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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) October 28, 2025

 

 

 

FS Specialty Lending Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

814-00841

(Commission

File Number)

 

27-6822130

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

201 Rouse Boulevard

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

19112

(Zip Code)

 

Registrants telephone number, including area code (215) 495-1150

 

(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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

¨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 new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Reorganization Closing

 

As previously announced, on April 22, 2025, the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) approved the conversion of FS Specialty Lending Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”) from a business development company to a closed-end fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) through a merger of the Predecessor Fund (the “Reorganization”) with and into New FS Specialty Lending Fund (the “Fund”), a newly organized Delaware statutory trust registered under the 1940 Act as a closed-end fund, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Reorganization Agreement”), dated as of April 22, 2025, among the Predecessor Fund, the Fund, and, for the limited purposes set forth therein, FS/EIG Advisor, LLC, the investment adviser to the Fund (the “Adviser”).

 

As previously announced, shareholders of the Predecessor Fund approved the Reorganization and the consummation of the related transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement and certain related matters submitted to shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders held on September 26, 2024 and adjourned to October 14, 2025.

 

The Reorganization was completed on October 28, 2025. Following the Reorganization, the Fund changed its name to FS Specialty Lending Fund.

 

The Fund was a newly created shell entity that is registered under the 1940 Act as a closed-end fund, and the Reorganization was intended to effectuate the conversion of the Predecessor Fund from a business development company to closed-end fund registered under the 1940 Act.

 

The Fund intends to seek to list its common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Proposed Listing”). The Proposed Listing is currently expected to occur in mid-November. However, the Proposed Listing is subject to many factors, including, but not limited to, market conditions and board of trustee approval. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to complete the Proposed Listing within the expected time frame or at all. Prior to the completion of the Proposed Listing, the Fund will operate as an unlisted closed-end fund.

 

Entry into Investment Advisory Agreement, Fee Waiver Agreement and Administration Agreement

 

In connection with the closing of the Reorganization, on October 28, 2025, the Fund entered into (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), (ii) a fee waiver agreement (the “Fee Waiver”) and (iii) an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement.”), each between the Fund and the Adviser. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, the Adviser will provide the same services to the Fund that it provided to the Predecessor Fund.

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, prior to the Proposed Listing, the Fund will pay a management fee consisting of a base management fee and an income incentive fee as follows:

 

·a base management fee calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of the Fund’s gross assets; and
·an income incentive fee, calculated quarterly in arrears, equal to 20% of “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to a hurdle rate of 6.5%, calculated as a rate of return on the Fund’s “adjusted capital,” defined as cumulative gross proceeds generated from sales of common shares of the Fund (including proceeds from the Fund’s distribution reinvestment plan), reduced for distributions from non-liquidating dispositions of the Fund’s investments paid to shareholders and amounts paid for share repurchases pursuant to the Fund’s share repurchase program. Additionally, once the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeds the hurdle rate of 1.625% (6.5% annualized), the Adviser will be entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equals 2.031%, or 8.125% annually, of adjusted capital. Thereafter, the Adviser will be entitled to receive 20.0% of the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income.

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, after the Proposed Listing, the Fund will pay a management fee consisting of a base management fee and an income incentive fee as follows:

 

·a base management fee calculated at an annual rate of 1.50% of the Fund’s gross assets; and
·an income incentive fee, calculated quarterly in arrears, equal to 20% of “pre-incentive fee net investment income,” subject to a lower hurdle rate of 6.0%, calculated as a rate of return on the Fund’s net assets. Additionally, once the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in any quarter exceeds the hurdle rate, the Adviser will be entitled to a “catch-up” fee equal to the amount of the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of the hurdle rate, until the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for such quarter equals 1.875%, or 7.5% annually, of net assets. Thereafter, the Adviser will be entitled to receive 20.0% of the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income.

 

 

 

 

The base management fee will be payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee for any partial quarter will be appropriately pro-rated.

 

Pursuant to the Fee Waiver, the Adviser has contractually agreed to (i) waive a portion of the base management fee equal to 0.15% of the Fund’s gross assets and (ii) waive a portion of the income incentive fee, such that the Fund’s income incentive fee will be equal to 10% of “pre-incentive fee net investment income.” The Fee Waiver becomes effective upon the Proposed Listing and will remain in effect until the Fund ceases to be registered under the 1940 Act, unless sooner terminated with the written consent of the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund or the Adviser, as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Adviser will perform, or oversee the performance of, the Fund’s corporate operations and required administrative services, which includes being responsible for the financial records that the Fund is required to maintain and preparing shareholder reports and regulatory filings. In addition, the Adviser will assist the Fund in calculating its net asset value, oversee the preparation and filing of tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to Fund shareholders, and oversee the payment of Fund expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Fund by others. No separate fee is payable to Adviser pursuant to the Administration Agreement; however, the Fund will reimburse the Adviser for expenses related to the provision of administrative and operational services to the Fund.

 

Fund Name Change

 

Following the Reorganization, the Fund changed its name to FS Specialty Lending Fund.

 

Adviser Transaction

 

Concurrently with the closing of the Reorganization, Franklin Square Holdings, L.P. (“FS”) acquired EIG Asset Management, LLC’s interest in the Adviser (the “Adviser Transaction”). As a result of the closing of the Adviser Transaction on October 28, 2025, the Adviser became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of FS, and the Adviser changed its name to FS Specialty Lending Advisor, LLC. The Adviser personnel from FS who provided services to the Fund prior to the closing of the Adviser Transaction will continue to provide services to the Fund.

 

Item 8.01Other Items.

 

The information in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K that is responsive to Item 8.01 is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

 

Item 9.01Exhibits.

 

(d)Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.Description

 

10.1Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser

 

10.2Fee Waiver Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser

 

10.3Administration Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser

 

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND (formerly, NEW FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND)
as successor by merger to FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND
     
Date: October 28, 2025 By: /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
  Name: Stephen S. Sypherd
  Title: General Counsel

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND

AND

FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC

 

This Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made this 28th day of October, 2025, by and between FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Fund and to provide for the administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and the Adviser wishes to be retained to provide such services.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Duties of the Adviser.

 

(a)           Retention of Adviser. The Fund hereby appoints the Adviser to act as an investment adviser to the Fund and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the board of trustees of the Fund (the “Board”), for the period and upon the terms herein set forth, in accordance with:

 

(i)             the investment objectives, policies and restrictions that are set forth in the Fund’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as supplemented, amended or superseded from time to time;

 

(ii)            all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and the Fund’s amended and restated declaration of trust (as may be amended from time to time, the “Declaration of Trust”) and the Fund’s bylaws (as may be amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”); and

 

(iii)           such investment policies, directives and regulatory restrictions as the Fund may from time to time establish or issue and communicate to the Adviser in writing.

 

 

 

 

(b)           Responsibilities of Adviser. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser shall, during the term and subject to the provisions of this Agreement:

 

(i)             determine the composition and allocation of the Fund’s investment portfolio, the nature and timing of any changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes;

 

(ii)            identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the investments made by the Fund;

 

(iii)           execute, monitor and service the Fund’s investments;

 

(iv)           place orders with respect to, and arrange for, any investment by the Fund;

 

(v)           determine the securities and other assets that the Fund shall purchase, retain, or sell;

 

(vi)           perform due diligence on prospective portfolio companies; and

 

(vii)          provide the Fund with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Fund may, from time to time, reasonably request or require for the investment of its funds.

 

(c)           Power and Authority. To facilitate the Adviser’s performance of these undertakings, but subject to the restrictions contained herein, the Fund hereby delegates to the Adviser, and the Adviser hereby accepts, the power and authority to act on behalf of the Fund to effectuate investment decisions for the Fund, including the negotiation, execution and delivery of all documents relating to the Fund’s investments and the placing of orders for other purchase or sale transactions on behalf of the Fund. In the event that the Fund determines to acquire debt financing (or to refinance existing debt financing), the Adviser shall arrange for such financing on the Fund’s behalf, subject to the oversight and approval of the Board. If it is necessary for the Adviser to make investments on behalf of the Fund through a special purpose vehicle, the Adviser shall have authority to create, or arrange for the creation of, such special purpose vehicle and to make investments through such special purpose vehicle in accordance with applicable law. The Fund also grants to the Adviser power and authority to engage in all activities and transactions (and anything incidental thereto) that the Adviser deems, in its sole discretion, appropriate, necessary or advisable to carry out its duties pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(d)           Acceptance of Appointment. The Adviser hereby accepts such appointment and agrees during the term hereof to render the services described herein for the compensation provided herein, subject to the limitations contained herein.

 

 2 

 

 

(e)           Sub-Advisers. The Adviser is hereby authorized to enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements (each, a “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with other investment advisers or other service providers (each, a “Sub-Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser may obtain the services of the Sub-Adviser(s) to assist the Adviser in fulfilling its responsibilities hereunder, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Fund. Specifically, the Adviser may retain a Sub-Adviser to recommend specific securities or other investments based upon the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and work, along with the Adviser, in sourcing, structuring, negotiating, arranging or effecting the acquisition or disposition of such investments and monitoring investments on behalf of the Fund, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Fund, with the scope of such services and oversight to be set forth in each Sub-Advisory Agreement.

 

(i)             The Adviser and not the Fund shall be responsible for any compensation payable to any Sub-Adviser.

 

(ii)            Any Sub-Advisory Agreement entered into by the Adviser shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act, including without limitation the requirements relating to Board and Fund shareholder approval thereunder, and other applicable federal and state law.

 

(iii)           Any Sub-Adviser shall be subject to the same fiduciary duties imposed on the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act, as well as other applicable federal and state law.

 

(f)            Independent Contractor Status. The Adviser shall, for all purposes herein provided, be deemed to be an independent contractor and, except as expressly provided or authorized herein, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.

 

(g)           Record Retention. Subject to review by, and the overall control of, the Board, the Adviser shall keep and preserve for the period required by the Investment Company Act or the Advisers Act, as applicable, any books and records relevant to the provision of its investment advisory services to the Fund and shall specifically maintain all books and records with respect to the Fund’s portfolio transactions and shall render to the Board such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request or as may be required under applicable federal and state law, and shall make such records available for inspection by the Board and its authorized agents, at any time and from time to time during normal business hours. The Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and shall surrender promptly to the Fund any such records upon the Fund’s request and upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9, provided that the Adviser may retain a copy of such records.

 

2.             The Fund’s Responsibilities and Expenses Payable by the Fund.

 

(a)           Adviser Personnel. All personnel of the Adviser, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory services hereunder, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, shall be provided and paid for by the Adviser or its affiliates and not by the Fund.

 

(b)           Costs. The Fund shall bear all other costs and expenses of its operations and transactions, as provided in the administration agreement between the Fund and the Adviser (the “Administration Agreement”).

 

 3 

 

 

3.             Compensation of the Adviser.

 

The Fund agrees to pay, and the Adviser agrees to accept, as compensation for the services provided by the Adviser hereunder, a base management fee (the “Base Management Fee”) and an incentive fee (the “Incentive Fee”) as hereinafter set forth. The Adviser may agree to temporarily or permanently waive, in whole or in part, the Base Management Fee and/or the Incentive Fee.

 

(a)           Base Management Fee.

 

(i)             For any quarter ending before the date on which the Fund’s common shares are first listed on a national securities exchange (the “Listing Date”), the Base Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of the Fund’s average daily gross assets.

 

(ii)            For any quarter ending after the Listing Date, the Base Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily gross assets.

 

(iii)           The Base Management Fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears, and shall be calculated based on the average daily value of the Fund’s gross assets during the most recently completed calendar quarter. All or any part of the Base Management Fee not taken as to any quarter shall be deferred without interest and may be taken in such other quarter as the Adviser shall determine. The Base Management Fee for any partial quarter shall be appropriately pro-rated.

 

(b)           Incentive Fee.

 

(i)             For any quarter ending before the Listing Date, the Incentive Fee shall be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the Fund’s “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” for the immediately preceding quarter. The payment of the Incentive Fee shall be subject to a quarterly hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on Adjusted Capital (as defined below) at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, of 1.625% (6.5% annualized) (the “Pre-Listing Hurdle Rate”), subject to a “catch up” feature (as described below).

 

For this purpose, “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, other than fees, if any, for providing managerial assistance, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Fund receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Fund’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the Base Management Fee, expenses payable or reimbursed to the Administrator under the Administration Agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the Incentive Fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Fund has not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation.

 

 4 

 

 

For purposes of this Paragraph 3(b)(i), “Adjusted Capital” shall mean cumulative gross proceeds generated from sales of the common shares by the Fund or its predecessor fund (including proceeds from the Fund’s or the predecessor fund’s distribution reinvestment plan) reduced for distributions from non-liquidating dispositions of the Fund’s investments paid to shareholders and amounts paid for share repurchases pursuant to the Fund’s or the predecessor fund’s share repurchase program.

 

The calculation of the Incentive Fee for each quarter ending before the Listing Date is as follows:

 

(A)             No Incentive Fee shall be payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the Pre-Listing Hurdle Rate;

 

(B)             100% of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the Pre-Listing Hurdle Rate but is less than or equal to 2.031% in any calendar quarter (8.125% annualized) shall be payable to the Adviser. This portion of the Fund’s Incentive Fee is referred to as the “catch up” and is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20.0% on all of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income when the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income reaches 2.031% (8.125% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and

 

(C)             For any quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds 2.031% (8.125% annualized), the Incentive Fee shall equal 20.0% of the amount of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, as the Pre-Listing Hurdle Rate and catch-up will have been achieved.

 

(ii)             For any quarter ending after the Listing Date, the Incentive Fee shall be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the Fund’s “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” for the immediately preceding quarter. The payment of the Incentive Fee shall be subject to a quarterly hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on the Fund’s net assets at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, of 1.5% (6.0% annualized) (the “Post-Listing Hurdle Rate”), subject to a “catch up” feature (as described below).

 

For this purpose, “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, other than fees, if any, for providing managerial assistance, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Fund receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Fund’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the Base Management Fee, expenses payable or reimbursed to the Administrator under the Administration Agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the Incentive Fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Fund has not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation.

 

 5 

 

 

The calculation of the Incentive Fee for each quarter ending after the Listing Date is as follows:

 

(A)             No Incentive Fee shall be payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the Post-Listing Hurdle Rate;

 

(B)             100% of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the Post-Listing Hurdle Rate but is less than or equal to 1.875% in any calendar quarter (7.5% annualized) shall be payable to the Adviser. This portion of the Fund’s Incentive Fee is referred to as the “catch up” and is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20.0% on all of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income when the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income reaches 1.875% (7.5% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and

 

(C)             For any quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds 1.875% (7.5% annualized), the Incentive Fee shall equal 20.0% of the amount of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, as the Post-Listing Hurdle Rate and catch-up will have been achieved.

 

(c)           Waiver of Fees. The Adviser may elect from time to time, in its sole discretion, to waive its right to reimbursement or its receipt of the Base Management Fee and/or Incentive Fee.

 

4.             Covenants of the Adviser.

 

The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and covenants that it will maintain such registration. The Adviser agrees that its activities will at all times be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws governing its operations and investments.

 

5.             Brokerage Commissions.

 

The Adviser is hereby authorized, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law, to cause the Fund to pay a member of a national securities exchange, broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount of commission another member of such exchange, broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Adviser determines in good faith, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the firm and the firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities, that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or its overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund’s portfolio, and constitutes the best net results for the Fund.

 

 6 

 

 

6.             Other Activities of the Adviser.

 

The services provided by the Adviser to the Fund are not exclusive, and the Adviser may engage in any other business or render similar or different services to others including, without limitation, the direct or indirect sponsorship or management of other investment based accounts or commingled pools of capital, however structured, having investment objectives similar to those of the Fund, so long as its services to the Fund hereunder are not impaired thereby, and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any manager, partner, member (including its members and the owners of its members), officer or employee of the Adviser to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to receive any fees or compensation in connection therewith (including fees for serving as a director of, or providing consulting services to, one or more of the Fund’s portfolio companies, subject to applicable law). The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder. It is understood that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Fund are or may become interested in the Adviser and its affiliates, as directors, officers, employees, partners, shareholders, members, managers or otherwise, and that the Adviser and directors, officers, employees, partners, shareholders, members and managers of the Adviser and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Fund as shareholders or otherwise.

 

7.             Responsibility of Dual Directors, Officers and/or Employees.

 

If any person who is a manager, partner, member, officer or employee of the Adviser is or becomes a trustee, officer and/or employee of the Fund and acts as such in any business of the Fund, then such manager, partner, member, officer and/or employee of the Adviser shall be deemed to be acting in such capacity solely for the Fund, and not as a manager, partner, member, officer or employee of the Adviser or under the control or direction of the Adviser, even if paid by the Adviser.

 

8.             Indemnification; Limitation of Liability.

 

The Adviser (and its officers, managers, partners, members (and their members, including the owners of their members), agents, employees and controlling persons and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) shall not be liable to the Fund for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any such Indemnified Party in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund (except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty (as the same is finally determined by judicial proceedings) with respect to the receipt of compensation for services), and the Fund shall indemnify, defend and protect the Indemnified Parties (each of whom shall be deemed a third party beneficiary hereof) and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) (“Losses”) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Adviser’s duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund, to the extent such Losses are not fully reimbursed by insurance, and to the extent that such indemnification would not be inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or other applicable law or the Declaration of Trust. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 8 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of any liability to the Company or its shareholders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Adviser’s duties and obligations under this Agreement (to the extent applicable, as the same shall be determined in accordance with the Investment Company Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder).

 

 7 

 

 

9.             Duration and Termination of Agreement.

 

(a)           Term. This Agreement shall remain in effect for two (2) years commencing on the date hereof, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Fund’s trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act) of any such party (“Independent Trustees”), in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.

 

(b)           Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice, (i) by the Fund (x) upon the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or (y) upon the vote of the Fund’s Independent Trustees or (ii) by the Adviser. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 15(a)(4) of the Investment Company Act). The provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the Adviser shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement.

 

(c)           Payments to and Duties of Adviser Upon Termination.

 

(i)             After the termination of this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be entitled to compensation or reimbursement for further services provided hereunder, except that it shall be entitled to receive from the Fund within thirty (30) days after the effective date of such termination all unpaid reimbursements and all earned but unpaid fees payable to the Adviser prior to termination of this Agreement.

 

(ii)            The Adviser shall promptly upon termination:

 

(A)             deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board;

 

 8 

 

 

(B)             deliver to the Board all assets and documents of the Fund then in custody of the Adviser; and

 

(C)             cooperate with the Fund to provide an orderly management transition.

 

10.           Notices.

 

Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at its principal office.

 

11.           Amendments.

 

This Agreement may be amended in writing by mutual consent of the parties hereto, subject to the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Declaration of Trust.

 

12.           Entire Agreement; Governing Law.

 

This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto, this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. For so long as the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act or regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act, this Agreement shall also be construed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.

 

13.           Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.

 

14.           Counterparts; Electronic Signatures

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by exchange of original and/or electronic (PDF and/or DocuSign) signature pages, all of which shall be considered but one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 9 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date above written.

 

  FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND
   
  By:  /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
    Name: Stephen S. Sypherd
    Title: General Counsel
   
  FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
    Name: Stephen S. Sypherd
    Title: General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Investment Advisory Agreement]

 

 10 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

FEE WAIVER AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND

AND

FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC

 

This Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made this 28th day of October, 2025, by and between FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser is the Investment Adviser to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of October 28, 2025, by and between the Fund and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to waive a portion of the Base Management Fee and Incentive Fee payable pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, and the Fund desires to allow the Adviser to implement such waiver; and

 

WHEREAS, the Fund and the Adviser have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to enter into this Agreement by which the Adviser shall waive a portion of the Base Management Fee and Incentive Fee payable pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, and, therefore, have entered into this Agreement for the period specified herein; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Base Management Fee Waiver.

 

During the term of the Waiver, the Adviser shall waive a portion of the Base Management Fee such that the Base Management Fee shall be 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily gross assets.

 

2.             Incentive Fee Waiver.

 

During the term of the waiver, the Adviser shall waive a portion of the Incentive Fee such that the Incentive Fee shall be as follows:

 

(a)             No Incentive Fee shall be payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the Post-Lising Hurdle Rate;

 

 

 

 

(b)            100% of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the Post-Listing Hurdle Rate but is less than or equal to 1.667% in any calendar quarter (6.667% annualized) shall be payable to the Adviser. This portion of the Fund’s Incentive Fee is referred to as the “catch up” and is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 10.0% on all of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income when the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income reaches 1.667% (6.667% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and

 

(c)            For any quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds 1.667% (6.667% annualized), the Incentive Fee shall equal 10.0% of the amount of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, as the Hurdle Rate and catch-up will have been achieved.

 

3.             No Reimbursement or Recoupment of Waived Fees.

 

The amount waived pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement shall not be subject to reimbursement or recoupment.

 

4.             Term.

 

The waiver shall become effective as of the Listing Date and shall continue until the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement.

 

5.             Termination.

 

This Agreement will remain in effect until the Fund ceases to be a registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, unless sooner terminated with the written consent of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement will automatically terminate if the Advisory Agreement is terminated, with such termination effective upon the effective date of the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

 

6.             Amendments.

 

This Agreement may be amended in writing by mutual consent of the parties hereto, subject to the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Declaration of Trust.

 

7.             Entire Agreement; Governing Law.

 

This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto, this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. For so long as the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act or regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act, this Agreement shall also be construed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.

 

 2 

 

 

8.             Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.

 

9.             Definitions.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Advisory Agreement.

 

10.           Counterparts; Electronic Signatures.

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by exchange of original and/or electronic (PDF and/or DocuSign) signature pages, all of which shall be considered but one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 3 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date above written.

 

  FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND
   
  By:  /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
    Name: Stephen S. Sypherd
    Title: General Counsel
   
  FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
    Name: Stephen S. Sypherd
    Title: General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Fee Waiver Agreement]

 

 4 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND

AND

FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC

 

This Administration Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made this 28th day of October 2025, by and between FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”).

 

WHEREAS, the Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Administrator to provide the administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and the Administrator wishes to be retained to provide such services.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Duties of the Administrator.

 

(a)            Retention of Administrator. The Fund hereby employs the Administrator to furnish, or arrange for others to furnish, the administrative services, personnel and facilities described below, subject to the supervision, direction and control of the board of trustees of the Fund (the “Board”), the provisions of the Fund’s declaration of trust (as may be amended from time to time, the “Declaration”) and bylaws (as may be amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”), and applicable federal and state law.

 

(b)           Responsibilities of Administrator. The Administrator shall perform (or oversee, or arrange for, the performance of) the administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund, including providing general ledger accounting, fund accounting, legal services, investor relations and other administrative services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator shall:

 

(i)            provide the Fund with office facilities and equipment, and provide clerical, bookkeeping, accounting and recordkeeping services, legal services, and shall provide all such other administrative services as the Administrator shall from time to time determine to be necessary or appropriate to perform its obligations under this Agreement;

 

(ii)           on behalf of the Fund, enter into agreements and/or conduct relations with custodians, depositories, transfer agents, distribution disbursing agents, the distribution reinvestment plan administrator, shareholder servicing agents, accountants, auditors, tax consultants, advisers and experts, investment advisers, compliance officers, escrow agents, attorneys, dealer managers, underwriters, brokers and dealers, investor custody and share transaction clearing platforms, marketing, sales and advertising materials contractors, public relations firms, investor communication agents, printers, insurers, banks, third-party pricing or valuation firms, and such other persons in any such other capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable by the Administrator and the Fund;

 

 

 

 

(iii)          have the authority to enter into one or more sub-administration agreements with other service providers (each, a “Sub-Administrator”) pursuant to which the Administrator may obtain the services of the service providers in fulfilling its responsibilities hereunder. Any such sub-administration agreements shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act, and other applicable federal and state law, and shall contain a provision requiring the Sub-Administrator to comply with Sections 1(e) and 2 below as if it were the Administrator. The Administrator and not the Fund shall be responsible for any compensation payable to any Sub-Administrator.

 

(iv)          as may be requested, make reports to the Board of its performance of obligations hereunder;

 

(v)           furnish advice and recommendations with respect to such other aspects of the business and affairs of the Fund as the Administrator reasonably shall determine to be desirable; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to require the Administrator to, and the Administrator shall not pursuant to this Agreement, provide any advice or recommendation relating to the securities or other assets that the Fund should purchase, retain or sell or any other investment advisory services to the Fund;

 

(vi)          assist the Fund in the preparation of and maintaining the financial and other records that the Fund is required to maintain and the preparation, printing and dissemination of reports that the Fund is required to furnish to shareholders, and reports and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and states and jurisdictions, if any, where any offering of the Fund’s common shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) is registered or otherwise reported and there is a duty to file information with one or more states on a one-time or ongoing basis;

 

(vii)         assist the Fund in determining and publishing the Fund’s net asset value, oversee the preparation and filing of the Fund’s tax returns, and generally oversee and monitor the payment of the Fund’s expenses;

 

(viii)        oversee the performance of administrative and other professional services rendered to the Fund by others; and

 

(ix)           coordinate services in connection with any repurchase of Shares pursuant to the Fund’s share repurchase program or otherwise.

 

(c)           Acceptance of Employment. The Administrator hereby accepts such employment and agrees during the term hereof to render the services described herein, subject to the reimbursement of costs and expenses provided for below, and subject to the limitations contained herein.

 

 2 

 

 

(d)           Independent Contractor Status. The Administrator, and any others with whom the Administrator subcontracts to provide the services set forth herein, shall, for all purposes herein provided, be deemed to be independent contractors and, except as expressly provided or authorized herein or by written agreement of the Fund and the Administrator, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed agents of the Fund.

 

(e)           Record Retention. Subject to review by, and the overall control of, the Board, the Administrator shall maintain and keep all books, accounts and other records of the Fund that relate to activities performed by the Administrator hereunder as required under the Investment Company Act. The Administrator shall render to the Board such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request or as may be required under applicable federal and state law, and shall make such records available for inspection by the Board and its authorized agents, at any time and from time to time during normal business hours. The Administrator agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and shall surrender promptly to the Fund any such records upon the Fund’s request and upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7, provided that the Administrator may retain a copy of such records. The Administrator further agrees that the records which it maintains for the Fund will be preserved in the manner and for the periods prescribed by the Investment Company Act, unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided above.

 

2.             The Fund’s Responsibilities and Expenses Payable by the Fund.

 

Subject to the limitations on reimbursement of the Administrator as set forth in Section 3 below, the Fund, either directly or through reimbursement to the Administrator, shall bear all other costs and expenses of its operations and transactions, including (without limitation): expenses related to the organization, offering, capitalization, operation, regulatory compliance or administration of the Fund; the cost of calculating the Fund’s net asset value, including the cost of any third-party pricing or valuation services; the cost of effecting sales and repurchases of the Fund’s common shares and other securities; investment advisory fees; fees payable to third parties including, without limitation, agents, consultants or other advisors, relating to, or associated with, making investments, monitoring investments and valuing investments, including fees and expenses associated with performing due diligence reviews of prospective investments; interest payments on the Fund’s debt or related obligations; transfer agent and custodial fees; research and market data (including news and quotation equipment and services, and any computer hardware and connectivity hardware (e.g., telephone and fiber optic lines) incorporated into the cost of obtaining such research and market data); fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts; federal and state registration or notification fees; federal, state and local taxes; fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (as defined below); costs of proxy statements, shareholders’ reports, notices and other filings; fidelity bond, trustees and officers errors and omissions liability insurance and other insurance premiums; direct costs such as printing, mailing, long distance telephone and staff costs; fees and expenses associated with accounting, corporate governance, independent audits and outside legal costs; costs associated with the Fund’s reporting and compliance obligations under the Investment Company Act and applicable federal and state securities laws, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended; all costs of registration and listing the Fund’s common shares or other securities of the Fund on any securities exchange; brokerage commissions for the Fund’s investments; all other expenses incurred by the Administrator or the Fund in connection with administering the Fund’s business, including expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing administrative services for the Fund and administrative personnel paid by the Administrator, to the extent they are not controlling persons of the Administrator or any of its affiliates; and any expenses incurred outside of the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, costs incurred in connection with any claim, litigation, arbitration, mediation, government investigation or similar proceeding and indemnification expenses as provided for in the Declaration or the Bylaws.

 

 3 

 

 

3.             No Fee; Reimbursement of Expenses; Limitations on Reimbursement of Expenses.

 

In full consideration for the provisions of the services provided by the Administrator under this Agreement, the parties acknowledge that there shall be no separate fee paid in connection with the services provided, notwithstanding that the Fund shall reimburse the Administrator no less than quarterly, for all expenses of the Fund incurred by the Administrator as well as the actual cost of goods and services used for or by the Fund and obtained from entities not affiliated with the Administrator.

 

The Administrator shall be reimbursed for the administrative services performed by it on behalf of the Fund; provided, however, that such costs are reasonably allocated to the Fund on the basis of assets, revenues, time allocations or other method conforming with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

4.             Other Activities of the Administrator.

 

The services provided by the Administrator to the Fund are not exclusive, and the Administrator may engage in any other business or render similar or different services to others, so long as its services to the Fund hereunder are not impaired thereby, and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any manager, partner, member (including its members and the owners of its members), officer or employee of the Administrator to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to receive any fees or compensation in connection therewith (including fees for serving as a director or trustee of, or providing consulting services to, one or more of the Fund’s portfolio companies, subject to applicable law). The Administrator assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder. It is understood that trustees, officers, employees and shareholders of the Fund are or may become interested in the Administrator and its affiliates, as directors, officers, employees, partners, interestholders, members, managers or otherwise, and that the Administrator and directors, officers, employees, partners, interestholders, members and managers of the Administrator and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Fund as shareholders or otherwise.

 

5.             Responsibility of Dual Trustees, Officers and/or Employees.

 

If any person who is a manager, partner, member, officer or employee of the Administrator is or becomes a trustee, officer and/or employee of the Fund and acts as such in any business of the Fund, then such manager, partner, member, officer and/or employee of the Administrator shall be deemed to be acting in such capacity solely for the Fund, and not as a manager, partner, member, officer or employee of the Administrator or under the control or direction of the Administrator, even if paid by the Administrator.

 

 4 

 

 

6.             Indemnification.

 

The Administrator (and its officers, managers, partners, members (and their members, including the owners of their members), agents, employees, controlling persons and any other person or entity affiliated with the Administrator) shall not be liable to the Fund for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrator or such other person in connection with the performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as the administrator of the Fund with respect to the receipt of compensation for services and the Fund shall indemnify, defend and protect the Administrator (and its officers, managers, partners, members (and their members, including the owners of their members), agents, employees, controlling persons and any other person or entity affiliated with the Administrator, each of whom shall be deemed a third party beneficiary hereof) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Administrator’s duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an administrator of the Fund, to the extent such damages, liabilities, costs and expenses are not fully reimbursed by insurance, and to the extent that such indemnification would not be inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or the Declaration. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 6 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Administrator’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Administrator’s duties and obligations under this Agreement (to the extent applicable, as the same shall be determined in accordance with the Investment Company Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder).

 

7.             Effectiveness, Duration and Termination of Agreement.

 

(a)            Term and Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date set forth above. This Agreement shall remain in effect with respect to the Fund for two years, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by: (a) the vote of the Board; and (b) the vote of a majority of the Fund’s trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act) of any such party.

 

(b)           Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party. This Agreement and the rights and duties of a party hereunder may not be assigned, including by operation of law, by a party without the prior consent of the other party. The provisions of Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the Administrator shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement.

 

 5 

 

 

(c)           Payments to and Duties of Administrator Upon Termination.

 

(i)            After the termination of this Agreement, the Administrator shall not be entitled to compensation for further services provided hereunder, except that it shall be entitled to receive from the Fund within 30 days after the effective date of such termination all unpaid reimbursements due and payable to the Administrator prior to termination of this Agreement.

 

(ii)           The Administrator shall promptly upon termination:

 

(A)             Deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board;

 

(B)             Deliver to the Board all assets and documents of the Fund then in custody of the Administrator; and

 

(C)             Cooperate with the Fund to provide an orderly administrative transition.

 

8.             Notices.

 

Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at its principal office.

 

9.             Amendments.

 

This Agreement may be amended in writing by mutual consent of the parties hereto, subject to the provisions of the Investment Company Act.

 

10.           Entire Agreement; Governing Law.

 

This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto, this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. For so long as the Fund is regulated as a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act or regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act, this Agreement shall also be construed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.

 

 6 

 

 

11.           Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.

 

14.          Counterparts; Electronic Signatures

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by exchange of original and/or electronic (PDF and/or DocuSign) signature pages, all of which shall be considered but one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 7 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement on the date written above.

 

  FS SPECIALTY LENDING FUND
   
  By:  /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
    Name: Stephen S. Sypherd
    Title: General Counsel
   
  FS SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISOR, LLC
   
  By:  /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
    Name: Stephen S. Sypherd
    Title: General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Administration Agreement]

 

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