To seek to enhance our returns, we employ leverage as market conditions permit and at the discretion of the Advisor, but in no event will leverage employed exceed the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. Prior to June 14, 2019, in accordance with the 1940 Act, we were allowed to borrow amounts such that our asset coverage, calculated pursuant to the 1940 Act, was at least 200% after such borrowing. Effective June 15, 2019, following approval by our stockholders, our asset coverage requirement was reduced from 200% to 150%.
As a BDC, we are subject to certain regulatory restrictions in making our investments. For example, BDCs generally are not permitted toco-invest with certain affiliated entities in transactions originated by the BDC or its affiliates in the absence of an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. However, BDCs are permitted to, and may, simultaneouslyco-invest in transactions where price is the only negotiated term. In an order dated April 3, 2018, the SEC granted exemptive relief permitting us, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions,to co-invest in certain privately negotiated investment transactions, including investments originated and directly negotiated by the Advisor or KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, or KKR Credit, with ourco-investment affiliates. We believe this relief enhances our ability to further our investment objectives and strategy. We believe this relief may also increase favorable investment opportunities for us in part by allowing us to participate in larger investments, together withour co-investment affiliates, than would be available to us if such relief had not been obtained.
Corporate Capital Trust, Inc. Acquisition
On December 19, 2018, we completed our acquisition of Corporate Capital Trust, Inc., or CCT, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, or the Merger Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2018, by and among us, CCT, IC Acquisition, Inc., a former wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, or Merger Sub, and the Advisor. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, CCT was first merged with and into Merger Sub, with CCT as the surviving corporation, and, immediately following such merger, CCT was then merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving company, or the Merger. In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the time of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of CCT common stock was converted into the right to receive 2.3552 shares of our common stock. As a result, we issued an aggregate of approximately 292,324,670 shares of our common stock to former CCT stockholders. Following the consummation of the Merger, we entered into a new investment advisory agreement with the Advisor, or the investment advisory agreement.
About the Advisor
The Advisor is a Delaware limited liability company, located at 201 Rouse Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19112, registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Advisers Act. The Advisor is a partnership between an affiliate of Franklin Square Holdings, L.P. (which does business as FS Investments), or FS Investments, and KKR Credit. Our chairman and chief executive officer, Michael C. Forman, serves as the Advisor’s chairman and chief executive officer.
The Advisor has significant experience in private lending and private equity investing, and has developed an expertise in using all levels of a firm’s capital structure to produce income-generating investments, while focusing on risk management. The Advisor also has extensive knowledge of the managerial, operational and regulatory requirements of publicly registered alternative asset entities, such as BDCs. We believe that the active and ongoing participation by the Advisor, FS Investments, KKR Credit and their respective affiliates in the credit markets, and the depth of experience and disciplined investment approach of the Advisor, will allow the Advisor to successfully execute our investment strategies.
Our board of directors, which is comprised of a majority of independent directors, oversees and monitors our investment performance, and beginning with the second anniversary of the effective date of the investment advisory agreement, will review the investment advisory agreement to determine, among other things, whether the fees payable under such agreement are reasonable in light of the services provided.
About FS Investments
FS Investments is a leading asset manager dedicated to helping individuals, financial professionals and institutions design better portfolios. The firm provides access to alternative sources of income and growth, and focuses on setting industry standards for investor protection, education and transparency. FS Investments is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, with offices in New York, NY, Orlando, FL and Washington, DC. The firm had approximately $24 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019.
About KKR Credit
KKR Credit is a Delaware limited liability company, located at 555 California Street, 50th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Advisers Act. It had approximately $218 billion of assets under
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