means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the opinions and pronouncements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.”

“‘Investment Company Act’ means the Investment Company act of 1940, as amended, and the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable, and any statute successor thereto.”

ARTICLE III

REMEDIES

Section 3.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 501 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clause (6) thereof with the following:

“(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding, or

(B) adjudges the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approves as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, or

(D) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company,

and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or”.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article X of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Sections 1007, 1008, and 1009 thereto, each as set forth below:

“Section 1007. Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act.

The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto of the Investment Company Act, whether or not the Company continues to be subject to such provisions of the Investment Company Act, but giving effect, in either case, to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Commission.”

“Section 1008. Section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Investment Company Act.

The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto of the Investment Company Act, whether or not the Company is subject to such provisions of the Investment Company Act, except that the Company may declare a cash dividend or distribution, notwithstanding the prohibition contained in Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act, as is necessary in order for the Company to maintain its status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 but only up to such amount; provided, however, that the prohibition in this Section 1008 shall not apply until such time as the Company’s asset coverage has been below the minimum asset coverage required pursuant to Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto of the Investment Company Act for more than six (6) consecutive months.”

“Section 1009. Commission Reports and Reports to Holders.

If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the Commission, the Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Notes and the Trustee for the period of time during which the Notes are Outstanding: (i) within 90 days after the end of the each fiscal year of the Company (which fiscal year ends on December 31), audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company and (ii) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company (other than the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter), unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company. All such financial statements shall be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP.”

ARTICLE V

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Section 5.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 1505 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clause (c) thereof with the following:

“(c) At any meeting of Holders, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $25.00 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by such Holder; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.”

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.01. This First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. This First Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

Section 6.02. In case any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 6.03. This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original, but such counterparts will together constitute but one and the same First Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 6.04. The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument with respect to the Notes. All provisions included in this First Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes, unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture.

Section 6.05. The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

Section 6.06. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the terms and provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities under the Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall not and does not otherwise affect, modify, alter, supplement or change the terms and provisions of any other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding.

Section 6.07. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or any Additional Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture, authenticate the Notes and any Additional Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or any Additional Notes or the proceeds thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

	STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT
	CORPORATION

	By:
	Name: Robert T. Ladd
	Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

	U.S. BANK NATIONAL
	ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

	By:
	Name: Karen R. Beard
	Title: Vice President

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]

Exhibit A – Form of Global Note

This Security is a Global Note within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment and such certificate issued in exchange for this certificate is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful, as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

No.	$
	CUSIP No. 858568 207
	ISIN No. US8585682078

6.50% Notes due April 30, 2019

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Maryland (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $__________ on April 30, 2019 and to pay interest thereon from May 5, 2014 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15 in each year, commencing August 15, 2014, at the rate of 6.50% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. This Security may be issued as part of a series.

Exhibit A – 1

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office of the Trustee located at 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, Attention: Stellus Capital Investment Corporation (6.50% Notes Due 2019) and at such other address as designated by the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; provided, further, however, that so long as this Security is registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

Exhibit A – 2

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

	STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT
	CORPORATION

	By:
	Name: Robert T. Ladd
	Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

Attest

By:
Name: W. Todd Huskinson
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

Exhibit A – 3

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
	as Trustee

	By:
		Authorized Signatory

Exhibit A – 4

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

6.50% Notes due 2019

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Senior Securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of May 5, 2014 (herein called the “Base Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Base Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Base Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities, dated May 5, 2014, by and between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the “First Supplemental Indenture”, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture collectively are herein called the “Indenture”). In the event of any conflict between the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture shall govern and control.

This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, which series is initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $ (or up to $ aggregate principal amount if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Securities is exercised in full). Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Securities, issue additional Securities of this series (in any such case “Additional Securities”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Securities. Any Additional Securities and the existing Securities will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Securities herein shall include the Additional Securities unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented hereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.

The Securities of this series are subject to redemption in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after April 30, 2016, at a redemption price per security equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest payments otherwise payable for the then-current quarterly interest period accrued to the date fixed for redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Securities to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 1104 of the Base Indenture.

Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Securities will be done in compliance with the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Securities, the Trustee or the Depositary, as applicable, will determine the method for selecting the particular Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with their standard operating procedures and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption.

Holders of Securities do not have the option to have the Securities repaid prior to April 30, 2019.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity, security, or both reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for sixty (60) days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and/or security. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Registrar and any agent of the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Registrar may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, or any agent thereof shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

Exhibit (h)(1)

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

(a Maryland Corporation)

$25,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 6.50% Notes due 2019

Underwriting Agreement

April 29, 2014

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

As Representative of the several

Underwriters named in Schedule A

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Each of Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Stellus Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Advisor”) registered as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Advisers Act”), confirms its agreement with the underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is acting as representative (the “Representative”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly (the “Offering”) of $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Notes due 2019 (the “Firm Securities”) as set forth in Schedule A hereof, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 3(b) hereof to purchase up to an additional $3,750,000 aggregate principal amount of [ ]% Notes due 2019 (the “Optional Securities”) to cover overallotments, if any (the Firm Securities and the Optional Securities that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof being collectively referred to as the “Securities”).

The Securities will be issued under an indenture to be dated as of May 5, 2014 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture to be dated as of May 5, 2014 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Securities will be issued to Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to a blanket letter of representations (the “DTC Agreement”), between the Company and DTC. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

The Company has entered into an investment advisory and management agreement, dated as of October 26, 2012 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), with Stellus Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Advisor”), registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Advisers Act”).

The Company has entered into an administration agreement, dated as of October 26, 2012 (the “Administration Agreement”), with the Advisor.

The Company has entered into a License Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2012 (the “License Agreement”), with the Advisor.

This Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the License Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Custody Agreement (as defined below) are collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents.”

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Underwriters deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

Pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (Collectively, the “1940 Act”) on November 7, 2012, the Company filed with the Commission a Notification of Election to be Subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the 1940 Act filed on Form N-54A (the “BDC Election”) (File No. 814-00971) pursuant to which the Company elected to be treated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the 1940 Act. The Company has at all times maintained an election to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) (within the meaning of Section 851(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2012.

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “1933 Act”), the Company has prepared and filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a universal shelf registration statement of Form N-2 (File No. 333-189938), which registers the offer and sale of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and subscription rights of the Company to be issued from time to time by the Company, including the Securities. The registration statement as amended, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, or hereafter becomes effective, including any information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act and deemed to be a part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430C (the “Rule 430C Information”) under the 1933 Act, any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the 1933 Act, and any post-effective amendment thereto, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.”

The base prospectus in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission and declared effective on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter referred to as the “Base Prospectus.” The Base Prospectus and the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated April 29, 2014, that was used prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act relating to the Securities, is herein called the “Preliminary Prospectus.” The Company will file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497, a final prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) supplementing the Base Prospectus (together, the “Final Prospectus”) in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities. The Preliminary Prospectus and Final Prospectus are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Prospectus.”

The Preliminary Prospectus as of the Applicable Time (defined below), together with the information set forth on Schedule B hereto, all considered together, is hereinafter referred to as the “Disclosure Package.”

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

Section 1. Representations and Warranties by the Company.

The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters, as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time (defined below), the Closing Time referred to in Section 3(c) hereof and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 3(b) hereof, as follows:

(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements.

(i) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form N-2 under the 1933 Act. The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus has been issued, and no proceedings for any such purpose, have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information with respect thereto has been complied with.

(ii) At the respective times the Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, became effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time the Preliminary Prospectus or such amendment or supplement thereto or Final Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriters consists of the information described in Section 7(g) below.

(iii) The Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters to the Company consists of the information described in Section 7(g) below. As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement “Applicable Time” means 6:15 p.m. (Eastern time) on April 29, 2014; provided that, if, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company and the Representative have determined that the Disclosure Package included an untrue statement of material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the information therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and have agreed, in connection with the public offering of the Securities, to provide an opportunity to purchasers to terminate their old contracts and enter into new contracts, then “Applicable Time” will refer to the information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new contract.

(iv) The Preliminary Prospectus as of its date complied in all material respects with the 1933 Act, and if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the 1933 Act), was substantially identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this Offering. The Final Prospectus when first filed under Rule 497 and as of its date complied in all material respects with the 1933 Act, and if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the 1933 Act), will be substantially identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this Offering.

(v) The Company will file a registration statement on Form 8-A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “1934 Act”), registering the Securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the 1934 Act, and will take no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Securities under the 1934 Act

(b) Independent Accountant. Grant Thornton LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to certain of the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act.

(c) EGC Status. Since the formation of the Company, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the 1933 Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

(d) Expense Summary. The information set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus in the Fees and Expenses Table has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form N-2 and to the extent estimated or projected, such estimates or projections are believed to be reasonably based.

(e) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package present fairly the financial position of the Company as of and at the dates indicated and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. Other than the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, no other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement. All adjustments to historical financial information to arrive at pro forma financial information are reasonably based. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the 1934 Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act, to the extent applicable.

(f) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that its financial reporting is reliable and its financial statements for external purposes are prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(g) Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act) that are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer by others within the Company.

(h) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, net asset value, prospects, business or operations of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (any such change or effect, where the context so requires is called a “Material Adverse Change” or a “Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business or entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company.

(i) Good Standing of the Company. The Company is duly incorporated and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Transaction Agreements. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(j) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any investments or shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or other entity other than (i) Stellus Capital SBIC, LP (“SBIC Subsidiary”), (ii) those corporations or other entities described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Portfolio Companies” (each a “Portfolio Company” and collectively, the “Portfolio Companies”) and (iii) 100% interests in tax blocker companies that hold equity interests in one or more Portfolio Companies. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company does not control (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act), any of the Portfolio Companies.

(k) Portfolio Assets. The Company and/or one of its subsidiaries have duly authorized, executed and delivered the agreements (the “Investment Documents and Agreements”) required to make the investments in the Portfolio Companies. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, each Portfolio Company described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the heading “Portfolio Companies” is current in all material respects with all of its obligations under the applicable Investment Documents and Agreements and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event of default (or a default which with the giving of notice or the passage of time would become an event of default) has occurred or is continuing under such Investment Documents and Agreements.

(l) Officers and Directors. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, no person is serving or acting as an investment adviser, officer or director of the Company except in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, no director of the Company is (i) an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company or (ii) an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any Underwriter. For purposes of this section, the Company shall be entitled to reasonably rely on representations from such officers and directors.

(m) Business Development Company Election. The Company has duly elected to be regulated by the Commission as a BDC under the 1940 Act. The Company has not filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the BDC Election pursuant to Section 54(c) of the 1940 Act, the BDC Election remains in full force and effect, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of the BDC Election under the 1940 Act has been issued or proceedings therefore initiated or threatened by the Commission. The operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940 Act, including the provisions applicable to BDCs.

(n) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package as of the date thereof under the caption “Capitalization.” All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and have been offered and sold or exchanged by the Company in compliance with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, federal and state securities laws). None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any security holder of the Company. No shares of preferred stock of the Company have been designated, offered, sold or issued and none of such shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, if any, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

(o) Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder, when duly executed, authenticated and issued as provided in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law) (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”), and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. The Securities will conform in all material respects to the description of the Securities contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(p) Due Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of Transaction Documents. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company; each of the License Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Custody Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each of which constitutes a valid and binding and enforceable agreement of the Company, subject, as to enforcement, to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(q) Indenture. Each of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Indenture conforms in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to an indenture that is qualified thereunder. The Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(r) No Default. The Company is not in violation of or default under (i) its charter, bylaws or similar organizational documents, (ii) any of the Transaction Agreements, any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument, including any Investment Documents and Agreements, to which it is a party or bound or to which any of its properties or assets are subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, as applicable, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) herein, for such violations or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as provided herein, no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with or by reason of the offer and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby.

(s) Approval; Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Transaction Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the issuance and sale of the Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other required action, have been effected in accordance with Section 23(b) of the 1940 Act (which is made applicable to BDCs pursuant to Section 63 of the 1940 Act), as applicable, and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, result in any violation of the provisions of the charter, bylaws and other organizational documents of the Company, as amended from time to time, or any statute, law, rule, regulation, filing, judgment, order, injunction, writ or decree applicable to the Company or any of its assets, properties or operations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) do not and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any existing instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, license, qualification or decrees of, authorization or order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, or any of the Transaction Agreements or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, except such as have already been obtained or made under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(t) Accuracy of Statements. The statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Summary of the Specific Terms of the Notes and the Offering”, “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Our Debt Securities”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, are accurate, complete and fair. The statements contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as they purport to summarize certain provisions of the United States federal income tax law and regulations, are accurate summaries of such provisions in all material respects and fairly present such law and regulations.

(u) Absence of Labor Dispute. As of the date hereof, the Company does not have, and as of the Closing Time the Company will not have, any employees. To the knowledge of the Company, no labor dispute with the employees of the Advisor exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.

(v) Material Agreements. The Company has entered into or adopted (i) a Custody Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company that complies with Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and (ii) a Stock Transfer Agency & Service Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company in order to implement the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan (the Custody Agreement and the Stock Transfer Agreement, together with the Transaction Agreements are collectively referred to as the “Material Agreements”). Each Material Agreement required to be described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus has been accurately and fully described in all material respects. The Company has not sent or received notice of, or otherwise communicated or received communication with respect to, termination of any Material Agreement, nor has any such termination been threatened by any person.

(w) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company owns, has been licensed or otherwise possesses sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted intellectual property rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, none of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of its officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.

(x) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company possesses such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its business, and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) Title to Property. The Company owns or leases or has access to all properties and assets as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted and as described in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(z) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or the Disclosure Package (other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Transaction Agreements or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or the Disclosure Package or to be filed as exhibits thereto by the 1933 Act that have not been so described and filed as required.

(bb) Regulated Investment Company. The Company qualified to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, for its taxable years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013. The Company is in compliance with the requirements of the Code necessary to continue to qualify as a RIC. The Company intends to direct the investment of the net proceeds of the offering of the Securities and to continue to conduct its activities in such a manner as to comply with the requirements for qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.

(cc) Registered Management Investment Company Status. The Company is not, or after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities will not be, a “registered management investment company” or an entity “controlled” by a “registered management investment company,” as such terms are used under the 1940 Act.

(dd) Insurance. The Company’s directors and officers/errors and omissions insurance policy and the Company’s fidelity bond required by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act at the Closing Time will be in full force and effect; the Company is in compliance with the terms of such policy and fidelity bond in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company under any such policy or fidelity bond as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; the Company has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company does not have any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus.

The Company directly or indirectly maintains insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and business as the Company deems adequate; such insurance insures against such losses and risks to an extent which is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its business; all such insurance is fully in force on the date hereof and will be fully in force at the Closing Time.

(ee) Statistical, Demographic or Market-Related Data. Any statistical, demographic or market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, all such data included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus accurately reflect the materials upon which it is based or from which it was derived.

(ff) Investments. Except for those provided in the 1940 Act and the Code, there are no material restrictions, limitations or regulations with respect to the ability of the Company to invest its assets as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(gg) Tax Law Compliance. The Company has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against it. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined. The Company is not aware of any tax deficiency that has been or might be asserted or threatened against the Company that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) Sales Material. All advertising, sales literature or other promotional material (including “prospectus wrappers,” “broker kits,” “road show slides” and “road show scripts”), whether in printed or electronic form, authorized in writing by or prepared by the Company or the Advisor, for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities (collectively, “sales material”) complied and comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and, if required to be filed with FINRA under FINRA’s conduct rules, were provided to Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, for filing. No sales material contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) Absence of Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Final Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.

(jj) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities of the Company, in connection with letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 2310 in connection with this offering is true, complete and correct in all material respects.

(kk) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(ll) Material Relationship with the Underwriters. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company does not have any material lending or other relationship with a bank or lending institution affiliated with any of the Underwriters.

(mm) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(nn) No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company, except as disclosed in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(oo) Compliance with Laws. The Company (i) is conducting its business in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, decisions, directives and orders except for such failure to comply which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.

(pp) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company and its respective officers and directors (in such capacity) are in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Commission’s published rules promulgated thereunder that are applicable to the Company as of the date hereof.

(qq) No Violation of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, affiliate or other person acting behalf of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such entities or persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”). The Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its other affiliates (other than the Underwriters) have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(rr) No Sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate (other than the Underwriters) or person acting on behalf of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (the “OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use any of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available any such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the OFAC.

(ss) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(tt) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other person that are required to be described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus that have not been described as required.

(uu) Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the Advisor.

The Advisor represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters, as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time referred to in Section 3(c) hereof and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 3(b) hereof, as follows:

(a) No Material Adverse Change. With respect to the Advisor, except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the business, prospects or operations of the Advisor, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (any such change or effect, where the context so requires is called an “Advisor Material Adverse Change” or an “Advisor Material Adverse Effect”), or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in an Advisor Material Adverse Change.

(b) Good Standing. The Advisor is a limited liability company that is duly formed and validly existing as a limited liability company under the laws of the state of Delaware and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company to transact business, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required whether by reason of ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Advisor Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Absence of Default. The Advisor is not in violation of or default under: (i) its certificate of formation or other organizational documents; (ii) any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its properties are subject; or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its properties, as applicable, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) herein, for such violations or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Advisor Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Authorization of Agreements. This Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the License Agreement or any other Transaction Agreements, to the extent a party thereto, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action, executed and delivered by the Advisor and constitute valid, binding and enforceable agreements of the Advisor, subject, as to enforcement, to the Enforceability Exceptions; the Investment Advisory Agreement has not been amended and continues in full force and effect.

(e) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Advisor’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement or the License Agreement, to the extent it is a party thereto, and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and by the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package (i) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Advisor, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Advisor pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any existing instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in an Advisor Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Advisor. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Advisor’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement or any other Transaction Agreements, to the extent a party thereto, or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by the Advisor, except such as have already been obtained or made under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act.

(f) Absence of Labor Dispute. To the knowledge of the Advisor, no labor dispute with the employees of the Advisor exists or, to the knowledge of the Advisor, is imminent.

(g) Intellectual Property Rights. The Advisor owns, has been licensed or otherwise possesses sufficient Intellectual Property Rights reasonably necessary to conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in an Advisor Material Adverse Effect. The Advisor has not received any notice of infringement or conflict with asserted intellectual property rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in an Advisor Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Advisor, none of the technology employed by the Advisor has been obtained or is being used by the Advisor in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Advisor, or any of its respective officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.

(h) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Advisor, threatened, against the Advisor, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or the Disclosure Package (other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in an Advisor Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement, to the extent a party thereto, or the performance by the Advisor of its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings either to which the Advisor is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to have an Advisor Material Adverse Effect.

(i) Absence of Misstatements or Omissions. The description of the Advisor and its business and the statements attributable to the Advisor in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus complied and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(j) Title to Property. The Advisor owns or leases or has access to all properties as are necessary to conduct its business and operations as presently conducted and as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(k) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Advisor possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, the “Advisor Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package; the Advisor is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Advisor Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Advisor Material Adverse Effect; all of the Advisor Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Advisor Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Advisor Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Advisor Material Adverse Effect; and the Advisor has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Advisor Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in an Advisor Material Adverse Effect.

(l) Advisers Act. The Advisor is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement or the Administration Agreement for the Company as contemplated by the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(m) Registered Management Investment Company Status. The Advisor is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be, a “registered management investment company” or an entity “controlled” by a “registered management investment company,” as such terms are defined by the 1940 Act.

(n) Tax Law Compliance. The Advisor has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against it. The Advisor has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Advisor has not been finally determined. The Advisor is not aware of any tax deficiency that has been or might be asserted or threatened against the Advisor that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Insurance. The Advisor maintains insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and business as it deems adequate; such insurance insures against such losses and risks to an extent which is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Advisor and its business.

(p) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Advisor nor any affiliate of the Advisor has taken, nor will the Advisor or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(q) Material Relationship with the Underwriters. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Advisor has no material lending or other relationship with a bank or lending institution affiliated with any of the Underwriters.

(r) Financial Resources. The Advisor has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement and any other Transaction Agreement, to the extent a party thereto, and the Advisor owns, leases or has access to all properties and other assets that are necessary to the conduct of its business and to perform the services, as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(s) Employment Status. The Advisor is not aware that (i) any executive, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, if any, or the Advisor, as applicable, plans to terminate employment with the Company or the Advisor, as applicable, or (ii) any such executive or key employee is subject to any non-compete, nondisclosure, confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company or the Advisor, except where such termination or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Advisor and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Advisor, to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

Section 3. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

(a) Firm Securities. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price of 97.5% of the aggregate principal amount thereof (representing a public offering price of 100%, less an underwriting discount of 2.5%) the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of issuance, plus any additional amount of Firm Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 hereof.

(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional $3,750,000 principal amount of Option Securities in the aggregate, at the purchase price set forth in Section 3(a) above (without giving effect to any accrued interest from the Closing Time to the relevant Date of Delivery). The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Firm Securities upon notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the amount of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representative, but shall not be later than seven (7) full business days and no earlier than three (3) full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total amount of Option Securities then being purchased which the amount of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total amount of Firm Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representative in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of a fractional amount of Option Securities plus any additional amount of Option Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 hereof.

(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of the Firm Securities shall be made at the offices of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20001, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11), or such other time not later than ten (10) business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “Closing Time”). In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representative to the Company.

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. The Representative, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Firm Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

(d) Denominations; Registration. The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in one or more global securities in book-entry form, will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor. The Company will cause the global securities representing the Securities to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to each Date of Delivery with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”).

Section 4. Covenants.

The Company and the Advisor, jointly and severally, covenant with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to Section 4(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430C, and will notify the Representative as soon as practicable, and, in the case of clauses (ii)-(iv) of this Section 4(a), confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the Final Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Final Prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Final Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect the filings required by Rule 497 and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 497 was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement pursuant to the 1933 Act, and, if any such stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(b) Filing of Amendments. The Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement, or any supplement or revision to either the Disclosure Package or to the Final Prospectus, and will furnish the Underwriters with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. Upon request the Company will deliver to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 4(b), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(f) Amendments or Supplements to the Disclosure Package. If there occurs an event or development as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented (at the sole cost and expense of the Company).

(g) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Representative, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States (or outside of the United States) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that the Securities are “covered securities” that are exempt from state regulation of securities offerings pursuant to Section 18 of the 1933 Act; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(h) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package under “Use of Proceeds.”

(j) Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to effect, within 30 days of the date of the First Date of Delivery, the listing of the Securities on the NYSE;

(k) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 45 days from the date of the Final Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing.

(l) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act within the time periods required by the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act.

(m) Subchapter M. The Company will use its best efforts to maintain in effect its qualification and election to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

(n) No Manipulation of Market for Securities. Except for the authorization of actions permitted to be taken by the Underwriters as contemplated herein or in the Prospectus, the Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities in violation of federal or state securities laws.

(o) Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the 1933 Act.

(p) ECG Status. The Company agrees to promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act and (b) completion of the Lock-Up Period.

Section 5. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisers, (v) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, any sales material and any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties), (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Memorandum and any Canadian “wrapper” and any supplements thereto, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under any applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as necessary, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith, and for the listing of the Securities on the NYSE, (x) the fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Securities, and (xi) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged or approved by the Company in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants.

(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or Section 10(a) hereof, the Company shall reimburse, or arrange for an affiliate to reimburse, the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

Section 6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.

The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Advisor, contained in Section 1 and Section 2 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company and the Advisor delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Advisor of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective and at the Closing Time no stop order or other temporary or permanent order or decree (whether under the 1933 Act or otherwise) suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus shall have been issued or otherwise be in effect, and no proceedings with respect to either shall have been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430C Information shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 (or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430C).

(b) Opinions of Counsel for the Company and the Advisor. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinions and disclosure letter, dated as of the Closing Time, from Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, counsel for the Company and the Advisor, as to matters set forth in Schedule C hereto.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Representative such written opinion or opinions, dated such Date of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(d) Officers’ Certificate of the Company. At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change, and the Representative shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such Material Adverse Change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1 hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, pursuant to Section 8(d) of the 1933 Act, has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, are pending or are contemplated by the Commission.

(e) Officer’s Certificate of the Advisor. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Advisor dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties in Section 2 hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, and (ii) the Advisor has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Time.

(f) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate. At the time of the execution of this Agreement and at the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, covering certain financial matters of the Company.

(g) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Grant Thornton LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(h) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from Grant Thornton LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 6(f) of this Agreement, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) business days prior to the Closing Time.

(i) No Objection. FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(j) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.

(k) BDC Election. The Company shall continue to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act.

(l) DTC Eligibility. The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.

(m) No Rated Securities. The Company has no debt securities or preferred stock that is rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating agency” (as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act).

(n) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 3(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representative shall have received:

(i) Officers’ Certificates of the Company. Certificates, dated such Date of Delivery, of a duly authorized officer and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the information contained in the certificate delivered by each of them at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Officer’s Certificate of the Advisor. Certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of a duly authorized officer of the Advisor confirming that the information contained in the certificate delivered by the Advisor at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 6(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(iii) Opinions of Counsel for the Company and the Advisor. The opinion and disclosure letter of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, acting as counsel for the Company and the opinion of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, acting as counsel for the Advisor, each dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinions required by Section 6(b) hereof.

(iv) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. The opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(c) hereof.

(v) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from Grant Thornton LLP in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) business days prior to the Date of Delivery.

(o) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities, on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 5 and except that Sections 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 13 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

Section 7. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters by Company. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors, officers and employees, and any person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against:

(i) any and all loss, damage, expense, liability or claim whatsoever (including the reasonable cost of any investigation incurred in connection therewith) which, jointly or severally, any such Underwriter or any such person may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430C Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, or in any sales material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, damage, expense, liability or claim whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever arising out of or based upon any such untrue statement or omission referred to in clause (i), or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(e) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representative), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any actual or threatened litigation (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representative), or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under clauses (i) or (ii) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification provisions set forth in this Section 7(a) shall not apply to any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim to the extent arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative or its counsel expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430C Information, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or in any sales material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such written information furnished by any Underwriter to the Company consists of the information set forth in Section 7(g) below. Moreover, that the Company will not be liable to any Underwriter under the indemnity provisions of this Section 7(a) to the extent that (i) any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement or Preliminary Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the Company has informed the Underwriters of such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in writing at least 24 hours prior to the Applicable Time, (iii) the Company has filed an amended Registration Statement with the Commission correcting such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission prior to the Applicable Time, (iv) the Company has provided to the Underwriters an amended Preliminary Prospectus correcting such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at least 24 hours prior to the Applicable Time and requested in writing that the Underwriters deliver such amended Preliminary Prospectus to the persons to whom the Underwriters are selling the Securities, and (v) the Company proves that such loss, claim, damage or liability results from the fact that such Underwriter has sold Securities to a person to whom such Underwriter has failed to deliver such amended Preliminary Prospectus.

(b) Indemnification of Underwriters by the Advisor. The Advisor will indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors, officers and employees, and any person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any and all loss, damage, expense, liability or claim whatsoever (including the reasonable cost of any investigation incurred in connection therewith) which, jointly or severally, any such Underwriter or any such person may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact regarding the Adviser contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430C Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (B) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact regarding the Adviser included in the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, or in any sales material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Advisor and their respective directors, officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Advisor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, damage, expense, liability or claim described in subsection (a) of this Section 7, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430C Information, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or in any sales material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representative or its counsel expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or in any sales material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such written information furnished by any Underwriter to the Company consists of the information set forth in Section 7(g) below.

(d) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 7, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representative, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 7, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(e) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by subsection (a)(ii) of this Section 7 effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement; provided that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying party, prior to the date of such settlement, (1) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such request for the amount of such fees and expenses of counsel as the indemnifying party believes in good faith to be reasonable, and (2) provides written notice to the indemnified party that the indemnifying party disputes in good faith the reasonableness of the unpaid balance of such fees and expenses.

(f) Limitations on Indemnification. Any indemnification by the Company shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release 11330.

(g) Information Provided By Underwriters. The Company, the Advisor and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that [(i) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the “Underwriting” section under the caption “Commissions and Discounts” in the Prospectus, (ii) the information appearing in the “Underwriting” section under the caption “Price Stabilization; Short Positions” in the Prospectus and (iii) the list of underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, which is set forth in the table below the first paragraph appearing in the “Underwriting” section in the Final Prospectus,] constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the Prospectus.

Section 8. Contribution.

If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters (whether from the Company or otherwise), in each case as set forth on the cover of the Final Prospectus bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.

The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director and officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the amount of Firm Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

Any contribution by the Company shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release 11330.

Section 9. Representations and Warranties to Survive Delivery.

All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or the Advisor submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Advisor, and shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters.

Section 10. Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination; General. The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company or the Advisor, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are to be purchased, the Representative may terminate the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase such Option Securities, by notice to the Company or the Advisor, at any time on or prior to the applicable Date of Delivery) (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date of the Final Prospectus, any Material Adverse Change or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date of the Final Prospectus, any Advisor Material Adverse Change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in an Advisor Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business or (iii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any material outbreak of hostilities or material escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (v) if trading in the Company’s securities has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or if trading generally on the NYSE, or the NASDAQ Global Market, has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the NYSE, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York state authorities.

(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 10, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 5 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

Section 11. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.

(a) If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or any Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Underwriters shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Underwriters shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(i) if the amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(ii) if the amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company, or the Advisor.

(b) No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

(c) In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the Underwriters or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven (7) days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 11.

Section 12. Notices.

All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

If to the Underwriters:	with a copy to:

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.	Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
787 Seventh Avenue	One New York Plaza
New York, New York 10019	New York, New York 10004
Attention: General Counsel	Facsimile: (212) 859-8000
	Attention: Paul D. Tropp, Esq.

If to the Company:	If to the Advisor:

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation	Stellus Capital Management, LLC
4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200	4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200
Houston, Texas 77027	Houston, Texas 77027
Facsimile: (713) 292-5450	Facsimile: (713) 292-5450
Attention: W. Todd Huskinson	Attention: W. Todd Huskinson
Chief Financial Officer	Chief Financial Officer

In each case, with a copy to:

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
700 Sixth St., NW
Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20001
Facsimile: (202) 637-3593
Attention: Steven B. Boehm, Esq.

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

Section 13. Parties.

This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company, the Advisor and their respective partners and successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company, the Advisor and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, the Advisor and their respective partners and successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

Section 14. No Fiduciary Obligation.

The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Underwriters have acted, and are acting, solely in the capacity of an arm’s-length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, the Underwriters have not advised, and are not advising, the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matter in any jurisdiction with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions has been and will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and has not been and shall not be on behalf of the Company or any other person. It is understood that the offering price was arrived at through arm’s-length negotiations between the Underwriters and the Company, and that such price was not set or otherwise determined as a result of expert advice rendered to the Company by any Underwriter. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are collectively acting as an independent contractor, and any duty of the Underwriters arising out of this Agreement and the transactions completed hereby shall be contractual in nature and expressly set forth herein. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may have financial interests in the success of the offering contemplated hereby that are not limited to the difference between the price to the public and the purchase price paid to the Company by the Underwriters for the Securities.

Section 15. Research Analyst Independence.

The Company and the Advisor acknowledge that (i) the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies and (ii) the Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company, the value of the Securities and/or the Offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company and the Advisor hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Underwriters’ independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company and/or the Advisor by any Underwriter’s investment banking division. The Company and the Advisor acknowledge that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such, from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that are the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section

16. Governing Law and Time.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SAID STATE. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO EASTERN STANDARD TIME.

Section

17. Effect of Headings.

The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Company, the Advisor and the Underwriters and in accordance with its terms.

[Signature page to follow]

	Very truly yours,

	Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

	By:
		Name: Robert T. Ladd
		Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

	Stellus Capital Management, LLC

	By:
		Name: Robert T. Ladd
		Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature page to the Underwriting Agreement]

Confirmed and Accepted,
as of the date first above written:

KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.

By:
	Name:
	Title:

For itself and as Representative of the Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto

[Signature page to the Underwriting Agreement]

SCHEDULE A

Underwriter	Aggregate Principal Amount of Firm Securities to be Purchased
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.	$	17,500,00

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC		3,750,000

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.		3,750,000

Total	$	25,000,000

SCHEDULE B

$25,000,000

STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

6.50% Notes due 2019

Members of the Underwriters’ selling group orally communicated the following information to their respective customers:

1. The aggregate principal amount of the Firm Securities is $25,000,000.

2. The purchase price for the Securities to be paid by the public shall be 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of issuance.

3. The purchase price for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be 97.5% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

4. The interest rate is 6.50%.

Exhibit (l)(1)

[Letterhead of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP]

May 2, 2014

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200
Houston, TX 77027

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-189938) (as amended as of the date hereof, the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), previously declared effective by the Commission, relating to the public offering of securities of the Company that may be offered by the Company from time to time as set forth in the prospectus dated January 30, 2014, which was included in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement, and which forms a part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), and as may be set forth from time to time in one or more supplements to the Prospectus. This opinion letter is rendered in connection with the public offering of $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”), as described in the Prospectus and a prospectus supplement dated April 29, 2014 (the “Prospectus Supplement”). All of the Notes are to be sold by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and related Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement.

The Notes will be issued pursuant to the indenture, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be entered into between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be entered into between the Company and the Trustee (collectively, the “Indenture”).

As counsel to the Company, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement and have examined the originals or copies of the following:

(i)

the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company (the “Articles”);

(ii)

the Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date of this opinion letter by an officer of the Company (the “Bylaws”);

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

May 2, 2014

Page 2

(iii)

a Certificate of Good Standing with respect to the Company, issued by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (“SDAT”) as of a recent date (the “Certificate of Good Standing”);

(iv)

the resolutions of the board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, of the Company relating to, among other things, (a) the authorization and approval of the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, (b) the authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture, certified as of the date of this opinion letter by an officer of the Company, and (c) the authorization, issuance and sale of the Notes;

(v)

the Indenture; and

(vi)

a specimen copy of the form of the Notes to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the form attached to the Indenture.

As to certain matters of fact relevant to the opinions in this opinion letter, we have relied upon certificates and/or representations of officers of the Company. We have also relied on certificates and confirmations of public officials. We have not independently established the facts, or in the case of certificates or confirmations of public officials, the other statements, so relied upon.

For purposes of our opinions in this opinion letter, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification, that: (a) each document that we have reviewed is accurate and complete, is either an authentic original or a copy that conforms to an authentic original, and the signatures on it are genuine; (b) each governmental or officer’s certificate has been properly issued and it is accurate, complete and authentic (and we have assumed that such certificates remain accurate on the date of this letter); (c) all natural persons have sufficient legal capacity; (d) the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Company; and (e) that the Indenture will be a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties thereto (other than the Company).

This opinion letter is limited to the contract laws of the State of New York, as in effect on the date hereof, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws of such jurisdiction or the laws of any other jurisdictions. Without limiting the preceding sentence, we express no opinion as to any state securities or broker-dealer laws or regulations thereunder relating to the offer, issuance and sale of the Notes. This opinion letter has been prepared, and should be interpreted, in accordance with customary practice followed in the preparation of opinion letters by lawyers who regularly give, and such customary practice followed by lawyers who on behalf of their clients regularly advise opinion recipients regarding, opinion letters of this kind.

Stellus Capital Investment Corporation

May 2, 2014

Page 3

Based upon and subject to the limitations, exceptions, qualifications and assumptions set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that when the Notes are duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee, all in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

The opinion expressed in this opinion letter is subject, as to enforcement, to (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter (a) are strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter, and without limiting the foregoing, no other opinions are to be implied and (b) are only as of the date of this opinion letter, and we are under no obligation, and do not undertake, to advise the addressee of this opinion letter or any other person or entity either of any change of law or fact that occurs, or of any fact that comes to our attention, after the date of this opinion letter, even though such change or such fact may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion in this opinion letter.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement, to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof, and to the reference to our firm in the “Legal Matters” section in the Prospectus Supplement. We do not admit by giving this consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

	Very truly yours,

	/s/ Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2014

Securities Act File No. 333-189938

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-2

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

o Pre-Effective Amendment No. x Post-Effective Amendment No. 1

STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200 Houston, TX 77027

(713) 292-5400

Robert T. Ladd Chief Executive Officer and President Stellus Capital Investment Corporation 4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200 Houston, TX 77027

Steven B. Boehm, Esq. Harry S. Pangas, Esq. Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001-3980 Tel: (202) 383-0100 Fax: (202) 637-3593

EXPLANATORY NOTE

STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION PART C OTHER INFORMATION

Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 26. Marketing Arrangements

Item 27. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control

Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities

Item 30. Indemnification

Adviser and Administrator

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records

Item 33. Management Services

Item 34. Undertakings

SIGNATURES

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

o Pre-Effective Amendment No.
x Post-Effective Amendment No. 1

4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200
Houston, TX 77027

Robert T. Ladd
Chief Executive Officer and President
Stellus Capital Investment Corporation
4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 2200
Houston, TX 77027

Steven B. Boehm, Esq.
Harry S. Pangas, Esq.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001-3980
Tel: (202) 383-0100
Fax: (202) 637-3593

STELLUS CAPITAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

PART C
OTHER INFORMATION