UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-22767
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
W. Scott Jardine, Esq.
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (630) 765-8000
Date of fiscal year end:December 31
Date of reporting period:December 31, 2019
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Report to Stockholders.
The registrant’s annual report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 is as follows:
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy
Fund (FTGC)
Fund (FTGC)
Annual Report
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019
Table of Contents
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Annual Report
December 31, 2019
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Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the goals, beliefs, plans or current expectations of First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) and its representatives, taking into account the information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to current or historical fact. For example, forward-looking statements include the use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “would” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII (the “Trust”) described in this report (First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund; hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”) to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. When evaluating the information included in this report, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the judgment of the Advisor and its representatives only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events and circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
Performance and Risk Disclosure
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and that the value of the Fund shares may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money by investing in the Fund. See “Risk Considerations” in the Additional Information section of this report for a discussion of certain other risks of investing in the Fund.
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For the most recent month-end performance figures, please visitwww.ftportfolios.com or speak with your financial advisor. Investment returns, net asset value and share price will fluctuate and Fund shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The Advisor may also periodically provide additional information on Fund performance on the Fund’s web page atwww.ftportfolios.com.
How to Read This Report
This report contains information that may help you evaluate your investment in the Fund. It includes details about the Fund and presents data and analysis that provide insight into the Fund’s performance and investment approach.
By reading the portfolio commentary by the portfolio management team of the Fund, you may obtain an understanding of how the market environment affected the Fund’s performance. The statistical information that follows may help you understand the Fund’s performance compared to that of relevant market benchmarks.
It is important to keep in mind that the opinions expressed by personnel of the Advisor are just that: informed opinions. They should not be considered to be promises or advice. The opinions, like the statistics, cover the period through the date on the cover of this report. The material risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus, the statement of additional information, and other Fund regulatory filings.
Shareholder Letter
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Annual Letter from the Chairman and CEO
December 31, 2019
Dear Shareholders,
First Trust is pleased to provide you with the annual report for the First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), which contains detailed information about the Fund for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, including a market overview and a performance analysis.
A significant event for the markets in the past year was the decision by the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) to reverse course with respect to monetary policy. For those who may not follow the Fed closely, after holding its federal funds target rate (upper bound) at an artificially low 0.25% for seven years (December 2008-December 2015) to help stimulate U.S. economic activity, the Fed spent the better part of the next four years (December 2015-July 2019) increasing its benchmark lending rate in an effort to normalize it. Over that period, the Fed increased the rate from 0.25% to 2.50%. To lend some perspective, the average federal funds target rate (upper bound) was 2.95% for the 30-year period ended December 31, 2019, so the Fed came close to achieving its goal of normalizing it, according to data from Bloomberg. From the end of July 2019 through the end of December, however, the Fed initiated three rate cuts that dropped it from 2.50% to 1.75%.
So why did the Fed reverse course on monetary policy? We believe, as well as others in the financial media, that the Fed’s reversal on monetary policy has to do with the trade tariffs. The Trump Administration first began implementing new trade tariffs on imported goods back in March 2018. While the original tariffs targeted just imported steel and aluminum, the use of tariffs quickly escalated to other goods and services. The lion’s share of the tariff conflict today is between the U.S. and China, the two-largest economies in the world. In our opinion, it is believed that President Donald J. Trump is utilizing tariffs as leverage to try and negotiate more favorable trade agreements between the U.S. and its major trading partners. One of the by-products of the escalation in the use of tariffs by all parties involved has been a slowdown in global economic growth, particularly in the U.S. The annualized U.S. real gross domestic product growth rate in the second quarter of 2018 (when new tariffs were introduced) was 3.5%. As of the second and third quarters of 2019, that annualized growth rate was down to 2.0% and 2.1%, respectively, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. For many months, President Trump has publicly challenged the Fed to lower rates aggressively to help offset the tempering of economic growth. Trump has noted that the Fed has room to lower rates due to the extremely low-to-negative rate levels found in many countries abroad as well as the lack of any significant inflationary pressure in the current climate. While the Fed has delivered some rate cuts in recent months, we believe that President Trump will continue to bang the drum for even more rate cuts.
It has been said in the financial media that this is the “most hated” bull market in history, yet it has been one of the most prosperous for investors. The bull market turns 11 years old on March 9, 2020. A Bloomberg survey of 21 equity strategists found that their average 2020 year-end price target for the S&P 500® Index was 3,318 as of December 17, 2019, according to its own release. The highest estimate was 3,500. The lowest estimate was 3,000. With a target of 3,650, Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist at First Trust Advisors L.P., is more bullish than all the strategists surveyed by Bloomberg. We encourage investors to stay the course.
Thank you for giving First Trust the opportunity to play a role in your financial future. We value our relationship with you and will report on the Fund again in six months.
Sincerely,
James A. Bowen
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P.
Page 1
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek to provide total return by providing investors with commodity exposure while seeking a relatively stable risk profile. The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve attractive risk-adjusted return by investing in commodity futures contracts and exchange-traded commodity linked instruments (collectively, “Commodities Instruments”) through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Subsidiary”). The Fund will not invest directly in Commodities instruments. The Fund expects to gain exposure to these investments exclusively by investing in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is advised by First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor (the “Advisor”).
The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is intended to provide the Fund with exposure to commodity markets within the limits of current federal income tax laws applicable to investment companies such as the Fund, which limit the ability of investment companies to invest directly in Commodities Instruments. The Subsidiary has the same investment objective as the Fund, but unlike the Fund, it may invest without limitation in Commodities Instruments. Except as otherwise noted, references to the Fund’s investments include the Fund’s indirect investments through the Subsidiary. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary.
The Subsidiary seeks to make investments generally in Commodities Instruments while managing volatility. Investment weightings of the underlying Commodities Instruments held by the Subsidiary are rebalanced in an attempt to stabilize risk levels. The dynamic weighting process is designed to result in a disciplined, systematic investment process, which is keyed off of the Advisor’s volatility forecasting process. The Subsidiary may have both long and short positions in Commodities Instruments. However, for a given Commodity Instrument the Subsidiary will provide a net long exposure.
The remainder of the Fund’s assets will primarily be invested in: (1) short-term investment grade fixed income securities that include U.S. government and agency securities, sovereign debt obligations of non-U.S. countries, and repurchase agreements; (2) money market instruments; (3) ETFs and other investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and (4) cash and other cash equivalents. The Fund uses such instruments as investments and to collateralize the Subsidiary’s Commodities Instruments exposure on a day-to-day basis.
| Performance | ||||||
| Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | |||||
| 1 Year Ended 12/31/19 | 5 Years Ended 12/31/19 | Inception (10/22/13) to 12/31/19 | 5 Years Ended 12/31/19 | Inception (10/22/13) to 12/31/19 | ||
| Fund Performance | ||||||
| NAV | 6.55% | -5.79% | -6.73% | -25.77% | -35.05% | |
| Market Price | 6.32% | -5.86% | -6.75% | -26.07% | -35.12% | |
| Index Performance | ||||||
| Bloomberg Commodity Index | 7.69% | -3.92% | -6.33% | -18.14% | -33.31% | |
| S&P GSCI® Total Return Index | 17.63% | -4.32% | -9.63% | -19.83% | -46.59% | |
| S&P 500® Index | 31.49% | 11.70% | 12.65% | 73.86% | 109.11% | |
Total returns for the period since inception are calculated from the inception date of the Fund. “Average Annual Total Returns” represent the average annual change in value of an investment over the periods indicated. “Cumulative Total Returns” represent the total change in value of an investment over the periods indicated.
The Fund’s per share net asset value (“NAV”) is the value of one share of the Fund and is computed by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of outstanding shares. The price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the stock exchange on which shares of the Fund are listed for trading as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after its inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of the Fund, the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the secondary market trading price to calculate market returns. NAV and market returns assume that all distributions have been reinvested in the Fund at NAV and Market Price, respectively.
An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower. The total returns presented reflect the reinvestment of dividends on securities in the indices. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares of the Fund will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares of the Fund may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
Page 2
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Bid/Ask Midpoint vs. NAV through December 31, 2019
The following Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums charts are provided to show the frequency at which the bid/ask midpoint price for the Fund was at a discount or premium to the daily NAV. The following tables are for comparative purposes only and represent the period January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019. Shareholders may pay more than NAV when they buy Fund shares and receive less than NAV when they sell those shares because shares are bought and sold at current market price. Data presented represents past performance and cannot be used to predict future results.
| Number of Days Bid/Ask Midpoint At/Above NAV | ||||
| For the Period | 0.00%–0.49% | 0.50%–0.99% | 1.00%–1.99% | >=2.00% |
| 1/1/15 – 12/31/15 | 122 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1/1/16 – 12/31/16 | 142 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/17 – 12/31/17 | 120 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/18 – 12/31/18 | 115 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/19 – 12/31/19 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Number of Days Bid/Ask Midpoint Below NAV | ||||
| For the Period | 0.00%–0.49% | 0.50%–0.99% | 1.00%–1.99% | >=2.00% |
| 1/1/15 – 12/31/15 | 124 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/16 – 12/31/16 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/17 – 12/31/17 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/18 – 12/31/18 | 135 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/19 – 12/31/19 | 151 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Page 3
Portfolio Commentary
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Annual Report
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
Advisor
First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) serves as the investment advisor, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor to the First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”). First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the Fund’s investment portfolio, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain administrative services necessary for the management of the Fund.
Portfolio Management Team
John Gambla – CFA, FRM, PRM, Senior Portfolio Manager
Rob A. Guttschow – CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager
Commentary
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide total return by providing investors with commodity exposure while seeking a relatively stable risk profile. For performance measurement, the Fund is benchmarked against the unmanaged Bloomberg Commodity Index (“Benchmark”). This commentary discusses the 12-month market and Fund performance ended December 31, 2019.
Overall Market Recap
U.S. economic growth slowed during the fiscal year from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Gross domestic product growth averaged 2.3% during the year versus 3.15% in the prior year. U.S. unemployment declined during the period, falling from 4.0% in January to 3.5% in December 2019. December’s unemployment rate of 3.5% was the lowest unemployment rate since 1969. The number of non-farm payroll jobs added to the U.S. economy during the fiscal period, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was 2.1 million.
With economic growth slowing during the year, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) reversed course on its rate “normalization” plan that it had begun in 2016. The first hints of the revised plan came in December 2018, when the FOMC raised its overnight benchmark rate by 0.25% but changed its language to a much softer/dovish tone for future rate action. The impetus for the change in strategy might have been a 18.93% drop in the S&P 500® Index from September 30, 2018 through December 24, 2018. Markets declined as economic growth appeared to slow globally and as the trade war rhetoric heated up between China and the U.S. The FOMC changed its policy by reducing its overnight benchmark rate by 0.25% at their July, September, and October 2019 meetings.
The U.S. equity market, as represented by the S&P 500® Index, rallied strongly during the fiscal period, posting a total return for the year of 31.49%. Full year operating earnings, as reported by Standard & Poor’s, are expected to be up 4.3% versus full year 2018 operating earnings. U.S. Bonds performed well during the period, benefitting from the FOMC policy change. For the year, the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate was up 8.72%.
The commodities markets rallied in January 2019, returning 5.5% for the month as the change in the Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) language regarding its future rate policy boosted prospects for faster economic growth and higher inflation. Markets cooled in the second quarter as the “trade war” between the U.S. and China dampened potential economic growth, particularly hurting the agricultural sector as China imposed tariffs on agricultural products in response to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. By year end, a “Phase One” trade deal appeared to be finalized between the two countries and the commodities markets responded in kind, rallying toward the market highs set in early April. For the year, commodity markets, as measured by the Bloomberg Commodity Index, returned 7.69%.
Fund Performance
The Fund’s performance for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2019 was positive 6.55% on a net asset value basis and 6.32% on a market price basis. The Fund’s Benchmark returned 7.69% for the same period.
The global commodity market is made up of several separate markets including agriculture, oil, industrial metals, and precious metals. These commodities are the building blocks of every economy in the world. Holding a physical commodity is not practical for most investors, but the futures market provides an alternative way to seek exposure to commodities. Individual commodity futures contracts and the unmanaged benchmarks that measure their performance offer attractive opportunities for investors to potentially diversify their portfolios and protect themselves against unforeseen rises in inflation; however, commodities and their benchmarks can be volatile. The Fund employs an investment style that seeks to control the Fund’s risk profile to a relatively stable band, thus providing investors broadly diversified commodity exposure with more risk stability than traditional unmanaged commodity benchmarks.
Page 4
Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Annual Report
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
During the performance period, the Fund held allocations in 26 different commodities at various points in time. The Fund’s average sector allocation was 25.0% energy, 17.3% industrial metals, 18.1% precious metals, 30.2% agricultural, and 9.4% livestock. As of December 31, 2019, the Fund held 25.8% in energy related futures contracts, 16.4% in industrial metal futures, 17.0% in precious metal futures, 30.2% in agricultural futures, and 10.6% in livestock futures.
During the performance period, the Fund’s overweight position relative to the Benchmark in agricultural commodities was a drag on the performance of the Fund. On average, the Fund was underweight CBOE wheat which rallied by 7.7% during the year while overweight cocoa, cotton, and sugar returned 3.19%, -8.42%, and -0.21% respectively. Another notable allocation during the year was the Fund’s overweight in precious metals which boosted relative performance. The Fund, on average, was underweight WTI and Brent crude while overweight the distillates, heating oil, gasoline, and gasoil. The net impact of the energy allocation was a negative for the Fund as the underweights in WTI and Brent crude (up 31.63% and 32.73%) were larger than the overweights to heating oil, gasoil, and gasoline (up 22.01%, 21.39%, and 41.47%, respectively). Within the industrial metals complex, the Fund’s relative performance was hurt by its underweight to nickel. Nickel rallied strongly during the summer months as Indonesia began limiting nickel ore exports in an attempt to encourage more domestic refining of the nickel ore.
Please see the Consolidated Portfolio of Investments for a complete list of all positions within the portfolio as of December 31, 2019.
Market and Fund Outlook
Today, we believe the Fund is well positioned to achieve its investment objective of seeking to provide total return by providing investors with commodity exposure while seeking a relatively stable risk profile. We believe that the Fund is currently broadly diversified across commodity futures and commodity sectors and that the risk control portfolio construction process is working well. Additionally, we believe that commodities are and will continue to be a valuable component of any well diversified portfolio. Because commodities are not highly correlated with traditional asset classes, they can potentially decrease portfolio volatility, enhance overall return, and provide meaningful diversification to an asset allocation strategy.
Page 5
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Understanding Your Fund Expenses
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
As a shareholder of the First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, if any, and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the six-month period ended December 31, 2019.
Actual Expenses
The first line in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this six-month period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as brokerage commissions. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| Beginning Account Value July 1, 2019 | Ending Account Value December 31, 2019 | Annualized Expense Ratio Based on the Six-Month Period | Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period (a) | |
| First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC) | ||||
| Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,028.20 | 0.95% | $4.86 |
| Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.42 | 0.95% | $4.84 |
| (a) | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratios as indicated in the table multiplied by the average account value over the period (July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019), multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the six-month period). |
Page 6
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Consolidated Portfolio of Investments
December 31, 2019
| Principal Value | Description | Stated Coupon | Stated Maturity | Value | ||||
| U.S. TREASURY BILLS – 84.7% | ||||||||
| $15,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 01/09/20 | $14,995,913 | ||||
| 16,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 01/16/20 | 15,991,335 | ||||
| 18,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 01/23/20 | 17,984,617 | ||||
| 18,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 01/30/20 | 17,979,698 | ||||
| 13,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/06/20 | 12,981,231 | ||||
| 16,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/13/20 | 15,972,327 | ||||
| 23,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/20/20 | 22,952,729 | ||||
| 14,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/27/20 | 13,967,224 | ||||
| 3,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 04/16/20 | 2,986,764 | ||||
| 3,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 06/18/20 | 2,978,508 | ||||
Total U.S. Treasury Bills | 138,790,346 | |||||||
| (Cost $138,777,855) | ||||||||
| Shares | Description | Value | ||
| MONEY MARKET FUNDS – 5.5% | ||||
| 9,000,000 | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class - 1.50% (c) | 9,000,000 | ||
| (Cost $9,000,000) | ||||
Total Investments – 90.2% | 147,790,346 | |||
| (Cost $147,777,855) (d) | ||||
Net Other Assets and Liabilities – 9.8% | 16,086,078 | |||
Net Assets – 100.0% | $163,876,424 | |||
The following futures contracts of the Fund’s wholly-owned subsidiary were open at December 31, 2019 (see Note 2B - Futures Contracts in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements):
| Futures Contracts Long: | Number of Contracts | Notional Value | Expiration Date | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)/ Value | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil Futures | 39 | $2,574,000 | Jan–20 | $207,219 | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil Futures | 35 | 2,285,150 | Feb–20 | 170,215 | ||||
| Brent Crude Oil Futures | 40 | 2,587,200 | Mar–20 | 33,848 | ||||
| Cattle Feeder Futures | 55 | 3,996,437 | Jan–20 | 44,628 | ||||
| Cocoa Futures | 241 | 6,121,400 | Mar–20 | 173,365 | ||||
| Coffee “C” Futures | 111 | 5,398,762 | Mar–20 | 805,959 | ||||
| Copper Futures | 167 | 11,677,475 | Mar–20 | 577,711 | ||||
| Corn Futures | 224 | 4,342,800 | Mar–20 | 78,934 | ||||
| Cotton No. 2 Futures | 72 | 2,485,800 | Mar–20 | 97,215 | ||||
| Gasoline RBOB Futures | 47 | 3,337,047 | Jan–20 | 292,312 | ||||
| Gasoline RBOB Futures | 46 | 3,290,196 | Feb–20 | 201,530 | ||||
| Gasoline RBOB Futures | 49 | 3,867,394 | Mar–20 | 25,894 | ||||
| Gold 100 Oz. Futures | 96 | 14,621,760 | Feb–20 | 485,601 | ||||
| Kansas City Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures | 423 | 10,278,900 | Mar–20 | 1,183,803 | ||||
| Lean Hogs Futures | 124 | 3,542,680 | Feb–20 | 65,846 | ||||
| Live Cattle Futures | 192 | 9,671,040 | Feb–20 | 78,614 | ||||
| LME Aluminum Futures | 107 | 4,841,750 | Mar–20 | 164,687 | ||||
| LME Lead Futures | 26 | 1,253,525 | Mar–20 | (24,400) | ||||
| LME Nickel Futures | 47 | 3,955,050 | Mar–20 | (127,482) | ||||
| LME Zinc Futures | 84 | 4,776,975 | Mar–20 | (46,513) | ||||
| Low Sulphur Gasoil “G” Futures | 42 | 2,577,750 | Feb–20 | 175,854 | ||||
| Low Sulphur Gasoil “G” Futures | 31 | 1,894,875 | Mar–20 | 96,825 | ||||
| Low Sulphur Gasoil “G” Futures | 15 | 910,125 | Apr–20 | (1,925) | ||||
| Natural Gas Futures | 229 | 5,012,810 | Jan–20 | (1,161,878) | ||||
| Natural Gas Futures | 113 | 2,438,540 | Feb–20 | (104,864) | ||||
| NY Harbor ULSD Futures | 56 | 4,742,808 | Feb–20 | 42 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page 7
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
December 31, 2019
| Futures Contracts Long: (Continued) | Number of Contracts | Notional Value | Expiration Date | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)/ Value | ||||
| Platinum Futures | 31 | $1,515,590 | Apr–20 | $69,214 | ||||
| Silver Futures | 126 | 11,290,230 | Mar–20 | 426,910 | ||||
| Soybean Futures | 93 | 4,443,075 | Mar–20 | 74,975 | ||||
| Soybean Meal Futures | 108 | 3,290,760 | Mar–20 | (343) | ||||
| Soybean Oil Futures | 348 | 7,259,976 | Mar–20 | 160,151 | ||||
| Sugar #11 (World) Futures | 342 | 5,140,397 | Feb–20 | 382,654 | ||||
| WTI Crude Futures | 32 | 1,953,920 | Jan–20 | 158,826 | ||||
| WTI Crude Futures | 34 | 2,066,180 | Feb–20 | 116,059 | ||||
| WTI Crude Futures | 34 | 2,053,940 | Mar–20 | 74,110 | ||||
| Total | $161,496,317 | $4,955,596 |
| (a) | All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for open futures contracts. |
| (b) | Zero coupon bond. |
| (c) | Rate shown reflects yield as of December 31, 2019. |
| (d) | Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $147,777,855. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $7,958,490 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $1,759,153. The net unrealized appreciation was $6,199,337. The amounts presented are inclusive of derivative contracts. |
Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2019 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements):
| ASSETS TABLE | ||||
| Total Value at 12/31/2019 | Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | |
U.S. Treasury Bills | $ 138,790,346 | $ — | $ 138,790,346 | $ — |
Money Market Funds | 9,000,000 | 9,000,000 | — | — |
Total Investments | 147,790,346 | 9,000,000 | 138,790,346 | — |
Futures Contracts | 6,423,001 | 6,423,001 | — | — |
Total | $ 154,213,347 | $ 15,423,001 | $ 138,790,346 | $— |
LIABILITIES TABLE | ||||
| Total Value at 12/31/2019 | Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | |
Futures Contracts | $ (1,467,405) | $ (1,467,405) | $ — | $ — |
Page 8
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2019
| ASSETS: | |
Investments, at value (Cost $147,777,855) | $ 147,790,346 |
Cash | 16,794,112 |
| Receivables: | |
Variation margin | 6,423,001 |
Dividends | 9,284 |
Other assets | 476 |
Total Assets | 171,017,219 |
| LIABILITIES: | |
Due to broker | 4,590,895 |
| Payables: | |
Variation margin | 1,467,405 |
Fund shares redeemed | 951,594 |
Investment advisory fees | 130,901 |
Total Liabilities | 7,140,795 |
NET ASSETS | $163,876,424 |
| NET ASSETS consist of: | |
Paid-in capital | $ 156,489,878 |
Par value | 86,533 |
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss) | 7,300,013 |
NET ASSETS | $163,876,424 |
NET ASSET VALUE,per share | $18.94 |
Number of shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, par value $0.01 per share) | 8,653,334 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page 9
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
| INVESTMENT INCOME: | ||
Interest | $ 3,277,293 | |
Dividends (net of foreign withholding tax of $17,837) | 163,841 | |
Total investment income | 3,441,134 | |
| EXPENSES: | ||
Investment advisory fees | 1,575,209 | |
Total expenses | 1,575,209 | |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS) | 1,865,925 | |
| NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): | ||
Net realized gain (loss) on futures | (7,051,639) | |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | ||
Investments | 8,764 | |
Futures | 15,684,799 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 15,693,563 | |
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) | 8,641,924 | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $ 10,507,849 | |
Page 10
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | Year Ended 12/31/2018 | ||
| OPERATIONS: | |||
Net investment income (loss) | $ 1,865,925 | $ 1,703,363 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | (7,051,639) | (19,405,469) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 15,693,563 | (16,664,464) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 10,507,849 | (34,366,570) | |
| DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM: | |||
Investment operations | (1,346,263) | (1,138,976) | |
Return of capital | — | (273,624) | |
Total distributions to shareholders | (1,346,263) | (1,412,600) | |
| SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTIONS: | |||
Proceeds from shares sold | 18,367,607 | 136,455,691 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | (32,172,385) | (120,161,535) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from shareholder transactions | (13,804,778) | 16,294,156 | |
Total increase (decrease) in net assets | (4,643,192) | (19,485,014) | |
| NET ASSETS: | |||
Beginning of period | 168,519,616 | 188,004,630 | |
End of period | $163,876,424 | $168,519,616 | |
| CHANGES IN SHARES OUTSTANDING: | |||
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | 9,403,334 | 9,053,334 | |
Shares sold | 1,000,000 | 6,450,000 | |
Shares redeemed | (1,750,000) | (6,100,000) | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | 8,653,334 | 9,403,334 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page 11
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
Consolidated Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 17.92 | $ 20.77 | $ 20.43 | $ 20.32 | $ 26.24 | ||||
| Income from investment operations: | |||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | 0.26 | 0.18 | (0.03) | (0.20) | (0.34) | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.91 | (2.89) | 0.62 | 0.31 | (5.58) | ||||
Total from investment operations | 1.17 | (2.71) | 0.59 | 0.11 | (5.92) | ||||
| Distributions paid to shareholders from: | |||||||||
Net investment income | (0.15) | (0.11) | (0.25) | — | — | ||||
Return of capital | — | (0.03) | — | — | — | ||||
Total distributions | (0.15) | (0.14) | (0.25) | — | — | ||||
Net asset value, end of period | $18.94 | $17.92 | $20.77 | $20.43 | $20.32 | ||||
Total return (a) | 6.55% | (13.04)% | 2.89% | 0.54% | (22.56)% | ||||
| Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data: | |||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s) | $ 163,876 | $ 168,520 | $ 188,005 | $ 199,297 | $ 184,000 | ||||
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.95% | 0.95% | 0.95% | 0.95% | 0.95% | ||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 1.13% | 0.75% | (0.33)% | (0.81)% | (0.92)% | ||||
Portfolio turnover rate (b) | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | ||||
| (a) | Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year. |
| (b) | Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions, derivatives and in-kind transactions. |
Page 12
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019
1. Organization
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 6, 2012, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
The Trust consists of two funds that are currently offering shares. This report covers the First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a diversified series of the Trust, which trades under the ticker “FTGC” on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and commenced operations on October 22, 2013. Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in large specified blocks consisting of 50,000 shares called a “Creation Unit.” The Fund’s Creation Units are generally issued and redeemed for cash, and in certain circumstances, in-kind for securities in which the Fund invests. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund.
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to provide total return by providing investors with commodity exposure while seeking a relatively stable risk profile. Under normal market conditions, the Fund, through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund, FT Cayman Subsidiary II (the “Subsidiary”), organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, invests in a portfolio of commodity futures contracts and exchange-traded commodity linked instruments (collectively, “Commodities Instruments”). The Fund will not invest directly in Commodities Instruments. The Fund seeks to gain exposure to these investments exclusively by investing in the Subsidiary. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary may not exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of each fiscal quarter. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is considered an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The consolidated financial statements include the accounts on a consolidated basis of the Subsidiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Portfolio Valuation
The Fund’s NAV is determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If the NYSE closes early on a valuation day, the NAV is determined as of that time. The Fund’s NAV is calculated by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of shares outstanding.
The Fund’s investments are valued daily at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value. Market value prices represent last sale or official closing prices from a national or foreign exchange (i.e., a regulated market) and are primarily obtained from third-party pricing services. Fair value prices represent any prices not considered market value prices and are either obtained from a third-party pricing service or are determined by the Pricing Committee of the Fund’s investment advisor, First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”), in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act. Investments valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, if any, are footnoted as such in the footnotes to the Consolidated Portfolio of Investments. The Fund’s investments are valued as follows:
Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the closing price in the market where such contracts are principally traded. If no closing price is available, exchange-traded futures contracts are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.
U.S. Treasuries are fair valued on the basis of valuations provided by a third-party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
Shares of open-end funds are valued at fair value which is based on NAV per share.
If the Fund’s investments are not able to be priced by their pre-established pricing methods, such investments may be valued by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or its delegate, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, at fair value. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such investments.
Page 13
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019
Valuing the Fund’s holdings using fair value pricing will result in using prices for those holdings that may differ from current market valuations. The Subsidiary’s holdings will be valued in the same manner as the Fund’s holdings.
The Fund is subject to fair value accounting standards that define fair value, establish the framework for measuring fair value and provide a three-level hierarchy for fair valuation based upon the inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
| • | Level 1 – Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. An active market is a market in which transactions for the investment occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
| • | Level 2 – Level 2 inputs are observable inputs, either directly or indirectly, and include the following: |
| o | Quoted prices for similar investments in active markets. |
| o | Quoted prices for identical or similar investments in markets that are non-active. A non-active market is a market where there are few transactions for the investment, the prices are not current, or price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly. |
| o | Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the investment (for example, interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates). |
| o | Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. |
| • | Level 3 – Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the investment. |
The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments. A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2019, is included with the Fund’s Consolidated Portfolio of Investments.
B. Futures Contracts
The Fund, through the Subsidiary, may purchase and sell exchange-listed commodity contracts. When the Subsidiary purchases a listed futures contract, it agrees to purchase a specified reference asset (e.g., commodity) at a specified future date. When the Subsidiary sells or shorts a listed futures contract, it agrees to sell a specified reference asset (e.g., commodity) at a specified future date. The price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the Subsidiary enters into the contract. The exchange clearing corporation is the ultimate counterparty for all exchange-listed contracts, so credit risk is limited to the creditworthiness of the exchange’s clearing corporation. Margin deposits are posted as collateral with the clearing broker and, in turn, with the exchange clearing corporation. Open futures contracts can be closed out prior to settlement by entering into an offsetting transaction in a matching futures contract. If the Subsidiary is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Subsidiary will continue to be required to maintain margin deposits on the futures contract. When the contract is closed or expires, the Subsidiary records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed or expired. This gain or loss is included in “Net realized gain (loss) on futures” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Exchange-listed commodity futures contracts are generally based upon commodities within the six principal commodity groups: energy, industrial metals, agriculture, precious metals, foods and fibers, and livestock. The price of a commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity. These storage costs include the time value of money invested in the physical commodity plus the actual costs of storing the commodity less any benefits from ownership of the physical commodity that are not obtained by the holder of a futures contract (this is sometimes referred to as the “convenience yield”). To the extent that these storage costs change for an underlying commodity while the Subsidiary is in a long position on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Subsidiary must deposit funds, called margin, with its custodian in the name of the clearing broker equal to a specified percentage of the current value of the contract. Open futures contracts are marked-to-market daily with the change in value recognized as a component of “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. This daily fluctuation in value of the contracts is also known as variation margin and is included as “Variation margin” payable or receivable on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
When the Subsidiary purchases or sells a futures contract, the Subsidiary is required to collateralize its position in order to limit the risk associated with the use of leverage and other related risks. To collateralize its position, the Subsidiary segregates assets consisting of cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the unrealized depreciation of the futures contract or otherwise collateralize its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the
Page 14
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019
1940 Act Rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. As the Subsidiary continues to engage in the described securities trading practices and properly segregates assets, the segregated assets will function as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Subsidiary may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Subsidiary’s outstanding portfolio investments. Additionally, such segregated assets generally ensure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Subsidiary arising from such investment activities.
C. Cash
The Fund holds assets equal to or greater than the full notional exposure of the futures contracts. These assets may consist of cash and other short-term securities to comply with SEC guidance with respect to coverage of futures contracts by registered investment companies.
D. Investment Transactions and Investment Income
Investment transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, if any, is recorded on the accrual basis. Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recorded using the effective interest method.
E. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly by the Fund. The Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually.
Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole shares only if the broker through whom the shares were purchased makes such option available. Such shares will generally be reinvested by the broker based upon the market price of those shares and investors may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by the broker.
Distributions from net investment income and realized capital gains are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. Certain capital accounts in the consolidated financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These permanent differences are primarily due to the varying treatment of income and gain/loss on portfolio securities held by the Fund and have no impact on net assets or NAV per share. Temporary differences, which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense and gain/loss in different periods for consolidated financial statement and tax purposes, will reverse at some time in the future.
The tax character of distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, was as follows:
| Distributions paid from: | 2019 | 2018 |
Ordinary income | $1,346,263 | $1,138,976 |
Capital gains | — | — |
Return of capital | — | 273,624 |
As of December 31, 2019, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis for the Fund were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | $— |
Accumulated capital and other gain (loss) | (1,231,250) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 6,199,337 |
F. Income Taxes
The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which includes distributing substantially all of its net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal and state income taxes. However, due to the timing and amount of distributions, the Fund may be subject to an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which approximately 98% of the Fund’s taxable income exceeds the distributions from such taxable income for the calendar year.
The Subsidiary is classified as a controlled foreign corporation under Subchapter N of the Code. Therefore, the Fund is required to increase its taxable income by its share of the Subsidiary’s income, whether or not such earnings are distributed by the Subsidiary to the Fund. Net investment losses of the Subsidiary cannot be deducted by the Fund in the current period nor carried forward to offset taxable income in future periods.
The Fund is subject to accounting standards that establish a minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Taxable years ended 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 remain open to
Page 15
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019
federal and state audit. As of December 31, 2019, management has evaluated the application of these standards to the Fund and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements for uncertain tax positions.
The Fund intends to utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws, which allow it to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future realized capital gains. The Fund is subject to certain limitations under the U.S. tax rules on the use of capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses. These limitations apply when there has been a 50% change in ownership. At December 31, 2019, for federal income tax purposes, the Fund had no non-expiring capital loss carryforwards that may be carried forward indefinitely.
In order to present paid-in capital and accumulated distributable earnings (loss) (which consists of accumulated net investment income (loss), accumulated net realized gain (loss) and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)) on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities that more closely represent their tax character, certain adjustments have been made to paid-in capital, accumulated net investment income (loss) and accumulated net realized gain (loss). These adjustments are primarily due to the difference between book and tax treatment of net investment income from the Subsidiary. The results of operations and net assets were not affected by these adjustments. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the adjustments for the Fund were as follows:
| Accumulated Net Investment Income (Loss) | Accumulated Net Realized Gain (Loss) | Paid-in Capital | ||
| $(3,122,456) | $7,051,639 | $(3,929,183) |
G. Expenses
Expenses, other than the investment advisory fee and other excluded expenses, are paid by the Advisor (See Note 3).
3. Investment Advisory Fee, Affiliated Transactions and Other Fee Arrangements
First Trust, the investment advisor to the Fund, is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the Fund’s and the Subsidiary’s investment portfolios, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain administrative services necessary for the management of the Fund.
Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor, First Trust manages the investment of the Fund’s assets and is responsible for the Fund’s and the Subsidiary’s expenses, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, but excluding fee payments under the Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses. The Fund has agreed to pay First Trust an annual unitary management fee equal to 0.95% of its average daily net assets. First Trust also provides fund reporting services to the Fund for a flat annual fee in the amount of $9,250, which is covered under the annual unitary management fee. The Subsidiary does not pay First Trust a separate management fee.
The Trust has multiple service agreements with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”). Under the service agreements, BBH performs custodial, fund accounting, certain administrative services, and transfer agency services for the Fund. As custodian, BBH is responsible for custody of the Fund’s assets. As fund accountant and administrator, BBH is responsible for maintaining the books and records of the Fund’s investments and cash. As transfer agent, BBH is responsible for maintaining shareholder records for the Fund.
Each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of First Trust, any sub-advisor or any of their affiliates (“Independent Trustees”) is paid a fixed annual retainer that is allocated equally among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex. Each Independent Trustee is also paid an annual per fund fee that varies based on whether the fund is a closed-end or other actively managed fund, a defined-outcome fund or an index fund.
Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Chairmen of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee are paid annual fees to serve in such capacities, with such compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on net assets. Independent Trustees are reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with all meetings. The Lead Independent Trustee and Committee Chairmen rotate every three years. The officers and “Interested” Trustee receive no compensation from the Trust for acting in such capacities.
Page 16
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019
4. Purchases and Sales of Securities
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, derivatives, and in-kind transactions, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, were $0 and $0, respectively.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund did not have any in-kind purchases or sales.
5. Derivative Transactions
The following table presents the types of derivatives held by the Subsidiary at December 31, 2019, the primary underlying risk exposure and the location of these instruments as presented on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
| Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||
| Derivative Instrument | Risk Exposure | Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Value | Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Value | |||||
| Futures | Commodity Risk | Variation Margin Receivable | $ 6,423,001 | Variation Margin Payable | $ 1,467,405 | |||||
The following table presents the amount of net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, on derivative instruments, as well as the primary underlying risk exposure associated with each instrument.
| Consolidated Statement of Operations Location | |
| Commodity Risk Exposure | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on futures | $(7,051,639) |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures | 15,684,799 |
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the notional value of futures contracts opened and closed were $843,879,842 and $864,961,243, respectively.
The Fund does not have the right to offset financial assets and liabilities related to futures contracts on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
6. Creations, Redemptions and Transaction Fees
Shares are created and redeemed by the Fund only in Creation Unit size aggregations of 50,000 shares in transactions with broker-dealers or large institutional investors that have entered into a participation agreement (an “Authorized Participant”). In order to purchase Creation Units of the Fund, an Authorized Participant must deposit (i) a designated portfolio of securities determined by First Trust (the “Deposit Securities”) and generally make or receive a cash payment referred to as the “Cash Component,” which is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund shares (per Creation Unit Aggregation) and the market value of the Deposit Securities, and/or (ii) cash in lieu of all or a portion of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation exceeds the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component. Authorized Participants purchasing Creation Units must pay to BBH, as transfer agent, a creation transaction fee (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction. The Creation Transaction Fee based on the composition of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio and the countries in which the transactions are settled. The Creation Transaction Fee may increase or decrease with changes in the Fund’s portfolio. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share times the number of shares in a Creation Unit plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees or stamp taxes. When the Fund permits an Authorized Participant to substitute cash or a different security in lieu of depositing one or more of the requisite Deposit Securities, the Authorized Participant may also be assessed an amount to cover the cost of purchasing the Deposit Securities and/or disposing of the substituted securities, including operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes, and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to such Deposit Securities and/or substitute securities.
Authorized Participants redeeming Creation Units must pay to BBH, as transfer agent, a redemption transaction fee (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”), regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction. The Redemption Transaction Fee may vary and is based on the composition of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio and the countries in which the transactions are settled. The Redemption Transaction Fee may increase or decrease with changes in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund reserves the right to effect redemptions in cash. An Authorized Participant may request cash redemption in lieu of securities; however, the Fund may, in its discretion, reject any such request.
Page 17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019
7. Distribution Plan
The Board of Trustees adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with the Rule 12b-1 plan, the Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets each year to reimburse First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), the distributor of the Fund, for amounts expended to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units or to provide investor services. FTP may also use this amount to compensate securities dealers or other persons that are Authorized Participants for providing distribution assistance, including broker-dealer and shareholder support and educational and promotional services.
No 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Fund, and pursuant to a contractual arrangement, no 12b-1 fees will be paid any time before April 30, 2021.
8. Indemnification
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Trust has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
9. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events to the Fund through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements that have not already been disclosed.
Page 18
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities of First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, including the consolidated portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2019, the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the consolidated financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2019, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2019, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Chicago, Illinois
February 24, 2020
We have served as the auditor of one or more First Trust investment companies since 2001.
Page 19
Additional Information
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies and information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio investments during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891; (2) on the Fund’s website atwww.ftportfolios.com; and (3) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website atwww.sec.gov.
Portfolio Holdings
The Fund files portfolio holdings information for each month in a fiscal quarter within 60 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each fiscal quarter will be publicly available on the SEC’s website atwww.sec.gov. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year is included in the semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders, respectively, and is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR. The semi-annual and annual report for the Fund is available to investors within 60 days after the period to which it relates. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT and Forms N-CSR are available on the SEC’s website listed above.
Federal Tax Information
For the taxable year ended December 31, 2019, the following percentages of ordinary income (including short-term capital gain) distribution paid by the Fund qualify for the dividends received deduction available to corporations and are hereby designated as qualified dividend income:
| Dividends Received Deduction | Qualified Dividend Income | |
| 0.00% | 0.00% |
Distributions paid to foreign shareholders during the Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 that were properly designated by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends,” may not be subject to federal income tax provided that the income was earned directly by such foreign shareholders.
Risk Considerations
Risks are inherent in all investing. Certain general risks that may be applicable to a Fund are identified below, but not all of the material risks relevant to each Fund are included in this report and not all of the risks below apply to each Fund. The material risks of investing in each Fund are spelled out in its prospectus, statement of additional information and other regulatory filings. Before investing, you should consider each Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses, and read each Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information carefully. You can download each Fund’s prospectus at www.ftportfolios.com or contact First Trust Portfolios L.P. at (800) 621-1675 to request a prospectus, which contains this and other information about each Fund.
Concentration Risk. To the extent that a fund is able to invest a large percentage of its assets in a single asset class or the securities of issuers within the same country, state, region, industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value of the fund’s investments more than if the fund were more broadly diversified. A fund that tracks an index will be concentrated to the extent the fund’s corresponding index is concentrated. A concentration makes a fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the fund to greater market risk than a fund that is not concentrated.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make such payments.
Cyber Security Risk. The funds are susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause a fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. In addition, cyber security breaches of a fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, or issuers in which the fund invests, can also subject a fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches.
Derivatives Risk. To the extent a fund uses derivative instruments such as futures contracts, options contracts and swaps, the fund may experience losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying asset, index or rate, which may be magnified
Page 20
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
by certain features of the derivative. These risks are heightened when a fund’s portfolio managers use derivatives to enhance the fund’s return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or offset) the risk of a position or security held by the fund.
Equity Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in equity securities, the value of the fund’s shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market.
ETF Risk. The shares of an ETF trade like common stock and represent an interest in a portfolio of securities. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs. Shares of an ETF trade on an exchange at market prices rather than net asset value, which may cause the shares to trade at a price greater than net asset value (premium) or less than net asset value (discount). In times of market stress, decisions by market makers to reduce or step away from their role of providing a market for an ETF’s shares, or decisions by an ETF’s authorized participants that they are unable or unwilling to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders of an ETF’s shares, could result in shares of the ETF trading at a discount to net asset value and in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads.
Fixed Income Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in fixed income securities, the fund will be subject to credit risk, income risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Income risk is the risk that income from a fund’s fixed income investments could decline during periods of falling interest rates. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a fund’s fixed income securities will decline because of rising interest rates. Liquidity risk is the risk that a security cannot be purchased or sold at the time desired, or cannot be purchased or sold without adversely affecting the price. Prepayment risk is the risk that the securities will be redeemed or prepaid by the issuer, resulting in lower interest payments received by the fund. In addition to these risks, high yield securities, or “junk” bonds, are subject to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss than securities with higher ratings, and the market for high yield securities is generally smaller and less liquid than that for investment grade securities.
Index Constituent Risk. Certain funds may be a constituent of one or more indices. As a result, such a fund may be included in one or more index-tracking exchange-traded funds or mutual funds. Being a component security of such a vehicle could greatly affect the trading activity involving a fund, the size of the fund and the market volatility of the fund. Inclusion in an index could significantly increase demand for the fund and removal from an index could result in outsized selling activity in a relatively short period of time. As a result, a fund’s net asset value could be negatively impacted and the fund’s market price may be significantly below its net asset value during certain periods.
Index Provider Risk. To the extent a fund seeks to track an index, it is subject to Index Provider Risk. There is no assurance that the Index Provider will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. To correct any such error, the Index Provider may carry out an unscheduled rebalance or other modification of the Index constituents or weightings, which may increase the fund’s costs. The Index Provider does not provide any representation or warranty in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in the Index, and it does not guarantee that the Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. Losses or costs associated with any Index Provider errors generally will be borne by the fund and its shareholders.
Investment Companies Risk.To the extent a fund invests in the securities of other investment vehicles, the fund will incur additional fees and expenses that would not be present in a direct investment in those investment vehicles. Furthermore, the fund’s investment performance and risks are directly related to the investment performance and risks of the investment vehicles in which the fund invests.
Management Risk. To the extent that a fund is actively managed, it is subject to management risk. In managing an actively-managed fund’s investment portfolio, the fund’s portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not have the desired result. There can be no guarantee that a fund will meet its investment objective.
Market Risk. Securities held by a fund, as well as shares of a fund itself, are subject to market fluctuations caused by factors such as general economic conditions, political events, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of a fund could decline in value or underperform other investments as a result of the risk of loss associated with these market fluctuations.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it is subject to additional risks not associated with securities of domestic issuers. Non-U.S. securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to: possible
Page 21
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
adverse political, social or economic developments; restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; lack of liquidity; currency exchange rates; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards; and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries. Investments in non-U.S. securities may involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction and custody costs, as well as additional taxes imposed by non-U.S. governments. These risks may be heightened for securities of companies located, or with significant operations, in emerging market countries.
Passive Investment Risk. To the extent a Fund seeks to track an index, the Fund will invest in the securities included in, or representative of, the index regardless of their investment merit. A Fund generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.
| NOT FDIC INSURED | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | MAY LOSE VALUE |
Remuneration
First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”) is authorized and regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is entitled to market shares of certain funds it manages, including First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), in certain member states in the European Economic Area in accordance with the cooperation arrangements in Article 42 of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (the “Directive”). First Trust is required under the Directive to make disclosures in respect of remuneration. The following disclosures are made in line with First Trust’s interpretation of currently available regulatory guidance on remuneration disclosures.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the amount of remuneration paid (or to be paid) by First Trust Advisors L.P. in respect of the Fund is $1,035,319. This figure is comprised of $253,779 paid (or to be paid) in fixed compensation and $781,540 paid (or to be paid) in variable compensation. There were a total of 15 beneficiaries of the remuneration described above. Those amounts include $37,563 paid (or to be paid) to senior management of First Trust Advisors L.P. and $997,756 paid (or to be paid) to other employees whose professional activities have a material impact on the risk profiles of First Trust Advisors L.P. or the Funds (collectively, “Code Staff”).
Code Staff included in the aggregated figures disclosed above are rewarded in line with First Trust’s remuneration policy (the “Remuneration Policy”) which is determined and implemented by First Trust’s senior management. The Remuneration Policy reflects First Trust’s ethos of good governance and encapsulates the following principal objectives:
i. to provide a clear link between remuneration and performance of First Trust and to avoid rewarding for failure;
ii. to promote sound and effective risk management consistent with the risk profiles of the Funds managed by First Trust; and
iii. to remunerate staff in line with the business strategy, objectives, values and interests of First Trust and the Funds managed by First Trust in a manner that avoids conflicts of interest.
First Trust assesses various risk factors which it is exposed to when considering and implementing remuneration for Code Staff and considers whether any potential award to such person(s) would give rise to a conflict of interest. First Trust does not reward failure, or consider the taking of risk or failure to take risk in its remuneration of Code Staff.
First Trust assesses performance for the purposes of determining payments in respect of performance-related remuneration of Code Staff by reference to a broad range of measures including (i) individual performance (using financial and non-financial criteria), and (ii) the overall performance of First Trust. Remuneration is not based upon the performance of the Funds.
The elements of remuneration are balanced between fixed and variable and the senior management sets fixed salaries at a level sufficient to ensure that variable remuneration incentivises and rewards strong individual performance but does not encourage excessive risk taking.
No individual is involved in setting his or her own remuneration.
Page 22
Board of Trustees and Officers
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
The following tables identify the Trustees and Officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187.
The Trust’s statement of additional information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891.
| Name, Year of Birth and Position with the Trust | Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed | Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years |
| INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES | ||||
| Richard E. Erickson, Trustee (1951) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Physician; Officer, Wheaton Orthopedics; Limited Partner, Gundersen Real Estate Limited Partnership (June 1992 to December 2016); Member, Sportsmed LLC (April 2007 to November 2015) | 169 | None |
| Thomas R. Kadlec, Trustee (1957) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | President, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant) | 169 | Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, Futures Industry Association, and National Futures Association |
| Robert F. Keith, Trustee (1956) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting) | 169 | Director of Trust Company of Illinois |
| Niel B. Nielson, Trustee (1954) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Senior Advisor (August 2018 to Present), Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (January 2015 to August 2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services); President and Chief Executive Officer (June 2012 to September 2014), Servant Interactive LLC (Educational Products and Services); President and Chief Executive Officer (June 2012 to September 2014), Dew Learning LLC (Educational Products and Services) | 169 | None |
| INTERESTED TRUSTEE | ||||
| James A. Bowen(1), Trustee and Chairman of the Board (1955) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Chief Executive Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chairman of the Board of Directors, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor) | 169 | None |
| (1) | Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust due to his position as CEO of First Trust Advisors L.P., investment advisor of the Trust. |
Page 23
Board of Trustees and Officers (Continued)
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position and Offices with Trust | Term of Office and Length of Service | Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years |
| OFFICERS(2) | |||
| James M. Dykas (1966) | President and Chief Executive Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since January 2016 | Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to Present), Controller (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. Swade (1972) | Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since January 2016 | Senior Vice President (July 2016 to Present), Vice President (April 2012 to July 2016), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| W. Scott Jardine (1960) | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Secretary and General Counsel, BondWave LLC; Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC |
| Daniel J. Lindquist (1970) | Vice President | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| Kristi A. Maher (1966) | Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| Roger F. Testin (1966) | Vice President | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| Stan Ueland (1970) | Vice President | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P |
| (2) | The term “officer” means the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, controller or any other officer who performs a policy making function. |
Page 24
Privacy Policy
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
Privacy Policy
First Trust values our relationship with you and considers your privacy an important priority in maintaining that relationship. We are committed to protecting the security and confidentiality of your personal information.
Sources of Information
We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:
| • | Information we receive from you and your broker-dealer, investment advisor or financial representative through interviews, applications, agreements or other forms; |
| • | Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates or others; |
| • | Information we receive from your inquiries by mail, e-mail or telephone; and |
| • | Information we collect on our website through the use of “cookies”. For example, we may identify the pages on our website that your browser requests or visits. |
Information Collected
The type of data we collect may include your name, address, social security number, age, financial status, assets, income, tax information, retirement and estate plan information, transaction history, account balance, payment history, investment objectives, marital status, family relationships and other personal information.
Disclosure of Information
We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted by law. In addition to using this information to verify your identity (as required under law), the permitted uses may also include the disclosure of such information to unaffiliated companies for the following reasons:
| • | In order to provide you with products and services and to effect transactions that you request or authorize, we may disclose your personal information as described above to unaffiliated financial service providers and other companies that perform administrative or other services on our behalf, such as transfer agents, custodians and trustees, or that assist us in the distribution of investor materials such as trustees, banks, financial representatives, proxy services, solicitors and printers. |
| • | We may release information we have about you if you direct us to do so, if we are compelled by law to do so, or in other legally limited circumstances (for example to protect your account from fraud). |
In addition, in order to alert you to our other financial products and services, we may share your personal information within First Trust.
Use of Website Analytics
We currently use third party analytics tools, Google Analytics and AddThis, to gather information for purposes of improving First Trust’s website and marketing our products and services to you. These tools employ cookies, which are small pieces of text stored in a file by your web browser and sent to websites that you visit, to collect information, track website usage and viewing trends such as the number of hits, pages visited, videos and PDFs viewed and the length of user sessions in order to evaluate website performance and enhance navigation of the website. We may also collect other anonymous information, which is generally limited to technical and web navigation information such as the IP address of your device, internet browser type and operating system for purposes of analyzing the data to make First Trust’s website better and more useful to our users. The information collected does not include any personal identifiable information such as your name, address, phone number or email address unless you provide that information through the website for us to contact you in order to answer your questions or respond to your requests. To find out how to opt-out of these services click on:Google Analytics andAddThis.
Confidentiality and Security
With regard to our internal security procedures, First Trust restricts access to your nonpublic personal information to those First Trust employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal information.
Policy Updates and Inquiries
As required by federal law, we will notify you of our privacy policy annually. We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time, however, if we do change it, we will tell you promptly. For questions about our policy, or for additional copies of this notice, please go towww.ftportfolios.com, or contact us at 1-800-621-1675 (First Trust Portfolios) or 1-800-222-6822 (First Trust Advisors).
March 2019
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INVESTMENT ADVISOR
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN,
FUND ACCOUNTANT &
TRANSFER AGENT
FUND ACCOUNTANT &
TRANSFER AGENT
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
50 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02110
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
111 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 W. Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return
Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Annual Report
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019
Table of Contents
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Annual Report
December 31, 2019
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Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the goals, beliefs, plans or current expectations of First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) and its representatives, taking into account the information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to current or historical fact. For example, forward-looking statements include the use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “would” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII (the “Trust”) described in this report (First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF; hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”) to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. When evaluating the information included in this report, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the judgment of the Advisor and its representatives only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events and circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
Performance and Risk Disclosure
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and that the value of the Fund shares may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money by investing in the Fund. See “Risk Considerations” in the Additional Information section of this report for a discussion of certain other risks of investing in the Fund.
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For the most recent month-end performance figures, please visitwww.ftportfolios.com or speak with your financial advisor. Investment returns, net asset value and share price will fluctuate and Fund shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The Advisor may also periodically provide additional information on Fund performance on the Fund’s web page atwww.ftportfolios.com.
How to Read This Report
This report contains information that may help you evaluate your investment in the Fund. It includes details about the Fund and presents data and analysis that provide insight into the Fund’s performance and investment approach.
By reading the portfolio commentary by the portfolio management team of the Fund, you may obtain an understanding of how the market environment affected the Fund’s performance. The statistical information that follows may help you understand the Fund’s performance compared to that of relevant market benchmarks.
It is important to keep in mind that the opinions expressed by personnel of the Advisor are just that: informed opinions. They should not be considered to be promises or advice. The opinions, like the statistics, cover the period through the date on the cover of this report. The material risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus, the statement of additional information, and other Fund regulatory filings.
Shareholder Letter
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Annual Letter from the Chairman and CEO
December 31, 2019
Dear Shareholders,
First Trust is pleased to provide you with the annual report for the First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (the “Fund”), which contains detailed information about the Fund for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, including a market overview and a performance analysis.
A significant event for the markets in the past year was the decision by the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) to reverse course with respect to monetary policy. For those who may not follow the Fed closely, after holding its federal funds target rate (upper bound) at an artificially low 0.25% for seven years (December 2008-December 2015) to help stimulate U.S. economic activity, the Fed spent the better part of the next four years (December 2015-July 2019) increasing its benchmark lending rate in an effort to normalize it. Over that period, the Fed increased the rate from 0.25% to 2.50%. To lend some perspective, the average federal funds target rate (upper bound) was 2.95% for the 30-year period ended December 31, 2019, so the Fed came close to achieving its goal of normalizing it, according to data from Bloomberg. From the end of July 2019 through the end of December, however, the Fed initiated three rate cuts that dropped it from 2.50% to 1.75%.
So why did the Fed reverse course on monetary policy? We believe, as well as others in the financial media, that the Fed’s reversal on monetary policy has to do with the trade tariffs. The Trump Administration first began implementing new trade tariffs on imported goods back in March 2018. While the original tariffs targeted just imported steel and aluminum, the use of tariffs quickly escalated to other goods and services. The lion’s share of the tariff conflict today is between the U.S. and China, the two-largest economies in the world. In our opinion, it is believed that President Donald J. Trump is utilizing tariffs as leverage to try and negotiate more favorable trade agreements between the U.S. and its major trading partners. One of the by-products of the escalation in the use of tariffs by all parties involved has been a slowdown in global economic growth, particularly in the U.S. The annualized U.S. real gross domestic product growth rate in the second quarter of 2018 (when new tariffs were introduced) was 3.5%. As of the second and third quarters of 2019, that annualized growth rate was down to 2.0% and 2.1%, respectively, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. For many months, President Trump has publicly challenged the Fed to lower rates aggressively to help offset the tempering of economic growth. Trump has noted that the Fed has room to lower rates due to the extremely low-to-negative rate levels found in many countries abroad as well as the lack of any significant inflationary pressure in the current climate. While the Fed has delivered some rate cuts in recent months, we believe that President Trump will continue to bang the drum for even more rate cuts.
It has been said in the financial media that this is the “most hated” bull market in history, yet it has been one of the most prosperous for investors. The bull market turns 11 years old on March 9, 2020. A Bloomberg survey of 21 equity strategists found that their average 2020 year-end price target for the S&P 500® Index was 3,318 as of December 17, 2019, according to its own release. The highest estimate was 3,500. The lowest estimate was 3,000. With a target of 3,650, Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist at First Trust Advisors L.P., is more bullish than all the strategists surveyed by Bloomberg. We encourage investors to stay the course.
Thank you for giving First Trust the opportunity to play a role in your financial future. We value our relationship with you and will report on the Fund again in six months.
Sincerely,
James A. Bowen
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P.
Page 1
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
The First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investors with long-term total return. The shares of the Fund are listed and trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol “FAAR.” The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund that seeks to achieve long-term total return through long and short investments in exchange-traded commodity futures contracts (“Commodity Futures”) through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Subsidiary”). The Fund does not invest directly in Commodity Futures. The Fund gains exposure to these investments exclusively by investing in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is advised by First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor.
The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary is intended to provide the Fund with exposure to commodity markets within the limits of current federal income tax laws applicable to investment companies such as the Fund, which limit the ability of investment companies to invest directly in Commodity Futures. The Subsidiary has the same investment objective as the Fund, but unlike the Fund, it may invest without limitation in Commodity Futures. The Fund will invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary.
The Subsidiary’s holdings primarily consist of Commodity Futures, which are contractual agreements to buy or sell a particular commodity or financial instrument at a pre-determined price at a settlement date in the future. The Fund, through the Subsidiary, engages in trading on commodity markets both inside and outside of the United States on behalf of the Fund. The Fund, through the Subsidiary, may invest a range of Commodity Futures and markets as determined by the Fund’s investment advisor from time to time. The remainder of the Fund’s assets will primarily be invested in: (1) U.S. government and agency securities with maturities of five years or less; (2) short-term repurchase agreements; (3) money market instruments; and (4) cash. The Fund uses such instruments as investments and to collateralize the Subsidiary’s Commodity Futures exposure on a day-to-day basis.
| Performance | |||
| Average Annual Total Returns | Cumulative Total Returns | ||
| 1 Year Ended 12/31/19 | Inception (5/18/16) to 12/31/19 | Inception (5/18/16) to 12/31/19 | |
| Fund Performance | |||
| NAV | -1.27% | -2.83% | -9.87% |
| Market Price | -1.38% | -2.81% | -9.80% |
| Index Performance | |||
| 3 Month U.S. Treasury Bills + 3% | 5.40% | 4.53% | 17.43% |
| Bloomberg Commodity Index | 7.69% | -0.04% | -0.16% |
| S&P 500® Index | 31.49% | 15.72% | 69.68% |
Total returns for the period since inception are calculated from the inception date of the Fund. “Average Annual Total Returns” represent the average annual change in value of an investment over the period indicated. “Cumulative Total Returns” represent the total change in value of an investment over the period indicated.
The Fund’s per share net asset value (“NAV”) is the value of one share of the Fund and is computed by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of outstanding shares. The price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is determined by using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the stock exchange on which shares of the Fund are listed for trading as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. Since shares of the Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after its inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of the Fund, the NAV of the Fund is used as a proxy for the secondary market trading price to calculate market returns. NAV and market returns assume that all distributions have been reinvested in the Fund at NAV and Market Price, respectively.
An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower. The total returns presented reflect the reinvestment of dividends on securities in the indices. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares of the Fund will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares of the Fund may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. The Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
Page 2
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Bid/Ask Midpoint vs. NAV through December 31, 2019
The following Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums charts are provided to show the frequency at which the bid/ask midpoint price for the Fund was at a discount or premium to the daily NAV. The following tables are for comparative purposes only and represent the period May 19, 2016 (commencement of trading) through December 31, 2019. Shareholders may pay more than NAV when they buy Fund shares and receive less than NAV when they sell those shares because shares are bought and sold at current market price. Data presented represents past performance and cannot be used to predict future results.
| Number of Days Bid/Ask Midpoint At/Above NAV | ||||
| For the Period | 0.00%–0.49% | 0.50%–0.99% | 1.00%–1.99% | >=2.00% |
| 5/19/16 – 12/31/16 | 72 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/17 – 12/31/17 | 43 | 70 | 68 | 7 |
| 1/1/18 – 12/31/18 | 213 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/19 – 12/31/19 | 165 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Number of Days Bid/Ask Midpoint Below NAV | ||||
| For the Period | 0.00%–0.49% | 0.50%–0.99% | 1.00%–1.99% | >=2.00% |
| 5/19/16 – 12/31/16 | 27 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 1/1/17 – 12/31/17 | 44 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| 1/1/18 – 12/31/18 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/1/19 – 12/31/19 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Page 3
Portfolio Commentary
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Annual Report
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
Advisor
First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) serves as the investment advisor, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor to the First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (the “Fund”). First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the Fund’s investment portfolio, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain administrative services necessary for the management of the Fund.
Portfolio Management Team
John Gambla – CFA, FRM, PRM, Senior Portfolio Manager
Rob A. Guttschow – CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager
Commentary
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek to provide investors with long-term total return. For performance measurement, the Fund is benchmarked to the unmanaged Bloomberg Commodity Index (the “Benchmark”), the 3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Return + 3.0% annually, and the S&P 500® Index. This commentary discusses the 12-month market and Fund performance ended December 31, 2019.
Overall Market Recap
U.S. economic growth slowed during the fiscal year from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Gross domestic product growth averaged 2.3% during the year versus 3.15% in the prior year. U.S. unemployment declined during the year, falling from 4.0% in January 2019 to 3.5% in December 2019. December’s unemployment rate of 3.5% was the lowest unemployment rate since 1969. The number of non-farm payroll jobs added to the U.S. economy during the fiscal period, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was 2.1 million.
With economic growth slowing during the fiscal year, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) reversed course on its rate “normalization” plan that it had begun in 2016. The first hints of the revised plan came in December 2018, when the FOMC raised its overnight benchmark rate by 0.25% but changed its language to a much softer/dovish tone for future rate action. The impetus for the change in strategy might have been an 18.93% drop in the S&P 500® Index from September 30, 2018 through December 24, 2018. Markets declined as economic growth appeared to slow globally and as the trade war rhetoric heated up between China and the U.S. The FOMC changed its policy by reducing its overnight benchmark rate by 0.25% at their July, September, and October 2019 meetings.
The U.S. equity market, as represented by the S&P 500® Index, rallied strongly during the fiscal period, posting a total return for the year of 31.49%. Full year operating earnings, as reported by Standard & Poor’s, are expected to be up 4.3% versus full year 2018 operating earnings. U.S. Bonds performed well during the period, benefitting from the FOMC policy change. For the year, the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate was up 8.72%.
The commodities markets rallied in January 2019, returning 5.5% for the month as the change in the Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) language regarding its future rate policy boosted prospects for faster economic growth and higher inflation. Markets cooled in the second quarter as the “trade war” between the U.S. and China dampened potential economic growth, particularly hurting the agricultural sector as China imposed tariffs on agricultural products in response to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. By year end, a trade-deal appeared to be finalized between the two countries and the commodities markets responded in kind, rallying toward the market highs set in early April. For the year, commodity markets, as measured by the Bloomberg Commodity Index, returned 7.69%.
Fund Performance
The Fund’s performance for the 12-month fiscal period ended December 31, 2019 was -1.27% on a net asset value (“NAV”) basis and -1.38% on a market price basis. The Fund’s benchmarks, (Bloomberg Commodity Index, 3 Month U.S. Treasury Bills + 3.0%, and S&P 500® Index) returned 7.69%, 5.40%, and 31.49%, respectively.
The global commodity market is made up of several separate markets including agriculture, livestock, energy, industrial metals, and precious metals. These commodities are the building blocks of every economy in the world. Holding a physical commodity is not practical for most investors, but the futures market provides an alternative way to seek exposure to commodities. The Fund employs an investment style that seeks to profit from rising and falling commodity prices by purchasing futures contracts in commodities that are anticipated to rise in price and shorting or selling futures contracts in commodities that are anticipated to fall in price. Commodities and their respective futures contracts can be very volatile in price and there is no guarantee that the Fund managers will correctly anticipate which commodity futures contracts will rise or fall in price.
Page 4
Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Annual Report
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
During the performance period, the Fund held allocations in 27 different commodities contracts. The Fund’s average long and short exposure during the period was 35.3% and -23.9%, respectively. The average gross (long positions + absolute value of short positions) was 59.2% and the average net exposure was positive 11.4%. The average gross sector allocations were 15.6% energy, 6.5% industrial metals, 7.6% precious metals, 22.7% agricultural, and 6.8% livestock. As of December 31, 2019, the Fund’s gross exposure was 62.3%, comprised of 47.8% long positions and 14.5% short positions. The Fund’s largest exposure was a 7.58% long position in live cattle with the second largest exposure a 5.88% long exposure to gold.
The Fund’s long positions during the period added value overall with the Fund profiting from positions in precious metals, feeder cattle, live cattle, and gasoline. Precious metals as a sector were particularly strong during the period as bouts of market volatility due to heightened trade war tensions and Middle East conflict (Iranian missiles hitting the Saudi oil facilities) boosted the prices of gold, silver, and platinum. Short positions in the Fund were a negative during the period and resulted in the overall negative returns for the Fund. The largest negative impacts came from coffee, lean hogs, WTI crude oil, and nickel. Coffee rallied strongly in the fourth quarter of 2019 as dry weather negatively affected the harvest in key growing regions in Latin America. Lean hog short positions hurt the Fund in the first quarter of 2019 as hog prices rallied sharply in March as the Asian swine flu outbreak in China spread. Crude oil short positions were also negative in the first quarter as crude oil rose in price during the quarter. Nickel also rallied in the first quarter hurting the Fund by giving back its price gains from the fourth quarter of 2018.
Please see the Consolidated Portfolio of Investments for a complete list of all positions within the portfolio as of December 31, 2019.
Market and Fund Outlook
Today, we believe the Fund is well positioned to achieve its investment objective of seeking to provide investors with long-term total return. We believe that the Fund is currently broadly diversified across commodity futures and commodity sectors with a variety of long and short positions in anticipation of rising and falling prices. Additionally, we believe that the investment strategy employed by the Fund results in long / short commodity exposures that are not highly correlated to long positions in stock, bonds, or commodities; therefore we believe the Fund could potentially decrease portfolio volatility, enhance overall return, and provide meaningful diversification to an asset allocation strategy.
Page 5
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Understanding Your Fund Expenses
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
As a shareholder of the First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (the “Fund”), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, if any, and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the six-month period ended December 31, 2019.
Actual Expenses
The first line in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this six-month period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as brokerage commissions. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| Beginning Account Value July 1, 2019 | Ending Account Value December 31, 2019 | Annualized Expense Ratio Based on the Six-Month Period | Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period (a) | |
| First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR) | ||||
| Actual | $1,000.00 | $982.90 | 0.95% | $4.75 |
| Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.42 | 0.95% | $4.84 |
| (a) | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratios as indicated in the table multiplied by the average account value over the period (July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019), multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the six-month period). |
Page 6
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Consolidated Portfolio of Investments
December 31, 2019
| Principal Value | Description | Stated Coupon | Stated Maturity | Value | ||||
| U.S. TREASURY BILLS – 91.0% | ||||||||
| $3,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 01/23/20 | $2,997,436 | ||||
| 2,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 01/30/20 | 1,997,744 | ||||
| 4,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/06/20 | 3,994,225 | ||||
| 5,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/13/20 | 4,991,352 | ||||
| 7,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/20/20 | 6,985,613 | ||||
| 1,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 02/27/20 | 997,659 | ||||
| 800,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 04/16/20 | 796,471 | ||||
| 800,000 | U.S. Treasury Bill (a) | (b) | 06/18/20 | 794,269 | ||||
Total Investments – 91.0% | 23,554,769 | ||
| (Cost $23,552,619) (c) | |||
Net Other Assets and Liabilities – 9.0% | 2,324,454 | ||
Net Assets – 100.0% | $25,879,223 |
The following futures contracts of the Fund’s wholly-owned subsidiary were open at December 31, 2019 (see Note 2B - Futures Contracts in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements):
| Futures Contracts Long: | Number of Contracts | Notional Value | Expiration Date | Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)/ Value | ||||
| Brent Crude Futures | 9 | $594,000 | Jan–20 | $43,210 | ||||
| Brent Crude Futures | 10 | 652,900 | Feb–20 | 48,633 | ||||
| Cattle Feeder Futures | 10 | 726,625 | Jan–20 | 721 | ||||
| Cocoa Futures | 15 | 381,000 | Mar–20 | 5,986 | ||||
| Copper Futures | 3 | 209,775 | Mar–20 | (362) | ||||
| Gasoline RBOB Futures | 9 | 639,009 | Jan–20 | 40,215 | ||||
| Gasoline RBOB Futures | 9 | 643,734 | Feb–20 | 27,705 | ||||
| Gold 100 Oz. Futures | 10 | 1,523,100 | Feb–20 | 49,407 | ||||
| Live Cattle Futures | 39 | 1,964,430 | Feb–20 | 6,322 | ||||
| LME Lead Futures | 2 | 96,425 | Mar–20 | 112 | ||||
| LME Nickel Futures | 2 | 168,300 | Mar–20 | 1,848 | ||||
| LME Primary Aluminum Futures | 1 | 45,250 | Mar–20 | 819 | ||||
| LME Zinc Futures | 11 | 625,556 | Mar–20 | (6,600) | ||||
| Low Sulphus Gasoil “G” Futures | 2 | 122,250 | Mar–20 | 1,075 | ||||
| Natural Gas Futures | 11 | 237,380 | Feb–20 | (10,208) | ||||
| Platinum Futures | 19 | 928,910 | Apr–20 | 39,935 | ||||
| Silver Futures | 7 | 627,235 | Mar–20 | 26,960 | ||||
| Soybean Meal Futures | 5 | 152,350 | Mar–20 | (900) | ||||
| Soybean Oil Futures | 38 | 792,756 | Mar–20 | 18,507 | ||||
| Wheat (CBT) Futures | 38 | 1,061,625 | Mar–20 | 70,343 | ||||
| WTI Crude Futures | 3 | 182,310 | Feb–20 | 5,890 | ||||
| $12,374,920 | $369,618 | |||||||
| Futures Contracts Short: | ||||||||
| Coffee (“C”) Futures | 6 | $(291,825) | Mar–20 | $10,219 | ||||
| Corn Futures | 25 | (484,687) | Mar–20 | (19,063) | ||||
| Cotton No. 2 Futures | 27 | (932,175) | Mar–20 | (44,670) | ||||
| KC HRW Wheat Futures | 21 | (510,300) | Mar–20 | (58,037) | ||||
| Lean Hogs Futures | 9 | (257,130) | Feb–20 | (4,750) | ||||
| NY Harbor ULSD Futures | 5 | (424,788) | Jan–20 | (123) | ||||
| Soybean Futures | 9 | (429,975) | Mar–20 | (7,530) | ||||
| Sugar #11 (World) Futures | 29 | (435,882) | Feb–20 | (7,976) | ||||
| $(3,766,762) | $(131,930) | |||||||
| Total | $8,608,158 | $237,688 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page 7
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Consolidated Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
December 31, 2019
| (a) | All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for open futures contracts. |
| (b) | Zero coupon bond. |
| (c) | Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $23,552,619. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $565,335 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $204,066. The net unrealized appreciation was $361,269. The amounts presented are inclusive of derivative contracts. |
Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2019 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements):
| ASSETS TABLE | ||||
| Total Value at 12/31/2019 | Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | |
U.S. Treasury Bills | $ 23,554,769 | $ — | $ 23,554,769 | $ — |
Total Investments | 23,554,769 | — | 23,554,769 | — |
Futures Contracts | 397,907 | 397,907 | — | — |
Total | $ 23,952,676 | $ 397,907 | $ 23,554,769 | $— |
LIABILITIES TABLE | ||||
| Total Value at 12/31/2019 | Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | |
Futures Contracts | $ (160,219) | $ (160,219) | $ — | $ — |
Page 8
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2019
| ASSETS: | |
Investments, at value (Cost $23,552,619) | $ 23,554,769 |
Cash | 2,310,187 |
| Receivables: | |
Variation margin | 397,907 |
Total Assets | 26,262,863 |
| LIABILITIES: | |
Due to broker | 197,785 |
| Payables: | |
Variation margin | 160,219 |
Investment advisory fees | 25,636 |
Total Liabilities | 383,640 |
NET ASSETS | $25,879,223 |
| NET ASSETS consist of: | |
Paid-in capital | $ 25,868,970 |
Par value | 10,000 |
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss) | 253 |
NET ASSETS | $25,879,223 |
NET ASSET VALUE,per share | $25.88 |
Number of shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, par value $0.01 per share) | 1,000,002 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page 9
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
| INVESTMENT INCOME: | ||
Interest | $ 642,840 | |
Dividends (net of foreign withholding tax of $3,035) | 33,170 | |
Total investment income | 676,010 | |
| EXPENSES: | ||
Investment advisory fees | 351,366 | |
Total expenses | 351,366 | |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS) | 324,644 | |
| NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): | ||
| Net realized gain (loss) on: | ||
Investments | 848 | |
Futures | (1,618,859) | |
Net realized gain (loss) | (1,618,011) | |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | ||
Investments | 1,899 | |
Futures | 161,340 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 163,239 | |
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) | (1,454,772) | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $(1,130,128) | |
Page 10
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| Year Ended 12/31/2019 | Year Ended 12/31/2018 | ||
| OPERATIONS: | |||
Net investment income (loss) | $ 324,644 | $ 88,878 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | (1,618,011) | (1,693,105) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 163,239 | (59,022) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (1,130,128) | (1,663,249) | |
| DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM: | |||
Investment operations | (264,701) | (73,470) | |
Return of capital | — | (28,560) | |
Total distributions to shareholders | (264,701) | (102,030) | |
| SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTIONS: | |||
Proceeds from shares sold | 29,572,780 | 17,073,673 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | (20,832,525) | (4,112,280) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from shareholder transactions | 8,740,255 | 12,961,393 | |
Total increase (decrease) in net assets | 7,345,426 | 11,196,114 | |
| NET ASSETS: | |||
Beginning of period | 18,533,797 | 7,337,683 | |
End of period | $25,879,223 | $18,533,797 | |
| CHANGES IN SHARES OUTSTANDING: | |||
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | 700,002 | 250,002 | |
Shares sold | 1,100,000 | 600,000 | |
Shares redeemed | (800,000) | (150,000) | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | 1,000,002 | 700,002 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page 11
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
Consolidated Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period
| Year Ended December 31, | Period Ended 12/31/2016 (a) | ||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 26.48 | $ 29.35 | $ 28.45 | $ 30.00 | |||
| Income from investment operations: | |||||||
Net investment income (loss) | 0.36 | 0.14 | (0.10) (b) | (0.15) | |||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.70) | (2.86) | 1.83 | (1.40) | |||
Total from investment operations | (0.34) | (2.72) | 1.73 | (1.55) | |||
| Distributions paid to shareholders from: | |||||||
Net investment income | (0.26) | (0.11) | (0.83) | — | |||
Return of capital | — | (0.04) | — | — | |||
Total distributions | (0.26) | (0.15) | (0.83) | — | |||
Net asset value, end of period | $25.88 | $26.48 | $29.35 | $28.45 | |||
Total return (c) | (1.27)% | (9.23)% | 6.08% | (5.17)% | |||
| Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data: | |||||||
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s) | $ 25,879 | $ 18,534 | $ 7,338 | $ 2,845 | |||
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.95% | 0.95% | 0.95% | 0.95% (d) | |||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 0.88% | 0.65% | (0.33)% | (0.82)% (d) | |||
Portfolio turnover rate (e) | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | |||
| (a) | Inception date is May 18, 2016, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation unit was established. First Trust Portfolios L.P. seeded the Fund on May 9, 2016 in order to provide initial capital required by SEC rules. |
| (b) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) | Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year. |
| (d) | Annualized. |
| (e) | Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions, derivatives and in-kind transactions. |
Page 12
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019
1. Organization
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 6, 2012, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
The Trust consists of two funds that are offering shares. This report covers the First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (the “Fund”), a non-diversified series of the Trust, which trades under the ticker “FAAR” on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and commenced operations on May 18, 2016. Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in large specified blocks consisting of 50,000 shares called a “Creation Unit.” The Fund’s Creation Units are generally issued and redeemed for cash or, in certain circumstances, in-kind for securities in which the Fund invests. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund.
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to provide investors with long-term total return. Under normal market conditions, the Fund, through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund, FT Cayman Subsidiary III (the “Subsidiary”), organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, invests in a portfolio of commodity futures contracts (“Commodities Futures”). The Fund does not invest directly in Commodities Futures. The Fund gains exposure to these investments exclusively by investing in the Subsidiary. The Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary may not exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of each fiscal quarter. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is considered an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The consolidated financial statements include the accounts on a consolidated basis of the Subsidiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Portfolio Valuation
The Fund’s NAV is determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If the NYSE closes early on a valuation day, the NAV is determined as of that time. The Fund’s NAV is calculated by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of shares outstanding.
The Fund’s investments are valued daily at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value. Market value prices represent last sale or official closing prices from a national or foreign exchange (i.e., a regulated market) and are primarily obtained from third-party pricing services. Fair value prices represent any prices not considered market value prices and are either obtained from a third-party pricing service or are determined by the Pricing Committee of the Fund’s investment advisor, First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”), in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act. Investments valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, if any, are footnoted as such in the footnotes to the Consolidated Portfolio of Investments. The Fund’s investments are valued as follows:
Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at the closing price in the market where such contracts are principally traded. If no closing price is available, exchange-traded futures contracts are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.
U.S. Treasuries are fair valued on the basis of valuations provided by a third-party pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
If the Fund’s investments are not able to be priced by their pre-established pricing methods, such investments may be valued by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or its delegate, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, at fair value. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such investments.
Valuing the Fund’s holdings using fair value pricing will result in using prices for those holdings that may differ from current market valuations. The Subsidiary’s holdings will be valued in the same manner as the Fund’s holdings.
Page 13
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019
The Fund is subject to fair value accounting standards that define fair value, establish the framework for measuring fair value and provide a three-level hierarchy for fair valuation based upon the inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
| • | Level 1 – Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. An active market is a market in which transactions for the investment occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
| • | Level 2 – Level 2 inputs are observable inputs, either directly or indirectly, and include the following: |
| o | Quoted prices for similar investments in active markets. |
| o | Quoted prices for identical or similar investments in markets that are non-active. A non-active market is a market where there are few transactions for the investment, the prices are not current, or price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly. |
| o | Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the investment (for example, interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates). |
| o | Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. |
| • | Level 3 – Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the investment. |
The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments. A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2019, is included with the Fund’s Consolidated Portfolio of Investments.
B. Futures Contracts
The Fund, through the Subsidiary, may purchase and sell exchange-listed commodity contracts. When the Subsidiary purchases a listed futures contract, it agrees to purchase a specified reference asset (e.g., commodity) at a specified future date. When the Subsidiary sells or shorts a listed futures contract, it agrees to sell a specified reference asset (e.g., commodity) at a specified future date. The price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the Subsidiary enters into the contract. The exchange clearing corporation is the ultimate counterparty for all exchange-listed contracts, so credit risk is limited to the creditworthiness of the exchange’s clearing corporation. Margin deposits are posted as collateral with the clearing broker and, in turn, with the exchange clearing corporation. Open futures contracts can be closed out prior to settlement by entering into an offsetting transaction in a matching futures contract. If the Subsidiary is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Subsidiary will continue to be required to maintain margin deposits on the futures contract. When the contract is closed or expires, the Subsidiary records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed or expired. This gain or loss is included in “Net realized gain (loss) on futures” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Exchange-listed commodity futures contracts are generally based upon commodities within the five principal commodity groups: energy, industrial metals, agriculture, precious metals, and livestock. The price of a commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity. These storage costs include the time value of money invested in the physical commodity plus the actual costs of storing the commodity less any benefits from ownership of the physical commodity that are not obtained by the holder of a futures contract (this is sometimes referred to as the “convenience yield”). To the extent that these storage costs change for an underlying commodity while the Subsidiary is in a long position on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Subsidiary must deposit funds, called margin, with its custodian in the name of the clearing broker equal to a specified percentage of the current value of the contract. Open futures contracts are marked-to-market daily with the change in value recognized as a component of “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. This daily fluctuation in value of the contracts is also known as variation margin and is included as “Variation margin” payable or receivable on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
When the Subsidiary purchases or sells a futures contract, the Subsidiary is required to collateralize its position in order to limit the risk associated with the use of leverage and other related risks. To collateralize its position, the Subsidiary segregates assets consisting of cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the unrealized depreciation of the futures contract or otherwise collateralize its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the 1940 Act Rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. As the Subsidiary continues to engage in the described securities trading practices and properly segregates assets, the segregated assets will function as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Subsidiary may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Subsidiary’s outstanding portfolio investments.
Page 14
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019
Additionally, such segregated assets generally ensure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Subsidiary arising from such investment activities.
C. Investment Transactions and Investment Income
Investment transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, if any, is recorded on the accrual basis. Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recorded using the effective interest method.
D. Cash
The Fund holds assets equal to or greater than the full notional exposure of the futures contracts. These assets may consist of cash and other short-term securities to comply with SEC guidance with respect to coverage of futures contracts by registered investment companies. At December 31, 2019, the Fund had no restricted cash.
E. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly by the Fund. The Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually.
Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole shares only if the broker through whom the shares were purchased makes such option available. Such shares will generally be reinvested by the broker based upon the market price of those shares and investors may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by the broker.
Distributions from net investment income and realized capital gains are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. Certain capital accounts in the consolidated financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These permanent differences are primarily due to the varying treatment of income and gain/loss on portfolio securities held by the Fund and have no impact on net assets or NAV per share. Temporary differences, which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense and gain/loss in different periods for consolidated financial statement and tax purposes, will reverse at some time in the future.
The tax character of distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, was as follows:
| Distributions paid from: | 2019 | 2018 |
Ordinary income | $264,701 | $73,470 |
Capital gains | — | — |
Return of capital | — | 28,560 |
As of December 31, 2019, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis for the Fund were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | $13,071 |
Accumulated capital and other gain (loss) | (121,431) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 361,269 |
F. Income Taxes
The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which includes distributing substantially all of its net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal and state income taxes. However, due to the timing and amount of distributions, the Fund may be subject to an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which approximately 98% of the Fund’s taxable income exceeds the distributions from such taxable income for the calendar year.
The Subsidiary is classified as a controlled foreign corporation under Subchapter N of the Code. Therefore, the Fund is required to increase its taxable income by its share of the Subsidiary’s income, whether or not such earnings are distributed by the Subsidiary to the Fund. Net investment losses of the Subsidiary cannot be deducted by the Fund in the current period nor carried forward to offset taxable income in future periods.
The Fund intends to utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws, which allow it to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future realized capital gains. The Fund is subject to certain limitations under U.S. tax rules on the use of capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses. These limitations apply when there has been a 50% change in ownership. At December 31, 2019, the Fund had no capital loss carryforwards outstanding for federal income tax purposes.
Page 15
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019
During the taxable year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund utilized $259 of its non-expiring capital loss carryforward.
The Fund is subject to accounting standards that establish a minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Taxable years ended 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 remain open to federal and state audit. As of December 31, 2019, management has evaluated the application of these standards to the Fund and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements for uncertain tax positions.
In order to present paid-in capital and accumulated distributable earnings (loss) (which consists of accumulated net investment income (loss), accumulated net realized gain (loss) and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)) on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities that more closely represent their tax character, certain adjustments have been made to paid-in capital, accumulated net investment income (loss) and accumulated net realized gain (loss). These adjustments are primarily due to the difference between book and tax treatment of net investment income from the Subsidiary. The results of operations and net assets were not affected by these adjustments. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the adjustments for the Fund were as follows:
| Accumulated Net Investment Income (Loss) | Accumulated Net Realized Gain (Loss) | Paid-in Capital | ||
| $(209,115) | $1,618,270 | $(1,409,155) |
G. Expenses
Expenses, other than the investment advisory fee and other excluded expenses, are paid by the Advisor (See Note 3).
3. Investment Advisory Fee, Affiliated Transactions and Other Fee Arrangements
First Trust, the investment advisor to the Fund, is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the Fund’s and the Subsidiary’s investment portfolios, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain administrative services necessary for the management of the Fund.
Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor, First Trust manages the investment of the Fund’s assets and is responsible for the Fund’s and the Subsidiary’s expenses, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, but excluding fee payments under the Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses. The Fund has agreed to pay First Trust an annual unitary management fee equal to 0.95% of its average daily net assets. First Trust also provides fund reporting services to the Fund for a flat annual fee in the amount of $9,250, which is covered under the annual unitary management fee. The Subsidiary does not pay First Trust a separate management fee.
The Trust has multiple service agreements with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”). Under the service agreements, BBH performs custodial, fund accounting, certain administrative services, and transfer agency services for the Fund. As custodian, BBH is responsible for custody of the Fund’s assets. As fund accountant and administrator, BBH is responsible for maintaining the books and records of the Fund’s investments and cash. As transfer agent, BBH is responsible for maintaining shareholder records for the Fund.
Each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of First Trust, any sub-advisor or any of their affiliates (“Independent Trustees”) is paid a fixed annual retainer that is allocated equally among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex. Each Independent Trustee is also paid an annual per fund fee that varies based on whether the fund is a closed-end or other actively managed fund, a defined-outcome fund or an index fund.
Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Chairmen of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee are paid annual fees to serve in such capacities, with such compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on net assets. Independent Trustees are reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with all meetings. The Lead Independent Trustee and Committee Chairmen rotate every three years. The officers and “Interested” Trustee receive no compensation from the Trust for acting in such capacities.
Page 16
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019
4. Purchases and Sales of Securities
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, derivatives, and in-kind transactions, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, were $0 and $0, respectively.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund did not have any in-kind purchases or sales.
5. Derivative Transactions
The following table presents the types of derivatives held by the Subsidiary at December 31, 2019, the primary underlying risk exposure and the location of these instruments as presented on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
| Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||
| Derivative Instrument | Risk Exposure | Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Value | Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Value | |||||
| Futures | Commodity Risk | Variation Margin Receivable | $ 397,907 | Variation Margin Payable | $ 160,219 | |||||
The following table presents the amount of net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, on derivative instruments, as well as the primary underlying risk exposure associated with each instrument.
| Consolidated Statement of Operations Location | |
| Commodity Risk Exposure | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on futures | $(1,618,859) |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures | 161,340 |
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the notional value of futures contracts opened and closed were $248,146,660 and $241,048,886, respectively.
The Fund does not have the right to offset financial assets and liabilities related to futures contracts on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
6. Creations, Redemptions and Transaction Fees
Shares are created and redeemed by the Fund only in Creation Unit size aggregations of 50,000 shares in transactions with broker-dealers or large institutional investors that have entered into a participation agreement (an “Authorized Participant”). In order to purchase Creation Units of the Fund, an Authorized Participant must deposit (i) a designated portfolio of securities and other instruments determined by First Trust (the “Deposit Securities”) and generally make or receive a cash payment referred to as the “Cash Component,” which is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund shares (per Creation Unit Aggregation) and the market value of the Deposit Securities, and/or (ii) cash in lieu of all or a portion of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation exceeds the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component. Authorized Participants purchasing Creation Units must pay to BBH, as transfer agent, a creation transaction fee (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction. The Creation Transaction Fee may vary and is based on the composition of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio and the countries in which the transactions are settled. The Creation Transaction Fee may increase or decrease with changes in the Fund’s portfolio. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share times the number of shares in a Creation Unit plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees or stamp taxes. When the Fund permits an Authorized Participant to substitute cash or a different security in lieu of depositing one or more of the requisite Deposit Securities, the Authorized Participant may also be assessed an amount to cover the cost of purchasing the Deposit Securities and/or disposing of the substituted securities, including operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes, and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to such Deposit Securities and/or substitute securities.
Authorized Participants redeeming Creation Units must pay to BBH, as transfer agent, a redemption transaction fee (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”), regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction. The Redemption Transaction Fee may vary and is based on the composition of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio and the countries in which the transactions are settled. The Redemption Transaction Fee may increase or decrease with changes in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund reserves the right to
Page 17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019
effect redemptions in cash. An Authorized Participant may request cash redemption in lieu of securities; however, the Fund may, in its discretion, reject any such request.
7. Distribution Plan
The Board of Trustees adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with the Rule 12b-1 plan, the Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets each year to reimburse First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), the distributor of the Fund, for amounts expended to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units or to provide investor services. FTP may also use this amount to compensate securities dealers or other persons that are Authorized Participants for providing distribution assistance, including broker-dealer and shareholder support and educational and promotional services.
No 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Fund, and pursuant to a contractual arrangement, no 12b-1 fees will be paid any time before April 30, 2021.
8. Indemnification
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Trust has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
9. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events to the Fund through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements that have not already been disclosed.
Page 18
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities of First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (the “Fund”), a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, including the consolidated portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2019, the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the consolidated financial highlights for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, and the period from May 18, 2016 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2016, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2019, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, and for the period from May 18, 2016 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2019, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Chicago, Illinois
February 24, 2020
We have served as the auditor of one or more First Trust investment companies since 2001.
Page 19
Additional Information
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies and information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio investments during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891; (2) on the Fund’s website atwww.ftportfolios.com; and (3) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website atwww.sec.gov.
Portfolio Holdings
The Fund files portfolio holdings information for each month in a fiscal quarter within 60 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each fiscal quarter will be publicly available on the SEC’s website atwww.sec.gov. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year is included in the semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders, respectively, and is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR. The semi-annual and annual report for the Fund is available to investors within 60 days after the period to which it relates. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT and Forms N-CSR are available on the SEC’s website listed above.
Federal Tax Information
For the taxable year ended December 31, 2019, the following percentages of income dividend paid by the Fund is qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations and is hereby designated as qualified dividend income:
| Dividends Received Deduction | Qualified Dividend Income | |
| 0.00% | 0.00% |
Distributions paid to foreign shareholders during the Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 that were properly designated by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends,” may not be subject to federal income tax provided that the income was earned directly by such foreign shareholders.
Risk Considerations
Risks are inherent in all investing. Certain general risks that may be applicable to a Fund are identified below, but not all of the material risks relevant to each Fund are included in this report and not all of the risks below apply to each Fund. The material risks of investing in each Fund are spelled out in its prospectus, statement of additional information and other regulatory filings. Before investing, you should consider each Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses, and read each Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information carefully. You can download each Fund’s prospectus at www.ftportfolios.com or contact First Trust Portfolios L.P. at (800) 621-1675 to request a prospectus, which contains this and other information about each Fund.
Concentration Risk. To the extent that a fund is able to invest a large percentage of its assets in a single asset class or the securities of issuers within the same country, state, region, industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value of the fund’s investments more than if the fund were more broadly diversified. A fund that tracks an index will be concentrated to the extent the fund’s corresponding index is concentrated. A concentration makes a fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the fund to greater market risk than a fund that is not concentrated.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make such payments.
Cyber Security Risk. The funds are susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause a fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. In addition, cyber security breaches of a fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, or issuers in which the fund invests, can also subject a fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches.
Derivatives Risk. To the extent a fund uses derivative instruments such as futures contracts, options contracts and swaps, the fund may experience losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying asset, index or rate, which may be magnified by certain features of the derivative. These risks are heightened when a fund’s portfolio managers use derivatives to enhance the fund’s return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or offset) the risk of a position or security held by the fund.
Page 20
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
Equity Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in equity securities, the value of the fund’s shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market.
ETF Risk. The shares of an ETF trade like common stock and represent an interest in a portfolio of securities. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs. Shares of an ETF trade on an exchange at market prices rather than net asset value, which may cause the shares to trade at a price greater than net asset value (premium) or less than net asset value (discount). In times of market stress, decisions by market makers to reduce or step away from their role of providing a market for an ETF’s shares, or decisions by an ETF’s authorized participants that they are unable or unwilling to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders of an ETF’s shares, could result in shares of the ETF trading at a discount to net asset value and in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads.
Fixed Income Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in fixed income securities, the fund will be subject to credit risk, income risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Income risk is the risk that income from a fund’s fixed income investments could decline during periods of falling interest rates. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a fund’s fixed income securities will decline because of rising interest rates. Liquidity risk is the risk that a security cannot be purchased or sold at the time desired, or cannot be purchased or sold without adversely affecting the price. Prepayment risk is the risk that the securities will be redeemed or prepaid by the issuer, resulting in lower interest payments received by the fund. In addition to these risks, high yield securities, or “junk” bonds, are subject to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss than securities with higher ratings, and the market for high yield securities is generally smaller and less liquid than that for investment grade securities.
Index Constituent Risk. Certain funds may be a constituent of one or more indices. As a result, such a fund may be included in one or more index-tracking exchange-traded funds or mutual funds. Being a component security of such a vehicle could greatly affect the trading activity involving a fund, the size of the fund and the market volatility of the fund. Inclusion in an index could significantly increase demand for the fund and removal from an index could result in outsized selling activity in a relatively short period of time. As a result, a fund’s net asset value could be negatively impacted and the fund’s market price may be significantly below its net asset value during certain periods.
Index Provider Risk. To the extent a fund seeks to track an index, it is subject to Index Provider Risk. There is no assurance that the Index Provider will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. To correct any such error, the Index Provider may carry out an unscheduled rebalance or other modification of the Index constituents or weightings, which may increase the fund’s costs. The Index Provider does not provide any representation or warranty in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in the Index, and it does not guarantee that the Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. Losses or costs associated with any Index Provider errors generally will be borne by the fund and its shareholders.
Investment Companies Risk.To the extent a fund invests in the securities of other investment vehicles, the fund will incur additional fees and expenses that would not be present in a direct investment in those investment vehicles. Furthermore, the fund’s investment performance and risks are directly related to the investment performance and risks of the investment vehicles in which the fund invests.
Management Risk. To the extent that a fund is actively managed, it is subject to management risk. In managing an actively-managed fund’s investment portfolio, the fund’s portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not have the desired result. There can be no guarantee that a fund will meet its investment objective.
Market Risk. Securities held by a fund, as well as shares of a fund itself, are subject to market fluctuations caused by factors such as general economic conditions, political events, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of a fund could decline in value or underperform other investments as a result of the risk of loss associated with these market fluctuations.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it is subject to additional risks not associated with securities of domestic issuers. Non-U.S. securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to: possible adverse political, social or economic developments; restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; lack of liquidity; currency exchange rates; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; different legal or accounting standards; and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries. Investments in non-U.S. securities may involve higher costs
Page 21
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction and custody costs, as well as additional taxes imposed by non-U.S. governments. These risks may be heightened for securities of companies located, or with significant operations, in emerging market countries.
Passive Investment Risk. To the extent a Fund seeks to track an index, the Fund will invest in the securities included in, or representative of, the index regardless of their investment merit. A Fund generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.
| NOT FDIC INSURED | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | MAY LOSE VALUE |
Page 22
Board of Trustees and Officers
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
The following tables identify the Trustees and Officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187.
The Trust’s statement of additional information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891.
| Name, Year of Birth and Position with the Trust | Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed | Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | Other Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years |
| INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES | ||||
| Richard E. Erickson, Trustee (1951) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Physician; Officer, Wheaton Orthopedics; Limited Partner, Gundersen Real Estate Limited Partnership (June 1992 to December 2016); Member, Sportsmed LLC (April 2007 to November 2015) | 169 | None |
| Thomas R. Kadlec, Trustee (1957) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | President, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant) | 169 | Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, Futures Industry Association, and National Futures Association |
| Robert F. Keith, Trustee (1956) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting) | 169 | Director of Trust Company of Illinois |
| Niel B. Nielson, Trustee (1954) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Senior Advisor (August 2018 to Present), Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (January 2015 to August 2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services); President and Chief Executive Officer (June 2012 to September 2014), Servant Interactive LLC (Educational Products and Services); President and Chief Executive Officer (June 2012 to September 2014), Dew Learning LLC (Educational Products and Services) | 169 | None |
| INTERESTED TRUSTEE | ||||
| James A. Bowen(1), Trustee and Chairman of the Board (1955) | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Chief Executive Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chairman of the Board of Directors, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor) | 169 | None |
| (1) | Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust due to his position as CEO of First Trust Advisors L.P., investment advisor of the Trust. |
Page 23
Board of Trustees and Officers (Continued)
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
| Name and Year of Birth | Position and Offices with Trust | Term of Office and Length of Service | Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years |
| OFFICERS(2) | |||
| James M. Dykas (1966) | President and Chief Executive Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since January 2016 | Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to Present), Controller (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. Swade (1972) | Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since January 2016 | Senior Vice President (July 2016 to Present), Vice President (April 2012 to July 2016), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| W. Scott Jardine (1960) | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Secretary and General Counsel, BondWave LLC; Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC |
| Daniel J. Lindquist (1970) | Vice President | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| Kristi A. Maher (1966) | Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| Roger F. Testin (1966) | Vice President | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| Stan Ueland (1970) | Vice President | • Indefinite Term • Since Inception | Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P |
| (2) | The term “officer” means the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, controller or any other officer who performs a policy making function. |
Page 24
Privacy Policy
First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR)
December 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
Privacy Policy
First Trust values our relationship with you and considers your privacy an important priority in maintaining that relationship. We are committed to protecting the security and confidentiality of your personal information.
Sources of Information
We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:
| • | Information we receive from you and your broker-dealer, investment advisor or financial representative through interviews, applications, agreements or other forms; |
| • | Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates or others; |
| • | Information we receive from your inquiries by mail, e-mail or telephone; and |
| • | Information we collect on our website through the use of “cookies”. For example, we may identify the pages on our website that your browser requests or visits. |
Information Collected
The type of data we collect may include your name, address, social security number, age, financial status, assets, income, tax information, retirement and estate plan information, transaction history, account balance, payment history, investment objectives, marital status, family relationships and other personal information.
Disclosure of Information
We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted by law. In addition to using this information to verify your identity (as required under law), the permitted uses may also include the disclosure of such information to unaffiliated companies for the following reasons:
| • | In order to provide you with products and services and to effect transactions that you request or authorize, we may disclose your personal information as described above to unaffiliated financial service providers and other companies that perform administrative or other services on our behalf, such as transfer agents, custodians and trustees, or that assist us in the distribution of investor materials such as trustees, banks, financial representatives, proxy services, solicitors and printers. |
| • | We may release information we have about you if you direct us to do so, if we are compelled by law to do so, or in other legally limited circumstances (for example to protect your account from fraud). |
In addition, in order to alert you to our other financial products and services, we may share your personal information within First Trust.
Use of Website Analytics
We currently use third party analytics tools, Google Analytics and AddThis, to gather information for purposes of improving First Trust’s website and marketing our products and services to you. These tools employ cookies, which are small pieces of text stored in a file by your web browser and sent to websites that you visit, to collect information, track website usage and viewing trends such as the number of hits, pages visited, videos and PDFs viewed and the length of user sessions in order to evaluate website performance and enhance navigation of the website. We may also collect other anonymous information, which is generally limited to technical and web navigation information such as the IP address of your device, internet browser type and operating system for purposes of analyzing the data to make First Trust’s website better and more useful to our users. The information collected does not include any personal identifiable information such as your name, address, phone number or email address unless you provide that information through the website for us to contact you in order to answer your questions or respond to your requests. To find out how to opt-out of these services click on:Google Analytics andAddThis.
Confidentiality and Security
With regard to our internal security procedures, First Trust restricts access to your nonpublic personal information to those First Trust employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal information.
Policy Updates and Inquiries
As required by federal law, we will notify you of our privacy policy annually. We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time, however, if we do change it, we will tell you promptly. For questions about our policy, or for additional copies of this notice, please go towww.ftportfolios.com, or contact us at 1-800-621-1675 (First Trust Portfolios) or 1-800-222-6822 (First Trust Advisors).
March 2019
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INVESTMENT ADVISOR
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
ADMINISTRATOR,
FUND ACCOUNTANT, AND
CUSTODIAN
FUND ACCOUNTANT, AND
CUSTODIAN
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
50 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02110
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
111 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 W. Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
| (a) | The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. |
| (c) | There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description. |
| (d) | The registrant, during the period covered by this report, has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions. |
| (e) | Not applicable. |
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
As of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant’s board of trustees has determined that Thomas R. Kadlec and Robert F. Keith are qualified to serve as audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee and that each of them is “independent,” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a)Audit Fees (Registrant)— The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $50,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $50,000 for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
(b)Audit-Related Fees (Registrant)—The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Audit-Related Fees (Investment Adviser and Distributor) —The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
(c)Tax Fees(Registrant)—The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning to the registrant were $12,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $12,000 for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Tax Fees (Investment Adviser and Distributor) —The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning to the registrant’s adviser and distributor were $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
(d)All Other Fees(Registrant) —The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant to the registrant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
All Other Fees (Investment Adviser and Distributor) —The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser and distributor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
(e)(1) Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
Pursuant to its charter and its Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) 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 the registrant by its independent auditors. The Chairman of the Committee is authorized to give such pre-approvals on behalf of the Committee up to $25,000 and report any such pre-approval to the full Committee.
The Committee is also responsible for the pre-approval of the independent auditor’s engagements for non-audit services with the registrant’s adviser (not including a sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted or overseen by another investment adviser) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant, subject to thede minimisexceptions for non-audit services described in Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. If the independent auditor has provided non-audit services to the registrant’s adviser (other than any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to its policies, the Committee will consider whether the provision of such non-audit services is compatible with the auditor’s independence.
(e)(2) The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) for the registrant and the registrant’s investment adviser of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to the pre-approval exceptions included in paragraph (c)(7)(i)(c) or paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows:
(b) 0%
(c) 0%
(d) 0%
(f) The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was less than fifty percent.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 were $12,000 for the registrant, $48,190 for the registrant’s investment adviser and $80,310 for the registrant’s distributor and for the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 were $12,000 for the registrant, $75,670 for the registrant’s investment adviser and $104,730 for the registrant’s distributor.
(h) The registrant’s audit committee of its Board of Trustees has determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant 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’s independence.
Items 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
The registrant has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 consisting of all the independent directors of the registrant. The audit committee of the registrant is comprised of: Richard E. Erickson, Thomas R. Kadlec, Robert F. Keith and Niel B. Nielson.
Item 6. Investments.
| (a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. |
| (b) | Not applicable. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3 (c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15 (b)). |
| (b) | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 13. Exhibits.
| (a)(1) | Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto. |
| (a)(2) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
| (a)(3) | Not applicable. |
| (a)(4) | Not applicable. |
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| (registrant) | First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ James M. Dykas | |||
| James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
| Date | March 4, 2020 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ James M. Dykas | |||
| James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
| Date | March 4, 2020 |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Donald P. Swade | |||
| Donald P. Swade, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer (principal financial officer) |
| Date | March 4, 2020 |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.