EX-99.D ADVSR CONTR 5 exhibit_d21.htm FEE WAIVER AGREEMENT, RELATING TO FIRST TRUST TCW EMERGING MARKETS DEBT ETF.

Fee Waiver Agreement

This Fee Waiver Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into between First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of First Trust TCW Emerging Markets Debt ETF (the “Fund”), and First Trust Advisors L.P., an Illinois limited partnership (“FTA”), as of February 12, 2021.

Recitals:

A. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), comprised of various exchange-traded funds, including the Fund.

B. FTA is the investment advisor to the Fund pursuant to that certain Investment Management Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2018 (the “Management Agreement”), and is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio and certain other services necessary for the management of the Fund and is paid an annual management fee by the Fund.

C. FTA has agreed to waive a portion of its annual management fees in an amount equal to 0.10% of the Fund’s net assets from February 12, 2021 through February 12, 2023, and the Fund desires to induce FTA to do so.

D. FTA and the Trust desire to more fully describe and document the above-described fee waivers for the Fund all in accordance with the terms and provisions hereinafter set forth.

Now, Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing facts and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Waiver of Fees. FTA agrees to waive investment management fees otherwise payable to it by the Fund in the amount of 0.10% of the Fund’s net assets. The aggregate amount of management fees waived shall be accrued daily and paid on a monthly basis for the Fund but calculated on an annualized basis. FTA shall not have any right to reimbursement of any amount so waived.

Section 2. Accounting. FTA’s fund accounting department shall develop and maintain appropriate internal accounting policies and procedures to monitor and calculate the aggregate amount of investment management fees waived on a monthly basis for the Fund.

Section 3. Term and Continuation. This Agreement shall be effective as of February 12, 2021 and shall continue until February 12, 2023 (the “Waiver Term”). This Agreement may be continued and the Waiver Term may be extended for additional periods as agreed to in writing by the parties. This Agreement may be terminated by the Trust on behalf of the Fund at any time by action of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and by FTA after the expiration of the Waiver Term upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other party.

Section 4. Notices. Any notice shall be sufficient when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party, set forth below such party’s signature on this Agreement.

Address:

First Trust Advisors L.P.

120 East Liberty Drive

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

Attention: W. Scott Jardine, General Counsel

Address:

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII

120 East Liberty Drive

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

Attention: W. Scott Jardine, Secretary

Section 5. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement supersedes and abrogates all prior understandings, communications and agreements (whether written or oral) between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to such subject matter. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. No assignment by either party shall be of any force except with the prior written consent of the other party.

Section 6. Governing Law; Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois (without regard to principles of law), including all matters of construction, validity, and performance; provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court’s decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.

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In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

First Trust Advisors L.P.

 

 

 

/s/ James M. Dykas

James M. Dykas, CFO

 

 

 

 

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII,
on behalf of
First Trust TCW Emerging Markets Debt ETF

 

 

 

/s/ Donald P. Swade

Donald P. Swade, Treasurer and CFO