Prospectus excerpt:  We are offering 600,000 shares of our 8.50% Series 2017 preferred stock, or the ŮSeries 2017 Term Preferred Shares.ˆ We will pay monthly dividends on the Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares at an annual rate of 8.50% of the $25 liquidation preference per share, or $2.125 per Series 2017 Term Preferred Share per year, on the last business day of each month, commencing on December 31, 2012.

We are required to redeem all of the outstanding Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares on December 31, 2017 at a redemption price equal to $25 per share plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends, if any, to the date of redemption. We cannot effect any amendment, alteration or repeal of our obligation to redeem all of the Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares on December 31, 2017 without the prior unanimous consent of the holders of Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares. If we fail to maintain an asset coverage ratio of at least 200% (as described in this prospectus supplement), we will redeem a portion of the outstanding Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares in an amount at least equal to the lesser of (1) the minimum number of shares of Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares necessary to cause us to meet our required asset coverage ratio and (2) the maximum number of Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares that we can redeem out of cash legally available for such redemption. At any time on or after December 31, 2014, at our sole option, we may redeem the Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares at a redemption price per share equal to the sum of the $25 liquidation preference per share plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends, if any, on the Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares.

Each holder of our Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares (and any other preferred stock we may issue in the future) will be entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder on any matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, and the holders of all of our outstanding preferred stock and common stock will vote together as a single class. The holders of the Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares (together with any other preferred stock we may issue in the future), voting separately as a class, will elect at least two of our directors and, upon failure to pay dividends for at least two years, will elect a majority of our directors.

The Series 2017 Term Preferred Shares will rank equally in right of payment with all other shares of preferred stock that we may issue and will rank senior in right of payment to all of our common stock.