GREENWICH, CT, March 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fifth Street Management LLC ("Fifth Street") today announced that it was recognized as the 2013 "M&A Mid-Market Lender of the Year" by Mergers & Acquisitions. This is the second honor that Fifth Street has received for its accomplishments in 2013, having also been designated the "Lender Firm of the Year" by The M&A Advisor in December 2013.

"We are honored to accept this award, which validates a careful path we have pursued over the past year in response to a changing competitive landscape," said James Velgot, Fifth Street's Chief Marketing Officer, adding, "From launching our second publicly-traded business development company to making inroads into venture lending and acquiring Healthcare Finance Group, LLC ("HFG") as a portfolio company of Fifth Street Finance Corp. – the common thread shared by all of our platform extensions is the desire to better serve Fifth Street's clients."

Fifth Street already appears to be capitalizing on its platform synergies as it gains momentum in key areas. The firm recently announced that its venture lending group, Fifth Street Technology Partners, closed three new technology investments totaling $55 million so far in 2014. Also, Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp., Fifth Street's second business development company, is now fully deployed with a diverse group of investments in over 30 portfolio companies. In addition, HFG – an asset-based lender with a healthcare focus – recently closed its largest syndication, totaling $475 million.

In selecting the Fifth Street platform, Mergers & Acquisitions also highlighted other compelling milestones, including the formation of a company in the aircraft-leasing sector, First Star Aviation LLC, and the firm-wide deepening of its talent pool. Altogether, these efforts have helped Fifth Street evolve into a diversified asset manager.

The Mergers & Acquisitions 7th annual M&A Mid-Market Awards honored the leading dealmakers and deals that set the standard for middle market transactions in 2013. To determine the winners, Mergers & Acquisitions considered a variety of factors, including performance, growth, innovation and thought leadership.

About Mergers & Acquisitions

Mergers & Acquisitions covers all aspects of middle market deal making, including identifying acquisition targets, negotiating transactions, performing due diligence and closing deals. Serving nearly 18,600 print subscribers, Mergers & Acquisitions' monthly magazine is published in partnership with the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), a global organization comprised of thousands of private equity firms, corporate officials and intermediaries. With more than 40,000 unique monthly visitors, themiddlemarket.com is continuously updated, providing real-time information and analysis of news and trends in M&A. The publication's online video series features interviews with high-profile dealmakers, including private equity partners, strategic buyers, investment bankers and other advisers. To learn more, visit http://www.themiddlemarket.com.

About Fifth Street Management LLC

With over $3 billion in assets under management, Fifth Street Management LLC is a leading alternative asset manager and the SEC-registered investment adviser of two publicly-traded business development companies, Fifth Street Finance Corp. (NASDAQ:FSC) and Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp. (NASDAQ:FSFR). With a track record of more than 15 years and offices across the country, Fifth Street's nationally recognized platform was named 2013 "Lender Firm of the Year" by The M&A Advisor and provides custom-tailored financing solutions to small and mid-sized companies, primarily in connection with investments by private equity sponsors. Principally in the form of one-stop financings, first lien, second lien, mezzanine debt and equity co-investments, the Fifth Street platform has the ability to hold loans up to $150 million, commit up to $250 million and structure and syndicate transactions up to $500 million. Fifth Street's website can be found at fifthstreetfinance.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements with regard to the future performance(s) of Fifth Street Finance Corp. ("FSC") and/or Fifth Street Senior Floating Rate Corp. ("FSFR"). Words such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "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 FSC's and/or FSFR's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither FSC nor FSFR undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.