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 to co-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, simultaneously co-invest in transactions where price is the only negotiated term. In an order dated January 5, 2021, 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 our co-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 with our 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Merger. In accordance with the terms of the 2018 Merger Agreement, at the time of the transactions contemplated by the 2018 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 2018 Merger, we entered into a new investment advisory agreement with the Advisor, or the investment advisory agreement. Share and exchange ratio amounts in the foregoing do not reflect the Reverse Stock Split as discussed below.
Reverse Stock Split
On June 15, 2020, the Company filed Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation, or the Reverse Stock Split Amendment, with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland to effect a 4 to 1 reverse split of the Company’s shares of common stock, or the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split became effective in accordance with the terms of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment on June 15, 2020. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, every four shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding were automatically combined into one share of the Company’s common stock, and the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock was reduced from approximately 495.0 million to approximately 123.8 million as of June 15, 2020. The Reverse Stock Split did not modify the rights or preferences of the Company’s common stock. The Company also filed a separate Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland to provide that there would be no change in the par value of $0.001 per share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.
Pending Merger with FSKR
On November 23, 2020, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, or the 2020 Merger Agreement, with FS KKR Capital Corp II., a Maryland corporation, or FSKR and, together with the Company, the Funds, Rocky Merger Sub, Inc., a Maryland corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of FSK, or Merger Sub, and the Advisor. The 2020 Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the conditions set forth in the 2020 Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into FSKR, with FSKR continuing as the surviving company and as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, or the First Merger, and, immediately thereafter, FSKR will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company or, together with the First Merger, the 2021 Merger. See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K for additional information.
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
2