As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
18, 2021. =============================================================================== U.S.20, 2024UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION(Rule 14a-101)
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OFof
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934(AMENDMENT NO.(Amendment No. )Filed by the Registrant
[X]☒Filed by a
partyParty other than the Registrant[ ]☐Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material under Section 240.14a-12 MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDEND
☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement
☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
☒ Definitive Proxy Statement
☐ Definitive Additional Materials
☐ Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund
First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred &INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (NameIncome Fund(Name of Registrant as Specified
inIn Its Charter)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
Other Thanother than the Registrant)Payment of
filing fee (check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ]Filing Feecomputed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined)(Check all boxes that apply):-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Total fee paid: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Filing Party: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Date Filed:MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDEND
☒ No fee required.
☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
☐ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund
First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred &INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUNDIncome FundFirst Trust Mortgage Income Fund
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187March
17, 202119, 2024Dear Shareholder:
The accompanying materials relate to the Joint Annual Meetings of Shareholders (collectively, the
"Meeting"“Meeting”) of each fund listed above (each a"Fund"“Fund” and collectively the"Funds"“Funds”). The Meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 12:00 noon Central Time, at the Wheaton, Illinois offices of First Trust Advisors L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois60187, on Monday, April 26, 2021, at 12:00 noon Central Time. However, the time, date and location of the Meeting may be subject to change, or the Meeting may be held remotely, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Any change to the time, date or location of the Meeting will be disclosed in a press release (a copy of which will be available on each Fund's website at https://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the applicable Fund's webpage)) or otherwise in a manner consistent with guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff.60187.At the Meeting, you will be asked to vote on a proposal to elect two of the Trustees of your Fund (the
"Proposal"“Proposal”) and to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. The Proposal is described in the accompanying Notice of Joint Annual Meetings of Shareholders and Joint Proxy Statement.YOUR PARTICIPATION AT THE MEETING IS VERY IMPORTANT.Your participation at the Meeting is very important. If you cannot attend the Meeting, you may participate by proxy. Please take a few moments to read the enclosed materials and then cast your vote on the enclosed proxy card.
VOTING TAKES ONLY A FEW MINUTES. EACH SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED.Voting takes only a few minutes. Each Shareholder’s vote is important. Your prompt response will be much appreciated.
After you have voted on the Proposal, please be sure to sign your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
We appreciate your participation in this important Meeting.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
/s/James A. Bowen
James A. Bowen
Chairman of the BoardsINSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
Instructions for Signing Proxy Cards
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and will avoid the time and expense to your Fund involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card.
2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to the name shown in the registration.
3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For example:
REGISTRATION VALID SIGNATURE CORPORATE ACCOUNTS (1) ABC Corp. ABC Corp. (2) ABC Corp. John Doe, Treasurer (3) ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer John Doe (4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan John Doe, Trustee TRUST ACCOUNTS (1)
Registration Valid Signature Corporate Accounts (1) ABC Corp. ABC Corp. (2) ABC Corp. John Doe, Treasurer (3) ABC Corp.
c/o John Doe, Treasurer
John Doe(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan John Doe, Trustee Trust Accounts (1) ABC Trust Jane B. Doe, Trustee (2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee
u/t/d 12/28/78
Jane B. DoeCustodial or Estate Accounts (1) John B. Smith, Cust.
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr., UGMA
John B. Smith(2) John B. Smith John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
First Trust
Jane B. Doe, Trustee (2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d 12/28/78 Jane B. Doe CUSTODIAL OR ESTATE ACCOUNTS (1) John B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr., UGMA John B. Smith (2) John B. Smith John B. Smith, Jr., ExecutorMACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDENDEnhanced Equity Income Fund
First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred &INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUNDIncome FundFirst Trust Mortgage Income Fund
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187NOTICE OF JOINT ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERSNotice of Joint Annual Meetings of Shareholders
To be held on April
26, 202130, 2024March
17, 202119, 2024To the Shareholders of the above Funds:
Notice is hereby given that the Joint Annual Meetings of Shareholders (collectively, the
"Meeting"“Meeting”) of the funds listed above (each a"Fund"“Fund” and collectively the"Funds"“Funds”), each a Massachusetts business trust, are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 12:00 noon Central Time, at the Wheaton, Illinois offices of First Trust Advisors L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois60187,60187. At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and vote onMonday, April 26, 2021, at 12:00 noon Central Time, forProposal 1 set forth below and to transact such other business as may properly come before thefollowing purposes:Meeting (including any adjournments or postponements):1. To elect two Trustees (the Class II Trustees) of each Fund.
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.The Board of Trustees of each Fund has fixed the close of business on
February 1, 2021the date set forth below as the record date for the determination of shareholders of such Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments or postponementsthereof. The time, datethereof:For First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund, March 4, 2024;For First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, March 4, 2024; andlocation of the Meeting may be subject to change, or the Meeting may be held remotely, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Any change to the time, date or location of the Meeting will be disclosed in a press release (a copy of which will be available on each Fund's website at https://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the applicable Fund's webpage)) or otherwise in a manner consistent with guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff.For First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, March 8, 2024.By Order of the Boards of Trustees,
/s/
W. Scott Jardine
W. Scott JardineSecretary
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHAREHOLDERS ARE REQUESTED TO PROMPTLY COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS ARE SET FORTH FOLLOWING THE LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Shareholders Are Requested To Promptly Complete, Sign, Date And Return The Proxy Card In The Enclosed Envelope Which Does Not Require Postage If Mailed In The Continental United States. Instructions For Signing Proxy Cards Are Set Forth Following The Letter To Shareholders.
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MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDEND
First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund
First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred &INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUNDIncome Fund
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187JOINT ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERSJoint Annual Meetings of Shareholders
To be held on April
26, 2021 JOINT PROXY STATEMENT30, 2024Joint Proxy Statement
March
17, 2021 THIS JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD WILL FIRST BE MAILED TO SHAREHOLDERS ON OR ABOUT MARCH 22, 2021.19, 2024This Joint Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card will first be mailed to shareholders on or about March 28, 2024.
This Joint Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Boards of Trustees of the funds listed above (each a
"Fund"“Fund” and collectively the"Funds"“Funds”), each a Massachusetts business trust, for use at the Joint Annual Meetings of Shareholders of the Funds scheduled to be held onMonday,Tuesday, April26, 2021,30, 2024, at 12:00 noon Central Time, at the Wheaton, Illinois offices of First Trust Advisors L.P., the investment advisor to each Fund, located at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof (collectively, the"Meeting"“Meeting”). A Notice of Joint Annual Meetings of Shareholders and a proxy card accompany this Joint Proxy Statement. The Board of Trustees of each Fund has determined that the use of this Joint Proxy Statement is in the best interests of the Fund in light of the same matter being considered and voted on by shareholders.Please note that the time, date and location of the Meeting may be subject to change, or the Meeting may be held remotely, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Any change to the time, date or location of the Meeting will be disclosed in a press release (a copy of which will be available on each Fund's website at https://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the applicable Fund's webpage)) or otherwise in a manner consistent with guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or its staff. The principal offices of First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund and First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund are located at 10 Westport Road, Suite C101A, Wilton, Connecticut 06897.The principal offices of each of the
otherFunds are located at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.Proxy solicitations for the Funds will be made primarily by mail. However, proxy solicitations may also be made by telephone or personal interviews conducted by officers and service providers of the Funds, including any agents or affiliates of such service providers.
The costs incurred in connection with the preparation of this Joint Proxy Statement and its enclosures will be paid by the Funds. The Funds will also
reimburse brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation materials from the Funds to the person(s) for whom they hold Fund shares. The close of business on
February 1, 2021(i) for each of First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund and First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, March 4, 2024, and (ii) for First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, March 8, 2024, has been fixed as the record date(the "Record Date"(each such date, a “Record Date”) for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. In the event that, for any reason, a new record date is set for the Meeting, a proxy received from a shareholder who was a shareholder of record on both the applicable Record Date and the new record date will remain in full force and effect unless explicitly revoked by the applicable shareholder.Each Fund has one class of shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, known as common shares
("Shares"(“Shares”).IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2021. THIS JOINT PROXY STATEMENT IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT HTTPS:Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting Scheduled to be Held on April 30, 2024. This Joint Proxy Statement is available on the Internet at https://
WWW.FTPORTFOLIOS.COM/LOADCONTENT/GC4D1PTZGO4Y. EACH FUND'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT HTTPS:www.ftportfolios.com/LoadContent/gwadycba8rao. Each Fund’s most recent annual and semi-annual reports are also available on the Internet at https://WWW.FTPORTFOLIOS.COM. TO FIND A REPORT, SELECT YOUR FUND UNDER THE "CLOSED-END FUNDS" TAB, SELECT THE "NEWSwww.ftportfolios.com. To find a report, select your Fund under the “Closed-End Funds” tab, select the “News &LITERATURE" LINK, AND GO TO THE "QUARTERLY/SEMI-ANNUAL OR ANNUAL REPORTS" HEADING. IN ADDITION, THE FUNDS WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, COPIES OF THEIR MOST RECENT ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST. TO REQUEST A COPY, PLEASE WRITE TO FIRST TRUST ADVISORSLiterature” link, and go to the “Quarterly/Semi-Annual or Annual Reports” heading. In addition, the Funds will furnish, without charge, copies of their most recent annual and semi-annual reports to any shareholder upon request. To request a copy, please write to First Trust Advisors L.P.("FIRST TRUST ADVISORS" OR THE "ADVISOR"(“First Trust Advisors” or the “Advisor”),ATat 120EAST LIBERTY DRIVE, SUITEEast Liberty Drive, Suite 400,WHEATON, ILLINOISWheaton, Illinois 60187,OR CALL TOLL-FREEor call toll-free (800) 988-5891.YOU MAY CALL TOLL-FREEYou may call toll-free (800) 988-5891
FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN DIRECTIONS TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON. AS NOTED ABOVE, HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE TIME, DATE AND LOCATION OF THE MEETING MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, OR THE MEETING MAY BE HELD REMOTELY. ANY CHANGE TO THE TIME, DATE OR LOCATION OF THE MEETING WILL BE DISCLOSED IN A PRESS RELEASE (A COPY OF WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE ON EACH FUND'S WEBSITE AT HTTPS://WWW.FTPORTFOLIOS.COM (GO TO NEWS & LITERATURE ON THE APPLICABLE FUND'S WEBPAGE)) OR OTHERWISE IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH GUIDANCE ISSUED BY THE SEC OR ITS STAFF.for information on how to obtain directions to be able to attend the Meeting and vote in person.In order that your Shares may be represented at the Meeting, you are requested to:
oindicate your instructions on the proxy card;odate and sign the proxy card;omail the proxy card promptly in the enclosed envelope which requires no postage if mailed in the continental United States; andoallow sufficient time for the proxy card to be receivedBYby 12:00NOON CENTRAL TIME,noon Central Time, onMONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021.Tuesday, April 30, 2024 (the date of the Meeting). (However, proxies received after this date may still be voted in the event the Meeting is adjourned or postponed to a later date.)-2-
VOTINGVoting
As described further in the proposal, for each Fund, the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the Shares present and entitled to vote at the Meeting will be required to elect the specified nominees as the Class II Trustees of that Fund provided a quorum is present. Abstentions, withheld votes (as described below) and broker non-votes
(i.e.(i.e., Shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter), if any, will have no effect on the approval of the proposal.With respect to each Fund, shareholders of record on the applicable Record Date are entitled to one vote for each full Share the shareholder owns and a proportionate fractional vote for any fraction of a Share the shareholder owns. Using the enclosed proxy card, with respect to each specified nominee, a shareholder may authorize the named proxies to vote the Shares represented thereby for the election of such nominee or may indicate that authority to vote for the election of such nominee is withheld (a “withheld vote”). If the enclosed proxy card is properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the Meeting, the Shares represented thereby will be voted, or the vote withheld, in accordance with the instructions marked thereon, or, if no instructions are marked thereon, will be voted in the discretion of the persons named on the proxy card. Accordingly, unless instructions to the contrary are marked thereon, a properly executed and returned proxy will be voted FOR the election of the specified nominees as the Class II Trustees and at the discretion of the named proxies on any other matters that may properly come before the Meeting, as deemed appropriate. Any shareholder who has given a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise
eitherby (i) attending the Meeting and votinghis or her Sharesinperson, or byperson; (ii) timely submitting aletterrevocation ofrevocationa prior proxy to (a) the applicable Fund’s Secretary, W. Scott Jardine, at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 or (b) if the Shares are held in “street name,” to the applicable broker-dealer; or (iii) timely submitting a later-dated proxy to the applicable Fund. With respect to each Fund,at its address above. Aa list of shareholders of record entitled to notice of the Meeting will be available at theAdvisor'sAdvisor’s Wheaton, Illinois offices, located at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, for inspection by any shareholder during regular business hours beginning on the second business day after notice is given of the Meeting, subject to restrictions that may be imposed on a requesting shareholder on the copying, use or distribution of the information contained in the list. Shareholders will need to provide advance written notice to the applicable Fund to inspect the list of shareholders and will also need to show valid identification and proof of Share ownership to be admitted to the Meeting or to inspect the list of shareholders.Under the by-laws of each Fund (as amended and restated on
October 19, 2020,June 22, 2023, the"By-Laws"“By-Laws”), a quorum with respect to a matter is constituted by the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote on the matter. For each Fund, for the purposes of establishing whether a quorum is present with respect to the Meeting, all Shares present in person or by properly submitted proxy and entitled to vote, including abstentions, withheld votes and broker non-votes,(i.e., Shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter),if any, shall be counted. For each Fund, the Meeting may be postponed prior to the Meeting with notice to shareholders entitled to vote at the Meeting.Further,In addition, for each Fund, the Meeting may, by action of the chair of the Meeting, be adjourned from time to time with respect to one or more matters,to a date that may be more than 120 days after the date set for the original meeting,whether or not a quorum is present with respect to such matter or matters.In addition,Moreover, for each Fund, upon motion of the chair of the Meeting, the question of adjournment may be submitted to a vote of the shareholders, and in that case, any adjournment must be approved by the vote of holders of a majority of the Shares present and entitled to vote with respect to the matter or matters adjourned, and without further notice. Unless a proxy is otherwise limited in this regard, any Shares present and entitled to vote at the Meeting, including those that are represented by broker non-votes, if any, may, at the discretion of the proxies named therein, be voted in favor of such an adjournment or adjournments.-3-
OUTSTANDING SHARES ON THE RECORD DATEShares and Share Ownership
Shares Outstanding on the Applicable Record Date
On the applicable Record Date, each Fund had the following number of Shares outstanding:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- TICKER SHARES FUND SYMBOL(1) OUTSTANDING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDENDFund Ticker
Symbol1Shares
OutstandingFirst Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund FFA 19,988,085 First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & INCOME FUND MFD 8,547,442 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND FEN 19,445,570 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND FFA 19,982,838 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND FAM 12,671,036 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUNDIncome FundFPF 60,847,827 First Trust Mortgage Income Fund FMY 4,213,115 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND FEO 4,991,802 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND FGB 14,367,591 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND FIF 17,065,432 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND FEI 45,402,814 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND FPF 60,765,997 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND FPL 25,045,241 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND FDEU 17,231,908 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------(1)
1 The Shares of each of the Funds are listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"(“NYSE”)except for the Shares of First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, which are listed on the NYSE American LLC..To the extent they are entitled to exercise voting rights with respect to Shares owned, shareholders of record on the Record Date are entitled to one vote for each fullShare
the shareholder owns and a proportionate fractional vote for any fraction of a Share the shareholder owns. The By-Laws include provisions pursuant to which, in summary, a shareholder who obtains beneficial ownership of a Fund's Shares in a "Control Share Acquisition" (as defined) may exercise voting rights with respect to such Shares only to the extent the authorization of such voting rights is approved by other shareholders of the Fund. Based on available information, a Fund may determine that a shareholder has obtained beneficial ownership of such Fund's Shares in a Control Share Acquisition and that, therefore, such Shares may not be voted at the Meeting. See "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION --CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITIONS" below.Ownership Over 5%To the knowledge of the Board of Trustees of each Fund, as of the applicable Record Date, no single shareholder or
"group"“group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the"1934 Act"“1934 Act”)) owned, beneficiallyownedor of record, more than 5% of theFund'sFund’s outstanding Shares, except as described in the following table. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund or otherwise acknowledges the existence of control. If a party controls a Fund, such party may be able to significantly affect the outcome of any item presented to shareholders for approval. Information as tobeneficialownership of Shares, including percentage of outstanding Sharesbeneficiallyowned, is based on (1) securities position listing reports as of the applicable Record Date and (2)reportsSchedule 13D and Schedule 13G statements (and amendments thereto) filed with theSECSecurities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by shareholders on the dates indicated in such filings. The Funds do not have any knowledge of the identity of the ultimatebeneficiariesbeneficial owners of the Shares listed below.-4-Further, it is possible that certain holdings may be included in both securities position listing reports and Schedule 13D and/or Schedule 13G statements.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES BENEFICIALLYName and Address
of OwnerShares
Owned% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------National Financialof Outstanding Shares
OwnedFirst Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund:
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
499 Washington Blvd. 1,486,0572801 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
4,314,808 Shares 17.39% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- TD Ameritrade Clearing,21.59% Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“MSSB”)1
1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21231
2,756,979 Shares1 13.79%1 Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
200 S. 108th Ave. 955,420880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
2,641,670 Shares 11.18% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------13.22% Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
2423 E. Lincoln Drive933,556 Shares 10.92%Phoenix, AZ 85016
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated 4804 Deer Lake Drive E. 616,7741,910,827 Shares 7.22% Jacksonville, FL 32246 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- RBC Capital Markets, LLC 60 S. 6th Street - P09 594,920 Shares 6.96% Minneapolis, MN 55402 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Pershing LLC One Pershing Plaza 553,795 Shares 6.48% Jersey City, NJ 07399 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC9.56%
1 N. Jefferson Ave. 496,705 Shares 5.81% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------Information is based on a securities position listing report as of the applicable Record Date. In addition, on February 8, 2024, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 434,979 Shares 5.09% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 2,276,839 Shares 11.71% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 2,037,703 Shares 10.48% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Pershing LLC One Pershing Plaza 2,028,203 Shares 10.43% Jersey City, NJ 07399 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 1,593,702 Shares 8.20% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 1,511,891 Shares 7.77% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 200 S. 108th Ave 1,266,586 Shares 6.51% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- American Enterprise Investment Services Inc. 901 3rd Avenue South 1,061,783 Shares 5.46% Minneapolis, MN 55474 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ -----------------------------------5-
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES BENEFICIALLY % OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 3,777,546 Shares 18.90% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway 3,292,199 Shares 16.48% St. Petersburg, FL 33716 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 2,684,978 Shares 13.44% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 1,365,137 Shares 6.83% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- RBC Capital Markets, LLC 60 S. 6th Street - P09 1,138,299 Shares 5.70% Minneapolis, MN 55402 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karpus Management, Inc., d/b/a Karpus Investment Management(1) 1,803,487 Shares(1) 17.80%(1) 183 Sully's Trail Pittsford,and MSSB, 1585 Broadway, New York, NY14534 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- U.S. Bank N.A. 1555 N. Rivercenter Dr., Suite 302 2,039,283 Shares 16.10% Milwaukee, WI 53212 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 1,169,821 Shares 9.23% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 200 S. 108th Ave 1,140,607 Shares 9.00% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 728,635 Shares 5.75% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 700,597 Shares 5.53% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- RBC Capital Markets, LLC 60 S. 6th Street - P09 668,202 Shares 5.28% Minneapolis, MN 55402 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 665,493 Shares 5.25% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Sit Investment Associates, Inc.(2) 3300 IDS Center 643,210 Shares(2) 5.04%(2) 80 South Eighth Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------(1) Information is according to Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on February 23, 2021. Such filing states that the reporting person has sole voting power with respect to 1,756,358 Shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,803,487 Shares. Such filing also indicates that it was filed with the SEC subsequent to the completion of a tender offer relating to the Fund's Shares. (2) Information is according to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 12, 2021. On March 1, 2021, Sit Investment Associates, Inc.10036, jointly filed Amendment No.17 to Schedule 13G with the SEC.SuchIn such filing,indicated thatMorgan Stanley and MSSB each reported: (i) beneficial ownership of 1,485,241 Shares, representing 7.4% of outstanding Shares; (ii) shared dispositive power of 1,485,241 Shares; and (iii) sole voting power, shared voting power and sole dispositive power of 0 Shares. Further, based on such filing, thereporting personsecurities being reported on by Morgan Stanley as a parent holding company are owned, or may be deemed to be beneficially owned,less than 5%by MSSB, a wholly-owned subsidiary ofthe outstanding SharesMorgan Stanley.-4-
Name and Address
ofthe Fund asOwnerShares
Owned% of February 28, 2021.-6-
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES BENEFICIALLY % OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Outstanding Shares
OwnedNational Financial Services LLC
499 Washington Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 073101,346,444 Shares 6.74% RBC Capital Markets, LLC
60 S. 6th Street – P09
Minneapolis, MN 55402
1,024,453 Shares 5.13% First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund:
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“MSSB”)2
1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21231
20,988,832 Shares2 34.49%2 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
2801 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
4,952,649 Shares 8.14% National Financial Services LLC
499 Washington Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07310
4,895,636 Shares 8.05% Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
2423 E. Lincoln DrivePhoenix, AZ 85016
4,545,709 Shares 7.47% First Trust Mortgage Income Fund:
Sit Investment Associates, Inc.
(1)3Sit Fixed Income Advisors II, LLC3
3300 IDS Center
1,632,397 Shares(1) 38.75%(1)80 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------2,274,727 Shares3 53.99%3 The Northern Trust Company
801 S. Canal Street
1,083,828 Shares 25.73%Chicago, IL 60607
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------1,181,668 Shares 28.05% Edward Jones
201 Progress Parkway
Maryland Heights, MO 63043-3042
552,221 Shares 13.11% Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
2423 E. Lincoln DrivePhoenix, AZ 85016
341,039 Shares 8.09% JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
500 Stanton Christiana Road, OPS 4 Floor 02
Newark, DE 19713
315,131 Shares 7.48% 1607 Capital Partners,
LLC(2)LLC413 S. 13th Street, Suite 400
436,476 Shares(2) 10.36%(2)Richmond, VA 23219
311,226 Shares4 7.4%4
2 Information is based on a securities position listing report as of the applicable Record Date. In addition, on February 9, 2024, Morgan Stanley and The Walt Disney Company Retirement Plan Master Trust(2) 234,857 Shares(2) 5.57%(2) 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521-0500 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Edward D. Jones & Co. 201 Progress Parkway 431,894 Shares 10.25% Maryland Heights, MO 63043 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 304,265 Shares 7.22% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 289,025 Shares 6.86% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- State Street Bank and Trust Company 1776 Heritage Drive 262,749 Shares 6.24% North Quincy, MA 02171 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Bank, National Association 550 South 4th Street 255,014 Shares 6.05% Minneapolis, MN 55415 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 763,889 Shares 15.30% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Lazard Asset Management LLC(3) 30 Rockefeller Plaza 708,103 Shares(3) 13.99%(3)MSSB, 1585 Broadway, New York, NY10112 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------10036, jointly filed Amendment No. 12 to Schedule 13G with the SEC. In such filing, Morgan StanleySmith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 556,137and MSSB each reported: (i) beneficial ownership of 6,156,645 Shares,11.14% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- The Bankrepresenting 10.1% ofNew York Mellon 525 William Penn Place, Suite 153-0400 446,271 Shares 8.94% Pittsburgh, PA 15259 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------(1)outstanding Shares; (ii) shared dispositive power of 6,156,645 Shares; (iii) shared voting power of 2 Shares; and (iv) sole voting power and sole dispositive power of 0 Shares. Further, based on such filing, the securities being reported on by Morgan Stanley as a parent holding company are owned, or may be deemed to be beneficially owned, by MSSB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
3 Information is according to Amendment No. 1827 to Schedule 13D filed with the SEC pursuant to a joint filing agreement onDecember 22, 2020.March 5, 2024. Such filing states that the reporting persons have shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to the Shares held.(2)
4 Information is according to Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC pursuant to a joint filing agreement on February 16, 2021. Such filing states that (a) 1607 Capital Partners, LLC, an investment adviser, is the beneficial owner of Shares based on having voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such securities and investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, such securities and (b) The Walt Disney Company Retirement Plan Master Trust is a client of 1607 Capital Partners, LLC and is the beneficial owner of Shares solely due to being able to terminate without condition the investment management agreement with 1607 Capital Partners, LLC in less than sixty days. (3) Information is according to Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2021. Such filing states that the reporting person has (a) sole voting power with respect to 502,031 Shares and (b) sole dispositive power with respect to 708,103 Shares.-7-
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES BENEFICIALLY % OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 371,031 Shares 7.43% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 369,427 Shares 7.40% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- The Northern Trust Company 801 S. Canal Street 297,865 Shares 5.97% Chicago, IL 60607 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated 4804 Deer Lake Drive E. 268,324 Shares 5.38% Jacksonville, FL 32246 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 200 S. 108th Ave. 267,406 Shares 5.36% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 2,409,151 Shares 16.77% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 2,017,831 Shares 14.04% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 200 S. 108th Ave. 1,301,122 Shares 9.06% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 1,054,086 Shares 7.34% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- LPL Financial Corporation 1055 LPL Way 1,050,042 Shares 7.31% Fort Mill, SC 29715 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Pershing LLC One Pershing Plaza 990,500 Shares 6.89% Jersey City, NJ 07399 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway 906,991 Shares 6.31% St. Petersburg, FL 33716 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Nova R. Wealth, Inc.(1) 6711 West 121st Street 784,883.56 Shares(1) 5.5%(1) Overland Park, KS 66209 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 3,179,343 Shares 18.63% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 1,740,530 Shares 10.20% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 1,617,402 Shares 9.48% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 1,448,097 Shares 8.49% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------8, 2024. (1) Information is according12 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February6, 2018.-8--5-
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES BENEFICIALLYName and Address
of OwnerShares
Owned% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 200 S. 108th Ave. 1,193,843of Outstanding Shares7.00% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------
OwnedThe Bank of New York Mellon
525 William Penn Place, Suite 153-0400
1,147,275 Shares 6.72%Pittsburgh, PA 15259
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway 970,435265,768 Shares 5.69% St. Petersburg, FL 33716 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Advisors Asset Management, Inc.(1) 965,721 Shares(1) 5.629%(1) 18925 Base Camp Road Monument, CO 80132 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames6.31% Principal Bank
711 High Street
6th Floor 14,251,070Des Moines, IA 50392
234,003 Shares 31.39% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------5.55% National Financial Services LLC
499 Washington Blvd.4,487,797 Shares 9.88%
Jersey City, NJ 07310----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 4,112,584221,242 Shares 9.06% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 200 S. 108th Ave. 2,410,436 Shares 5.31% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 21,850,912 Shares 35.96% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 5,845,567 Shares 9.62% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 3,699,024 Shares 6.09% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Pershing LLC One Pershing Plaza 3,426,805 Shares 5.64% Jersey City, NJ 07399 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- RBC Capital Markets, LLC 60 S. 6th Street - P09 3,286,060 Shares 5.41% Minneapolis, MN 55402 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 4,870,052 Shares 19.45% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd. 2,920,566 Shares 11.66% Jersey City, NJ 07310 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 2,274,247 Shares 9.08% St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------(1) Information is according to Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021. According to such filing, the reporting person holds (a) sole voting power with respect to 959,949 Shares and (b) sole dispositive power with respect to 965,721 Shares.5.25% -9-
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES BENEFICIALLY % OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pershing LLC One Pershing Plaza 1,786,464 Shares 7.13% Jersey City, NJ 07399 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 200 S. 108th Ave. 1,600,792 Shares 6.39% Omaha, NE 68154 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2423 E. Lincoln Drive 1,425,886 Shares 5.69% Phoenix, AZ 85016 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- American Enterprise Investment Services Inc. 901 3rd Avenue South 1,386,519 Shares 5.54% Minneapolis, MN 55474 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wells Fargo & Company(1) 420 Montgomery St. 3,578,017 Shares(1) 20.76%(1) San Francisco, CA 94163 and Wells Capital Management Incorporated(1) 525 Market St., 10th Floor 3,403,532 Shares(1) 19.75%(1) San Francisco, CA 94105 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- The Bank of New York Mellon 525 William Penn Place, Suite 153-0400 2,971,217 Shares 17.24% Pittsburgh, PA 15259 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 880 Carillon Parkway 1,991,838 Shares 11.56% St. Petersburg, FL 33716 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- City of London Investment Management Company Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales(2) 1,783,114 Shares(2) 10.3%(2) 77 Gracechurch St. London, EC3V 0AS England ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC(3) 1 N. Jefferson Ave. 1,650,809 Shares(3) 9.58%(3) St. Louis, MO 63103 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 1300 Thames Street, 6th Floor 1,440,388 Shares 8.36% Baltimore, MD 21231 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- UBS Financial Services Inc. 1000 Harbor Blvd. 1,319,801 Shares 7.66% Weehawken, NJ 07086 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------(1) Information is according to Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 12, 2021. According to such filing, with respect to Shares beneficially owned by Wells Fargo & Company, such person holds sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 5,002 Shares, shared voting power with respect to 3,065,656 Shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 3,573,016 Shares. According to such filing, with respect to Shares beneficially owned by Wells Capital Management Incorporated, such person holds sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 0 Shares, shared voting power with respect to 3,065,656 Shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 3,403,532 Shares. Such filing also states that it is filed by Wells Fargo & Company on its own behalf and on behalf of the following subsidiaries: Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC; Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC; and Wells Capital Management Incorporated. Further, such filing states that aggregate beneficial ownership reported by Wells Fargo & Company (i.e., 3,578,017 Shares) is on a consolidated basis and includes any beneficial ownership separately reported in such filing by a subsidiary. With respect to Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, see below regarding ownership information based on a securities position listing report as of the Record Date. (2) Information is according to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2021. (3) See above regarding Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by Wells Fargo & Company.-10-
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES BENEFICIALLY % OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED BENEFICIALLY OWNED -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------State Street Bank and Trust Company 1776 Heritage Drive 1,183,641 Shares 6.87% North Quincy, MA 02171 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- 1607 Capital Partners, LLC(1) 13 S. 13th St., Suite 400 975,106 Shares(1) 5.7%(1) Richmond, VA 23219 ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------------------------(1) Information is according to Amendment No. 5 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 16, 2021.-11-PROPOSAL: ELECTION OF TWO-6-
Proposal: Election of Two (2)
CLASSClass IITRUSTEES OF EACH FUND TWOTrustees of Each FundTwo (2)
CLASSClass IITRUSTEES ARE TO BE ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF EACH FUND BY HOLDERS OF SHARES OF SUCH FUND. CURRENT TRUSTEES RICHARDTrustees are to be elected to the Board of Trustees of each Fund by holders of Shares of such Fund. Current Trustees Richard E.ERICKSON AND THOMASErickson and Thomas R.KADLEC ARE THE NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS THE CLASSKadlec are the nominees for election as the Class IITRUSTEES BY SHAREHOLDERS OF EACH FUND FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM.Trustees by shareholders of each Fund for a three-year term.Each Fund has established a staggered Board of Trustees pursuant to its By-Laws, and, accordingly, Trustees are divided into the following three (3) classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Richard E. Erickson and Thomas R. Kadlec are currently the Class II Trustees of each Fund for a term expiring at the Meeting or until their respective successors are elected and qualified. If elected, Dr. Erickson and Mr. Kadlec will hold office for a three-year term expiring at each
Fund's 2024Fund’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders. James A. Bowen, Niel B. Nielson, Bronwyn Wright, Denise M. Keefe and Robert F. Keith are current and continuing Trustees. Mr. Bowen,andMr. Nielson and Ms. Wright are the Class III Trustees for a term expiring at eachFund's 2022Fund’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. Ms. Keefe and Mr. Keithisare the Class ITrusteeTrustees for a term expiring at eachFund's 2023Fund’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders. Each Trustee will continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she earlier resigns or is otherwise removed.REQUIRED VOTE:Required Vote: For each Fund, the nominees for election as the Class II Trustees must be elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the Shares of the Fund, cast in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon, provided a quorum is present. Abstentions, withheld votes with respect to one or both nominees and broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the approval of the proposal. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of seats open for election.
Unless you give contrary instructions on your proxy card, your Shares will be voted FOR the election of each nominee listed if your proxy card has been properly executed and timely received by the applicable Fund. If a nominee should withdraw or otherwise become unavailable for election prior to the Meeting, the proxies named on your proxy card intend to vote FOR any substitute nominee recommended by a
Fund'sFund’s Board of Trustees in accordance with theFund'sFund’s procedures.THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTEThe Board of Trustees of Each Fund Unanimously Recommends that Shareholders Vote
FORTHE ELECTION OF EACH NOMINEE. -12-the Election of Each Nominee. MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS-7-
Management
Management of the Funds
The general supervision of the duties performed for each Fund under its respective investment management agreement with the Advisor is the responsibility of that
Fund'sFund’s Board of Trustees. The Trustees set broad policies for the Funds and choose theFunds'Funds’ officers. The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of each Fund and a statement of their present positions and principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each Trustee oversees and the other trusteeships or directorships each Trustee holds, if applicable. As noted above, each Fund has established a staggered Board of Trustees consisting offive (5)seven (7) Trustees divided into three (3) classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The length of the term of office of each Trustee is generally three years, and when eachTrustee'sTrustee’s term begins and ends depends on theTrustee'sTrustee’s designated class and when theTrustee'sTrustee’s successor is elected and qualified. James A. Bowen is deemed an"interested person"“interested person” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended("(“1940Act"Act”))("(“InterestedTrustee"Trustee”) of the Funds due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor. Except for Mr. Bowen, each Trustee is not an"interested person"“interested person” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) and is therefore referred to as an"Independent“Independent Trustee."” The officers of the Funds serve indefinite terms.The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.
-13--8-
The following tables identify the Trustees and executive officers of the Funds. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons is c/o First Trust Advisors L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187.
Independent Trustees
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OTHER NUMBER OF TRUSTEESHIPS PORTFOLIOS IN OR TERM OF OFFICE(1) THE FIRST TRUST DIRECTORSHIPS POSITION(S) AND YEAR FIRST PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) FUND COMPLEX HELD BY TRUSTEE NAME AND HELD WITH ELECTED OR DURING PASTName and
Year of BirthPosition(s)
Held with FundsTerm of Office1 and Year First Elected or Appointed 2 Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5
YearsNumber of
Portfolios in
the First Trust
Fund Complex
Overseen by TrusteeOther
Trusteeships
or
Directorships
Held by Trustee During Past 5OVERSEEN BY DURING PAST 5 YEAR OF BIRTH FUNDS APPOINTED(2) YEARS TRUSTEE YEARS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Years Richard E. Erickson
1951Trustee Class II Physician;Nominee
Since Fund InceptionRetired; Physician, Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group (2021 to September 2023); Physician and Officer, Wheaton 195 None 1951 Nominee Orthopedics; Limited Partner, Gundersen Real Since 2004 Estate Limited Partnership (June 1992Orthopedics (1990 toDecember 2016) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2021)263 None Thomas R. Kadlec
1957Trustee Class II Nominee
Since Fund InceptionRetired; President, ADM Investor 195Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant) (2010 to July 2022)263 Director, National Futures Association; formerly, Director of ADM 1957 NomineeInvestor Services, Inc.(Futures Investor Commission Merchant) Services, Inc.,Since 2004ADM Investor Services International, ADMIS Hong Kong Ltd., ADMIS Singapore Ltd. and Futures Industry AssociationDenise M. Keefe
1964Trustee Class I
Since 2021
Executive Vice President, Advocate Aurora Health, and National Futures Association ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------President, Advocate Aurora Continuing Health Division (Integrated Healthcare System)263 Director and Board Chair of Advocate Home Health Services, Advocate Home Care Products and Advocate Hospice; Director and Board Chair of Aurora At Home (since 2018); Director of Advocate Physician Partners Accountable Care Organization; Director of RML Long Term Acute Care Hospitals; Director of Senior Helpers (since 2021); and Director of MobileHelp (since 2022) Robert F. Keith
1956Trustee Class I
Since 2006President, Hibs Enterprises 195(Financial and Management Consulting)263 Formerly, Director of Trust 1956 (Financial and ManagementCompany ofSince 2006 Consulting)Illinois------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Niel B. Nielson
1954Trustee Class III
Since Fund InceptionSenior Advisor (August 2018 195 None 1954(2018 to present), ManagingSince 2004Director and Chief Operating Officer(January 2015(2015 toAugust2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERESTED TRUSTEE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OTHER NUMBER OF TRUSTEESHIPS PORTFOLIOS IN OR TERM OF OFFICE(1) THE FIRST TRUST DIRECTORSHIPS POSITION(S) AND YEAR FIRST PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) FUND COMPLEX HELD BY TRUSTEE NAME AND HELD WITH ELECTED OR DURING PAST263 None Bronwyn Wright
1971Trustee Class III
Since 2023
Independent Director to a number of Irish collective investment funds (2009 to present); Various roles at international affiliates of Citibank (1994 to 2009), including Managing Director, Citibank Europe plc and Head of Securities and Fund Services, Citi Ireland (2007 to 2009) 239 None -9-
Interested Trustee
Name and
Year of BirthPosition(s)
Held with FundsTerm of Office1 and Year First Elected or Appointed2 Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5OVERSEEN BY DURING PAST
YearsNumber of Portfolios
in
the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by TrusteeOther
Trusteeships
or
Directorships
Held by Trustee During Past 5YEAR OF BIRTH FUNDS APPOINTED(2) YEARS TRUSTEE YEARS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------YearsJames A. Bowen(3)Bowen3
1955Trustee and Chairman of
the BoardClass III
Since Fund InceptionChief Executive Officer, 195 None 1955 Chairman ofFirst Trust Advisors L.P.the Board Since 2004and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chairman of the Board of Directors, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------263 None -14-Executive Officers
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TERM OF OFFICE(1) NAME AND POSITIONS AND AND LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) YEAR OF BIRTH OFFICES WITH FUNDS SERVICE(2) DURING PASTName and
Year of BirthPositions and Offices with
FundsTerm of Office1 and Length of Service2 Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5YEARS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Years James M. Dykas
1966President and Chief Executive Officer Indefinite Term
Since 2016Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, 1966 Chief Executive (January 2016 to present), Controller Officer Since 2012 (January 2011 to January 2016), Senior Vice President (April 2007 to January 2016),First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chief Financial Officer,(January 2016 to present),BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Donald P. SwadeDerek D. Maltbie
1972Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer Indefinite Term
Since 2023Senior Vice President, (July 2016 to present), 1972 Financial Officer Vice President (April 2012 to July 2016), and Chief Since 2016First Trust Advisors L.P. and First TrustAccounting OfficerPortfolios L.P.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(since July 2021); Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. (2014 to 2021)W. Scott Jardine
1960Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Indefinite Term
Since Fund InceptionGeneral Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and
1960 Chief LegalFirst Trust Portfolios L.P.; Secretary andOfficer Since 2004General Counsel, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company); Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Daniel J. Lindquist
1970Vice President Indefinite Term
Since 2005Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. 1970and First Trust Portfolios L.P.Since 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kristi A. Maher
1966Chief Compliance Indefinite Term Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors 1966Officer andL.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.Assistant SecretaryIndefinite Term
Chief ComplianceSecretaryOfficer since 2011 and Assistant Secretary since2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(1)Fund InceptionDeputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
1 Currently, Richard E. Erickson and Thomas R. Kadlec, as the Class II Trustees, are each serving a term for each of the Funds until the Meeting or until their respective successors are elected and qualified. James A. Bowen, andNiel B. Nielson and Bronwyn Wright, as the Class III Trustees, are each serving a term for each of the Funds until theFunds' 2022Funds’ 2025 annual meetings of shareholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Denise M. Keefe and Robert F. Keith, as the Class ITrustee, isTrustees, are each serving a term for each of the Funds until theFunds' 2023Funds’ 2026 annual meetings of shareholders or untilhis successor istheir respective successors are elected and qualified. Executive officers of the Funds have an indefinite term.(2) For executive officers, unless otherwise specified, length of service represents the year the person first became an executive officer of a Fund.
2 Except as otherwise provided below, all Trustees and executive officers were elected or appointed (i)in2004 for the then-existing Funds, (ii) in 2005 for First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, (iii) in 2006 for First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund, (iv) in 2007 for First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund, (v) in 2011 for First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund, (vi) in 2012 for First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund, (vii) in 2013 for First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund and First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund and (viii) in 2015 for First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund.conjunction with a Fund’s inception. Robert F. Keith was appointed Trustee of all then-existing funds in the First Trust Fund Complex in June 2006.JamesDenise M.DykasKeefe waselected (a) Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officerappointed Trustee of all then-existing funds in the First Trust Fund Complex inJanuary 2012, effective January 23, 2012 and (b)November 2021. Bronwyn Wright was appointed Trustee of various then-existing funds in the First Trust Fund Complex in September 2023. James M. Dykas was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of all then-existing funds in the First Trust Fund Complex in December 2015, effective January 2016.Donald P. SwadeDerek D. Maltbie was elected Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of all then-existing funds in the First Trust Fund Complexin December 2015, effective January 2016.on June 22, 2023. Daniel J. Lindquist was elected Vice President of all then-existing funds in the First Trust Fund Complex on December 12, 2005. Kristi A. Maher was elected Chief Compliance Officer of all then-existing funds in the First Trust Fund Complex in December 2010, effective January 1, 2011; before January 1, 2011, W. Scott Jardine served as Chief Compliance Officer.(3)
3 Mr. Bowen is deemed an "interested person"“interested person” of the Funds due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P., investment advisor of the Funds.UNITARY BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE The same five persons serve as Trustees-10-
Unitary Board Leadership Structure
Except in certain limited circumstances (as noted below) under which a Trustee is unable to sit on
each Fund's Board of Trustees and onall the boards of allotherthe funds in the First Trust Fund Complex(the "First(as defined below), each Trustee serves as a trustee of all open-end and closed-end funds in the First TrustFunds")Fund Complex (as defined below), which is known as a"unitary"“unitary” board leadership structure. Each Trustee (except as noted below) currently serves as a trustee of 13 closed-end funds advised by First Trust Advisors (including the Funds); First Trust Series Fund, an open-end management investment company with four portfolios advised by First Trust Advisors; First Trust Variable Insurance Trust, an open-end management investment company with seven portfolios advised by First Trust Advisors; and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund II, exchange-traded funds with, in the aggregate, 239 portfolios (each such portfolio, an “ETF” and each such exchange-traded fund, an “ETF Trust”) advised by First Trust Advisors (each a “First Trust Fund” and collectively, the “First Trust Fund Complex”). Ms. Wright also serves as director of First Trust Global Funds, a public limited company established in Ireland and an open-end umbrella fund representing 29 exchange-traded funds and one mutual fund, and advised by First Trust Advisors (the “First Trust UCITS”). In addition, Ms. Wright had previously served on the board of directors of First Trust Global Portfolios Management Limited, the manager to the First Trust UCITS and an affiliate of First Trust Advisors, but resigned such position effective March 6, 2023. Except as noted above, during the past five years, none of the Independent Trustees, nor any of their immediate family members, has been a director, trustee, officer, general partner or employee of, or consultant to, First Trust Advisors, First Trust Portfolios L.P. (an affiliate of First Trust Advisors), any sub-advisor to any fund in the First Trust Fund Complex, or any of their affiliates. Ms. Wright does not serve as a Trustee of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund (“FTETF”).The unitary board structure was adopted for the First Trust Funds because of the efficiencies it achieves with respect to the governance and oversight of the First Trust Funds. Each First Trust Fund is subject to the rules and regulations of the 1940 Act (and other applicable securities laws), which means that many of the First Trust Funds face similar issues with respect to certain of their fundamental activities, including risk management, portfolio liquidity, portfolio valuation and financial reporting. In addition, many of the First Trust Funds, in addition to sharing the same advisor, share many other service providers in their administration, resulting in an overlap of oversight obligations. Because of the similar and often overlapping issues facing the
-15-First Trust Funds, the Board of Trustees of each of the First Trust Funds (such Boards of Trustees referred to herein collectively as the "Board"“Board” and, where appropriate in context, the term"Board"“Board” may also be used to refer to the Board of Trustees of a particular Fund) believes that maintaining a unitary board structure promotes efficiency and consistency in the governance and oversight of all First Trust Funds and reduces the costs, administrative burdens and possible conflicts that may result from having multiple boards. In adopting a unitary board structure, the Trustees seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board the overall composition of which will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, diversity, independence and experience to oversee the business of the First Trust Funds.Including the Funds, the First Trust Fund Complex includes: 16 closed-end funds advised by First Trust Advisors; First Trust Series Fund, an open-end management investment company with three portfolios advised by First Trust Advisors; First Trust Variable Insurance Trust, an open-end management investment company with five portfolios advised by First Trust Advisors; and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund II, exchange-traded funds with, in the aggregate, 171 portfolios (each such portfolio, an "ETF" and each such exchange-traded fund, an "ETF Trust") advised by First Trust Advisors.Annually, the Board reviews its governance structure and the committee structures, their performance and functions, and it reviews any processes that would enhance Board governance over the First Trust
Funds'Funds’ business. The Board has determined that its leadership structure, including the unitary board and committee structure, is appropriate based on the characteristics of the funds it serves and the characteristics of the First Trust Fund Complex as a whole. The Board is composed offoursix Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee. The Interested Trustee serves as the Chairman of the Board. An individual who is not a Trustee serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the First Trust Funds.-11-
In order to streamline communication between the Advisor and the Independent Trustees and create certain efficiencies, the Board has a Lead Independent Trustee who is responsible for: (i) chairing all meetings of the Independent Trustees; (ii) working with the Advisor, Fund counsel and the independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees to determine the agenda for Board meetings; (iii) serving as the principal contact for and facilitating communication between the Independent Trustees and the
Funds'Funds’ service providers, particularly the Advisor; and (iv) any other duties that the Independent Trustees may delegate to the Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee is selected by the Independent Trustees and servesa three-yearfor such term as approved by the Independent Trustees or until his or her successor is selected.Niel B. NielsonRobert F. Keith currently serves as the Lead Independent Trustee.In addition, effective March 12, 2024, the Independent Trustees may select one Independent Trustee to serve as a Vice Lead Independent Trustee for such term as approved by the Independent Trustees or until his or her successor is selected. The Vice Lead Independent Trustee assists the Lead Independent Trustee in the performance of his or her responsibilities and, in the absence of the Lead Independent Trustee, may act in the place of the Lead Independent Trustee. The Vice Lead Independent Trustee is also responsible for any other duties that the Independent Trustees may delegate to him or her. Thomas R. Kadlec was appointed to serve as the Vice Lead Independent Trustee, effective March 12, 2024.
The Board has established five standing committees (as described below) and has delegated certain of its responsibilities to those committees. The Board and its committees meet frequently throughout the year to oversee the
Funds'Funds’ activities, review contractual arrangements with and performance of service providers, oversee compliance with regulatory requirements, and review Fund performance. The Independent Trustees are represented by independent legal counsel at all Board and committee meetings (other than meetings of the Dividend Committee). Generally, the Board acts by majority vote of all the Trustees, except where a different vote is required by applicable law.The Committee Chairmen and the Lead Independent Trustee currently rotate every three years in serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Valuation Committee or the Dividend Committee, or as Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee and the immediately -16-preceding Lead Independent Trustee also serve on the Executive Committee with the Interested Trustee.The five standing committees of the Board are: the Executive Committee,
(formerly known also as the Dividend and Pricing Committee),the Dividend Committee,(established in October 2020),the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Valuation Committee and the Audit Committee. The Dividend Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Valuation Committee and the Audit Committee each have a Chair and, since March 12, 2024, the Audit Committee has had a Vice Chair. The Committee Chairs, the Audit Committee Vice Chair, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Vice Lead Independent Trustee rotate periodically in serving in such capacities. The next rotation is currently scheduled to be effective January 1, 2026. In addition, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Vice Lead Independent Trustee currently serve on the Executive Committee with the Interested Trustee.Below is additional information about the Board’s standing committees.
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, which meets between Board meetings, is authorized to exercise all powers of and to act in the place of the Board to the extent permitted by each
Fund'sFund’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws. The members of the Executive Committee of a Fund are authorized to exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board in respect of the issuance and sale, through an underwritten public offering, of the Shares of the Fund and all other such matters relating to such financing, including determining the price at which such Shares are to be sold, approval of the final terms of the underwriting agreement, and approval of the members of the underwriting syndicate.Prior to October 19, 2020, such Committee was also responsible for the declaration and setting of dividends. Mr. Nielson,Mr. Bowen, Mr. Keith andDr. EricksonMr. Kadlec are members of the Executive Committee.The number of meetings ofDuring each Fund’s last fiscal year, the Executive Committeeheld for each Fund during its last fiscal year is shown on Schedule 1 hereto.did not hold any meetings.-12-
Dividend Committee.
The Dividend Committee of each Fund was established on October 19, 2020.The Dividend Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in, or assuming the authority and power of the Board with respect to, the declaration and setting of distributions on the applicableFund'sFund’s Shares.Dr. EricksonMr. Keith and Mr.NielsonKadlec are members of the Dividend Committee. During eachFund'sFund’s last fiscal year, the Dividend Committee did not hold any meetings.Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee of each Fund is responsible for appointing and nominating persons to the Board of that Fund.
Messrs.Dr. Erickson, Mr. Kadlec, Ms. Keefe, Mr. Keith, Mr. Nielson andNielsonMs. Wright are members of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and each is an Independent Trustee who is also an"independent director"“independent director” within the meaning of the listing rules of the primary national securities exchange on which theFunds'Funds’ shares are listed for trading. The Nominating and Governance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on theFunds'Funds’ website at https://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the applicableFund'sFund’s webpage).In 2014, theThe Board has adopted a mandatory retirement age of 75 for Independent Trustees, beyond which age Independent Trustees are ineligible to serve. The Nominating and Governance Committee Charter provides that the Committee will not consider new trustee candidates who are 72 years of age or older or will turn 72 years old during the initial term.If there is no current or anticipated vacancy on the Board of a Fund, the Nominating and Governance Committee will not actively seek recommendations for nominations from other parties, including shareholders of the Fund. When a vacancy on the Board of a Fund occurs or is anticipated to occur and nominations are sought to fill such vacancy, the Nominating and Governance Committee may seek nominations from those sources it deems appropriate in its discretion, including shareholders of the applicable Fund. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee may retain a search firm to identify candidates. To submit a recommendation for nomination as a candidate for a position on the Board of a Fund, shareholders of the applicable Fund shall mail such recommendation to W. Scott Jardine, Secretary, at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Under no circumstances will the Nominating and Governance Committee evaluate nominees recommended by a shareholder of a Fund on a basis substantially different from that used for other nominees for the same election or appointment of Trustees. However, the Nominating and Governance Committee reserves the right to make the final selection of any Trustee nominees and is not required to take action with respect to any recommendations that may be
-17-submitted by shareholders of a Fund. In connection with the evaluation of candidates for a position on the Board of a Fund, the review process may include, without limitation, personal interviews, background checks, written submissions by the candidates, third party references and any other reviews described in the By-Laws. Further, the By-Laws include qualifications and requirements for Trustee eligibility that generally apply to all persons that may be nominated, elected, appointed, qualified or seated to serve as Trustees (collectively, the "Qualification Requirements"“Qualification Requirements”) unless a majority of the Trustees then in office determine that failure to satisfy a particular Qualification Requirement will not present undue conflicts or impede the ability of the individual to discharge the duties of a Trustee or the free flow of information among Trustees or between the Advisor and the Trustees. Reference is made to the By-Laws for more details about the Qualification Requirements. (For information regarding shareholder proposals, including proposals to make a nomination for election to aFund'sFund’s Board, see"ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS"“Additional Information – Shareholder Proposals” below.)The number of meetings of the Nominating and Governance Committee held for each Fund during its last fiscal year is shown on Schedule 1 hereto.
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Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee of each Fund is responsible for overseeing the
oversightactivities of thevaluation procedures of that Fund (the "Valuation Procedures"), for determiningAdvisor as the “Valuation Designee” in performing the fair valueof that Fund'sdeterminations relating to the Funds’ securitiesorand otherassetsinvestments pursuant to Rule 2a-5 undercertain circumstances as described intheValuation Procedures,1940 Act. Dr. Erickson, Mr. Kadlec, Ms. Keefe, Mr. Keith, Mr. Nielson andfor evaluating the performance of any pricing service for that Fund. Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and NielsonMs. Wright are members of the Valuation Committee. The number of meetings of the Valuation Committee held for each Fund during its last fiscal year is shown on Schedule 1 hereto.Audit Committee. The Audit Committee of each Fund is responsible for overseeing that
Fund'sFund’s accounting and financial reporting process, the system of internal controls, audit process and evaluating and appointing independent auditors (subject also to Board approval). The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on theFunds'Funds’ website at https://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the applicableFund'sFund’s webpage).Messrs.Dr. Erickson, Mr. Kadlec, Ms. Keefe, Mr. Keith, Mr. Nielson andNielson,Ms. Wright, all of whom are"independent directors"“independent directors” within the meaning of the listing rules of the primary national securities exchange on which theFunds'Funds’ shares are listed for trading, serve on the Audit Committee.Messrs.Mr. Kadlec and Mr. Keith have each been determined to qualify as an"Audit“Audit Committee FinancialExpert"Expert” as such term is defined in Form N-CSR. The number of meetings of the Audit Committee held for each Fund during its last fiscal year is shown in Schedule 1 hereto.In carrying out its responsibilities, as described below under
"INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' FEES--Pre-Approval,"“Independent Auditors’ Fees — Pre-Approval,” the Audit Committee pre-approves all audit services and permitted non-audit services for each Fund (including the fees and terms thereof) and non-audit services to be performed for the Advisor by Deloitte & Touche LLP("(“Deloitte &Touche"Touche”), theFunds'Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm("(“independentauditors"auditors”), if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds.During each
Fund'sFund’s last fiscal year, each Trusteewith the exception of Mr. Bowen,attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and of each committee on which the Trustee served that were held during theFund's last fiscal year. With respect to First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund and First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund, during each such Fund's last fiscal year, Mr. Bowen attended at least 75% ofperiod for which theaggregate number of meetings of the Board and of the Dividend and Pricing Committee (the only committee on which he served). With respect to the regular and special Board meetings of the Funds other than such Funds, Mr. Bowen attended (a) approximately 77% (10 out of 13 meetings) for First Trust/Aberdeen -18-Global Opportunity Income Fund and (b) at least 90% (10 out of 10 meetings or 10 out of 11 meetings,Trustee served asapplicable) for each of the remaining Funds. With respect to the Dividend and Pricing Committee meetings of the Funds other than First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund and First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund, Mr. Bowen attended (a) 10% (1 out of 10 meetings) for each of First Trust Mortgage Income Fund and First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund and (b) no meetings for each of the remaining Funds. With respect to each Fund, all of the Dividend and Pricing Committee meetings that Mr. Bowen did not attend were for ordinary course dividend declarations. In general, before such Dividend and Pricing Committee meetings were held, Mr. Bowen was informed of the applicable dividend recommendations. As indicated above, on October 19, 2020, the Funds' Dividend Committee was established. The Funds' Executive Committee remains in place, but is no longer known as the Dividend and Pricing Committee. Mr. Bowen is currentlyamember of the Executive Committee, but not a member of the Dividend Committee. RISK OVERSIGHTTrustee.Risk Oversight
As part of the general oversight of each Fund, the Board is involved in the risk oversight of the Funds. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address the
Funds'Funds’ risks. Oversight of investment and compliance risk, including oversight of sub-advisors, is performed primarily at the Board level in conjunction with theAdvisor'sAdvisor’s advisory oversight group and theFunds'Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer("CCO"(“CCO”). Oversight of other risks also occurs at the committee level. TheAdvisor'sAdvisor’s advisory oversight group reports to the Board at quarterly meetings regarding, among other things, Fund performance and the various drivers of such performance as well as information related to sub-advisors and their operations and processes. The Board reviews reports on theFunds'Funds’ and the serviceproviders'providers’ compliance policies and procedures at each quarterly Board meeting and receives an annual report from the CCO regarding the operations of theFunds'Funds’ and the serviceproviders'providers’ compliance programs. In addition, the Independent Trustees meet privately each quarter with the CCO. The Audit Committee reviews, with the Advisor and theFunds'Funds’ independent auditors, the Funds’ major financial risk exposures and the steps the Advisor has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including theFunds'Funds’ risk assessment and risk management policies and guidelines. The Audit Committee also, as appropriate, reviews in a general manner the processes other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Nominating and Governance Committee monitors all matters related to the corporate governance of the Funds. The Valuation Committee monitors each Fund’s valuation risk andcompliance with the Funds' Valuation Procedures andoversees thepricing services and actions by the Advisor's Pricing Committee with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities.Advisor’s performance as Valuation Designee.-14-
Not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the Funds or the Advisor or other service providers. For instance, as the use of Internet technology has become more prevalent, the Funds and their service providers have become more susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security (generally, intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund or a service provider to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity). There can be no guarantee that any risk management systems established by the Funds, their service providers, or issuers of the securities in which the Funds invest to reduce cyber security risks will succeed, and the Funds cannot control such systems put in place by service providers, issuers or other third parties whose operations may affect the Funds and/or their shareholders. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment related risks) to achieve a
Fund'sFund’s goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, theFunds'Funds’ ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations.-19-BOARD DIVERSIFICATION AND TRUSTEE QUALIFICATIONSBoard Diversification and Trustee Qualifications
As described above, the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board oversees matters related to the selection and nomination of Trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee seeks to establish an effective Board with an appropriate range of skills and diversity, including, as appropriate, differences in background, professional experience, education, vocations, and other individual characteristics and traits in the aggregate. Each Trustee must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability, and, if qualifying as an Independent Trustee, independence from the Advisor, sub-advisors, underwriters or other principal service providers, including any affiliates of these
entities, andentities. In addition, as indicated above, the Qualification Requirements are set forth in the By-Laws.Listed below for each nominee and each continuing Trustee are the experiences, qualifications and attributes that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this Joint Proxy Statement, that each nominee and each continuing Trustee should serve as a
trustee. In addition, each nominee and continuing Trustee meets the applicable Qualification Requirements set forth in the By-Laws. NOMINEES --------Trustee.Nominees
Independent Trustees
Richard E. Erickson, M.D.,
iswas previously an orthopedicsurgeon. He also has beensurgeon with Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group from 2021 to September 2023. Prior thereto, he was President of Wheaton Orthopedics (from 1990 to 2021), a co-owner and director of a fitness center and a limited partner of two real estate companies. Dr. Erickson has served as a Trustee of each Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999. Dr. Erickson has also served as the Lead Independent Trustee (2008-– 2009 and 2017-– 2019) and on the Executive Committee (2008-– 2009 and 2017- present)– 2022), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2003-– 2007 and 2014-– 2016), Chairman of the Valuation Committee (June 2006-– 2007, 2010 – 2011 and2010 - 2011)2020 – 2022) and Chairman of the Audit Committee (2012-– 2013) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Chairman of theValuationAudit Committee (since January 1,2020)2023) of the First Trust Funds.-15-
Thomas R. Kadlec
iswas previously President of ADM Investor Services Inc.("ADMIS"(“ADMIS”), a futures commission merchant and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Archer Daniels Midland Company("ADM"(“ADM”).from 2010 to July 2022. Mr. Kadlechas beenwas employed by ADMIS and its affiliates since 1990 in various accounting, financial, operations and risk management capacities. Mr. Kadlecservesserved on the boards of several international affiliates of ADMIS until July 2022 and served as a member ofADM'sADM’s Integrated Risk Committee from 2008-– 2018, which was tasked with the duty of implementing and communicating enterprise-wide risk management.InFrom 2014 to 2022, Mr. Kadlec waselected toon the board of the Futures Industry Association. In 2017, Mr. Kadlec was elected to the board of the National Futures Association. Mr. Kadlec has served as a Trustee of each Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 2003. Mr. Kadlec also served on the Executive Committee from the organization of the first First Trust closed-end fund in 2003 through 2005 (and 2014-– 2019) until he was elected as the first Lead Independent Trustee in December 2005, serving as such through 2007 (and 2014-– 2016). He also served as Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2008-– 2009 and 2017-– 2019), Chairman of the Audit Committee (2010- 2011)– 2011 and 2020 – 2022) and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2012-– 2013) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Vice Lead Independent Trustee (since March 12, 2024), on the Executive Committee (since March 12, 2024), on the Dividend Committee (since March 12, 2024) and as Chairman of theAuditNominating and Governance Committee (since January 1,2020)2023) of the First Trust Funds.-20-CONTINUING TRUSTEES -------------------Continuing Trustees
Independent Trustees
Denise M. Keefe is Executive Vice President of Advocate Aurora Health and President of Advocate Aurora Continuing Health Division (together, “Advocate”), one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the U.S. serving Illinois and Wisconsin. Ms. Keefe has been employed by Advocate since 1993 and is responsible for the Continuing Health Division’s strategic direction, fiscal management, business development, revenue enhancement, operational efficiencies, and human resource management of 4,000 employees. Ms. Keefe also currently serves on the boards of several organizations within the Advocate Aurora Continuing Health Division and other health care organizations, including RML Long Term Acute Care Hospitals (since 2014) and Senior Helpers (since 2021). Prior thereto, Ms. Keefe was Corporate Vice President, Marketing and Business Development for the Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago (1989 – 1992) and a former Board Member of Sherman West Court Skilled Nursing Facility. Ms. Keefe has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds and on the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee of the First Trust Funds since November 1, 2021. In addition, she currently serves as Audit Committee Vice Chair (since March 12, 2024) of the First Trust Funds.
Robert F. Keith is President of Hibs Enterprises, a financial and management consulting firm. Mr. Keith has been with Hibs Enterprises since 2003. Prior thereto, Mr. Keith spent 18 years with ServiceMaster and Aramark, including three years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Consumer Services, where he led the initial expansion of certain products
overseas,overseas; five years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Management ServicesCompany,Company; and two years as President of Aramark ServiceMaster Management Services. Mr. Keith is a certified public accountant and also has held the positions of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of ServiceMaster, at which time he oversaw the financial aspects ofServiceMaster'sServiceMaster’s expansion of its Management Services division into Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Keith has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds since June 2006. Mr. Keith has also served as Chairman of the Audit Committee (2008-– 2009 and 2017-– 2019), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2010- 2011)– 2011 and 2020 – 2022), and Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2014-– 2016) of the First Trust Funds. He also served as Lead Independent Trustee (2012-– 2013) and on the Executive Committee (2012-– 2016) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Lead Independent Trustee, Chairman of theNominatingDividend Committee andGovernanceon the Executive Committee(since(each since January 1,2020)2023) of the First Trust Funds.-16-
Niel B. Nielson, Ph.D., has been the Senior Advisor of Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation, a global provider of educational products and services, since
August2018. Prior thereto, Mr. Nielson served as the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation for three years. Mr. Nielson formerly served asPresident and Chief Executive Officer of Servant Interactive LLC (providing educational products and services) from June 2012 to September 2014, and he served asthe President and Chief Executive Officer of Dew Learning LLC fromJune2012 toSeptember2014. Mr. Nielson formerly served as President of Covenant College (2002-– 2012), and as a partner and trader (of options and futures contracts for hedging options) for Ritchie Capital Markets Group (1996-– 1997), where he held an administrative management position at this proprietary derivatives trading company. He also held prior positions in new business development for ServiceMaster Management Services Company, and in personnel and human resources for NationsBank of North Carolina, N.A. and Chicago Research and Trading Group, Ltd.("CRT"(“CRT”). His international experience includes serving as a director of CRT Europe, Inc. for two years, directing out of London all aspects of business conducted by the U.K. and European subsidiary of CRT. Prior to that, Mr. Nielson was a trader and manager at CRT in Chicago. Mr. Nielson has served as a Trustee of each Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999. Mr. Nielson has also served as Chairman of the Audit Committee (2003-– 2007 and 2014-– 2016), Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2012-– 2013), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2008-– 2009 and 2017-– 2019), Chairman of the Dividend Committee (2020 – 2022), and Lead Independent Trustee (2010 – 2011 and 2020 – 2022) of the First Trust Funds. Further, he has served as a member of the Executive Committee (2010- 2011)– 2011 and January 1, 2020 – March 12, 2024) and the Dividend Committee (October 19, 2020 – March 12, 2024) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves asLead Independent Trustee and onChairman of theExecutiveValuation Committee (since January 1,2020) and as Chairman of the Dividend Committee (since October 19, 2020)2023) of the First Trust Funds.Bronwyn Wright has acted as an independent director to a number of Irish collective investment funds since 2009. Ms. Wright is a former Managing Director of Citibank Europe plc and Head of Securities and Fund Services for Citi Ireland. In these positions, she was responsible for the management and strategic direction of Citi Ireland’s securities and fund services business which included funds, custody, security finance/lending and global agency and trust. She also had responsibility for leading, managing and growing the Trustee, Custodian and Depositary business in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Jersey and Cayman. Ms. Wright has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds (other than FTETF) and on the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee of such First Trust Funds since September 10, 2023.
Interested Trustee
James A. Bowen is the Chairman of the Board of the First Trust Funds and Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors and First Trust Portfolios L.P. Until January 23, 2012, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the First Trust Funds. Mr. Bowen also serves on the Executive Committee. He has over
3740 years of experience in the investment company business in sales, sales management and executive management. Mr. Bowen has served as a Trustee of each Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999.-21-OTHER INFORMATION Independent Trustees During the past five years, none of the Independent Trustees, nor any of their immediate family members, has been a director, trustee, officer, general partner or employee of, or consultant to, First Trust Advisors, First Trust Portfolios L.P. (an affiliate of First Trust Advisors), any sub-advisor to any fund in the First Trust Fund Complex, or any of their affiliates.-17-
Other Information
Executive Officers
The executive officers of each Fund hold the same positions with each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex (representing
195263 portfolios) as they hold with the Funds.BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES HELD IN THE FUNDS BY TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERSBeneficial Ownership of Shares Held in the Funds by Trustees and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth the dollar range and number of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in each Fund and the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in all funds in the First Trust Fund Complex, including the Funds, as of December 31,
2020: -22-2023:
------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE TRUSTEES ------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNDInterested
TrusteeIndependent
TrusteesFund James A.
BowenRichard E. Erickson Thomas R.
KadlecDenise M.
KeefeRobert F.
KeithNiel B.
Nielson------------------------- ---------------- --------------------- ------------------ ----------------- -----------------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/ UTILITIES DIVIDENDBronwyn
Wright1First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund $50,001-$100,000
(4,003 Shares)$1-$10,000
(513 Shares)$10,001-$50,000
(1,135 Shares)$10,001-$50,000
(2,007 Shares)$0
(0 Shares)$10,001-$50,000
(815 Shares)$0
(0 Shares)First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & $0 $10,001-Income Fund$0
(0 Shares)$0
(0 Shares)$10,001-$50,000 $1-
(1,330 Shares)$0
(0 Shares)$1-$10,000 $0 $10,001-
(512 Shares)$0
(0 Shares)$0
(0 Shares)First Trust Mortgage Income Fund $0
(0 Shares)$0
(0 Shares)$10,001-$50,000 INCOME FUND (0
(805 Shares)(1,301$0
(0 Shares)(882$0
(0 Shares)(0$1-$10,000
(764 Shares)(1,885$0
(0 Shares)------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY $0 $1-$10,000 $1-$10,000 $0 $1-$10,000 INCOME AND GROWTH FUND (0 Shares) (707 Shares) (783 Shares) (0 Shares) (898 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED $50,001-$100,000 $1-$10,000 $10,001-$50,000 $0 $10,001-$50,000 EQUITY INCOME FUND (4,003 Shares) (513 Shares) (919 Shares) (0 Shares) (658 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY $0 $10,001-$50,000 $1-$10,000 $0 $10,001-$50,000 INCOME FUND (0 Shares) (2,316 Shares) (922 Shares) (0 Shares) (1,378 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE $0 $0 $1-$10,000 $0 $1-$10,000 INCOME FUND (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (679 Shares) (0 Shares) (665 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY $0 $0 $10,001-$50,000 $1-$10,000 $1-$10,000 FUND (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (1,124 Shares) (600 Shares) (454 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL $0 $0 $1-$10,000 $0 $0 OPPORTUNITIES FUND (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (2,241 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 ENERGY INCOME FUND (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION $0 $0 $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000 $0 PREFERRED & INCOME FUND (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (1,069 Shares) (512 Shares) (0 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 ENERGY FUND (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOMEAggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee Over $100,000 $0 $0 $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000 FUND (71,288 Shares) (0 Shares) (0 Shares) (1,650 Shares) (3,000 Shares) ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------- AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN ALL REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES INOver $100,000 Over $100,000 Over $100,000 Over $100,000 Over $100,000 THE FIRST TRUST FUND COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE ------------------------ ------------------ ----------------- -------------------- -------------------- ---------------None
1 Ms. Wright was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the First Trust Funds (other than FTETF) effective September 10, 2023.
Under the Qualification Requirements described above, Trustees are required to agree to maintain an investment in the investment companies advised by the Advisor consistent with any applicable policy of the Board. In this regard, the Independent Trustees have adopted a policy that establishes the expectation that, within three years of becoming an Independent Trustee, the Independent Trustee will have invested an amount in the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex he or she oversees in the aggregate of at least one
year'syear’s annual retainer for Board service, with investments allocated among the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex depending on what is suitable for theTrustee'sTrustee’s personal investment needs.As of December 31,
2020,2023, the Independent Trustees and their immediate family members did not own, beneficially or of record, any class of securities of First Trust Advisors or any sub-advisor or principal underwriter of any Fund or any person, other than a registered investment company, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with First Trust-23-Advisors or any sub-advisor or principal underwriter of any Fund, nor, since the beginning of the most recently completed fiscal year of any Fund, did any Independent Trustee purchase or sell securities of First Trust Advisors, or any sub-advisor to any fund in the First Trust Fund Complex, their parents or any subsidiaries of any of the foregoing. -18-
As of December 31,
2020,2023, the Trustees and executive officers of each Fund as a group beneficially owned the following number of Shares of each Fund, which is less than 1% of eachFund'sFund’s Shares outstanding:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FUND SHARES OWNED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDENDFund Shares Owned First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund 8,473 First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & INCOME FUND 4,068 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND 2,388 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND 6,093 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND 4,616 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND 1,344 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND 2,178 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND 2,241 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND 1,581 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND 75,938 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------Income Fund1,842 First Trust Mortgage Income Fund 1,569 COMPENSATIONCompensation
Effective January 1,
2020,2023, the fixed annual retainer paid to the Independent Trusteesis $255,000was $275,000 per year and an annual per fund fee of $2,500 for each closed-end fund and actively managed fund, $750 for eachdefinedtarget outcome fund and $250 for each index fund. Effective January 1, 2024, the fixed annual retainer paid to the Independent Trustees is $285,000 per year and an annual per fund fee of $7,500 for each closed-end fund, $2,000 for each actively managed fund, $750 for each target outcome fund and $500 for each index fund. The fixed annual retainer is allocated equally among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex. Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee is paid $30,000 annually, theChairmenVice Lead Independent Trustee is paid up to $25,000 annually (effective March 12, 2024), the Chair of the Audit Committeeoris paid $25,000 annually, the Chair of the Valuation Committeeare eachis paid $20,000 annually,andtheChairmanChair of the Nominating and Governance Committee is paid$10,000$20,000 annually and the Vice Chair of the Audit Committee is paid $15,000 annually (effective March 12, 2024) to serve in such capacities with compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on its net assets. Trustees are also reimbursed by the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex for travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with all meetings. Each CommitteeChairman andChair, the Audit Committee Vice Chair, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Vice Lead Independent Trustee rotateevery three years.in accordance with the rotation periods established by the Board.The number of Board meetings held by each Fund during its last fiscal year is shown in Schedule 1 hereto.
The aggregate fees and expenses paid to all Trustees by each Fund for its last fiscal year (including reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses) amounted to the following:
-24-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- AGGREGATE FEES AND FUND EXPENSES PAID ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDENDFund Aggregate Fees and Expenses Paid First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund $20,422 First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & INCOME FUND $15,904 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND $16,108 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND $15,939 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND $15,787 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND $15,883 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND $15,731 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND $15,883 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND $16,047 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND $16,197 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND $17,034 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND $15,987 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND $15,849 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------Income Fund$20,038 First Trust Mortgage Income Fund $19,367 -19-
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation of each
Fund'sFund’s Trustees (including reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses) for eachFund'sFund’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Funds have no retirement or pension plans. The executive officers and the Interested Trustee of each Fund receive no compensation from the Funds for serving in such capacities.Trustee Compensation
Interested
TrusteeIndependent
TrusteesFund James A. Bowen Richard E. Erickson Thomas R. Kadlec Denise M. Keefe Robert F. Keith Niel B. Nielson Bronwyn
Wright4First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund1 $0 $3,725 $3,713 $3,664 $3,737 $3,713 $1,871 First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund2 $0 $3,861 $3,833 $3,678 $3,869 $3,853 $943 First Trust Mortgage Income Fund2 $0 $3,687 $3,685 $3,678 $3,687 $3,686 $943 Total Compensation for Serving the First Trust
Fund Complex3$0 $575,698 $570,691 $550,664 $580,705 $570,691 $274,250
AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FOR EACH FUND'S FISCAL YEAR ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE TRUSTEES ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- James A. Richard E. Thomas R. Robert F. Niel B. FUND Bowen Erickson Kadlec Keith Nielson ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND(1) $0 $3,979 $3,976 $3,969 $3,980 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND(1) $0 $4,038 $4,027 $4,003 $4,040 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND(2) $0 $3,985 $3,985 $3,951 $4,018 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND(2) $0 $3,947 $3,947 $3,932 $3,961 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND(3) $0 $3,972 $3,971 $3,966 $3,974 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND(2) $0 $3,933 $3,933 $3,925 $3,940 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND(1) $0 $3,973 $3,971 $3,966 $3,973 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND(1) $0 $4,020 $4,012 $3,993 $4,023 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND(3) $0 $4,064 $4,049 $4,018 $4,065 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ---------------25-
------------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- INTERESTED INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE TRUSTEES ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- James A. Richard E. Thomas R. Robert F. Niel B. FUND Bowen Erickson Kadlec Keith Nielson ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND(3) $0 $4,300 $4,259 $4,149 $4,327 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND(3) $0 $4,003 $3,997 $3,984 $4,003 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND(2) $0 $3,962 $3,962 $3,940 $3,984 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- TOTAL COMPENSATION FOR SERVING THE FIRST TRUST FUND COMPLEX(4) $0 $472,625 $472,625 $462,625 $482,625 ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------(1) For fiscal year ended November 30, 2020. (2)1 For fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. (3) For2023.
2 For fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. (4)2023.
3 For the calendar year ended December 31, 20202023 for services tothreefour portfolios of First Trust Series Fund andfiveseven portfolios of First Trust Variable Insurance Trust, open-end funds;1614 closed-end funds; and170237 series of the ETF Trusts. Compensation includes, with respect to certain ETFs, compensation paid by the Advisor rather than by the ETF directly pursuant to the terms of the advisory agreement between the applicable ETF Trust and the Advisor.ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
4 Ms. Wright was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the First Trust Funds (other than FTETF) effective September 10, 2023. Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders
Each
Fund'sFund’s Board of Trustees seeks to have as many Trustees as possible in attendance at annual meetings of shareholders. The policy of the Nominating and Governance Committee relating to attendance by Trustees at annual meetings of shareholders is contained in theFunds'Funds’ Nominating and Governance Committee Charter, which is available on eachFund'sFund’s website located at https://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the applicableFund'sFund’s webpage). In addition, for each Fund, the attendance of the Board of Trustees at lastyear'syear’s annual shareholder meeting is available on suchFund'sFund’s website located at https://www.ftportfolios.com.www.ftportfolios.com. To find the Board ofTrustees'Trustees’ attendance, select your Fund under the"Closed-End Funds"“Closed-End Funds” tab, select the"News“News &Literature"Literature” link, and go to the"Shareholder“Shareholder Updates andInformation"Information” heading.AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTAudit Committee Report
The role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the
Funds'Funds’ accounting and financial reporting process. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter (the"Charter"“Charter”) that was most recently reviewed by the Board of Trustees on December7, 2020,11, 2023, a copy of which is available on eachFund'sFund’s website located at https://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on theFund'sFund’s webpage). As set forth in the Charter, management of the Funds has the primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining systems for accounting, reporting, disclosure and internal controls. TheFunds'Funds’ independent auditors have the primary responsibility to plan and implement an audit, with proper consideration given to the accounting, reporting and internal controls.-20-
In performing its oversight function, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the audited financial statements of the First Trust
Mortgage Income Fund, the First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund, the First TrustIntermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund and the First TrustNew Opportunities MLP & EnergyMortgage Income Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31,20202023 at a meeting held on December17, 2020; the Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund, the First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, the First Trust -26-Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund21, 2023; and the First TrustEnergy Infrastructure Fund for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020 at a meeting held on January 14, 2021; and the First TrustEnhancedEquity Income Fund, the First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund, the First Trust/Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund and the First Trust Dynamic EuropeEquity Income Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31,20202023 at a meeting held on February18, 2021,22, 2024, and discussed the audits of such financial statements with the independent auditors and management.In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors the accounting principles applied by the Funds and such other matters brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the independent auditors as required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
("PCAOB"(“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard 1301, Communications with Audit Committees. The Audit Committee also received from the independent auditors the written disclosures and letter required by PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, delineating relationships between the independent auditors and the Funds, and discussed the impact that any such relationships may have on the objectivity and independence of the independent auditors.The members of the
Funds'Funds’ Audit Committee are not full-time employees of the Funds and are not performing the functions of auditors or accountants. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct"field work"“field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures or to set auditor independence standards. Members of theFunds'Funds’ Audit Committee necessarily rely on the information provided to them by Fund management and the independent auditors. Accordingly, the AuditCommittee'sCommittee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of theFunds'Funds’ financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that the independent auditors are in fact"independent."“independent.”Based on its consideration of the
Funds'Funds’ audited financial statements and the discussions referred to above with Fund management and Deloitte & Touche LLP, and subject to the limitations on the responsibilities and role of the Audit Committee as set forth in the Charter and discussed above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board the inclusion of eachFund'sFund’s audited financial statements in eachFund'sFund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the years ended October 31,November 302023 and December 31,2020,2023, respectively.Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Funds:
Richard E. Erickson
Thomas R. Kadlec
Denise M. Keefe
Robert F. Keith
Richard E. EricksonNiel B. Nielson
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' FEESBronwyn Wright
-21-
Independent Auditors’ Fees
Deloitte & Touche has been selected to serve as the independent auditors for each Fund for its current fiscal year, and acted as the independent auditors for each Fund for its most recently completed fiscal year. Deloitte & Touche has advised the Funds that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, Deloitte & Touche professionals did not have any direct or material indirect ownership interest in the Funds inconsistent with independent professional standards pertaining to independent registered public accounting firms. Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are not expected to be present at the Meeting, but will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence. In reliance on Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, each Fund is not seeking shareholder ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche as independent auditors.
-27-Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees
During each of the last two fiscal years of the Funds, Deloitte & Touche has billed each Fund and the Advisor for the fees set forth below. With respect to First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, fees billed for services to Stonebridge Advisors LLC
("Stonebridge"(“Stonebridge”), suchFund'sFund’s sub-advisor, are also listed below; an affiliate of the Advisor owns a majority interest in Stonebridge.
Audit Fees3 Audit-Related
FeesTax
FeesAll Other
FeesFees Billed To: 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund1
FundAdvisor
$40,000
N/A
$40,000
N/A
$0
$0$0
$0$16,2504
$0
$21,0944
$0
$0
$0$0
$0First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund2
FundAdvisor
Sub-Advisor
$30,000
N/A
N/A
$30,000
N/A
N/A
$0
$0
$0$0
$0
$0$14,0004
$0
$0
$21,2114
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0$0
$0
$0First Trust Mortgage Income Fund2
FundAdvisor
$47,000
N/A
$47,000
N/A
$0
$0$0
$0$28,7625
$0
$33,1205
$0
$0
$0$0
$0
--------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- AUDIT-RELATED TAX ALL OTHER AUDIT FEES(1) FEES FEES(2) FEES --------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- FEES BILLED TO: 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/ UTILITIES DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND(3) Fund $49,000 $49,000 $0 $0 $30,332 $17,872 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND(3) Fund $57,000 $57,000 $0 $0 $42,044 $42,100 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND(4) Fund $38,000 $38,000 $0 $0 $5,266 $5,263 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND(4) Fund $53,000 $53,000 $0 $0 $6,026 $5,200 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND(5) Fund $45,000 $45,000 $0 $0 $19,560 $18,257 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND(4) Fund $53,000 $53,000 $0 $0 $6,311 $5,725 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND(3) Fund $42,000 $42,000 $0 $0 $5,200 $5,200 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND(3) Fund $44,000 $44,000 $0 $0 $6,373 $6,390 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND(5) Fund $57,000 $57,000 $0 $0 $42,000 $42,166 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND(5) Fund $28,000 $28,000 $0 $0 $5,200 $16,295 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Sub-Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND(5) Fund $57,000 $57,000 $0 $0 $42,000 $42,158 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------1 These fees were for the fiscal years ended December 31. -28-
--------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- AUDIT-RELATED TAX ALL OTHER AUDIT FEES(1) FEES FEES(2) FEES --------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- FEES BILLED TO: 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND(4) Fund $39,500 $39,500 $0 $0 $18,248 $61,976 $0 $0 Advisor N/A N/A $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 --------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------(1)2 These fees were for the fiscal years ended October 31.
3 These fees were the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Fund'sFund’s annual financial statements and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.(2)
4 These fees were for tax consultation and/or tax return preparation andand/or professional services rendered for PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) Identification Services.(3)
5 These fees were for the fiscal years ended November 30. (4) These fees were for the fiscal years ended December 31. (5) These fees were for the fiscal years ended October 31.tax consultation and/or tax return preparation.Non-Audit Fees
During each of the last two fiscal years of the Funds, Deloitte & Touche has billed each Fund and the Advisor for the non-audit fees listed below for services provided to the entities indicated. With respect to First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, non-audit fees billed for services provided to Stonebridge, such
Fund'sFund’s sub-advisor, are also listed below; an affiliate of the Advisor owns a majority interest in Stonebridge.
AGGREGATE NON-AUDIT FEES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FEES BILLED TO: 2019 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- -------------------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND(1) Fund $30,332 $17,872 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME AND GROWTH FUND(1) Fund $42,044 $42,100 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED EQUITY INCOME FUND(2) Fund $5,266 $5,263 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND(2) Fund $6,026 $5,200 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE INCOME FUND(3) Fund $19,560 $18,257 Advisor $28,500(4) $70,370(7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND(2) Fund $6,311 $5,725 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND(1) Fund $5,200 $5,200 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND(1) Fund $6,373 $6,390 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND(3) Fund $42,000 $42,166 Advisor $28,500(4) $70,370(7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- --------------------29-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FEES BILLED TO: 2019 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- -------------------FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND(3) Fund $5,200 $16,295 Advisor $28,500(4) $70,370(7) Sub-Advisor $18,500(4) $18,000(8) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST NEW OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND(3) Fund $42,000 $42,158 Advisor $28,500(4) $70,370(7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- ------------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND(2) Fund $18,248 $61,976 Advisor $75,670(5) $23,200(6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------- -------------------(1) These fees were for the fiscal years ended November 30. (2) These fees were for the fiscal years ended December 31. (3) These fees were for the fiscal years ended October 31. (4) These fees relate to 2018 federal and state tax matters and professional services rendered for an Illinois Private Letter Ruling and First Trust Portfolios L.P. income review. (5) These fees relate to 2018 federal and state tax matters, professional services rendered for an Illinois Private Letter Ruling and First Trust Portfolios L.P. income review, and professional fees related to the First Trust Security Assessment Project. (6) These fees relate to 2019 federal and state tax matters and consulting fees. (7) These fees relate to 2018 and 2019 federal and state tax matters and professional fees related to the First Trust Security Assessment Project. (8) These fees relate to 2018 and 2019 federal and state tax matters and consulting fees.-22-
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees
Fees Billed To: 2022 2023 First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund1 Fund $16,250 $21,094 Advisor $0 $44,000 First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund2 Fund $14,000 $21,211 Advisor $0 $44,000 Sub-Advisor $0 $16,000 First Trust Mortgage Income Fund2 Fund $28,762 $33,120 Advisor $0 $44,000 1 These fees were for the fiscal years ended December 31.
2 These fees were for the fiscal years ended October 31.
Pre-Approval
Pursuant to its Charter and its Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee of each Fund is responsible for the pre-approval of all audit services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for each Fund by its independent auditors. The
ChairmanChair or Vice Chair of the Audit Committee is authorized to give such pre-approvals on behalf of the Audit Committee up to $25,000 and report any such pre-approval to the full Audit Committee.The Audit Committee is also responsible for the pre-approval of the independent
auditors'auditors’ engagements for non-audit services with the Advisor and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Advisor that provides ongoing services to the respective Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. If the independent auditors have provided non-audit services to the Advisor or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Advisor that provides ongoing services to the respective Fund that were not pre-approved pursuant to its policies, the Audit Committee will consider whether the provision of such non-audit services is compatible with theauditors'auditors’ independence.None of the Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees, or All Other Fees, if any, or the Aggregate Non-Audit Fees disclosed above that were required to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to its Pre-Approval Policy were pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the pre-approval exceptions included in Regulation S-X.
Because the Audit Committee has not been informed of any such services, the Audit Committee of each Fund has not considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Advisor and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Advisor that provides ongoing services to the respective Fund that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal
accountant'saccountant’s independence.-30-ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS-23-
Additional Information
Shareholder Proposals
Shareholder Proposals for Inclusion in a
Fund'sFund’s Proxy Statement. To be considered for presentation at the20222025 annual meeting of shareholders of a Fund and included in theFund'sFund’s proxy statement relating to such meeting, a shareholder proposal must be submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act("(“Rule14a-8"14a-8”) and must be received at the principal executive offices of the applicable Fund not later than November22, 2021.29, 2024. However, timely submission of a proposal does not mean that such proposal will be included in aFund'sFund’s proxy statement.Other Shareholder Proposals. In addition to any requirements under applicable law (including without limitation the proxy rules under the 1934 Act) and the applicable Declaration of Trust, under the
Funds'Funds’ By-Laws, any proposal to elect any person nominated by a shareholder for election as Trustee and any other proposal by a shareholder may only be brought before an annual meeting of a Fund if, among other requirements, the proposing shareholder would be entitled to vote on the proposal and timely written notice (the"Shareholder Notice"“Shareholder Notice”) is provided to the Secretary of the Fund. In accordance with the advance notice provisions included in theFunds'Funds’ By-Laws, unless a greater or lesser period is required under applicable law, to be timely, the Shareholder Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the applicableFund'sFund’s principal executive offices, Attn: W. Scott Jardine, Secretary, not less than one hundred and five (105) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary date of the date theFund'sFund’s proxy statement was released to shareholders for the precedingyear'syear’s annual meeting. However, if and only if an annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an"Other“Other Annual MeetingDate"Date”), such Shareholder Notice must be given as described above not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to such Other Annual Meeting Date and not less than the close of business on the later of (i) the date one hundred and five (105) days prior to such Other Annual Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth (10th) business day following the date such Other Annual Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed. In order for a shareholder to properly propose a nominee for election to the Board of Trustees of a Fund or to propose business outside of Rule 14a-8, in addition to complying with the advance notice provisions,(described in the preceding paragraph),the shareholder must also comply with all other relevant provisions set forth in the By-Laws. Copies of the By-Laws can be found in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by each Fund with the SEC onOctober 20, 2020,June 23, 2023, which is available at www.sec.gov, and may also be obtained by writing to the Secretary of the applicable Fund at suchFund'sFund’s principal executive offices.ANY SHAREHOLDER OF A FUND CONSIDERING MAKING A NOMINATION OR SUBMITTING ANY OTHER PROPOSAL SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE BY-LAWS.Any shareholder of a Fund considering making a nomination or submitting any other proposal should carefully review the By-Laws.In addition, the By-Laws provide that, unless required by applicable law, no matter shall be considered at or brought before any annual or special meeting unless such matter has been deemed a proper matter for shareholder action by at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the Trustees. Timely submission of a proposal does not mean that such proposal will be brought before the meeting.
CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITIONS The By-Laws include provisions (referred to as the "Control Share Provisions") pursuant to which, in summary, a shareholder who obtains beneficial ownership of a Fund's Shares in a "Control Share Acquisition" (as defined below) -31-may exercise voting rights with respect to such Shares only to the extent the authorization of such voting rights is approved by other shareholders of the Fund. Subject to various exceptions and conditions, the By-Laws define a "Control Share Acquisition" generally to include an acquisition of Shares that, but for the Control Share Provisions, would give the beneficial owner upon the acquisition of such Shares the ability to exercise voting power in the election of Trustees of a Fund in any of the following ranges: (i) one-tenth or more, but less than one-fifth of all voting power; (ii) one-fifth or more, but less than one-third of all voting power; (iii) one-third or more, but less than a majority of all voting power; or (iv) a majority or more of all voting power. Share acquisitions that occurred prior to October 19, 2020 (the adoption date of the By-Laws) are excluded from the definition of Control Share Acquisition. However, such Shares are included in assessing whether any subsequent acquisition of Shares exceeds the above thresholds. Subject to various conditions and procedural requirements set forth in the Control Share Provisions, including the delivery of a "Control Share Acquisition Statement" to the applicable Fund setting forth certain required information, a shareholder who obtains or proposes to obtain beneficial ownership of Shares in a Control Share Acquisition may demand a special meeting of shareholders of the Fund for the purpose of considering whether to approve the authorization of voting rights of such shareholder with respect to such Shares. THE FOREGOING DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTROL SHARE PROVISIONS IS NOT COMPLETE, AND A SHAREHOLDER SEEKING TO ACQUIRE SHARES OF A FUND IN A CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE BY-LAWS (COPIES OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AS INDICATED ABOVE). SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS-24-
Shareholder Communications
Shareholders of a Fund who want to communicate with the Board of Trustees or any individual Trustee should write the Fund to the attention of the Fund Secretary, W. Scott Jardine. The letter should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication is intended for a specific Trustee and so indicates, it will be sent only to that Trustee. If a communication does not indicate a specific Trustee, it will be sent to the
ChairmanChair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees and the independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such persons.INVESTMENT ADVISOR, SUB-ADVISORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND TRANSFER AGENTSInvestment Advisor, Sub-Advisors, Administrators and Transfer Agent
First Trust Advisors L.P. (previously defined as “First Trust Advisors”), 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, serves as each
Fund'sFund’s investment advisor. First Trust Advisors is also responsible for providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services to each Fund and also provides fund reporting services to each Fund for a flat annual fee.Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, 100 Independence, 610 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106-2354 serves as the investment sub-advisor to Macquarie/First TrustGlobal Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund. Energy IncomeAdvisors is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace PartnersLLC, 10 Wright Street, Westport, Connecticut 06880, serves asof DuPage L.P. (“Grace Partners”), and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. Grace Partners is a limited partnership with one general partner, The Charger Corporation, and a number of limited partners. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, theinvestment sub-advisor toChief Executive Officer of First TrustEnergy IncomeAdvisors andGrowth Fund, First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund and First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energythe sole Interested Trustee of each Fund.An affiliate of the Advisor owns an interest in Energy Income Partners, LLC.Chartwell Investment Partners, LLC, 1205 Westlakes Drive, Suite 100, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312, serves as the investment sub-advisor to First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund.
Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the investment sub-advisor to First Trust/Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund and First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund. Confluence Investment Management LLC, 20 Allen Avenue, Suite 300, St. Louis, Missouri 63119, serves as the investment sub-advisor to First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund.Stonebridge Advisors LLC (previously defined as “Stonebridge”), 10 Westport Road, Suite C101, Wilton, Connecticut 06897, serves as the investment sub-advisor to First Trust-32-Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund. An affiliate of the Advisor owns a majority interest in Stonebridge Advisors LLC. Janus Capital Management LLC, 151 Detroit Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, serves as the investment sub-advisor to First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund.Stonebridge.The Bank of New York Mellon, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as the administrator, fund accountant and custodian
and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, acts as the transfer agent,toeach Fund except forFirst TrustIntermediate Duration Preferred &Enhanced Equity Income Fund and First TrustDynamic Europe EquityMortgage Income Fund. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, acts as the administrator, fund accountant and custodianand Computershare, Inc., P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, Kentucky 40233-5000, acts as the transfer agent,to First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & IncomeFund and First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity IncomeFund.SECTION 30(h) AND SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCEComputershare, Inc., P.O. Box 43006, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, acts as the transfer agent to each Fund.Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act and Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act require the
Funds'Funds’ Trustees, theFunds'Funds’ officers subject to such provisions, certain persons affiliated with First Trust Advisors and any sub-advisor, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of aFund'sFund’s Shares to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC. Based upon a review of certain related forms filed with the SEC and certain written representations, each Fund believes that during the fiscal years ended October 31,2020, November 30, 20202023 and December 31,2020,2023, as applicable, all such filing requirements applicable to such persons weremet. FISCAL YEARmet except as follows:
First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund With respect to officers of Stonebridge, the Fund’s investment sub-advisor, (i) on December 21, 2022, one late Form 3 was filed for Kevin J. Patton; and (ii) on October 30, 2023, one late Form 3 was filed for Angelo D. Graci. First Trust Mortgage Income Fund On June 29, 2023, one late Form 3 was filed for Owen N. Aronson, a portfolio manager to the Fund. -25-
Fiscal Year
The fiscal year end for
First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund,First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund and First TrustNew Opportunities MLP & EnergyMortgage Income Fund is October 31.The fiscal year end for Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund, First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund and First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund is November 30.The fiscal year end for First Trust Enhanced Equity Income FundFirst Trust/Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund, First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund and First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fundis December 31.DELIVERY OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS Annual reports will be sent to shareholdersDelivery of
record of each Fund following the Fund's fiscal year end.Certain DocumentsEach Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report and/or semi-annual report as available upon request. Such written or oral requests should be made by writing to the Advisor at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 or by calling toll-free (800) 988-5891.
Please note that only one annual or semi-annual report or proxy statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual or semi-annual report or proxy statement, or for instructions as to how to request a separate copy of such documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of such documents are received, shareholders should contact the Advisor at the address and phone number set forth above. Pursuant to a request, a separate copy will be delivered promptly.
-33-STANDSTILL AGREEMENT RELATING TO CERTAIN FIRST TRUST CLOSED-END FUNDS On December 2, 2020, First Trust/Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund ("FAM") andOther Matters to Come Before the
Advisor entered into a standstill agreement (the "Standstill Agreement") with Karpus Management, Inc. (doing business as Karpus Investment Management) and various present or future persons, entities, funds or accounts it manages, provides investment management or advisory services or controls (collectively "Karpus"). Under the Standstill Agreement, Karpus agreed, among other things, as to certain voting-related matters and standstill covenants with respect to FAM and several other closed-end funds advised by the Advisor (including First Trust Mortgage Income Fund and First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, but not any of the other Funds included in this Joint Proxy Statement) until the earlier of (i) December 2, 2023 or (ii) such other date as the parties to such agreement may agree in writing. OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETINGMeetingNo business other than the proposal to elect Dr. Erickson and Mr. Kadlec as the Class II Trustees of each Fund, as described above, is expected to come before the Meeting, but should any other matter permitted under the By-Laws to be brought before the Meeting and requiring a vote of shareholders arise, including any question as to an adjournment of the Meeting submitted to shareholders, the persons named on the enclosed proxy card will vote thereon according to their best judgment in the interests of the Funds.
March
17, 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. SHAREHOLDERS ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -34-19, 2024
SCHEDULE 1 NUMBER OF BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD DURING EACH FUND'S LAST FISCAL YEAR -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/ NOMINATING DIVIDEND AND AUDIT AND PRICING GOVERNANCE VALUATION BOARD COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE FUND MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST 11 9 3 6 4 GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE/ UTILITIES DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND(1) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY INCOME 11 9 3 6 4 AND GROWTH FUND(1) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST ENHANCED 11 10 3 6 4 EQUITY INCOME FUND(2) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN 13 11 8 6 4 GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND(2) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST MORTGAGE 10 10 10 6 4 INCOME FUND(3) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST/ABERDEEN 11 10 3 6 4 EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUND(2) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY 11 9 3 6 4 FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND(1) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST ENERGY 11 9 9 6 4 INFRASTRUCTURE FUND(1) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST MLP AND 10 10 3 6 4 ENERGY INCOME FUND(3) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST INTERMEDIATE 10 10 10 6 4 DURATION PREFERRED & INCOME FUND(3) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST NEW 10 10 3 6 4 OPPORTUNITIES MLP & ENERGY FUND(3) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- FIRST TRUST DYNAMIC 11 10 8 6 4 EUROPE EQUITY INCOME FUND(2) -------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------(1) For fiscal year ended November 30, 2020. (2) For fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. (3) For fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.It Is Important That Proxies Be Returned Promptly. Shareholders Are Therefore Urged To Complete, Sign, Date And Return The Proxy Card As Soon As Possible In The Enclosed Postage-Paid Envelope. [BLANK BACK COVER]FORM OF PROXY CARD ------------------ EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT EASY VOTING OPTIONS: VOTE BY MAIL Vote, sign-26-
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.
Schedule 1
Number of Board anddate this Proxy Card and return in the postage-paid envelope VOTE IN PERSON Attend Shareholder Meeting scheduled to be held at 120 E. Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 on April 26, 2021 Please detach at perforation before mailing. PROXY [NAME OF FUND] ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2021 PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The undersigned holder of shares of the [NAME OF FUND], a Massachusetts business trust, hereby appoints W. Scott Jardine, Kristi A. Maher, James M. Dykas, Donald P. Swade and Erin E. Klassman as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, with full powers of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned and to vote on behalf of the undersigned all shares of the Fund that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund (the "Meeting") that is scheduled to be held at the Wheaton, Illinois offices of First Trust Advisors L.P., 120 E. Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, at 12:00 Noon Central Time on the date indicated above, and any adjournmentsCommittee Meetings
Held During Each Fund’s Last Fiscal Year
Fund Board
MeetingsAudit
Committee
MeetingsDividend
Committee
MeetingsExecutive
Committee
MeetingsNominating
and
Governance
Committee
MeetingsValuation
Committee
MeetingsFirst Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund1 8 9 0 0 4 4 First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund2 8 9 0 0 4 4 First Trust Mortgage Income Fund2 8 9 0 0 4 4 1 For fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
2 For
postponements thereof. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Joint Annual Meetings of Shareholders and Joint Proxy Statement, each dated March 17, 2021, and hereby instructs said attorneys and proxies to vote said shares as indicated hereon. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof (including, but not limited to, any questions as to adjournments of the Meeting). A majority of the proxies present and acting at the Meeting in person or by substitute (or, if only one shall be so present, then that one) shall have and may exercise all of the power and authority of said proxies hereunder. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy previously given. This proxy, if properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH. ----------------------- ------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- XXX_XXXXX_XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXEVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2021 THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY CARD FOR THIS MEETING ARE AVAILABLE AT: https://www.proxy-direct.com/fir-31901 Please detach at perforation before mailing. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN IN THIS EXAMPLE: [X] A PROPOSAL 1. Election of two Class II Trustees. The Board of Trustees recommends that you vote FOR the election of the two Class II Nominees for a three-year term. FOR WITHHOLD 01. Richard E. Erickson [ ] [ ] 02. Thomas R. Kadlec [ ] [ ] B AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES -- THIS SECTION MUST BE COMPLETED FOR YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED. -- SIGN AND DATE BELOW NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this Proxy Card, and date it. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, guardian, administrator, trustee, officer of corporation or other entity or in another representative capacity, please give the full title under the signature. DATE (mm/dd/yyyy)-- SIGNATURE 1--Please keep SIGNATURE 2--Please keep Please print date below signature within the box signature within the box ----------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ / / ----------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scanner bar code -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ___ 31901 xxxxxxxxfiscal year ended October 31, 2023.