Form 8-K Filing

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) May 22, 2012 


Fifth Street Finance Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware

1-33901

26-1219283
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)



10 Bank Street, 12th Floor, White Plains, NY

10606
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (914) 286-6800



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))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On May 22, 2012 the Registrant issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    Exhibit 99.1.       Press release dated May 22, 2012


SIGNATURE

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    Fifth Street Finance Corp.
(Registrant)


May 22, 2012
(Date)
  /s/   BERNARD D. BERMAN
Bernard D. Berman
President


  Exhibit Index
  99.1 Press release dated May 22, 2012






Fifth Street Finance Corp. Receives Second SBIC License

EXHIBIT 99.1

Fifth Street Finance Corp. Receives Second SBIC License

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fifth Street Finance Corp. (Nasdaq:FSC) ("Fifth Street") today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fifth Street Mezzanine Partners V, L.P. (the "SBIC Subsidiary") has received a license from the United States Small Business Administration ("SBA") to operate as a Small Business Investment Company ("SBIC"). This is the second SBIC license granted to Fifth Street through its SBIC subsidiaries.

Fifth Street has previously deployed $150 million in debentures pursuant to its first SBIC license. Current SBA regulations would permit the SBIC Subsidiary to issue up to $75 million in debentures.

"We are delighted that the SBA has granted us a second license, which allows us to continue providing flexible financing solutions to smaller companies," said Bernard Berman, Fifth Street's President. "We have cultivated a well-diversified financing platform that enables us to support companies seeking to attain the next level of growth."

About Fifth Street Finance Corp.

Fifth Street Finance Corp. is a specialty finance company that lends to and invests in small and mid-sized companies, primarily in connection with investments by private equity sponsors. Fifth Street Finance Corp.'s investment objective is to maximize its portfolio's total return by generating current income from its debt investments and capital appreciation from its equity investments.

The Fifth Street Finance Corp. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5525

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements with regard to the future performance of Fifth Street Finance Corp. Words such as "believes," "expects," "projects," "anticipates," and "future" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements, and these factors are identified from time to time in Fifth Street Finance Corp.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fifth Street Finance Corp. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Investor Contact:
         Alexander C. Frank, Chief Financial Officer
         Fifth Street Finance Corp.
         (914) 286-6855
         ir@fifthstreetfinance.com

         Media Contact:
         Steve Bodakowski
         CJP Communications
         (203) 254-1300 ext. 141
         CJP-FifthStreet@CJPCom.com