FIA is an independently owned investment adviser with a principal place of business in Evanston,
Illinois, and other offices in North Carolina, New York and South Carolina. FIA was founded
in 2011. Edward H. Ross is the Chief Executive Officer of FIA and John J. Ross II is the Chair
of the Board of Managers of FIA. Fidus Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“FGH”), is the parent holding company of FIA, and FGH is owned primarily by FIA’s
officers, managers and employees.
FIA provides investment management and advisory services to Fidus Investment Corporation
(“FIC”), a Maryland corporation and a closed-end, non-diversified management investment
company electing to be treated as a business development company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), Fidus Equity Opportunities Fund, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership (“FEOF”), and Fidus Credit Opportunities, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (“FCO”, and together with FEOF, the “Existing Funds”). FIA may provide
services to additional clients, investment vehicles and accounts in the future (such future clients,
investment vehicles and accounts, together with FIC, FEOF and FCO, “Clients”).
FIA’s services primarily include, but are not limited to, determining the composition of the
portfolio of its Clients, including: the nature and timing of changes to their portfolios and the
manner of implementing such changes; assisting with determining the securities they will
purchase, retain, or sell; identifying, evaluating and negotiating the structure of their investments
(including performing due diligence on their prospective portfolio companies); executing, closing,
and monitoring their investments; and providing other investment advisory, management,
research, and related services that they may reasonably need for investment of their assets.
FIA’s leadership team has an average of over 25 years of experience per person investing in,
lending to, and advising portfolio companies across various market cycles. These professionals
have diverse backgrounds, with prior experience in senior management positions at investment
banks, specialty finance companies, commercial banks, and privately and publicly held
companies, and have extensive experience investing across all levels of the capital structure of
lower middle-market companies. As of December 31, 2023, FIA had advised its Clients in
making approximately $2.8 billion of debt and equity investments in lower middle-market
companies.
FIA seeks to assist
its Clients primarily in making debt and equity investments. With its Clients
that have a primary focus on making debt investments, FIA typically seeks for those Clients to also
make equity investments (or obtain warrants to acquire equity interests) in the same portfolio
company. FIA focuses on seeking investment opportunities for its Clients in industries known
and understood by its investment professionals.
FIA tailors its advisory services to the specific investment objectives and restrictions of each
Client pursuant to the investment guidelines and restrictions set forth in each Client’s applicable
public filings, confidential private placement memorandum, prospectus, limited partnership
agreement, advisory agreement, management agreement, and other governing documents
(collectively, the “Governing Documents”), although as disclosed below investors in Clients
(“Underlying Investors”) may enter, and have entered, into side letters or similar agreements
pursuant to which they are granted specific rights, benefits or privileges. Underlying Investors
and prospective investors should refer to the applicable Governing Documents for complete
information on the investment objectives, investment restrictions and risks.
In accordance with common industry practice, with respect to a Client (other than FIC), FIA or
the general partner, managing member, investment adviser, sub-adviser, or manager of such a
Client may enter, and have entered, into side letters or similar agreements pursuant to which
certain Underlying Investors are granted specific rights, benefits, or privileges (including,
without limitation, discounts to and/or sharing of, management fees, performance allocations,
performance hurdles, minimum investment amounts, co-investment opportunities, and other
rights or terms, including those that may be requested in light of particular investment, legal,
regulatory or public policy characteristics of an Underlying Investor). These rights, benefits or
privileges are not always made available to all Underlying Investors. The disclosure and
extension of any such rights, benefits or privileges are governed by the corresponding
Governing Documents and applicable law.
FIA does not participate in wrap fee programs and does not believe it is likely that it will do so in
the future.
As of December 31, 2023, FIA managed on a discretionary basis approximately $1,031,579,028
of Clients’ assets.
FIA does not manage any assets on a non-discretionary basis but believes it could do so in the
future.