FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE: FSK) and FS KKR Capital Corp. II (NYSE: FSKR) entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) to create one of the largest public business development companies (BDCs) in the industry, with nearly $15 billion in combined assets.

We expect the merger to close in the second or third quarter of 2021, subject to shareholder approval and the satisfaction of other closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. The combined company will trade under the ticker symbol FSK on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

NAV-for-NAV merger: FSK will serve as the surviving entity given its longer operating history and will acquire 100% of FSKR’s common shares in a stock-for-stock transaction.

FSKR NAV per share

(÷) FSK NAV per share

Conversion ratio

A share repurchase plan of up to $100 million in shares is expected to be implemented following the closing of the merger to support FSK’s stock in the secondary market. We would expect purchases to commence in the first quarter following the closing of the merger in the event that the combined company’s stock trades below a specific level of NAV per share. Therefore, we would expect the repurchases would be accretive to the combined company’s NAV.

Portfolio diversification and scale: The combined company will have increased size and scale with nearly $15 billion in assets. In addition, the transaction will create a portfolio with a more diverse mix of 216 portfolio companies across 23 industries while maintaining a low concentration of top issuers. The combined company’s investment objectives and strategy focused on senior secured debt will be consistent with FSK and FSKR. Over 72% of the combined portfolio will be composed of senior secured debt.

Enhanced liquidity and market visibility: The combined company is expected to benefit from increased trading liquidity. The pro forma 30-day average trading volume of the combined company is approximately $17 billion compared to $8.7 billion and $7.7 billion, respectively, for FSK and FSKR, as of November 18, 2020. We believe deeper liquidity for the company’s stock and the potential for enhanced research coverage may help attract a broader and more diverse investor base.

Reduced operating expenses: The merger is expected to further improve operating efficiencies given the larger asset base. The combined company will benefit from the elimination of duplicative administrative, regulatory and other professional services costs.

Enhanced dividend coverage: The merger is expected to enhance distribution coverage through the reduction in operating expenses and the ability to accelerate the deployment of FSKR’s $1.6 billion in available borrowings into accretive transactions.

Portfolio diversification: The combined portfolio will be diversified across 216 portfolio companies across 23 industries on a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2020. The combined company’s investment objectives and strategy focused on senior secured debt will be consistent with FSKR’s. Over 72% of the combined portfolio will be composed of senior secured debt based on fair value as of September 30, 2020.

Create path for improved liquidity for public stock: Following the listing of FSKR’s common shares on the NYSE in June 2020, we believe the merger will create deeper liquidity for the company’s stock and, in turn, help accelerate the expansion of the investor base.

Increased portfolio diversification with higher exposure to senior secured debt: On a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2020, the combined portfolio will be composed of 216 portfolio companies while the percentage of senior secured investments will increase from 67.5% to 72.2%.

Unlocks capital for future growth: FSK is currently operating at its target leverage of 1.20x (net debt-to-equity). The merger will allow the combined company to benefit from approximately $3.3 billion in available investment capacity, which can be deployed into accretive transactions.

Reduce expenses to support distribution: The merger is expected to further improve operating efficiencies given the larger asset base. The combined company will benefit from the elimination of duplicative administrative, regulatory and other professional services costs.

The boards of FSK and FSKR have not declared distributions beyond the fourth quarter of 2020. Prior to the closing of the merger, we currently expect each fund will continue to pay quarterly distributions and, subject to the completion of the merger, we currently expect that the combined company’s board will declare and pay distributions on a quarterly basis.

The combined company’s targeted distribution yield of 9% based on NAV will be in line with prior guidance.

Upon or prior to the closing of the merger, FSKR will declare a distribution to its shareholders representing any remaining undistributed net investment income and net realized capital gains.

FSK and FSKR shareholders will be asked to approve proposals related to the merger at each respective fund’s special shareholder meeting, which we expect to occur in the second or third quarter of 2021.

Investors are urged to review documents that FSK and FSKR file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the registration statement on Form N-14 that FSK intends to file with the SEC, which will contain a joint proxy statement of FSK and FSKR and a prospectus of FSK (the “Proxy Statement”). Subject to SEC review, we expect to seek shareholder approval beginning in February or March 2021.

For each fund, the approval of the merger and related proposals will require the affirmative vote of shareholders owning more than 50% of each fund’s outstanding common stock.

The expenses of the solicitation of proxies for the special shareholder meetings, including the cost of preparing, printing and mailing the Proxy Statement/prospectus, the applicable accompanying notice of the special shareholder meeting of shareholders and the proxy card, will be borne by the respective funds.

FSK and FSKR have each retained Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies.

No. The merger is not expected to be a taxable event for FSK shareholders.

No. The merger is intended to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and it is a condition of the fund’s respective obligations to complete the merger that it receives a legal opinion to that effect.

Shareholders of FSKR are not expected to recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the exchange of their shares of FSKR for shares of FSK pursuant to the merger.

Tax matters can be complicated, and the tax consequences of the merger for FSK and FSKR shareholders will depend on the particular tax situation of such shareholder. Shareholders should review carefully the Proxy Statement when it becomes available for more information and details as to the tax consequences of the merger. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the tax consequences of the merger.

In connection with the approval of the merger, the board of FSK approved an amended investment advisory agreement (the “Amended Advisory Agreement”), which will be submitted to shareholders for approval.

Base management fee: The base management fee of the combined company will be consistent with the current investment advisory agreements for FSK and FSKR. Under the current investment advisory agreements, the base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.50% of the average weekly value of the respective fund’s gross assets (excluding cash and cash equivalents) on all assets financed using leverage less than 1.0x debt-to-equity and 1.00% on all assets financed using leverage over 1.0x debt-to-equity.

Incentive fee amendments: The proposed amendments are generally intended to result in incremental projected accretion to shareholders of FSK and FSKR, better align FSK’s advisory agreement with core market peers, and result in a more consistent and predictable pro forma earnings profile following the merger. In particular, the Amended Advisory Agreement, which would be executed upon the closing of the merger, would (i) reduce the subordinated income incentive fee rate from 20.0% to 17.5%; (ii) remove the total return “lookback” provision currently applicable to FSK, and (iii) FS/KKR Advisor will separately agree to waive an aggregate of $90 million of income incentive fees for the first six full fiscal quarters of operations post-merger ($15 million per quarter).