Additional Proxy Soliciting Materials (Form DEFA14A)

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): August 11, 2026

Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland		001-41123		86-3125132
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1680 Michigan Avenue Suite 700 Miami Beach, Florida				33139
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (312) 625-9295

(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)

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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))

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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
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share		REFI		Nasdaq Global Market

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

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On August 11, 2026, Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth under this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information set forth under this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless it is specifically incorporated by reference therein.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 11, 2026, the Company disseminated a presentation to be used in connection with its conference call to discuss its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, which will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (eastern time). A copy of the presentation has been posted to the Company's Investor Relations page of its website and is included herewith as Exhibit 99.2, and by this reference incorporated herein.

The information disclosed under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.2 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information provided herein shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication includes information relating to the proposed merger (the "Merger") of the Company with and into Chicago Atlantic BDC, Inc. ("LIEN"), along with related proposals for which stockholder approval will be sought, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 17, 2026 (the "Merger Agreement") by and between LIEN and the Company. The Merger Agreement was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both LIEN and the Company, each acting on the unanimous recommendation of its special committee of independent directors. In connection with the proposals, LIEN filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form N-14 on July 31, 2026, which includes a joint proxy statement of LIEN and the Company and a prospectus of LIEN (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act. STOCKHOLDERS OF LIEN AND THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LIEN, THE COMPANY, THE MERGER AND THE PROPOSALS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or from each company's investor relations website at www.investors.chicagoatlanticbdc.com (LIEN) and www.investors.refi.reit (the Company), or by directing a request to [email protected] (LIEN) or [email protected] (the Company).

Participants in the Solicitation

LIEN, the Company and their respective directors and executive officers, Chicago Atlantic BDC Adviser, LLC, the external investment adviser to LIEN (the "LIEN Adviser"), and Chicago Atlantic REIT Manager, LLC, the external manager of the Company (the "Company Manager"), and their respective directors, officers, members, managers, partners, employees and affiliates, and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of LIEN and the Company in connection with the Merger and the related proposals. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of LIEN and the Company in connection with the Merger and the related proposals, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. Additional information regarding the ownership of LIEN and the Company securities by their respective directors and executive officers is included in their SEC filings on Forms 3, 4 and 5, which can be found through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Information about the directors and executive officers of LIEN set forth in LIEN's proxy statement for its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2026, and in LIEN's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 19, 2026. Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company set forth in the Company's proxy statement for its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2026, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2026. Each of these documents is available free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or from LIEN's or the Company's investor relations website, as applicable.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press release dated August 11, 2026.
99.2		Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Supplemental Presentation dated August 11, 2026.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

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.

	CHICAGO ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC.
Date: August 11, 2026	By:	/s/ Peter Sack
		Peter Sack, Co-Chief Executive Officer