(a) Solely for the purpose of acquiring investments that exceed the quantitative limitations of sections ten through seventeen, inclusive, of this article, an insurer may acquire under this subsection an investment, or engage in investment practices described in section sixteen of this article, but an insurer may not acquire an investment, or engage in investment practices described in said section, under this subsection if, as a result of and after giving effect to the transaction:
(1) The aggregate amount of investments then held by an insurer under this subsection would exceed three percent of its admitted assets; or