First Trust Active Dividend Income Fund Declares Quarterly Distribution of $0.46 Per Share

WHEATON, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
First Trust Active Dividend Income Fund (the "Fund") (NYSE: FAV) today declared
the Fund`s quarterly distribution, payable on July 31, 2009 to shareholders of
record as of July 24, 2009. The ex-dividend date is expected to be July 22,
2009. The quarterly distribution information for the Fund appears below.

First Trust Active Dividend Income Fund (FAV):
Distribution per share: $0.46
Distribution Rate based on the July 10, 2009 NAV of $9.36: 19.66%
Distribution Rate based on the July 10, 2009 closing market price of $10.81: 17.02%

The majority, and possibly all, of this distribution will be paid out of net
investment income earned by the Fund. A portion of this distribution may come
from net short-term realized capital gains or return of capital. The final
determination of the source and tax status of all 2009 distributions will be
made after the end of 2009.

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks
to provide a high level of current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund
seeks to provide capital appreciation. The Fund pursues these investment
objectives by investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in a diversified
portfolio of dividend-paying multi-cap equity securities of both U.S. and
non-U.S. issuers that the Fund`s investment sub-advisor believes offer the
potential for attractive income and/or capital appreciation.

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund`s investment advisor, along with its
affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately-held companies which
provide a variety of investment services, including asset management, financial
advisory services, and municipal and corporate investment banking, with
collective assets under management or supervision of over $20 billion as of June
30, 2009 through closed-end funds, unit investment trusts, mutual funds,
separate managed accounts and exchange-traded funds.

Aviance Capital Management, LLC, ("Aviance"), the Fund`s investment sub-advisor,
focuses on managing multi-cap value and growth portfolios. As of June 30, 2009,
Aviance had over $261 million in assets under management or supervision.

Past performance is no assurance of future results. Investment return and market
value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be
worth more or less than their original cost.

Principal Risk Factors: Investment in this Fund involves investment and market
risk; management risk; sub-advisor risk; value investing risk; dividend strategy
risk; qualified dividend tax risk; equity securities risk; small and medium cap
company risk; non-U.S. securities risk; and emerging markets risk. The risks of
investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus, shareholder report and
other regulatory filings.

The Fund`s daily closing New York Stock Exchange price and net asset value per
share as well as other information can be found at www.ftportfolios.com or by
calling 1-800-988-5891.

First Trust Active Dividend Income Fund
Press Inquiries: Jane Doyle, 630-765-8775
Analyst Inquiries: Jeff Margolin, 630-915-6784
Broker Inquiries: Jeff Margolin, 630-915-6784

Copyright Business Wire 2009