UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 14, 2023
FRANKLIN BSP LENDING CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
| 814-00821
| 27-2614444
|
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
9 West 57th Street, Suite 4920
New York, New York | | 10019
|
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 588-6770
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
| None | N/A | N/A |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging Growth Company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
On June 14, 2023, Franklin BSP Lending Corporation (the “Corporation”) held its annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) and submitted two matters to the vote of stockholders. The proposals are described in detail in the Corporation’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2023. As of March 27, 2023, the record date, 230,114,311 shares of common stock were eligible to vote. A summary of the matters voted upon by the stockholders is set forth below.
Proposal 1. The Corporation’s stockholders elected two Class III directors of the Corporation, Ronald J. Kramer and Leslie D. Michelson, each to serve as a director until the 2026 Annual Meeting and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies.
The following votes were taken in connection with this proposal:
Election of Director Ronald J. Kramer:
| Votes For |
| Votes Against |
| Abstain |
| 108,221,354 |
| 0 |
| 7,553,323 |
Election of Director Leslie D. Michelson:
| Votes For |
| Votes Against |
| Abstain |
| 107,990,299 |
| 0 |
| 7,784,378 |
Proposal 2. The proposal to authorize the Corporation, pursuant to approval of its Board of Directors (the “Board”), to sell shares of its common stock in an amount not to exceed 25% of its then outstanding common stock immediately prior to each such sale at a price below the Corporation’s then current net asset value per share during the next year was approved.
The following votes were taken in connection with this proposal:
| Votes For |
| Votes Against |
| Abstain |
| 91,151,384 |
| 17,698,051 |
| 6,925,242 |
This proposal was also approved by the Corporation’s non-affiliated stockholders by a vote of 90,900,723 shares “for” and 17,698,051 shares “against,” with 6,925,242 shares abstaining. The number of votes cast in favor of this proposal represents both a “majority of outstanding voting securities” of the Corporation entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and a “majority of outstanding voting securities” entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting that were not held by “affiliated persons” of the Corporation, each as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
As previously disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement, for purposes of this proposal, the 1940 Act defines “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” as: (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at the Annual Meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation are present or represented by proxy; or (2) 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, whichever is less. Abstentions and broker non-votes had the effect of a vote against this proposal.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| FRANKLIN BSP LENDING CORPORATION |
| |
| Date: June 16, 2023 | By: | /s/ Nina K. Baryski |
| Name: | Nina K. Baryski |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
