Fidus Investment Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend Increase to $0.39 Per Share and Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results

EVANSTON, Ill., Aug. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fidus Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:FDUS) ("Fidus" or the "Company"), a provider of customized debt and equity financing solutions primarily to lower middle-market companies based in the United States, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Second Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights

• Total investment income of $12.8 million
• Net investment income of $6.0 million, or $0.37 per share
• Adjusted net investment income of $6.1 million, or $0.38 per share⁽¹⁾
• Net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $6.2 million, or $0.39 per share
• Invested $28.3 million in debt and equity securities, including investments in two new portfolio companies
• Received proceeds from sales and realizations of $22.7 million
• Paid regular quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share on June 25, 2015
• Paid special dividend of $0.02 per share on June 25, 2015
• Net asset value (NAV) of $246.9 million, or $15.18 per share, as of June 30, 2015

Management Commentary

"Our second quarter results demonstrate the strength, stability and quality of our portfolio with adjusted net investment income increasing 19% over the second quarter of last year. As a result, we are pleased that our Board of Directors has increased the quarterly dividend to $0.39 per share," said Edward Ross, Chairman and CEO of Fidus Investment Corporation. We invested $28.3 million, including investments in two new portfolio companies made in the latter half of the quarter, while early in the quarter we received proceeds from sales and realizations of $22.7 million, including realization of a $5.3 million capital gain on an equity investment. Against a backdrop of a healthy market environment, we ended the quarter with approximately $100 million in capital to support our strategy of selectively growing and further diversifying our investment portfolio by focusing on high-quality companies that generate strong free cash flow and have positive long-term outlooks."

(1) Supplemental information regarding adjusted net investment income:

On a supplemental basis, we provide information relating to adjusted net investment income, which is a non-GAAP measure. This measure is provided in addition to, but not as a substitute for, net investment income. Adjusted net investment income represents net investment income excluding any capital gains incentive fee expense or (reversal) attributable to realized and unrealized gains and losses. The management agreement with our advisor provides that a capital gains incentive fee is determined and paid annually with respect to cumulative realized capital gains (but not unrealized capital gains) to the extent such realized capital gains exceed realized and unrealized losses. In addition, we accrue, but do not pay, a capital gains incentive fee in connection with any unrealized capital appreciation, as appropriate. As such, we believe that adjusted net investment income is a useful indicator of operations exclusive of any capital gains incentive fee expense or (reversal) attributable to realized and unrealized gains and losses. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of net investment income to adjusted net investment income are set forth in Schedule 1.

Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results

For the three months ended June 30, 2015, total investment income was $12.8 million, an increase of $2.2 million, or 21.0%, over the $10.6 million of total investment income for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The increase was primarily attributable to a $2.8 million increase in interest income resulting largely from higher average levels of debt investments outstanding, which was offset by a $0.4 million decrease in dividend income due to lower average levels of income producing equity investments outstanding and a $0.3 million decrease in fee income resulting from lower levels of investment activity during the three months ended June 30, 2015, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2014.

For the three months ended June 30, 2015, total expenses, including income tax provision, were $6.8 million, an increase of $1.7 million or 33.3%, over the $5.1 million of total expenses, including income tax provision, for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Interest and financing expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2015 were $2.3 million, an increase of $0.5 million or 28.3%, compared to $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 as a result of higher average balances of SBA debentures outstanding during 2015 and interest and commitment fees related to the Credit Facility. The base management fee increased $0.5 million, or 33.8%, to $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 due to higher average total assets less cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended June 30, 2015 than the comparable period in 2014. The incentive fee for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $1.6 million, a $0.7 million, or 82.5%, increase from the $0.9 million incentive fee for the three months ended June 30, 2014 which was the result of an increase of $0.2 million in the income incentive fee to $1.5 million and a capital gains incentive fee accrual of less than $0.1 million during the 2015 period compared to a capital gains incentive fee reversal of $0.4 million during the same period in 2014. The administrative service fee, professional fees and other general and administrative expenses totaled $1.0 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.

Net investment income for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $6.0 million, which was an increase of $0.5 million, or 9.6%, compared to net investment income of $5.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2014 as a result of the $2.2 million increase in total investment income and the $1.7 million increase in total expenses, including income tax provision.

For the three months ended June 30, 2015, the total net realized gains on investments was $5.3 million.  During the three months ended June 30, 2015, we recorded a net change in unrealized depreciation on investments of $5.1 million attributable to (i) the reversal of net unrealized appreciation on investments of $5.3 million related to the exit or sale of investments, resulting in unrealized depreciation, (ii) net unrealized depreciation of $2.3 million on debt investments and (iii) net unrealized appreciation of $2.5 million on equity investments.

Fidus' net increase in net assets resulting from operations during the three months ended June 30, 2015, was $6.2 million, or $0.39 per share, an increase of $2.8 million, or 82.2%, compared to a net increase in net assets resulting from operations of $3.4 million, or $0.25 per share, during the three months ended June 30, 2014.

Per share results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 are based on weighted average shares outstanding of 16.2 million, compared to 13.8 million weighted average shares outstanding for the second quarter of 2014, an increase of 17.6%. This increase reflects the common equity offering Fidus completed in September 2014 and shares sold under the at-the-market offering, which was completed at a price accretive to net asset value.

Portfolio and Investment Activities

As of June 30, 2015, Fidus had debt and equity investments in 47 portfolio companies with a total fair value of $420.1 million, or approximately 100% of cost. The average portfolio investment on a cost basis was $8.9 million and Fidus held equity ownership in 83.0% of its portfolio companies. During the second quarter ended June 30, 2015, Fidus made investments of $28.3 million, including investments in two new portfolio companies and received proceeds from sales and realizations of investments of $22.7 million. As of June 30, 2015, the weighted average yield on debt investments (excluding any debt investments on non-accrual) was 13.3%.

Second quarter 2015 investment activity included the following new portfolio company investments:

• Microbiology Research Associates, Inc., a provider of outsourced microbiology testing and consulting services for the pharmaceutical, hospital and cosmetics end markets. Fidus invested $11.0 million in senior secured loans, subordinated notes and common equity and committed $0.5 million in a senior secured revolving loan.
• The Wolf Organization, LLC, a provider of branded specialty building products serving the independent dealer channel. Fidus invested $14.3 million in subordinated notes and common equity.

Fidus had investments in one portfolio company on non-accrual status as of June 30, 2015, which represented 1.0% of the portfolio cost and 0.2% of the portfolio fair value as of that date.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2015, Fidus had $14.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. SBA debentures outstanding were $179.7 million and unfunded SBA commitments totaled $45.3 million as of June 30, 2015. Fidus had $10.5 million of borrowings outstanding on its senior secured revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2015. The weighted average interest rate on debt outstanding as of June 30, 2015 was 4.2%.

Subsequent Events

• On July 30, 2015, we invested $8.0 million in the subordinated notes and common equity of Vanguard Dealer Services, L.L.C., a provider and administrator of finance and insurance products and services to automobile dealerships. In addition, we extended a commitment to fund $2.5 million in additional subordinated notes at a future date.
• On July 31, 2015, we exited our equity investments in Westminster Cracker Company, Inc. in connection with the sale of the portfolio company. We recognized a gain of approximately $1.7 million on our preferred and common equity investments.

Third Quarter 2015 Dividend of $0.39 Per Share Declared

On August 3, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share for the third quarter of 2015 payable on September 25, 2015 to stockholders of record as of September 17, 2015.    

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 2015 taxable income, as well as the tax attributes for 2015 dividends, will be made after the close of the 2015 tax year. The final tax attributes for 2015 dividends will generally include ordinary taxable income but may also include capital gains, qualified dividends and 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.

Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results Conference Call

Management will host a conference call to discuss the operating and financial results at 9:00am ET on Friday, August 7, 2015. To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 810-3368 approximately 10 minutes prior to the call. International callers should dial (914) 495-8561. Please reference conference ID # 83448424. 

A live webcast of the conference call will be available 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.

A telephone replay of the conference call will be available from 12:00pm ET on August 7, 2015 until 11:59pm ET on August 11, 2015 and may be accessed by calling (855) 859-2056 (domestic dial-in) or (404) 537-3406 (international dial-in) and reference conference ID # 83448424. An archived replay of the conference call will also be available in the investor relations section of the Company's website.

ABOUT FIDUS INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Fidus Investment Corporation provides customized debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies, which the Company generally defines as U.S. based companies having revenues between $10.0 million and $150.0 million. Fidus' 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.

Fidus is an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. In addition, for tax purposes, Fidus has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. Fidus was formed in February 2011 to continue and expand the business of Fidus Mezzanine Capital, L.P., which commenced operations in May 2007 and is licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a small business investment company.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are based on management's current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions about the Company, its current and prospective portfolio investments, and its industry. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Actual developments and results are likely to vary materially from these estimates and projections as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Fidus' 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 forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.