UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On September 16, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) reappointed Richard J. Byrne as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Byrne succeeds Michael Comparato, who resigned as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on September 15, 2026. Mr. Comparato will continue to serve as an advisor to Benefit Street Partners L.L.C., the Company’s external advisor. Mr. Byrne, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer from 2016 to February 2026, will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of the Company. On September 16, 2026, the Board also appointed Jerome S. Baglien, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, to serve as Co-President of the Company, effective immediately.
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On September 17, 2026, the Company issued a press release related to the management transition. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit | ||
| No. | Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued on September 17, 2026 | |
| 104.1 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
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 REALTY TRUST, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Jerome S. Baglien | |
| Name: | Jerome S. Baglien | |
| Title: | Co-President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | |
Date: September 17, 2026