Release Details

EVANSTON, Ill., Feb. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fidus Investment Corporation (Nasdaq:FDUS) ("Fidus" or the "Company"), a business development company, announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.34 per share, an increase from the Company's prior quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share. This quarterly dividend is payable on March 28, 2012 to stockholders of record as of March 14, 2012.

When declaring dividends, the Company's Board of Directors reviews estimates of taxable income available for distribution, which differs from consolidated income under generally accepted accounting principles due to (i) changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation, (ii) temporary and permanent differences in income and expense recognition, and (iii) the amount of undistributed taxable income carried over from a given year for distribution in the following year. The final determination of 2012 taxable income, as well as the tax attributes for 2012 dividends, will be made after the close of the 2012 tax year. The final tax attributes for 2012 dividends will generally include ordinary taxable income but may also include capital gains, qualified dividends or return of capital.

Fidus has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan ("DRIP") that provides for reinvestment of dividends on behalf of its stockholders, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash. As a result, when the Company declares a cash dividend, stockholders who have not "opted out" of the DRIP at least three days prior to the dividend payment date will have their cash dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Company's common stock. Those stockholders whose shares are held by a broker or other financial intermediary may receive dividends in cash by notifying their broker or other financial intermediary of their election. Tax characteristics of all distributions will be reported to stockholders on Form 1099-DIV after the end of the calendar year.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Earnings Release and Conference Call Schedule

Fidus also announced today that it will report its full year 2011 and fourth quarter 2011 financial results on Thursday, March 8, 2012, after the close of the financial markets. 

The Company will also host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, March 9, 2012 to discuss the operating and financial results. You can access the conference call by dialing (877) 845-0711 approximately 10 minutes prior to the call. International callers should dial (760) 298-5081. A replay of the conference call may be accessed by calling (855) 859-2056. International callers please dial (404) 537-3406. For all phone replays, please reference conference ID # 52844392. 

The conference call will also be available via a live webcast on the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://investor.fdus.com/events.cfm. Please access the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software.

ABOUT FIDUS INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Fidus Investment Corporation provides customized mezzanine debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle market companies, which we generally define as U.S. based companies having revenues between $10.0 million and $150.0 million. Fidus's investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. Fidus seeks to partner with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors by providing customized financing for change of ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, business expansion and other growth initiatives.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are likely to be affected by other unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under Fidus's control, and that Fidus may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual developments and results are highly likely to vary materially from these estimates and projections of the future as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Fidus's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Such statements speak only as of the time when made, and Fidus undertakes no obligation to update any such statement now or in the future.

CONTACT: Edward H. Ross

         Chief Executive Officer

         847-859-3940