UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-23072
(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, 2022
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, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
(a) Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
First Trust
Dynamic Europe
Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
Annual Report
For the
Year Ended
December
31, 2022
Table of Contents
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity
Income Fund (FDEU)
Annual Report
December 31, 2022
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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/or Janus Henderson Investors US LLC (“Janus Henderson” or the
“Sub-Advisor”) and their respective 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 First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund (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/or Sub-Advisor and their respective 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.
Managed Distribution
Policy
The Board of Trustees of
the Fund has approved a managed distribution policy for the Fund (the “Plan”) in reliance on exemptive relief received from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits the Fund to make periodic
distributions of long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly each tax year. Under the Plan, the Fund currently intends to continue to pay a monthly distribution that reflects the distributable cash flow of the
Fund. A portion of this monthly distribution may include realized capital gains. This may result in a reduction of the long-term capital gain distribution necessary at year end by distributing realized capital gains
throughout the year. The annual distribution rate is independent of the Fund’s performance during any particular period. Accordingly, you should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment
performance from the amount of any distribution or from the terms of the Plan. The Board of Trustees may amend or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to shareholders.
Performance and Risk
Disclosure
There is no assurance
that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. 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’s shares may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money by investing in the Fund. See “Principal Risks” in the Investment Objective, Policies, Risks and
Effects of Leverage 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 visit www.ftportfolios.com or speak with your financial advisor. Investment returns, net asset value and common 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 at www.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 a relevant market benchmark.
It is important to keep
in mind that the opinions expressed by personnel of First Trust and Janus Henderson 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, this report and other Fund regulatory
filings.
Page 1
Shareholder Letter
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity
Income Fund (FDEU)
Annual Letter from the Chairman and
CEO
December 31, 2022
Dear Shareholders,
First Trust is pleased
to provide you with the annual report for the First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund (the “Fund”), which contains detailed information about the Fund for the twelve months ended December 31,
2022.
The past year was filled
with challenges, several of which surely tested the resolve of even the most seasoned investors. The year began with the same headwinds that existed at the end of 2021, namely: stubbornly high inflation and rising
interest rates. When Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2022, we added war, geopolitical tension, and potential food and energy shortages to the list. Considering the bleak backdrop at the start of the year, it
probably does not surprise you to read that with a total return of -18.11%, 2022 was the worst year for the S&P 500® Index since 2008. Even the bond market struggled to provide a haven to weary investors. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index posted a total
return of -13.01% for the year; its worst total return in 45 years.
A common topic of
discussion in 2022 was whether central banks around the world had tightened monetary policy enough to quell inflation without causing excess damage to their economies. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (the
“Fed”) described this as a “soft landing,” stating it was their intent to keep the labor market strong but to increase interest rates enough to bring inflation down to 2.0%. True to their word,
over the course of seven interest rate hikes, the Fed increased the Federal Funds target rate (upper bound) from 0.25% (where it stood in March 2022) to 4.50% as of December 2022. This is the highest the Federal Funds
rate has been since 2008.
The economic impact of
the Fed’s tighter monetary policy quickly became evident. Excluding the economic contraction from COVID-19 in 2020, the U.S. experienced its first decline in the gross domestic product (“GDP”) growth
rate since March 2014. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates that annualized real GDP growth rates over the first three quarters of 2022 were -1.6%, -0.6%, and 3.2%, respectively. Thankfully,
inflation, as measured by the trailing 12-month rate on the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”), appears to be responding to the Fed’s tightening. After peaking at 9.1% in June 2022, the CPI rate fell to
6.5% at the end of December 2022. For comparative purposes, the CPI rate has averaged 2.5% over the past 30 years. Job creation has provided a respite from dreary economic data in recent months, but that could quickly
change. Nearly 125,000 employees have lost their jobs since June 2022 as more than 120 U.S. companies announced layoffs, according to Forbes. The jury is still out on whether the Fed will be able to pull off a soft
landing, but the job market will tell the tale, in my opinion.
Since 1928, the S&P
500® Index has only fallen for two consecutive years on four occasions: The Great Depression, World War II, the oil crisis of the 1970s and the
burst of the dot-com bubble in the early 2000s. As we enter 2023, the U.S. economy has significant obstacles to overcome to avoid a recession and another negative year. We will be watching and reporting on what
transpires.
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 2
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
“AT A GLANCE”
As of December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
| Performance | |||
| Average Annual Total Returns | |||
| 1 Year Ended 12/31/22 | 5 Years Ended 12/31/22 | Inception (9/24/15) to 12/31/22 | |
| Fund Performance(3) | |||
| NAV | -9.56% | -0.78% | 2.83% |
| Market Value | -9.63% | -2.31% | 0.35% |
| Index Performance | |||
| MSCI Europe Index | -15.06% | 1.87% | 4.98% |
| (1) | Most recent distribution paid through December 31, 2022. Subject to change in the future. |
| (2) | Distribution rates are calculated by annualizing the most recent distribution paid through the report date and then dividing by Common Share Price or NAV, as applicable, as of December 31, 2022. Subject to change in the future. |
| (3) | Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain, and return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and changes in NAV per share for NAV returns and changes in Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Past performance is not indicative of future results. |
Page 3
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
“AT A GLANCE”
(Continued)
As of December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
Page 4
Portfolio Commentary
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
Annual Report
December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
Advisor
First Trust Advisors L.P.
(“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) serves as the investment advisor to the First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund (the “Fund”). First Trust is responsible for the 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. In addition, First Trust also
implements the option overlay strategy for the Fund. John Gambla and Rob A. Guttschow are responsible for implementing the Fund’s portfolio management option overlay strategy.
Sub-Advisor
Janus Henderson Investors
US LLC, (“Janus Henderson” or the “Sub-Advisor”), a legal entity of Janus Henderson Investors, serves as the Fund’s investment sub-advisor. Janus Henderson Investors is headquartered in
London and is a global investment management firm that provides a full spectrum of investment products and services to clients around the world. With offices in 23 cities with more than 2,400 employees, Janus
Henderson Investors managed approximately $299.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022.
Portfolio Management
Team
Ben Lofthouse, CFA, Head of
Global Equity Income, Janus Henderson Investors
Faizan Baig, CFA, Portfolio
Manager Global Equity Income, Janus Henderson Investors
First Trust Dynamic Europe
Equity Income Fund
The Fund’s
investment objective is to provide a high level of current income with a secondary focus on capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the Fund pursues its investment objective by investing at least 80% of
its Managed Assets in a portfolio of equity securities of European companies of any market capitalization, including, but not limited to, common and preferred stocks that pay dividends, depositary receipts, and real
estate investment trusts. “Managed Assets” means the total asset value of the Fund minus the sum of the Fund’s liabilities other than the principal amount of borrowings, if any. There can be no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
Market Recap
After delivering strong
returns in 2021, European equities endured a difficult year during 2022 during which the MSCI Europe Index declined by 15.06%. A combination of issues pressured markets from the start of the year including supply
chain concerns, rising costs of raw materials as well as the Omicron variant of COVID-19. However, markets sold off sharply following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As a result of the invasion,
the price of raw materials, such as crude oil and natural gas, rose sharply, the latter particularly in Europe which is a major importer of gas from Russia. In response to rising prices, the European Central Bank
(“ECB”) raised interest rates four times in 2022 to bring inflation under control while other central banks such as Bank of England and Swiss National Bank took similar measures. Leading indicators of
economic activity such as industrial manufacturing softened during the year from a position of strength, and while corporate management teams have maintained a tone of cautious optimism, many recognize that profits
may be at risk in the periods ahead. European currencies were volatile during this period of market uncertainty, although towards the end of the year both currency and stock markets recouped some of their losses.
Driven by the sharp rise
in the price of oil, Energy was by far the best performing sector in Europe and the only one to deliver positive returns. The worst performing sectors meanwhile were Information Technology and Real Estate. The United
Kingdom (“UK”) and Spain were the best performing countries while Sweden and Netherlands underperformed.
Page 5
Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
Annual Report
December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
Performance Analysis
| Average Annual Total Returns | |||
| 1 Year Ended 12/31/22 | 5 Years Ended 12/31/22 | Inception (9/24/15) to 12/31/22 | |
| Fund Performance(1) | |||
| NAV | -9.56% | -0.78% | 2.83% |
| Market Value | -9.63% | -2.31% | 0.35% |
| Index Performance | |||
| MSCI Europe Index | -15.06% | 1.87% | 4.98% |
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 index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does 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.
During the 12-month
period ended December 31, 2022, a period of high volatility, the Fund’s Net Asset Value (“NAV”) return was -9.56%, outperforming the MSCI Europe Index (the “Benchmark”) return of -15.06%.
The dividend level was maintained during the year with dividend distributions totaling $0.72. The Fund maintained its tilt towards high quality businesses, with an emphasis on strong cash flow generation.
The Fund’s managed
distribution policy (the “Plan”) permits the Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly each tax year. The plan has no impact on the Fund’s investment
strategy and may reduce the Fund’s NAV. However, the Advisor believes the Plan helps maintain the Fund’s competitiveness and may benefit the Fund’s market price and premium/discount to the
Fund’s NAV. Under the Plan, beginning in January 2023, the Fund intends to pay a monthly distribution in the amount of $0.07 per Common Share that reflects the distributable cash flow of the Fund. The Fund
maintained its regular monthly Common Share distribution of $0.06 per share for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2022. Based on the $0.06 per share monthly Common Share distribution, the annualized distribution
rate as of December 31, 2022 was 5.59% at NAV and 6.38% at market price. For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2022, 71% of the distributions were characterized as ordinary income and 29% of the distributions
were characterized as return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax status of all 2022 distributions will be made after the end of 2022 and will be provided on Form 1099-DIV. The foregoing is not to
be construed as tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor for further information regarding tax matters.
Drivers of positive
performance during the period included names from a variety of sectors. As the price of oil continued to rise, Energy stocks in the portfolio such as the Spanish integrated business Repsol, S.A.; Anglo Dutch
conglomerate Royal Dutch Shell PLC; and French company TotalEnergies SE outperformed notably. The management teams of these companies have committed to
| (1) | Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain and return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and changes in NAV per share for NAV returns and changes in Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Past performance is not indicative of future results. |
Page 6
Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
Annual Report
December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
maintaining discipline
on capital spending, and this strategy is leading to very high cash generation in this environment. In addition to buoyant share prices, this also bodes well for future dividend payments from the sector. The mining
sector similarly has done well during this period, where UK-listed companies Anglo American PLC and BHP Group PLC delivered strong returns for the portfolio. As the prices of their commodities have risen, the message
on dividends from management teams has been very positive. Anglo American, for example, paid a special dividend this year. While the portfolio has taken some profits, it continues to own positions in both names.
Companies that have stable business models also outperformed during the market sell-off during 2022. This has included UK tobacco company Imperial Brands PLC and French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. Both provided
reassuring outlooks for their businesses during this period of macro uncertainty.
The portfolio had no
Russian or Eastern European holdings, and the revenue exposure to Russia is small. Rising inflation via higher energy prices and the accompanied increase in bond yields have had an adverse impact on shares in certain
sectors which detracted from performance. Telecommunication companies such as Vodafone PLC in the UK and Telenor ASA in Norway underperformed because of concerns that they may not be able to pass on rising energy
costs to consumers through higher tariff prices. While input costs are impacting all businesses, these companies continue to see stable demand for their services even in a weak macro environment and their services
remain as important as ever for consumers. UK government bond yields rose sharply as the Bank of England continued to raise interest rates and warn of a pending recession. Fund holdings in the real estate industry
such as UK homebuilders Vistry Group PLC and Persimmon PLC, as well as UK office REIT The British Land Co., PLC saw share prices underperform on expectation that higher borrowing rates would impact demand. The
holdings are now trading on extremely low valuation levels, and the Fund continues to own them on the belief that shares will re-rate as sector fundamentals hold up better than currently feared.
Investment Activity
During the 12-month
period ended December 31, 2022, the Fund sold positions in holdings that had performed well during 2021 and looked to opportunistically re-invest in stocks that offered attractive value during the environment of high
volatility. In response to leading indicators of industrial and economic activity rolling over, the Fund sold positions in two industrial businesses which had delivered strong returns in preceding periods. The Swiss
automation company ABB Ltd. was sold after a multi-year period of strong performance, while the German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG was sold after it paid its annual dividend. To further reduce risk to the Fund,
positions in banks that had done well in the previous year were sold, including the UK-listed HSBC Holdings PLC and Swiss bank UBS Group AG. The UK luxury retailer Burberry Limited was also sold after shares held up
well during the weak market environment.
During the period, the
Fund added a position in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. which is a beneficiary of the growing liquefied natural gas demand in Europe amidst the gas crisis impacting the continent. Similarly, the Fund added a position in
UK mining company BHP Group PLC, which is a beneficiary of high commodity prices and offered a very attractive dividend. A new position in German telecommunication company Deutsche Telekom AG was established due to
the stability of its business model, growing free cash flow and an attractive dividend yield on offer. The Fund established a new position in Swedish Industrial business Sandvik AB after it sold off; the company sells
equipment to the oil and mining industries and could benefit from any increased capacity in those sectors.
The Fund utilizes
financial leverage by borrowing in both U.S. Dollars and Euros. During the 12-month period ended December 31, 2022, the Fund maintained its borrowing level to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities
available. As markets declined, financial leverage had a negative impact on performance during 2022. A portion of the loan is in Euros and this led to a positive foreign exchange impact during the year as the Euro
depreciated by 5.85% versus the U.S. Dollar.
To generate additional
income, the Fund may write (or sell) call options on portfolio equity securities and certain broad-based securities indices in an amount up to 40% of the value of its Managed Assets. During the 12-month period ended
December 31, 2022, the options portfolio management team overwrote, on average, 26% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. The option strategy was executed on the broad-based Euro Stoxx 50 Index, selling one and
two-month call options, approximately at-the-money to slightly out-of-the-money. The option strategy added to the total return of the Fund during the same period as the overwritten index, the Euro Stoxx 50, traded
lower in price during the same period.
Market Outlook
The sharp rise in
inflation has been a source of concern for governments around the world, with the war in Ukraine further exacerbating the energy security issue in Europe. Corporate management teams continue to manage through this
environment with a degree of optimism, although many recognize that margins and revenue may be pressured in the quarters ahead. The ECB’s goal to tame inflation has led to aggressive interest rate hikes, a
byproduct of which may be a slowdown in European economic activity. These factors are now well known though and have resulted in very low valuations of European equities relative to history. The closed-ended nature of
the Fund’s portfolio, coupled with the ability to use leverage to enhance returns are important attributes to help investors through periods like this. We will continue to use market dislocations to buy what we
believe are good quality companies that offer long-term income and capital return opportunities.
Page 7
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Portfolio of Investments
December 31, 2022
| Shares | Description | Value | ||
| COMMON STOCKS (a) – 123.4% | ||||
| Aerospace & Defense – 2.6% | ||||
| 30,992 | Airbus SE | $3,683,131 | ||
| 630,522 | Babcock International Group PLC (b) | 2,151,125 | ||
| 5,834,256 | ||||
| Auto Components – 1.0% | ||||
| 80,568 | Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA | 2,241,051 | ||
| Automobiles – 1.9% | ||||
| 32,839 | Mercedes-Benz Group AG | 2,158,364 | ||
| 138,755 | Stellantis N.V. | 1,970,106 | ||
| 4,128,470 | ||||
| Banks – 6.8% | ||||
| 64,085 | BAWAG Group AG (c) (d) | 3,416,269 | ||
| 80,814 | BNP Paribas S.A. | 4,606,516 | ||
| 482,760 | ING Groep N.V. | 5,884,982 | ||
| 478,591 | Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. | 1,064,575 | ||
| 14,972,342 | ||||
| Beverages – 5.0% | ||||
| 144,061 | Coca-Cola HBC AG | 3,436,227 | ||
| 72,445 | Diageo PLC | 3,196,757 | ||
| 22,656 | Pernod Ricard S.A. | 4,456,326 | ||
| 11,089,310 | ||||
| Building Products – 1.8% | ||||
| 82,061 | Cie de Saint-Gobain | 4,009,996 | ||
| Capital Markets – 4.8% | ||||
| 295,188 | 3i Group PLC | 4,787,378 | ||
| 56,728 | Amundi S.A. (c) (d) | 3,218,398 | ||
| 203,621 | St. James’s Place PLC | 2,695,535 | ||
| 10,701,311 | ||||
| Commercial Services & Supplies – 0.5% | ||||
| 1,763,586 | Prosegur Cash S.A. (c) (d) | 1,128,923 | ||
| Construction Materials – 1.2% | ||||
| 50,473 | Holcim AG | 2,613,580 | ||
| Diversified Financial Services – 2.9% | ||||
| 469,330 | BFF Bank S.p.A. (c) (d) | 3,722,742 | ||
| 1,228,449 | M&G PLC | 2,789,823 | ||
| 6,512,565 | ||||
| Diversified Telecommunication Services – 2.5% | ||||
| 130,761 | Deutsche Telekom AG | 2,608,819 | ||
| 318,706 | Telenor ASA | 2,979,898 | ||
| 5,588,717 | ||||
| Electric Utilities – 5.1% | ||||
| 313,981 | Enel S.p.A. | 1,690,588 | ||
| 437,264 | Iberdrola S.A. | 5,115,996 | ||
| 217,504 | SSE PLC | 4,501,729 | ||
| 11,308,313 | ||||
| Electrical Equipment – 2.2% | ||||
| 34,436 | Schneider Electric SE | 4,818,603 | ||
Page 8
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
December 31, 2022
| Shares | Description | Value | ||
| COMMON STOCKS (a) (Continued) | ||||
| Food Products – 4.8% | ||||
| 40,000 | Danone S.A. | $2,107,930 | ||
| 73,549 | Nestle S.A. | 8,522,187 | ||
| 10,630,117 | ||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 3.8% | ||||
| 61,952 | Sodexo S.A. | 5,934,002 | ||
| 78,788 | Whitbread PLC | 2,447,944 | ||
| 8,381,946 | ||||
| Household Durables – 1.9% | ||||
| 140,111 | Persimmon PLC | 2,061,442 | ||
| 278,206 | Vistry Group PLC | 2,103,789 | ||
| 4,165,231 | ||||
| Insurance – 7.3% | ||||
| 49,701 | ASR Nederland N.V. | 2,359,528 | ||
| 221,761 | AXA S.A. | 6,185,041 | ||
| 1,003,590 | Direct Line Insurance Group PLC | 2,685,011 | ||
| 720,374 | Legal & General Group PLC | 2,172,886 | ||
| 69,158 | NN Group N.V. | 2,824,992 | ||
| 16,227,458 | ||||
| Internet & Direct Marketing Retail – 1.6% | ||||
| 52,751 | Prosus N.V. | 3,639,318 | ||
| Machinery – 3.6% | ||||
| 258,971 | OC Oerlikon Corp. AG | 1,697,252 | ||
| 165,898 | Sandvik AB | 2,995,269 | ||
| 180,798 | Volvo AB, Class B | 3,265,673 | ||
| 7,958,194 | ||||
| Media – 0.5% | ||||
| 2,701,287 | MFE-MediaForEurope N.V., Class A | 1,045,021 | ||
| Metals & Mining – 5.5% | ||||
| 107,669 | Anglo American PLC | 4,212,837 | ||
| 254,015 | BHP Group Ltd. | 7,892,249 | ||
| 12,105,086 | ||||
| Multi-Utilities – 2.9% | ||||
| 356,889 | National Grid PLC | 4,303,391 | ||
| 85,741 | Veolia Environnement S.A. | 2,202,755 | ||
| 6,506,146 | ||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 11.7% | ||||
| 409,425 | Repsol S.A. | 6,508,294 | ||
| 234,614 | Shell PLC | 6,650,255 | ||
| 119,260 | TotalEnergies SE | 7,487,368 | ||
| 218,116 | Woodside Energy Group Ltd. | 5,247,458 | ||
| 25,893,375 | ||||
| Paper & Forest Products – 1.7% | ||||
| 102,950 | UPM-Kymmene Oyj | 3,849,385 | ||
| Personal Products – 3.1% | ||||
| 135,008 | Unilever PLC | 6,773,620 | ||
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 9
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
December 31, 2022
| Shares | Description | Value | ||
| COMMON STOCKS (a) (Continued) | ||||
| Pharmaceuticals – 17.9% | ||||
| 51,167 | AstraZeneca PLC | $6,939,269 | ||
| 27,528 | Bayer AG | 1,424,010 | ||
| 160,635 | GSK PLC | 2,791,814 | ||
| 78,869 | Novartis AG | 7,129,897 | ||
| 38,591 | Novo Nordisk A.S., Class B | 5,210,796 | ||
| 20,746 | Roche Holding AG | 6,517,832 | ||
| 100,605 | Sanofi | 9,675,105 | ||
| 39,688,723 | ||||
| Professional Services – 3.7% | ||||
| 76,661 | Adecco Group AG | 2,525,381 | ||
| 207,816 | RELX PLC | 5,748,352 | ||
| 8,273,733 | ||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment – 2.1% | ||||
| 646,495 | Alphawave IP Group PLC (b) | 797,212 | ||
| 1,337 | ASML Holding N.V. | 721,034 | ||
| 101,607 | Infineon Technologies AG | 3,092,195 | ||
| 4,610,441 | ||||
| Software – 2.4% | ||||
| 51,567 | SAP SE | 5,320,718 | ||
| Specialty Retail – 0.9% | ||||
| 74,392 | Industria de Diseno Textil S.A. | 1,978,878 | ||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods – 3.1% | ||||
| 53,526 | Cie Financiere Richemont S.A., Class A | 6,940,753 | ||
| Tobacco – 3.4% | ||||
| 304,771 | Imperial Brands PLC | 7,630,659 | ||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services – 3.2% | ||||
| 365,976 | Tele2 AB, Class B | 2,984,668 | ||
| 4,035,972 | Vodafone Group PLC | 4,110,312 | ||
| 7,094,980 | ||||
Total Common Stocks | 273,661,219 | |||
| (Cost $307,271,945) | ||||
| REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (a) – 3.4% | ||||
| Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts – 3.4% | ||||
| 1,107,517 | British Land (The) Co., PLC | 5,290,123 | ||
| 2,191,821 | Hipgnosis Songs Fund (The) Ltd. (c) | 2,286,779 | ||
Total Real Estate Investment Trusts | 7,576,902 | |||
| (Cost $13,916,386) | ||||
Total Investments – 126.8% | 281,238,121 | |||
| (Cost $321,188,331) | ||||
| Number of Contracts | Description | Counterparty | Notional Amount | Exercise Price (Euro) | Expiration Date | Value | ||||||
| CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN – (0.5)% | ||||||||||||
| (470) | EURO STOXX 50 Index | UBS | $(19,086,129) | €3,825.00 | 01/20/23 | (266,649) | ||||||
| (450) | EURO STOXX 50 Index | SG | (18,273,954) | 3,950.00 | 01/20/23 | (55,396) | ||||||
| (450) | EURO STOXX 50 Index | SG | (18,273,954) | 3,975.00 | 01/20/23 | (39,981) | ||||||
| (470) | EURO STOXX 50 Index | UBS | (19,086,129) | 3,850.00 | 02/17/23 | (363,247) | ||||||
Page 10
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
December 31, 2022
| Number of Contracts | Description | Counterparty | Notional Amount | Exercise Price (Euro) | Expiration Date | Value | ||||||
| CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN (Continued) | ||||||||||||
| (470) | EURO STOXX 50 Index | UBS | $(19,086,129) | €3,875.00 | 02/17/23 | $(370,290) | ||||||
| Total Call Options Written | (1,095,563) | |||||||||||
| (Premiums received $2,172,219) | ||||||||||||
Outstanding Loans – (33.0)% |
(73,139,134) | ||
Net Other Assets and Liabilities – 6.7% |
14,834,754 | ||
Net Assets – 100.0% |
$221,838,178 |
| (a) | All or a portion of these securities are available to serve as collateral for the outstanding loans and call options written. |
| (b) | Non-income producing security. |
| (c) | This security may be resold to qualified foreign investors and foreign institutional buyers under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). |
| (d) | This security is exempt from registration upon resale under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security is not restricted on the foreign exchange where it trades freely without any additional registration. As such, it does not require the additional disclosure required of restricted securities. |
| Counterparty Abbreviations | |
| SG | Societe Generale |
| UBS | UBS |
| Currency Exposure Diversification | % of Total Investments |
| EUR | 48.2% |
| GBP | 32.8 |
| CHF | 12.8 |
| SEK | 3.3 |
| DKK | 1.8 |
| NOK | 1.1 |
| Total | 100.0% |
| Currency Abbreviations | |
| CHF | Swiss Franc |
| DKK | Danish Krone |
| EUR | Euro |
| GBP | British Pound Sterling |
| NOK | Norwegian Krone |
| SEK | Swedish Krona |
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 11
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Portfolio of Investments
(Continued)
December 31, 2022
Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs
used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2022 is as follows (see Note 3A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| ASSETS TABLE | ||||
| Total Value at 12/31/2022 | Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | |
Common Stocks* | $ 273,661,219 | $ 273,661,219 | $ — | $ — |
Real Estate Investment Trusts* | 7,576,902 | 7,576,902 | — | — |
Total Investments | $ 281,238,121 | $ 281,238,121 | $— | $— |
| LIABILITIES TABLE | ||||
| Total Value at 12/31/2022 | Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | |
Call Options Written | $ (1,095,563) | $ — | $ (1,095,563) | $ — |
| * | See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout. |
Page 12
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Statement of Assets and
Liabilities
December 31, 2022
| ASSETS: | |
Investments, at value (Cost $321,188,331) | $ 281,238,121 |
Cash | 2,534,466 |
Foreign currency (Cost $960,862) | 937,064 |
Restricted Cash | 9,288,000 |
| Receivables: | |
Dividend reclaims | 2,431,736 |
Dividends | 721,700 |
Prepaid expenses | 2,666 |
Total Assets | 297,153,753 |
| LIABILITIES: | |
Outstanding loans | 73,139,134 |
Options written, at value (Premiums received $2,172,219) | 1,095,563 |
| Payables: | |
Interest and fees on loans | 557,611 |
Investment advisory fees | 275,522 |
Administrative fees | 107,421 |
Audit and tax fees | 87,682 |
Shareholder reporting fees | 19,814 |
Custodian fees | 12,179 |
Transfer agent fees | 3,060 |
Legal fees | 1,954 |
Financial reporting fees | 771 |
Trustees’ fees and expenses | 62 |
Other liabilities | 14,802 |
Total Liabilities | 75,315,575 |
NET ASSETS | $221,838,178 |
| NET ASSETS consist of: | |
Paid-in capital | $ 285,944,232 |
Par value | 172,319 |
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss) | (64,278,373) |
NET ASSETS | $221,838,178 |
NET ASSET VALUE, per Common Share (par value $0.01 per Common Share) | $12.87 |
Number of |
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 13
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December
31, 2022
| INVESTMENT INCOME: | ||
Dividends (net of foreign withholding tax of $905,769) | $ 14,772,063 | |
Interest | 224,581 | |
Other | 254 | |
Total investment income | 14,996,898 | |
| EXPENSES: | ||
Investment advisory fees | 3,302,502 | |
Interest and fees on loans | 1,434,564 | |
Administrative fees | 133,645 | |
Audit and tax fees | 89,005 | |
Shareholder reporting fees | 84,427 | |
Legal fees | 72,648 | |
Custodian fees | 37,990 | |
Listing expense | 29,351 | |
Transfer agent fees | 22,728 | |
Trustees’ fees and expenses | 18,540 | |
Financial reporting fees | 9,250 | |
Other | 48,936 | |
Total expenses | 5,283,586 | |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS) | 9,713,312 | |
| NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): | ||
| Net realized gain (loss) on: | ||
Investments | (2,310,937) | |
Written options contracts | 878,033 | |
Forward foreign currency contracts | 484,630 | |
Foreign currency transactions | (195,471) | |
Net realized gain (loss) | (1,143,745) | |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | ||
Investments | (39,053,489) | |
Written options contracts | 1,279,019 | |
Forward foreign currency contracts | (7,097) | |
Foreign currency translation | 2,579,064 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (35,202,503) | |
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) | (36,346,248) | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $(26,632,936) | |
Page 14
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Statements of Changes in
Net Assets
| Year Ended 12/31/2022 | Year Ended 12/31/2021 | ||
| OPERATIONS: | |||
Net investment income (loss) | $ 9,713,312 | $ 10,714,795 | |
Net realized gain (loss) | (1,143,745) | 6,829,972 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (35,202,503) | 20,235,701 | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (26,632,936) | 37,780,468 | |
| DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM: | |||
Investment operations | (8,839,335) | (12,099,724) | |
Return of capital | (3,567,639) | (307,250) | |
Total distributions to shareholders | (12,406,974) | (12,406,974) | |
Total increase (decrease) in net assets | (39,039,910) | 25,373,494 | |
| NET ASSETS: | |||
Beginning of period | 260,878,088 | 235,504,594 | |
End of period | $ 221,838,178 | $ 260,878,088 | |
| COMMON SHARES: | |||
Common Shares at end of period | 17,231,908 | 17,231,908 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 15
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December
31, 2022
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $(26,632,936) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||
Purchases of investments | (63,242,939) | |
Sales of investments | 62,097,199 | |
Proceeds from written options | 12,135,740 | |
Amount paid to close written options | (11,256,732) | |
Net realized gain/loss on investments and written options | 1,432,904 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and written options | 37,774,470 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | 7,097 | |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||
Increase in dividend reclaims receivable | (60,939) | |
Increase in dividends receivable | (150,351) | |
Decrease in prepaid expenses | 735 | |
Increase in interest and fees payable on loans | 393,982 | |
Decrease in investment advisory fees payable | (29,391) | |
Increase in audit and tax fees payable | 10,324 | |
Decrease in legal fees payable | (4,500) | |
Decrease in shareholder reporting fees payable | (13,330) | |
Increase in administrative fees payable | 35,735 | |
Increase in custodian fees payable | 5,808 | |
Increase in transfer agent fees payable | 1,408 | |
Increase in trustees’ fees and expenses payable | 62 | |
Increase in other liabilities payable | 7,878 | |
Cash provided by operating activities | $12,512,224 | |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||
Distributions to Common Shareholders from investment operations | (8,839,335) | |
Distributions to Common Shareholders from return of capital | (3,567,639) | |
Effect of exchange rate changes on Euro Loans (a) (b) | (2,742,416) | |
Cash used in financing activities | (15,149,390) | |
Decrease in cash, foreign currency and restricted cash | (2,637,166) | |
Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash at beginning of period | 15,396,696 | |
Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash at end of period | $12,759,530 | |
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||
Cash paid during the period for interest and fees | $1,040,582 | |
| Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash reconciliation: | ||
Cash and foreign currency | $3,471,530 | |
Restricted cash | 9,288,000 | |
Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash at end of period | $12,759,530 |
| (a) | This amount is a component of net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translation as shown on the Statement of Operations. |
| (b) | Includes net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency of $(163,352), which does not include the effect of exchange rate changes on Euro borrowings. |
Page 16
See Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income
Fund (FDEU)
Financial Highlights
For a Common Share
outstanding throughout each period
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 15.14 | $ 13.67 | $ 16.18 | $ 14.66 | $ 19.87 | ||||
| Income from investment operations: | |||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | 0.56 | 0.62 | 0.35 | 0.82 | 0.74 | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (2.11) | 1.57 | (1.90) | 2.15 | (4.50) | ||||
Total from investment operations | (1.55) | 2.19 | (1.55) | 2.97 | (3.76) | ||||
| Distributions paid to shareholders from: | |||||||||
Net investment income | (0.51) | (0.70) | (0.41) | (1.08) | (0.70) | ||||
Net realized gain | — | — | — | — | (0.75) | ||||
Return of capital | (0.21) | (0.02) | (0.55) | (0.37) | — | ||||
Total distributions paid to Common Shareholders | (0.72) | (0.72) | (0.96) | (1.45) | (1.45) | ||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | $15.14 | $13.67 | $16.18 | $14.66 | ||||
Market value, end of period | $ | $13.28 | $11.80 | $14.93 | $12.64 | ||||
Total return based on net asset value (a) | (9.56)% | 17.01% | (7.79)% | 22.24% | (19.36)% | ||||
Total return based on market value (a) | (9.63)% | 18.90% | (13.74)% | 30.82% | (26.64)% | ||||
| Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data: | |||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s) | $ 221,838 | $ 260,878 | $ 235,505 | $ 278,738 | $ 252,663 | ||||
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 2.32% | 1.93% | 2.15% | 1.99% | 1.91% | ||||
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense | 1.69% | 1.64% | 1.71% | 1.69% | 1.65% | ||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | 4.26% | 4.23% | 2.82% | 5.37% | 4.19% | ||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 22% | 33% | 43% | 64% | 44% | ||||
| Indebtedness: | |||||||||
Total loans outstanding (in 000’s) | $ 73,139 | $ 75,882 | $ 79,232 | $ 100,524 | $ 87,650 | ||||
Asset coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness (b) | $ 4,033 | $ 4,438 | $ 3,972 | $ 3,773 | $ 3,883 | ||||
| (a) | Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain and return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, and changes in net asset value per share for net asset value returns and changes in Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Past performance is not indicative of future results. |
| (b) | Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (not including the loans outstanding) from the Fund’s total assets, and dividing by the outstanding loans balance in 000’s. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 17
Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
1. Organization
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on May 11, 2015, and is registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund trades under the ticker symbol “FDEU” on the New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”).
The Fund’s
investment objectives are to provide a high level of current income with a secondary focus on capital appreciation. Under normal market conditions, the Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing at least 80%
of its Managed Assets in a portfolio of equity securities of European companies of any market capitalization, including, but not limited to, common and preferred stocks that pay dividends, depositary receipts, and
real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). “Managed Assets” means the total asset value of the Fund minus the sum of the Fund’s liabilities other than the principal amount of borrowings, if
any. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
2. Managed
Distribution Policy
The Board of Trustees of
the Fund has approved a managed distribution policy for the Fund (the “Plan”) in reliance on exemptive relief received from the SEC that permits the Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital
gains as frequently as monthly each tax year. Under the Plan, beginning in January 2023, the Fund intends to pay a recurring monthly distribution in the amount of $0.07 per Common Share that reflects the distributable
cash flow of the Fund. The Fund maintained its regular monthly Common Share distribution of $0.06 per share for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2022. A portion of this monthly distribution may include realized
capital gains. This may result in a reduction of the long-term capital gain distribution necessary at year end by distributing realized capital gains throughout the year. The annual distribution rate is independent of
the Fund’s performance during any particular period. Accordingly, you should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of any distribution or from the terms of the
Plan. The Board of Trustees may amend or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to shareholders.
3. 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
following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of the financial statements. The preparation of the 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 financial
statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Portfolio
Valuation
The net asset value
(“NAV”) of the Common Shares of the Fund is determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the 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. Foreign securities are priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. The Fund’s NAV per Common
Share is calculated by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses, the value of call options written (sold), dividends
declared but unpaid, and any borrowings of the Fund) by the total number of Common 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 readily available market quotations such as 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 approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. Investments valued by the
Advisor’s Pricing Committee, if any, are footnoted as such in the footnotes to the Portfolio of Investments. The Fund’s investments are valued as follows:
Common
stocks, REITs, and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange (excluding The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market
(“AIM”)) are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded or, for Nasdaq and AIM securities, the official closing price. Securities traded on more than one securities
exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, at the close of the securities exchange representing the primary exchange for such securities.
Page 18
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
Securities trading on foreign exchanges or over-the-counter markets that close prior to the NYSE close may be valued using a systematic fair valuation model provided by a third-party pricing service. If these
foreign securities meet certain criteria in relation to the valuation model, their valuation is systematically adjusted to reflect the impact of movement in the U.S. market after the close of the foreign markets.
Securities traded in an over-the-counter market are valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their last trade price.
Over-the-counter options contracts are fair valued at the closing price in the market of the underlying contracts where such contracts are principally traded.
Forward foreign currency contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety, and one-hundred
eighty day forward rates provided by a third-party pricing service.
Certain securities may
not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted
securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) for which a third-party pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose
trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to
materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of the Fund’s NAV or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose
price, as provided by the third-party pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security would appear to be the amount which the owner might
reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchanges. A variety
of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, including, but not limited to, the following:
| 1) | the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded or, for Nasdaq and AIM securities, the official closing price; |
| 2) | the type of security; |
| 3) | the size of the holding; |
| 4) | the initial cost of the security; |
| 5) | transactions in comparable securities; |
| 6) | price quotes from dealers and/or third-party pricing services; |
| 7) | relationships among various securities; |
| 8) | information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock exchange; |
| 9) | an analysis of the issuer’s financial statements; |
| 10) | the existence of merger proposals or tender offers that might affect the value of the security; and |
| 11) | other relevant factors. |
If the securities in
question are foreign securities, the following additional information may be considered:
| 1) | the value of similar foreign securities traded on other foreign markets; |
| 2) | ADR trading of similar securities; |
| 3) | closed-end fund or exchange-traded fund trading of similar securities; |
| 4) | foreign currency exchange activity; |
| 5) | the trading prices of financial products that are tied to baskets of foreign securities; |
| 6) | factors relating to the event that precipitated the pricing problem; |
| 7) | whether the event is likely to recur; |
| 8) | whether the effects of the event are isolated or whether they affect entire markets, countries or regions; and |
| 9) | other relevant factors. |
Because foreign markets
may be open on different days than the days during which investors may transact in the shares of the Fund, the value of the Fund’s securities may change on the days when investors are not able to transact in the
shares of the Fund. The value of securities denominated in foreign currencies is converted into U.S. dollars using exchange rates determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE.
Page 19
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
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, 2022, is included with the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
In December 2020, the SEC
adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, establishing requirements to determine fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. The rule permits fund boards to designate a fund’s investment advisor to
perform fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions. The rule also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and requires a
fund to fair value a portfolio investment when a market quotation is not readily available. The SEC also adopted new Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act, which sets forth recordkeeping requirements associated with fair
value determinations. The compliance date for Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4 was September 8, 2022.
Effective September 8,
2022 and pursuant to the requirements of Rule 2a-5, the Fund’s Board of Trustees designated the Advisor as its valuation designee to perform fair value determinations and approved new Advisor Valuation
Procedures for the Fund.
B. Option
Contracts
The Fund is subject to
equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and may write (sell) options to hedge against changes in the value of equities. Also, the Fund seeks to generate additional income, in the
form of premiums received, from writing (selling) the options. The Fund may write (sell) covered call options (“options”) on all or a portion of the equity securities held in the Fund’s portfolio and
on certain broad-based securities indices as determined to be appropriate by the Advisor, and consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives in an amount up to 40% of the value of its Managed Assets. Options
on securities indices are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security and are similar to options on single
securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. The Fund will not write (sell) “naked” or
uncovered options. If certain equity securities held in the Fund’s portfolio are not covered by a related call option on the individual equity security, securities index options may be written on all or a
portion of such uncovered securities. Options are marked-to-market daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the underlying equity securities, changes in interest rates,
changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the securities markets and the underlying equity securities and the remaining time to the options’ expiration. The value of options may also be adversely affected
if the market for the options becomes less liquid or trading volume diminishes.
The options that the Fund
writes (sells) will either be exercised, expire or be canceled pursuant to a closing transaction. If an index option written (sold) by the Fund is exercised, the Fund will be obligated to deliver cash equal to the
difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option times a specified multiple. If the price of the index is less than the option’s strike price, the index option will
likely expire without being exercised. The Fund may also elect to close out its position in an option prior to its expiration by purchasing an option of the same series as the option written (sold) by the Fund. Gain
or loss on options is presented separately as “Net realized gain (loss) on written options contracts” on the Statement of Operations.
Page 20
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
The index options that
the Fund writes (sells) give the option holder the right to any appreciation in the value of the index over the exercise price of the option on or before the expiration date. Because the exercise of index options is
settled in cash, sellers of index call options, such as the Fund, cannot provide in advance for their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying securities. The Fund will lose money if it
is required to pay the purchaser of an index option the difference between the cash value of the index on which the option was written and the exercise price, and such difference is greater than the premium received
by the Fund for writing the option. Net index option premiums can vary widely over the short-term and long-term.
Over-the-counter options
have the risk of the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. The Fund’s maximum equity price risk for purchased options is limited to the premium initially paid. In addition,
certain risks may arise upon entering into option contracts including the risk that an illiquid secondary market will limit the Fund’s ability to close out an option contract prior to the expiration date and
that a change in the value of the option contract may not correlate exactly with changes in the value of the securities hedged.
C. Restricted
Cash
Restricted cash includes
cash on deposit with other banks or brokers that is legally restricted as to the withdrawal and primarily serves as collateral for options contracts. The Fund presents restricted cash activity within “Decrease
in cash, foreign currency and restricted cash” and as part of “Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash at beginning of period” and “Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash at end of
period” in the Statement of Cash Flows, along with a reconciliation of those balances in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. At December 31, 2022, the Fund had $9,288,000 in restricted cash associated with
options contracts as presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Restricted Cash.”
D. Securities
Transactions and Investment Income
Securities transactions
are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, if any, is
recorded daily on the accrual basis.
Withholding taxes and tax
reclaims on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.
Distributions received
from the Fund’s investments in REITs may be comprised of return of capital, capital gains, and income. The actual character of the amounts received during the year are not known until after the REITs’
fiscal year end. The Fund records the character of distributions received from the REITs during the year based on estimates available. The characterization of distributions received by the Fund may be subsequently
revised based on information received from the REITs after their tax reporting periods conclude.
The United
Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”), announced on March 5, 2021 that it intended to phase-out all LIBOR
reference rates, beginning December 31, 2021. Since that announcement, the FCA has ceased publication of all non-USD LIBOR reference rates and the 1-week and 2-month USD LIBOR reference rates as of December 31, 2021.
The remaining USD LIBOR settings will cease to be published or no longer be representative immediately after June 30, 2023. The International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) confirmed that
the FCA’s March 5, 2021 announcement of its intention to cease providing LIBOR reference rates, constituted an index cessation event under the Interbank Offered Rates (“IBOR”) Fallbacks Supplement
and the ISDA 2020 IBOR Fallbacks Protocol for all 35 LIBOR settings and confirmed that the spread adjustment to be used in ISDA fallbacks was fixed as of the date of the announcement.
In the United States, the
Alternative Reference Rates Committee (the “ARRC”), a group of market participants convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in cooperation
with other federal and state government agencies, has since 2014 undertaken efforts to identify U.S. dollar reference interest rates as alternatives to LIBOR and to facilitate the mitigation of LIBOR-related risks. In
June 2017, the ARRC identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), a broad measure of the cost of cash overnight borrowing collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, as the preferred
alternative for U.S. dollar LIBOR. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began daily publishing of SOFR in April 2018. There is no assurance that any alternative reference rate, including SOFR, will be similar to or
produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that instruments using an alternative rate will have the same volume or liquidity.
At this time, it is not
possible to predict the full impact of the elimination of LIBOR and the establishment of an alternative reference rate on the Fund or its investments.
Page 21
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
E. Forward Foreign
Currency Contracts
The Fund is subject to
foreign currency risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Forward foreign currency contracts are agreements between two parties (“Counterparties”) to exchange one currency for
another at a future date and at a specified price. The Fund uses forward foreign currency contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign securities and to manage the Fund’s foreign currency exposure. These
contracts are valued daily, and the Fund’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry
into the contracts and the forward rates at the reporting date, is included in “Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts” and “Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency
contracts” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as applicable. The change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward
foreign currency contracts” on the Statement of Operations. When the forward contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or the cost of) the
closing transaction and the Fund’s basis in the contract. This realized gain or loss is included in “Net realized gain (loss) on forward foreign currency contracts” on the Statement of Operations.
Risks arise from the possible inability of Counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from movement in currency, securities values and interest rates. Due to the risks, the Fund could incur losses in
excess of the net unrealized value shown on the Forward Foreign Currency Contracts table in the Portfolio of Investments. In the event of default by the Counterparty, the Fund will provide notice to the Counterparty
of the Fund’s intent to convert the currency held by the Fund into the currency that the Counterparty agreed to exchange with the Fund. If a Counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its
obligations due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain only limited recovery or may
obtain no recovery in such circumstances. The Fund did not hold any forward foreign currency contracts at December 31, 2022.
F. Foreign
Currency
The books and records of
the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales
of investments and items of income and expense are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses on assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, which result
from changes in foreign currency exchange rates have been included in “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translation” on the Statement of Operations. Unrealized gains
and losses on investments in securities which result from changes in foreign exchange rates are included with fluctuations arising from changes in market price and are shown in “Net change in unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on investments” on the Statement of Operations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses include the effect of changes in exchange rates between trade date and settlement date
on investment security transactions, foreign currency transactions and interest and dividends received and are shown in “Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions” on the Statement of
Operations. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase settlement date and subsequent sale trade date is included in “Net realized gain
(loss) on investments” on the Statement of Operations.
G. Offsetting on the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Offsetting assets and
liabilities requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and disclose instruments and transactions
subject to master netting or similar agreements. These disclosure requirements are intended to help investors and other financial statement users better assess the effect or potential effect of offsetting arrangements
on the Fund’s financial position. The transactions subject to offsetting disclosures are derivative instruments, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities
lending transactions.
For financial reporting
purposes, the Fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements (“MNAs”) or similar agreements on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. MNAs
provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy and insolvency), for the non-defaulting counterparty to liquidate the collateral and calculate the net exposure to the defaulting party or request
additional collateral.
The Fund does not have
the right to offset financial assets and liabilities related to options contracts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
H. Dividends and
Distributions to Shareholders
The Fund intends to pay
holders of its Common Shares a recurring monthly distribution that reflects the distributable cash flow of the Fund. Distributions will automatically be reinvested into additional Common Shares pursuant to the
Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless cash distributions are elected by the shareholder.
Page 22
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
Distributions from net
investment income and realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. Certain capital accounts in the 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 financial statement and tax purposes, will
reverse at some point in the future. Permanent differences incurred during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, primarily a result of differing book and tax treatment of realization of foreign currency gains
(losses), have been reclassified at year end to reflect an increase in accumulated net investment income (loss) of $289,159 and a decrease in accumulated net realized gain (loss) of $289,159. Accumulated distributable
earnings (loss) consists of accumulated net investment income (loss), accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments, and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments. Net assets were not affected by
this reclassification.
The tax character of
distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, was as follows:
| Distributions paid from: | 2022 | 2021 |
Ordinary income | $8,839,335 | $12,099,724 |
Capital gains | — | — |
Return of capital | 3,567,639 | 307,250 |
As of December 31, 2022,
the components of distributable earnings and net assets on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | $— |
Undistributed capital gains | — |
Total undistributed earnings | — |
Accumulated capital and other losses | (28,734,328) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (35,842,443) |
Total accumulated earnings (losses) | (64,576,771) |
Other | 298,398 |
Paid-in capital | 286,116,551 |
Total net assets | $221,838,178 |
I. 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, 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 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, 2022, for federal income tax purposes, the Fund had $28,734,328 of non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available, to the extent provided by regulations, to offset future capital gains.
Certain losses realized
during the current fiscal year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year for federal income tax purposes. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Fund did not
incur any net ordinary losses.
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 2019, 2020, 2021,
and 2022 remain open to federal and state audit. As of December 31, 2022, 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 financial statements for uncertain tax positions.
Page 23
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
As of December 31, 2022,
the aggregate cost, gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for federal income
tax purposes were as follows:
| Tax Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) | Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | |||
| $319,680,341 | $17,433,636 | $(56,971,419) | $(39,537,783) |
J. Expenses
The Fund will pay all
expenses directly related to its operations.
4. 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 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. For these services, First Trust is entitled to a monthly fee calculated at an annual rate of 1.10% of the Fund’s Managed
Assets. First Trust also provides fund reporting services to the Fund for a flat annual fee in the amount of $9,250.
Janus Henderson Investors
US LLC (“Janus Henderson” or the “Sub-Advisor”) serves as the Fund’s sub-advisor and manages the Fund’s portfolio subject to First Trust’s supervision. The Sub-Advisor
receives a monthly portfolio management fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.50% of the Fund’s Managed Assets that is paid by First Trust out of its investment advisory fee.
Brown Brothers Harriman
& Co. (“BBH”) serves as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant and custodian in accordance with certain fee arrangements. As administrator and fund accountant, BBH is responsible for providing
certain administrative and accounting services to the Fund, including maintaining the Fund’s books of account, records of the Fund’s securities transactions, and certain other books and records. As
custodian, BBH is responsible for custody of the Fund’s assets.
Computershare, Inc.
(“Computershare”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent in accordance with certain fee arrangements. As transfer agent, Computershare 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 target outcome fund or an index fund.
Additionally, the Lead
Independent Trustee and the Chairs 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
Chairs rotate every three years. The officers and “Interested” Trustee receive no compensation from the Fund for acting in such capacities.
5. Purchases and
Sales of Securities
The cost of purchases and
proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, were $63,242,939 and $62,097,199, respectively.
6. Derivative
Transactions
The following table
presents the types of derivatives held by the Fund at December 31, 2022, the primary underlying risk exposure and the location of these instruments as presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. In
compliance with the 1940 Act, the Fund covers its derivative commitments by earmarking liquid assets, entering into offsetting transactions or owning positions covering its obligations.
Page 24
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
| Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||
| Derivative Instrument | Risk Exposure | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Value | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Value | |||||
| Written options | Equity Risk | — | $ — | Options written, at value | $ 1,095,563 | |||||
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, 2022, on derivative instruments, as well as the primary
underlying risk exposure associated with each instrument.
| Statement of Operations Location | |
| Currency Risk Exposure | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on forward foreign currency contracts | $484,630 |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward foreign currency contracts | (7,097) |
| Equity Risk Exposure | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on written options contracts | $878,033 |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on written options contracts | 1,279,019 |
During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2022, the premiums for written options opened were $12,135,740, and the premiums for written options closed, exercised and expired were $12,134,765.
During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2022, the notional values of forward foreign currency contracts opened and closed were $54,000,000 and $72,000,000, respectively.
The Fund does not have
the right to offset financial assets and liabilities related to option contracts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
7. Borrowings
The Fund has entered into
a credit agreement with The Bank of Nova Scotia, which provides for a revolving credit facility to be used as leverage for the Fund. The revolving credit facility provides for a secured line of credit for the Fund
where Fund assets are pledged against advances made to the Fund. Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund, immediately after any such borrowings, must have an “asset coverage” of at least 300%
(33-1/3% of the Fund’s total assets after borrowings). The total commitment under the facility is $90,000,000. Prior to October 21, 2022, the total commitment was $100,000,000. As of December 31, 2022, the Fund
had four loans outstanding under the revolving credit facility totaling $73,139,134 in the amounts of $33,505,084 (the U.S. Dollar equivalent of a €31,300,000 loan), $9,634,050 (the U.S. Dollar equivalent of a
€9,000,000 loan), $10,000,000, and $20,000,000, which approximates fair value, under the credit agreement. The borrowings are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The four loans: (a) prior to
October 21, 2022 were all LIBOR loans with a borrowing rate equal to the Euro rate of the 6-month LIBOR plus 85 basis points, for the Euro loans, and a borrowing rate equal to the U.S. dollar 6-month LIBOR plus 85
basis points for the USD loans and (b) from and after October 21, 2022 a borrowing rate equal to the Euro Rate plus 85 basis points, for the Euro loans, and equal to the U.S. dollar Adjusted Term SOFR plus 85 basis
points for the USD loans.
For the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2022, the average amount outstanding was $72,463,429. The high and low annual interest rates during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 were 5.92% and 0.85%, respectively, and the average weighted
average interest rate was 1.74%. The weighted average interest rate at December 31, 2022 was 4.09%. The Fund does not pay a commitment fee unless the loan balance drops below 75% of total commitment, which results in
a fee of 0.25% and is included in “Interest and fees on loans” on the Statement of Operations.
8. Indemnification
The Fund has a variety of
indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these
contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
Page 25
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
9. Subsequent
Events
Management has evaluated
the impact of all subsequent events to the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial
statements that have not already been disclosed.
Page 26
Report of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the
Board of Trustees of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund:
Opinion on the Financial
Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the
accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2022, the related statements of
operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the 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, 2022, and the results of
its operations and its cash flows 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, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
Chicago, Illinois
February 16, 2023
We have served as the
auditor of one or more First Trust investment companies since 2001.
Page 27
Additional Information
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
Dividend Reinvestment
Plan
If your Common Shares are
registered directly with the Fund or if you hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that participates in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), unless you elect, by written notice
to the Fund, to receive cash distributions, all dividends, including any capital gain distributions, on your Common Shares will be automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company N.A. (the “Plan
Agent”), in additional Common Shares under the Plan. If you elect to receive cash distributions, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you by the Plan Agent, as the dividend
paying agent.
If you decide to
participate in the Plan, the number of Common Shares you will receive will be determined as follows:
| (1) | If Common Shares are trading at or above net asset value (“NAV”) at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) NAV per Common Share on that date or (ii) 95% of the market price on that date. |
| (2) | If Common Shares are trading below NAV at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase Common Shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the Common Shares may increase before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in Common Shares issued by the Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase Common Shares in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchases is necessary to comply with federal securities laws. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments. |
You may elect to opt-out
of or withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Plan Agent, or by telephone at (866) 340-1104, in accordance with such reasonable requirements as the Plan Agent and the Fund may agree upon. If
you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive a certificate for each whole share in your account under the Plan, and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish,
the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions.
The Plan Agent maintains
all Common Shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Common Shares in your account will be held by
the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. The Plan Agent will forward to each participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any shares so held only in accordance with proxies returned to the Fund. Any proxy
you receive will include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.
There is no brokerage
charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market
purchases.
Automatically reinvesting
dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions. Capital gains and income are realized although cash is not received by you. Consult
your financial advisor for more information.
If you hold your Common
Shares with a brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, you will not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those described above.
The Fund reserves the
right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Trustees the change is warranted. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend
the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by writing Computershare, Inc., P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233-5000.
Proxy Voting Policies
and Procedures
A description of the
policies and procedures that the Fund 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 at www.ftportfolios.com; and (3) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.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
Page 28
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
SEC’s website at www.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.
Tax Information
The Fund hereby
designates as qualified dividend income 100% of its ordinary income distributions (including short-term capital gains, if applicable) for the year ended December 31, 2022. None of the ordinary income (including
short-term capital gain, if applicable) distributions made by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2022, qualify for corporate dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders. The Fund meets
the requirements of Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code, and elects to pass through to its shareholders credit for foreign taxes paid. The total amount of income received by the Fund from sources within foreign
countries and possessions of the United States is $15,677,832 (representing a total of $0.91 per share). The total amount of foreign taxes paid to such countries is $1,139,301 (representing a total of $0.07 per
share).
NYSE Certification
Information
In accordance with
Section 303A-12 of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s President has certified to the NYSE that, as of May 2, 2022, he was not aware of any violation by the Fund of
NYSE corporate governance listing standards. In addition, the Fund’s reports to the SEC on Form N-CSR contain certifications by the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that
relate to the Fund’s public disclosure in such reports and are required by Rule 30a-2 under the 1940 Act.
Submission of Matters to
a Vote of Shareholders
The Fund held its Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on April 18, 2022. At the Annual Meeting, James A. Bowen and Niel B. Nielson were elected by the Common Shareholders of First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity
Income Fund as Class III Trustees for a three-year term expiring at the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2025. The number of votes cast in favor of Mr. Bowen was 12,878,342 and the number of votes
withheld was 1,916,837. The number of votes cast in favor of Mr. Nielson was 12,717,514 and the number of votes withheld was 2,077,665. Richard E. Erickson, Thomas R. Kadlec, Denise M. Keefe, and Robert F. Keith
are the other current and continuing Trustees.
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Changes Occurring During
the Prior Fiscal Year
The following information
is a summary of certain changes during the most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased shares of the Fund.
During the Fund’s
most recent fiscal year, there were no material changes to the Fund’s investment objectives or policies that have not been approved by shareholders or in the principal risk factors associated with an investment
in the Fund.
Investment Objectives
The Fund’s primary
investment objective is to seek a high level of current income. The Fund has a secondary objective of capital appreciation.
Principal Investment
Policies
The Fund seeks to achieve
its investment objectives by investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in a portfolio of equity securities of European companies of any market capitalization, including, but not limited to, common and preferred
stock that pay dividends, depositary receipts and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund will seek to focus its equity investments on income-producing securities and will limit its investments
in preferred securities, depositary receipts and REITs, in each case, to no more than 20% of its Managed Assets.
European companies are
defined to include any company that meets one or both of the following tests: (i) its primary business office is located in Europe; or (ii) the principal trading market of its stock is located in Europe. The Fund will
limit its investments in a single country to no more than 40% of its Managed Assets. The Fund focuses its European investments on companies located in Western European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Belgium, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France, Austria, Italy, Greece and Spain, but it may also invest in companies located in Central and Eastern European
countries such as Russia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Turkey and Poland. Certain of the European countries in which the Fund may invest are considered to be emerging market countries. The Fund limits its investments
in emerging market countries in the aggregate to no more than 20% of its Managed Assets. The Fund considers an emerging market country to be any country whose issuers are included in the Morgan Stanley Capital
International (“MSCI”) Emerging Markets Index and/or those countries considered to be developing by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation or the United Nations. The Fund considers an
“emerging market issuer” to be one (i) domiciled or with a principal place of business or primary securities trading market in an emerging market country or (ii) that derives a substantial portion of its
total revenues or profits from emerging market countries. In selecting income-producing equity securities, the Fund seeks to invest in securities of companies that the portfolio managers of the Fund believe have
attractive long-term business prospects to produce high levels of dividend income as well as securities that the portfolio managers believe offer the potential for growth of income.
The Fund utilizes a
dynamic currency hedging process, which includes, at the discretion of the portfolio managers, the use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge a portion of the Fund’s currency exposure. The
Fund’s currency exchange transactions will be used for hedging or currency risk management purposes (e.g., to protect the value of its portfolio against uncertainty in the level of future currency exchange
rates) and not in order to speculate on currency exchange rate movements. The portfolio managers of the Fund adjust the extent to which the Fund utilizes currency hedging transactions on an ongoing basis based on,
among other things, their view of market conditions, currency exchange rates and the currency exposure of the Fund’s portfolio investments. As a result of the dynamic currency hedging process, the portion of the
Fund’s portfolio securities which are subject to currency hedging transactions may vary widely, from 0% to 100% of the portfolio securities. The Fund may have higher returns than an equivalent non-currency
hedged investment when the component currencies are weakening relative to the U.S. dollar. Conversely, the Fund may have lower returns than an equivalent non-currency hedged investment when the component currencies
are rising relative to the U.S. dollar. As such, contracts to sell foreign currency will generally be expected to limit any potential gain that might be realized by the Fund if the value of the hedged currency
increases. Although the Fund seeks to minimize the impact of currency fluctuations on Fund returns, the use of currency hedging will not necessarily eliminate exposure to all currency fluctuations.
The Fund:
| • | May invest, under normal market conditions, 20% of its managed assets in domestic and foreign fixed income securities of any maturity and credit quality, including corporate and government debt securities. |
| • | May invest up to15% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid. |
| • | May invest, without limit, in securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and continue to be subject to restrictions on resale; securities held by control persons of the issuer of such securities; and |
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| securities that are subject to contractual restrictions on their resale (collectively, “restricted securities”). However, restricted securities determined by the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor to be illiquid are subject to the above limitation on the amount of illiquid securities in which the Fund may invest. |
To generate additional
income, the Fund may write (or sell) call options on portfolio equity securities and certain broad-based securities indices in an amount up to 40% of the value of its Managed Assets (the “Option Overlay
Strategy”). The Fund’s use of the Option Overlay Strategy may vary from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors. The Option Overlay Strategy seeks to generate gains from option
premiums in an attempt to enhance amounts available for distributions payable to the Fund’s shareholders; however, there is no assurance that the Option Overlay Strategy will achieve this objective. The
Fund’s use of the Option Overlay Strategy may limit the Fund’s ability to benefit from the full upside potential of its equity investments.
To the extent the Fund
enters into derivatives transactions, it will do so pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to implement certain policies and procedures designed to manage its derivatives risks,
dependent upon the Fund’s level of exposure to derivative instruments.
Unless otherwise stated,
all investment restrictions above apply at the time of purchase and the Fund will not be required to reduce a position due solely to market value fluctuations.
The Fund’s
investment policies may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund without a shareholder vote, provided that shareholders receive at least 60 days’ prior notice of any change.
Fundamental Investment
Policies
The Fund, as a
fundamental policy, may not:
1. Issue senior securities, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, other than: (i) preferred shares which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least
200%; (ii) indebtedness which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 300%; or (iii) the borrowings permitted by investment restriction 2 set forth below;
2. Borrow money, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the rules thereunder and interpretations thereof or pursuant to a Securities and Exchange Commission
exemptive order;
3. Act as underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in
connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities;
4. Purchase or sell real estate, but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities of companies that deal in real estate or are engaged in the real estate business, including real
estate investment trusts, and securities secured by real estate or interests therein and the Fund may hold and sell real estate or mortgages on real estate acquired through default, liquidation, or other distributions
of an interest in real estate as a result of the Fund’s ownership of such securities;
5. Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options,
futures contracts or derivative instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities);
6. Make loans of funds or other assets, other than by entering into repurchase agreements, lending portfolio securities and through the purchase of securities in accordance with its investment
objectives, policies and limitations; and
7. Concentrate (invest 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets) the Fund’s investments in any particular industry; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to
obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or by its agencies or instrumentalities.
The foregoing fundamental
investment policies, together with the investment objectives of the Fund, cannot be changed without approval by holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, which
includes Common Shares and Preferred Shares, if any, voting together as a single class, and of the holders of the outstanding Preferred Shares voting as a single class. Under the 1940 Act a “majority of the
outstanding voting securities” means the vote of: (1) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s shares are present or represented by proxy;
or (2) more than 50% of the Fund’s shares, whichever is less.”
Principal Risks
The Fund is a closed-end
management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all
investments, there can be no
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assurance that the Fund will achieve its
investment objectives. The following discussion summarizes the principal risks associated with investing in the Fund, which includes the risk that you could lose some or all of your investment in the Fund. The Fund is
subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information that is
available for review.
Conversion Risk. The Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides that, during calendar year 2023, the Fund will call a shareholder meeting for the purpose of voting to determine whether
the Fund should convert to an open-end management investment company. The Fund will bear the costs associated with calling such shareholder meeting. In the event of conversion to an open-end management investment
company, the common shares of the Fund would cease to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange, and such common shares would thereafter be redeemable at net asset value at the
option of the shareholder, rather than traded in the secondary market at market price, which, for closed-end fund shares, may at times be at a premium to net asset value. Any borrowings or preferred shares of the Fund
would need to be repaid or redeemed upon conversion and, accordingly, a portion of the Fund’s portfolio may need to be liquidated, potentially resulting in, among other things, lower current income. In addition,
open-end management investment companies may be subject to continuous asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management and limit the Fund’s ability to make certain types of investments. As a
result, the Fund may incur increased expenses and may be required to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times in order to accommodate such flows.
Cyber Security Risk. The Fund is 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
the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs
associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software
coding, but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the 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 the Fund to many of the same risks associated
with direct cyber security breaches. The Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security. However, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed,
especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third party service providers. Substantial costs may be incurred by the Fund in order to resolve or prevent cyber
incidents in the future.
Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in emerging market securities are considered speculative. In addition to the general risks of investing in non-U.S. securities, heightened risks of investing in emerging
markets securities include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible
restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls,
forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S.
dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies
and securities markets of certain emerging market countries. The risks associated with investing in emerging market securities also include: greater political uncertainties, risk of market closure or manipulation,
limited reliable access to capital, dependence on international trade or development assistance, overburdened infrastructures and environmental problems.
Emerging market countries
also often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements, unsettled securities laws, unreliable securities valuation and greater risks associated with custody of securities. In addition, because the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is generally restricted from inspecting the audit work and practices of registered accountants in certain emerging market countries there is the risk that material accounting
and financial information about issuers in such countries may be unavailable or unreliable.
Shareholder claims that
are available in the U.S. may be less reliable in emerging market countries, and claims that are available in the U.S., as well as regulatory oversight and authority that is common in the U.S., including for claims
based on fraud, may be difficult or impossible for shareholders of securities in emerging market countries or for U.S. authorities to pursue. The limitations associated with investments in emerging market companies
could impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
Equity Securities
Risk. The value of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities in which the Fund invests. Prices of equity securities 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. Common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises
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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.
Europe Risk. Political or economic disruptions in European countries, even in countries in which the Fund is not invested, may adversely affect security values and thus the Fund’s holdings. A
significant number of countries in Europe are member states in the European Union (the “EU”), which faces major issues involving its membership, structure, procedures and policies. By adopting the Euro as
its currency, a member state relinquishes control over its own monetary policies. In general, monetary policy is set for the Eurozone by the European Central Bank and fiscal policy is overseen and approved by the EU.
European countries that are members of, or candidates to join, the Economic and Monetary Union (“EMU”) may be subject to various restrictions, including restrictions on deficits and debt levels. As a
result of the foregoing, monetary and fiscal policies may not address the needs of all member countries. In addition, the fiscal policies of a single member state can impact and pose economic risks to the EU as a
whole. There is continued concern over national-level support for the Euro, which could lead to certain countries leaving the EMU, the implementation of capital controls, or potentially the dissolution of the Euro.
The dissolution of the Euro would have significant negative effects on European economies and would cause funds with holdings denominated in Euros to face substantial challenges, including difficulties relating to
settlement of trades and valuation of holdings, diminished liquidity, and the redenomination of holdings into other currencies. The European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends due to
concerns about economic downturns, rising government debt levels and the possible default of government debt in several European countries. A default or debt restructuring by any European country can adversely impact
holders of that country’s debt and can affect exposures to other EU countries and their financial companies as well.
France Risk. Investment in securities of French companies involve additional risks, including legal, regulatory, political, currency, security, and economic risk specific to France. The French economy
is dependent to a significant extent on the economies of certain key trading partners, including Germany and other Western European countries. Reduction in spending on French products and services, or changes in any
of the economies may cause an adverse impact on the French economy. In addition, France may be subject to acts of terrorism. The French economy is dependent on exports from the agricultural sector. Leading
agricultural exports include dairy products, meat, wine, fruit and vegetables, and fish. As a result, the French economy is susceptible to fluctuations in demand for agricultural products.
Financial Companies
Risk. Financial companies, such as retail and commercial banks, insurance companies and financial services companies, are especially subject to the adverse effects of economic recession,
currency exchange rates, extensive government regulation, decreases in the availability of capital, volatile interest rates, portfolio concentrations in geographic markets, industries or products (such as commercial
and residential real estate loans), and competition from new entrants and blurred distinctions in their fields of business.
Forward Foreign Currency
Exchange Contracts Risk. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts involve certain risks, including the risk of failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the contract and the risk that the
use of forward contracts may not serve as a complete hedge because of an imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the contracts and the prices of the currencies hedged. While forward foreign currency
exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, they also may limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currencies increase. In addition,
because forward currency exchange contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that the Fund will have flexibility to roll-over a forward currency exchange contract upon its expiration if
it desires to do so. Hedging against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the value of a portfolio security traded in that currency or prevent a loss if the value of the security
declines. Moreover, it may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against a devaluation that is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to contract to sell the currency at a price above the devaluation level
it anticipates. The cost to the Fund of engaging in currency exchange transactions varies with such factors as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and prevailing market conditions.
Geographic
Concentration Risk. The Fund may invest from time to time a substantial amount of its assets in issuers located in a single country or region. Because the Fund may concentrate its investments in this manner,
it assumes the risk that economic, political and social conditions in that country or region will have a significant impact on its investment performance, which may result in greater losses and volatility than if it
had diversified its investments across a greater number of countries and regions.
Illiquid and Restricted
Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in securities that are restricted and/or illiquid securities. Restricted securities are securities that cannot be offered for public resale unless registered under the
applicable securities laws or that have a contractual restriction that prohibits or limits their resale. Restricted securities may be illiquid as they generally are not listed on an exchange and may have no active
trading market.
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Investments in restricted
securities could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if qualified institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase these securities. Illiquid and
restricted securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when the Fund believes it is desirable to do so. The market price of illiquid and restricted securities generally is more volatile than
that of more liquid securities, which may adversely affect the price that the Fund pays for or recovers upon the sale of such securities. Illiquid and restricted securities are also more difficult to value, especially
in challenging markets.
Income Risk. Net investment income paid by the Fund to its shareholders is derived from the premiums it receives from writing (selling) call options and from the dividends and interest it receives
from the equity securities and other investments held in the Fund’s portfolio and short-term gains thereon. Premiums from writing (selling) call options and dividends and interest payments made by the securities
in the Fund’s portfolio can vary widely over time. Dividends on equity securities are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of an issuer’s board of directors. There is no guarantee that the issuers
of the equity securities in which the Fund invests will declare dividends in the future or that if declared they will remain at current levels. The Fund cannot assure as to what percentage of the distributions paid on
the common shares, if any, will consist of qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains, both of which are taxed at lower rates for individuals than are ordinary income and short-term capital gains.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage by the Fund can magnify the effect of any losses. If the income and gains from the securities and investments purchased with leverage proceeds do not cover the cost of
leverage, the return to the common shares will be less than if leverage had not been used. Leverage involves risks and special considerations for common shareholders including: (i) the likelihood of greater volatility
of net asset value and market price of the common shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage; (ii) the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings will reduce the return to the common shareholders
or will result in fluctuations in the dividends paid on the common shares; (iii) in a declining market, the use of leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the net asset value of the common shares than if the
Fund were not leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market price of the common shares; and (iv) when the Fund uses certain types of leverage, the investment advisory fee payable to the Advisor and by
the Advisor to the Sub-Advisor will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage.
Management Risk and
Reliance on Key Personnel. In managing the Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund’s portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not produce the desired result.
Additionally, the implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy depends upon the continued contributions of certain key employees of the Advisor and Sub-Advisor, some of whom have unique talents and
experience and would be difficult to replace. The loss or interruption of the services of a key member of the portfolio management team could have a negative impact on the Fund.
Market Discount from Net
Asset Value. Shares of closed-end investment companies such as the Fund frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The Fund cannot predict whether its common shares will trade at,
below or above net asset value.
Market Risk. Securities held by the Fund, as well as shares of the 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 the Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments as a result of the risk of loss associated with
these market fluctuations. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a
significant negative impact on the Fund and its investments. For example, the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting
international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. While the development of vaccines
has slowed the spread of the virus and allowed for the resumption of reasonably normal business activity in the United States, many countries continue to impose lockdown measures in an attempt to slow the spread.
Additionally, there is no guarantee that vaccines will be effective against emerging variants of the disease. Also, in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine which has caused and could continue to cause significant
market disruptions and volatility across markets globally, including the United States. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities could have a significant impact on certain Fund investments as
well as Fund performance. As the global pandemic and conflict in Ukraine have illustrated, such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. These
events also may adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a
materially negative impact on the value of the Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net
asset value and the bid/ask spread on the Fund’s shares may widen.
Non-U.S. Securities and
Currency Risk. Investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve certain risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. These risks include: (i) there may be less
publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers or markets due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices; (ii) non-U.S. markets may be smaller, less liquid and more volatile
than the U.S. market; (iii) potential adverse effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates or controls on the value of the Fund’s investments; (iv) the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower
rates than expected or
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may experience a downturn or recession;
(v) the impact of economic, political, social or diplomatic events as well as of foreign governmental laws or restrictions and differing legal standards; (vi) certain non-U.S. countries may impose restrictions on the
ability of non-U.S. issuers to make payments of principal and interest to investors located in the United States due to blockage of non-U.S. currency exchanges or otherwise; and (vii) withholding and other non-U.S.
taxes may decrease the Fund’s return. Foreign companies are generally not subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards as are U.S. companies. In addition, there may be difficulty in
obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad, including in the event the issuer of a non-U.S. security defaults or enters bankruptcy, administration, or other proceedings. These risks may be more pronounced to the
extent that the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in companies located in one region or in emerging markets. Because the Fund may invest in securities denominated or quoted in non-U.S. currencies,
changes in the non-U.S. currency/United States dollar exchange rate may affect the value of the Fund’s securities and the unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments. While certain or all of the
Fund’s non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities may be hedged into U.S. dollars, hedging may not alleviate all currency risks.
Operational Risk. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service
providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund relies on third parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure
relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the Fund and the Advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through
controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
Option Risk. The Fund may write (sell) covered call options on a portion of the equity securities held in the Fund’s portfolio and certain broad-based indices. As the writer (seller) of a call
option on portfolio equity securities, the Fund would receive cash (the premium) from the purchaser of the option, and the purchaser would have the right to receive from the Fund any appreciation in the underlying
security over the strike price upon exercise. In effect, the Fund would forgo, during the life of the option, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the underlying security above the sum of
the premium and the strike price of the call option but would retain the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. Therefore, the writing (or selling) of call options may limit the Fund’s
ability to benefit from the full upside potential of its investment strategies. The value of call options written by the Fund may be affected by, among other factors, changes in the value of the underlying security
(or securities) in relation to the strike price, changes in dividend rates of the underlying security (or securities), changes in interest rates, changes in actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the
underlying security (or securities), and the time remaining until the expiration date. The value of call options written by the Fund may be adversely affected if the market for the option is reduced or becomes
illiquid.
Potential Conflicts of
Interest Risk. First Trust, Janus Henderson and the portfolio managers have interests which may conflict with the interests of the Fund. In particular, First Trust and Janus Henderson currently manage
and may in the future manage and/or advise other investment funds or accounts with the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund. In addition, while the Fund is using leverage, the
amount of the fees paid to First Trust (and by First Trust to Janus Henderson) for investment advisory and management services are higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees paid are calculated
based on managed assets. Therefore, First Trust and Janus Henderson have a financial incentive to leverage the Fund.
Real Estate Investment
Trust Risk. The market value of REIT shares and the ability of the REITs to distribute income may be adversely affected by several factors, including: (i) rising interest rates; (ii) changes in the
economic climate and real estate conditions; (iii) perceptions of prospective tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties; (iv) the ability of the owners to provide adequate management,
maintenance and insurance; (v) the cost of complying with local laws; (vi) increased competition from new properties; (vii) the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental
laws; (viii) changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses; (ix) adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies; (x) adverse changes in zoning laws; (xi) defaults by mortgagors or other borrowers;
(xii) loss of rental income; (xiii) lack of mortgage funds or other limits to accessing the credit or capital markets; and (xiv) other factors beyond the control of the REITs including changes in tax laws. In
addition, distributions received by the Fund from REITs may consist of dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Many of these distributions, however, when further distributed to common shareholders will not
generally qualify for favorable treatment as qualified dividend income. Certain REITs may have limited financial resources and their securities may trade less frequently and in limited volume and may be subject to
more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and defaults by borrowers or lessees. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a
common shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs.
United Kingdom Risk. The Fund is subject to certain risks specifically associated with investments in the securities of United Kingdom issuers. Investments in British issuers may subject the Fund to
regulatory, political, currency, security, and economic risk specific to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe, and the United States and other European countries are
substantial trading partners of the United Kingdom. As a result, the British economy may be impacted by changes to the economic health of the United States and other European countries. In addition, as the United
Kingdom’s economy
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(Unaudited)
relies heavily on the export of
financial services to the United States and other European countries, a prolonged slowdown in the financial services sector may have a negative impact on the United Kingdom’s economy.
The United
Kingdom’s official departure from the European Union (commonly referred to as “Brexit”) led to volatility in global financial markets, in particular those of the United Kingdom and across Europe, and
the weakening in political, regulatory, consumer, corporate and financial confidence in the United Kingdom and Europe. Given the size and importance of the United Kingdom’s economy, uncertainty or
unpredictability about its legal, political and/or economic relationships with Europe has been, and may continue to be, a source of instability and could lead to significant currency fluctuations and other adverse
effects on international markets and international trade even under the post-Brexit trade guidelines. The negative impact of Brexit on not only the United Kingdom and European economies, but the broader global
economy, could be significant, potentially resulting in increased volatility and illiquidity and lower economic growth for companies that rely significantly on Europe for their business activities and revenues. It is
not currently possible to determine the extent of the impact that Brexit may have on the Fund’s investments and this uncertainty could negatively impact current and future economic conditions in the United
Kingdom and other countries, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments.
In the past, the United
Kingdom has been a target of terrorism. Acts of terrorism in the United Kingdom or against United Kingdom interests may cause uncertainty in the United Kingdom’s financial markets and adversely affect the
performance of the issuers to which a Fund has exposure. Secessionist movements, such as the Catalan movement in Spain and the independence movement in Scotland, may have an adverse effect on the United Kingdom
economy.
Valuation Risk. When market quotations are not readily available or are deemed to be unreliable, the Fund values its investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to policies and
procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security or other asset. As a result, there can be no assurance that fair value pricing will
result in adjustments to the prices of securities or other assets, or that fair value pricing will reflect actual market value, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security or other asset will be
materially different from quoted or published prices, from the prices used by others for the same security or other asset and/or from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that security or
other asset.
Effects of Leverage
The aggregate principal
amount of borrowings under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with The Bank of Nova Scotia (“Scotia”) represented 24.79% of the Managed Assets as of December 31, 2022. Asset
coverage with respect to the borrowings under the Credit Agreement was 403.31% and the Fund had $16,860,866 of unutilized funds available for borrowing under the Credit Agreement as of that date. The borrowing rate
under the Credit Agreement is equal to the Euro rate plus 85 basis points, for borrowings in Euros, and is equal to the U.S. dollar Adjusted Term SOFR plus 85 basis points, for borrowings in U.S. dollars. As of
December 31, 2022, the maximum commitment amount was $90,000,000. Prior to October 21, 2022, the total commitment was $100,000,000. In addition, under the Scotia facility, the Fund pays a commitment fee of 0.25% if
the loan balance drops below 75% of the total commitment. As of December 31, 2022, the approximate average annual interest and fee rate was 1.74%.
Assuming that the
Fund’s leverage costs remain as described above (at an assumed average annual cost of 1.74 %), the annual return that the Fund’s portfolio must experience (net of expenses) in order to cover its leverage
costs would be 0.43 %.
The following table is
furnished in response to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns
(comprised of income and changes in the value of securities held in the Fund’s portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not
necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by the Fund.
The table further assumes
leverage representing 24.79% of the Fund’s Managed Assets, net of expenses, and an annual leverage interest and fee rate of 1.74%.
Assumed Portfolio Total Return (Net of Expenses) | -10% | -5% | 0% | 5% | 10% |
Common Share Total Return | - | - | - |
Common Share total return
is composed of two elements: the Common Share dividends paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Fund after paying dividends or interest on its leverage) and
gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by SEC rules, the table above assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to
assume a total return of 0% the Fund must assume that the distributions it receives on its investments are entirely offset by losses in the value of those securities.
Page 36
Board of Trustees and Officers
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
The following tables
identify the Trustees and Officers of the Fund. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187.
| Name, Year of Birth and Position with the Fund | Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed(1) | 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) | • Three Year Term • Since Fund Inception | Physician, Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group; Physician and Officer, Wheaton Orthopedics (1990 to 2021) | 222 | None |
| Thomas R. Kadlec, Trustee (1957) | • Three Year Term • Since Fund Inception | Retired; President, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant) (2010 to July 2022) | 222 | Director, National Futures Association and ADMIS Singapore Ltd.; Formerly, Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, ADMIS Hong Kong Ltd., and Futures Industry Association |
| Denise M. Keefe, Trustee (1964) | • Three Year Term • Since 2021 | Executive Vice President, Advocate Aurora Health and President, Advocate Aurora Continuing Health Division (Integrated Healthcare System) | 222 | Director and Board Chair of Advocate Home Health Services, Advocate Home Care Products and Advocate Hospice; Director and Board Chair of Aurora At Home (since 2018); Director of Advocate Physician Partners Accountable Care Organization; Director and Board Chair of RML Long Term Acute Care Hospitals; and Director of Senior Helpers (since 2021) |
| Robert F. Keith, Trustee (1956) | • Three Year Term • Since Fund Inception | President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting) | 222 | Formerly, Director of Trust Company of Illinois |
| Niel B. Nielson, Trustee (1954) | • Three Year Term • Since Fund Inception | Senior Advisor (2018 to Present), Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (2015 to 2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services) | 222 | None |
| (1) | Currently, Denise M. Keefe and Robert F. Keith, as Class I Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2023 annual meeting of shareholders. Richard E. Erickson and Thomas R. Kadlec, as Class II Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders. James A. Bowen and Niel B. Nielson, as Class III Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. |
Page 37
Board of Trustees and Officers (Continued)
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
(Unaudited)
| Name, Year of Birth and Position with the Fund | Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed(1) | 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 |
| INTERESTED TRUSTEE | ||||
| James A. Bowen(2), Trustee and Chairman of the Board (1955) | • Three Year Term • Since Fund 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) | 222 | None |
| Name and Year of Birth | Position and Offices with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Service | Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years |
| OFFICERS(3) | |||
| James M. Dykas (1966) | President and Chief Executive Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since 2016 | Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chief Financial Officer, 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 2016 | Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| W. Scott Jardine (1960) | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | • Indefinite Term • Since Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund Inception | Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. |
| (1) | Currently, Denise M. Keefe and Robert F. Keith, as Class I Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2023 annual meeting of shareholders. Richard E. Erickson and Thomas R. Kadlec, as Class II Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders. James A. Bowen and Niel B. Nielson, as Class III Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. |
| (2) | Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Fund due to his position as CEO of First Trust Advisors L.P., investment advisor of the Fund. |
| (3) | The term “officer” means the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, controller or any other officer who performs a policy making function. |
Page 38
Privacy Policy
First Trust Dynamic
Europe Equity Income Fund (FDEU)
December 31, 2022
(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 professional 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 and AddThis.
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 to www.ftportfolios.com, or contact us at 1-800-621-1675 (First Trust Portfolios) or 1-800-222-6822 (First Trust Advisors).
March 2022
Page 39
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite
400
Wheaton, IL 60187
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISOR
Janus Henderson Investors US LLC
151 Detroit Street
Denver, CO 80206
ADMINISTRATOR,
FUND ACCOUNTANT, AND
CUSTODIAN
FUND ACCOUNTANT, AND
CUSTODIAN
Brown Brothers Harriman &
Co.
50 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02110
TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare, Inc.
P.O. Box 505000
Louisville, KY 40233
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
111 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapman and Cutler LLP
320 South Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60606
(b) Not applicable.
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 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. |
| (f) | A copy of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller is filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 13(a)(1). |
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 $39,500 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and $41,500 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
(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, 2021 and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Audit-Related Fees (Investment Advisor) — The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant 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, 2021 and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
(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 $27,634 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and $39,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. These fees were for tax consultation and/or tax return preparation and professional services rendered for PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) Identification Services.
Tax Fees (Investment Advisor) — The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning to the registrant’s Advisor were $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
(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, 2021 and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
All Other Fees (Investment Advisor) — 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 Advisor, other than services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
| (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 Advisor (not including a sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted or overseen by another investment advisor) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant, subject to the de minimis exceptions 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 advisor (other than any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted with or overseen by another investment advisor) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment advisor 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 advisor 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 advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant for the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 were $27,634 for the registrant and $16,500 for the registrant’s investment advisor and for the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 were $39,000 for the registrant and $0 the registrant’s investment advisor. |
| (h) | The Registrant’s audit committee of its Board of Trustees determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Registrant’s investment advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisor 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. |
| (i) | Not applicable. |
| (j) | Not applicable. |
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed registrants.
| (a) | The registrant has a separately designated audit committee consisting of all the independent trustees of the registrant. The members of the audit committee are: Thomas R. Kadlec, Niel B. Nielson, Denise M. Keefe, Richard E. Erickson and Robert F. Keith. |
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.
A description of the policies and procedures used to vote proxies on behalf of the Fund is attached as an exhibit.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
| (a)(1) | Identification of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members and Description of Role of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members. |
Information provided as of December 31, 2022
Janus Henderson Investors US LLC (formerly, Janus Capital Management LLC), (“Janus Henderson” or the “Sub-Advisor”), a legal entity of Janus Henderson Investors, serves as the Fund’s investment sub-advisor. Janus Henderson Investors is headquartered in London and is a global investment management firm that provides a full spectrum of investment products and services to clients around the world. With offices in 25 cities with more than 2,300 employees, Janus Henderson Investors managed approximately $287.3 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022. Janus Capital is responsible for the day-to-day investment decisions of the Fund other than the Option Overlay Strategy.
The members of the portfolio management team responsible for implementing the Option Overlay Strategy are John Gambla and Rob A. Guttschow.
1. BEN LOFTHOUSE, CFA
Head of Global Equity Income; Portfolio Manager
Ben Lofthouse is Head of Global Equity Income at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since 2018. Prior to this, he was a director, Global Equity Income, and has been part of the Global Equity Income Team since joining the company in 2004. Additionally, he is a Portfolio Manager and has managed a range of equity income mandates since 2008. Prior to Janus Henderson Investors, Mr. Lofthouse worked as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he started his career in 1998. Mr. Lofthouse graduated with a BA (Hons) in business economics from Exeter University. He is a Chartered Accountant (ACA) and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has 20 years of financial industry experience.
2. FAIZAN BAIG, CFA
Global Equity Income; Portfolio Manager
Faizan Baig is a Portfolio Manager on the Global Equity Income Team at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since 2021. Before that, he was a Research Analyst at the firm, picking stocks for income funds with sector expertise in technology and industrials. Prior to joining the firm in 2015, Mr. Baig was a senior global long/short equity analyst at RWC Partners generating fundamentally researched long and short ideas across all sectors. Before that, he worked for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, where he began his career as a global equity analyst and later became a junior portfolio manager performing fundamental bottom-up analysis of companies across all sectors. In addition to generalist stock picking, he was responsible for the technology sector and advised on construction of global equity portfolios.
3. JOHN GAMBLA, CFA
CO-HEAD OF THE ALTERNATIVES INVESTMENT TEAM AT FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. (“FIRST TRUST”)
Mr. Gambla, CFA, FRM, PRM, is Co-Head of the Alternatives Investment Team at First Trust responsible, along with John Gambla, for all decisions regarding the option portfolio. Prior to joining First Trust in July 2011, Mr. Gambla was co-Chief Investment Officer at the Nuveen HydePark Group LLC where he started in 2007. While at Nuveen HydePark Group LLC, Mr. Gambla co-directed investment activities including research, product development, trading, portfolio management and performance attribution. Mr. Gambla also led the research systems and infrastructure development for Nuveen HydePark Group LLC. Previously, Mr. Gambla was a Senior Trader and Quantitative specialist at Nuveen Asset Management. While there, he was responsible for trading all derivatives for the 120+ municipal mutual funds with Nuveen Asset Management. Mr. Gambla has served in a variety of roles throughout his career including: portfolio management, research, business development and strategy development.
4. ROB A. GUTTSCHOW, CFA
CO-HEAD OF THE ALTERNATIVES INVESTMENT TEAM AT FIRST TRUST
Mr. Guttschow, CFA, is Co-Head of the Alternatives Investment Team at First Trust responsible, along with Rob A. Guttschow, for all decisions regarding the option portfolio. Prior to joining First Trust in July 2011, Mr. Guttschow was co-Chief Investment Officer at the Nuveen HydePark Group LLC where he started in 2007. While at Nuveen HydePark Group LLC, Mr. Guttschow co-directed investment activities including research, product development, trading, portfolio management and performance attribution. Previously, Mr. Guttschow was an Overlay Manager and Senior Portfolio Manager at Nuveen Asset Management. While there, he developed Nuveen’s buy-side derivative desk for fixed income and equity portfolio hedging.
(a)(2) Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Member and Potential Conflicts of Interest
Other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers as of December 31, 2022:
| Name of Portfolio Manager or Team Member |
Type of Accounts* | Total # of Accounts Managed |
Total Assets | # of Accounts Managed for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance |
Total Assets for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance |
| 1. Ben Lofthouse | Registered Investment Companies: | 2 | $5,851.4m | 0 | $ 0 |
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: | 2 | $1,280.1m | 1 | $0 | |
| Other Accounts: | 2 | $132.8m | 0 | $ 0 | |
| 2 Faizan Baig | Registered Investment Companies: | 1 | $106.7m | 0 | $ 0 |
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: | 2 | $132.8m | 0 | $ 0 | |
| Other Accounts: | 0 | $0 | 0 | $ 0 | |
| 3. John Gambla | Registered Investment Companies: | 7 | $4,517,752,651 | 0 | $ 0 |
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: | 1 | $10,716,894 | 0 | $ 0 | |
| Other Accounts: | 5 | $ 508,494 | 0 | $ 0 | |
| 4. Rob Guttschow | Registered Investment Companies: | 7 | $4,517,752,651 | 0 | $ 0 |
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: | 1 | $10,716,894 | 0 | $ 0 | |
| Other Accounts: | 5 | $ 508,494 | 0 | $ 0 |
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
JANUS HENDERSON INVESTORS POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
Portfolio Management Conflicts of Interest.
As shown in the table above, portfolio managers and investment personnel (for the purposes of this section, are together referred to as "portfolio managers") generally manage other accounts, including accounts that may hold the same securities as or pursue investment strategies similar to the CEF. Those other accounts may include separately managed accounts, model or emulation accounts, Janus Henderson mutual funds and ETFs, private-label funds for which Janus Henderson or an affiliate serves as sub-adviser, or other pooled investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, which may have different fee structures or rates than the CEF or may have a performance-based management fee. Janus Henderson or an affiliate may also proprietarily invest in or provide seed capital to some but not all of these accounts. In addition, portfolio managers may personally invest in or provide seed capital to some but not all of these accounts, and certain of these accounts may have a greater impact on their compensation than others. Further, portfolio managers (or their family members) may beneficially own or transact in the same securities as those held in the CEF's portfolio. Portfolio managers also have roles with an affiliate of Janus Henderson and provide advice on behalf of Janus Henderson through participating affiliate agreements and receive compensation attributable to their role with the affiliate in addition to Janus Henderson. These factors could create conflicts of interest because a portfolio manager may have incentives to favor one or more accounts over others or one role over another in the allocation of time, resources, or investment opportunities and the sequencing of trades, resulting in the potential for the CEF to be disadvantaged relative to one or more other accounts.
A conflict of interest between the CEF and other clients may arise if a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be appropriate for the CEF, but the CEF is not able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to the need to allocate that opportunity among other accounts also managed by the portfolio manager. A conflict may also arise if a portfolio manager executes transactions in one or more accounts that adversely impact the value of securities held by the CEF. Janus Henderson believes that these and other conflicts are mitigated by policies, procedures, and practices in place, including those governing personal trading, proprietary trading and seed capital deployment, aggregation and allocation of trades, allocation of limited offerings, cross trades, and best execution. In addition, Janus Henderson generally requires portfolio managers to manage accounts with similar investment strategies in a similar fashion, subject to a variety of exceptions, including, but not limited to, investment restrictions or policies applicable only to certain accounts, certain portfolio holdings that may be transferred in-kind when an account is opened, differences in cash flows and account sizes, and similar factors. Janus Henderson monitors accounts with similar strategies for any holdings, risk, or performance dispersion or unfair treatment.
FIRST TRUST, POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
First Trust and its affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), have in place a joint Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policies and Procedures that are designed to (a) prevent First Trust personnel from trading securities based upon material inside information in the possession of such personnel and (b) ensure that First Trust personnel avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest or abuse of their positions of trust and responsibility that could occur through such activities as front running securities trades for the registrant. Personnel are required to have duplicate confirmations and account statements delivered to First Trust and FTP compliance personnel who then compare such trades to trading activity to detect any potential conflict situations.
(a)(3) Compensation Structure of Portfolio Managers or Management Team Members
Information provided as of December 31, 2022
BEN LOFTHOUSE AND FAIZAN BAIG, JANUS HENDERSON INVESTORS
Portfolio Management Compensation.
Janus Henderson is aware of the importance of selecting and retaining high quality staff, not only in its investment teams, but also across the support functions that assist them. Business critical employees are identified in all areas of the business. A summary of the overall compensation package is as follows:
SENIOR MANAGEMENT MEMBER COMPENSATION. The compensation for Janus Henderson’s senior management includes fixed compensation and variable compensation. Base Salary: Members of the Janus Henderson’s Executive Committee receive an annual base salary based on competitive market data and factors such as performance, knowledge, skills, ability and experience. Variable Compensation: Executive Committee members’ variable compensation is typically based on overall company and individual performance against both financial and strategic objectives. All employees are subject to the Company’s standard deferral arrangements which apply to variable incentive awards. Deferral rates apply to awards that exceed a minimum threshold, rates of deferral increase for larger incentive awards. Deferred awards vest in three equal instalments over a 3-year period and are delivered into JHG restricted stock and/or funds. Individuals Awards, if any, are discretionary and given based on company, department and individual performance.
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS / INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS. Janus Henderson portfolio managers are compensated for managing portfolios or accounts for which they have exclusive or shared responsibilities through two components: fixed compensation and variable compensation. The overall investment team variable compensation pool is based on Janus Henderson profitability and is fully discretionary. Portfolio managers are eligible for an annual variable compensation award based on the recommendations of line managers and in consideration of individual performance appraisals. Both quantitative and qualitative factors will be used to determine these awards. Such factors include, among other things, consistent short-term and long-term performance (i.e., one-, three- and five-year performance), client support and investment team support through the sharing of ideas, leadership, development, mentoring and teamwork. Fixed Compensation: Paid in cash and comprises an annual base salary. The base salary is based on factors such as performance, complexity of managing portfolios, scope of responsibility (including assets under management), skills, knowledge, experience, ability, and market competitiveness. Variable Compensation: Paid in the form of cash and deferred awards. All employees are subject to the Company’s standard deferral arrangements which apply to variable incentive awards. Deferral rates apply to awards that exceed a minimum threshold, rates of deferral increase for larger incentive awards. Deferred awards vest in three equal instalments over a 3-year period and are delivered into JHG restricted stock and/or funds.
As previously mentioned, there is an incentive funding framework which applies to determine overall incentive pool funding for direct, front line investment professionals. The framework is centered around a ‘partnership’ approach in which profits are shared between employees and shareholders in a pre-determined manner to create an ‘Investment Pool’. The construct creates a pool for the Investment teams by reference to a pre-determined share of the firm’s Pre- Incentive Operating Income (‘PIOI’). Overall pool funding is subject to risk adjustment by the Committee taking into account the recommendations of the Risk function in relation to the nature and incidence of risk events, and an overall assessment of risk management relative to the Risk Appetite Statement. A separate pool (the ‘Core Pool’) is created for other staff using similar principles. Team and individual allocations remain discretionary, with allocations within the Investment team being assessed primarily in relation to the individual’s contribution to Performance, Profitability and Partnership principles.
A portion of compensation is based on the performance of the fund calculated using pre-tax performance. Fund performance is compared to dividend delivery, peer group performance and MSCI Europe over a 3, 5 and 1 year (in order of importance) time period. Performance of other accounts are included when determining compensation. Compensation is a blend of the relevant performance metrics (benchmark and peers) across the funds/portfolios that each manager manages.
JOHN GAMBLA AND ROB GUTTSCHOW, FIRST TRUST
The compensation structure for internal portfolio managers is based upon a fixed salary as well as a discretionary bonus determined by the management of FTA. Salaries are determined by management and are based upon an individual’s position and overall value to the firm. Bonuses are also determined by management and are generally based upon an individual’s or team’s overall contribution to the success of the firm, assets under management and the profitability of the firm. Certain internal portfolio managers have an indirect ownership stake in the firm and will therefore receive their allocable share of ownership related distributions.
(a)(4) Disclosure of Securities Ownership
Information provided as of December 31, 2022
| Portfolio Manager | Shares owned |
| Faizan Baig | None |
| Ben Lofthouse | $10,001-$50,000 |
| John Gambla | None |
| Rob A. Guttschow | None |
| (b) | Not applicable. |
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
None.
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 has materially affected, or is 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.
| (a) | Not applicable. |
| (b) | 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. |
| (c) | Notices to the registrant’s common shareholders in accordance with the order under Section 6(c) of the 1940 Act granting an exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19a-l under the 1940 Act, dated March 24, 2010. (1) |
| (1) | The Fund received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission which permits the Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly each taxable year. The relief is conditioned, in part, on an undertaking by the Fund to make the disclosures to the holders of the Fund’s common shares, in addition to the information required by Section 19(a) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19a-1 thereunder. The Fund is likewise obligated to file with the SEC the information contained in any such notice to shareholders. In that regard, attached as an exhibit to this filing is a copy of such notice made during the period. |
| (d) | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies required by Item 7 is 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 Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ James M. Dykas | |
| James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
| Date: | March 10, 2023 |
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 10, 2023 |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Donald P. Swade | |
| Donald P. Swade, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer (principal financial officer) |
| Date: | March 10, 2023 |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.
