HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

(NYSE:KED) Kayne Anderson Energy Development Company (the “Company” or “KED”) announced today its quarterly distribution of $0.48 per share for the quarter ended November 30, 2016. The distribution will be payable on January 13, 2017 to common stockholders of record on January 6, 2017, with an ex-dividend date of January 4, 2017.

“Over the past nine months, the health of the MLP market has improved dramatically,” said Kevin McCarthy, the CEO of the Company. “Commodity prices have improved substantially, the capital markets have re-opened, and we believe that domestic production has bottomed and is poised for significant increases in the next 12 to 18 months. The stronger outlook for the energy industry has resulted in higher equity prices for many MLPs and a strong recovery in the Company’s net asset value, which has increased by nearly 50% from the lows of February 2016,” said Mr. McCarthy.

“At the same time, there has been an on-going trend of MLPs (or GPs) with lower yields acquiring MLPs with a higher yield, including the recently announced merger of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“Energy Transfer”) with Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P. (“Sunoco”). The impact of these transactions has been to significantly reduce our net distributable income over the last two years,” noted Mr. McCarthy.

“In light of these transactions, management currently expects to recommend a reduction of $0.07 to $0.08 per share in the quarterly distribution for the first quarter of fiscal 2017. The actual amount of the reduction will depend on a variety of factors, including whether or not the Energy Transfer/Sunoco transaction closes and whether or not any additional transactions are announced. We believe it is prudent to reduce the Company’s distribution to a level that is below the Company’s expected net distributable income. MLP valuations currently are very attractive, and we believe our recommendation best positions the Company to generate attractive returns for stockholders during fiscal 2017,” said Mr. McCarthy. Payment of the distribution for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 is subject to board approval and will be paid in April 2017.

The Company estimates that 100% of its distribution for the quarter ended November 30, 2016 will be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes. This estimate is based on the Company’s anticipated earnings and profits for fiscal 2017 and its accumulated earnings and profits as of November 30, 2016. The final determination of the tax character of the distribution will be made in early 2018 when the Company can determine its actual earnings and profits for the full year (including gains and losses on the sale of securities during fiscal 2017) and may differ substantially from this preliminary information.

The Company is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company's investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation primarily through equity and debt investments. The Company will seek to achieve this objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets together with the proceeds of any borrowings (its "total assets") in securities of companies that derive the majority of their revenue from activities in the energy industry, including: (a) Midstream Energy Companies, which are businesses that operate assets used to gather, transport, process, treat, terminal and store natural gas, natural gas liquids, propane, crude oil or refined petroleum products; (b) Upstream Energy Companies, which are businesses engaged in the exploration, extraction and production of natural resources, including natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, from onshore and offshore geological reservoirs; and (c) Other Energy Companies, which are businesses engaged in owning, leasing, managing, producing, processing and sale of coal and coal reserves; the marine transportation of crude oil, refined petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, as well as other energy-related natural resources using tank vessels and bulk carriers; and refining, marketing and distributing refined energy products, such as motor gasoline and propane to retail customers and industrial end-users.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from the Company's historical experience and its present expectations or projections indicated in any forward-looking statement. These risks include, but are not limited to, changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; commodity pricing risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; non-diversification risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Company's investment objectives will be attained.

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