As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2013

                                           1933 Act Registration No. 333-176976
                                            1940 Act Registration No. 811-22245

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933                     [ ]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2                                               [X]
Post-Effective Amendment No. __                                             [ ]
                                     and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940             [ ]
Amendment No. 2                                                             [X]

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (800) 621-1675

W. Scott Jardine, Esq., Secretary
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:
Eric F. Fess, Esq.
Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Registration Statement.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


CONTENTS OF PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2

This Registration Statement comprises the following papers and contents:

The Facing Sheet

Part A - Prospectus for First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF

Part B - Statement of Additional Information for First Trust Preferred

Securities and Income ETF

Part C - Other Information

Signatures

Index to Exhibits

Exhibits


THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY 30, 2013
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

PROSPECTUS

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF

Ticker Symbol: ______
Exchange: NYSE Arca

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (the "Fund") is an exchange-traded fund organized as a separate series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (the "Trust"), a registered management investment company.

The Fund lists and principally trades its shares (the "Shares") on The NYSE Arca, Inc. ("NYSE Arca" or the "Exchange"). Market prices may differ to some degree from the net asset value ("NAV") of the Shares. Unlike mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares at NAV, only in large specified blocks each consisting of 50,000 Shares (each such block of Shares, called a "Creation Unit," and collectively, the "Creation Units"). The Creation Units are issued for securities in which the Fund invests and/or cash and redeemed for securities and/or cash.

THE FUND IS AN ACTIVELY MANAGED EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND AND EXCEPT WHEN AGGREGATED IN CREATION UNITS, THE SHARES ARE NOT REDEEMABLE SECURITIES OF THE FUND.

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE

________________, 2013


TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY INFORMATION...........................................................1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES......7

FUND INVESTMENTS..............................................................8

ADDITIONAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND....................................12

FUND ORGANIZATION............................................................19

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND.......................................................19

STONEBRIDGE PERFORMANCE......................................................21

HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES...................................................22

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES...........................................24

FEDERAL TAX MATTERS..........................................................24

DISTRIBUTION PLAN............................................................28

NET ASSET VALUE..............................................................28

FUND SERVICE PROVIDERS.......................................................29

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION.................................................29

OTHER INFORMATION............................................................30

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SUMMARY INFORMATION

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund's investment objective is to provide current income and total return.

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Shares of the Fund. Investors purchasing and selling Shares may be subject to costs (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker.

SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) None

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (Expenses that you pay each year as

a percentage of the value of your investment)

     Management Fees                                                0.85%
     Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1)                      0.00%
     Other Expenses(2)                                              0.00%
     Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(2)                             0.00%
                                                                  ---------
     Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses                           0.85%

EXAMPLE

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account customary brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund in the secondary market.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's net operating expenses remain at current levels until February __, 2014 and thereafter at 1.10% to represent the imposition of the 12b-1 fee of 0.25% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

                          1 YEAR     3 YEARS

                          $87        $325

----------------

(1) Although the Fund has adopted a 12b-1 plan that permits it to pay up to 0.25% per annum, it will not pay 12b-1 fees at any time before February _, 2014.

(2) Because the Fund has no operating history, "Other Expenses" and "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" are based on estimated net assets of $100 million for the current fiscal year.


PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in preferred securities ("Preferred Securities") and income-producing debt securities ("Income Securities"). Initially, 50% of the Preferred Securities and 50% of the Income Securities held by the Fund will be exchange-listed. For purposes of the 80% test set forth above, securities of other open-end funds, closed-end funds or exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), that invest primarily in Preferred Securities or Income Securities will be deemed to be Preferred Securities or Income Securities, respectively.

Preferred Securities held by the Fund generally pay fixed or adjustable-rate distributions to investors and have preference over common stock in the payment of distributions and the liquidation of a company's assets, but are generally junior to all forms of the company's debt, including both senior and subordinated debt. Certain of the Preferred Securities may be issued by trusts or other special purpose entities created by companies specifically for the purpose of issuing such securities ("Trust Preferred Securities"). For purposes of the 80% test set forth above, Income Securities consist of both foreign and domestic debt instruments, including corporate bonds, high-yield bonds, convertible securities, contingent convertible capital and hybrid-preferred securities. The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt may carry fixed or floating rates of interest.

The Fund may invest in debt and equity securities issued by non-U.S. companies that are traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange. The non-U.S. equity securities listed on a foreign exchange in which the Fund may invest will be limited to securities that trade in markets that are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group ("ISG"), which includes all U.S. national securities exchanges and certain foreign exchanges, or are parties to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement with the Exchange.

Because the issuers of preferred securities are often financial companies, the Fund intends to concentrate its investments (invest at least 25% of its net assets) in such companies. The Fund invests in the securities of companies in the financials sector which may include banks, thrifts, brokerage firms, broker/dealers, investment banks, finance companies, real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and companies involved in the insurance industry.

Initially, the Fund will invest at least 80% of the Income Securities in securities of an issuing firm when the issuing firm has a long-term issuer credit rating of investment grade at the time of the investment. However, the Fund may reduce the percentage of assets invested in investment grade

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securities. "Investment grade" is defined as those issuers that have a long-term credit rating of "BBB-" or higher by Standard & Poor's Rating Group, a division of McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P"), or "Baa3" or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO"). The Fund may also invest in securities that are unrated by an NRSRO if such securities are of comparable credit quality. For securities with a split rating, the highest rating will be used. Initially, the Fund may also invest up to 20% of the Income Securities in securities issued by below-investment grade issuers if that security has acceptable credit quality and attractive relative value. However, the Fund may increase the percentage of assets invested in below-investment grade securities.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in cash and/or cash equivalents. The Fund may invest in securities issued by companies domiciled in the United States, U.S. dollar-denominated depositary receipts and U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in Rule 144A Securities. Rule 144A Securities are generally subject to resale restrictions and may be illiquid.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

CREDIT RISK. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer's ability to make such payments. Credit risk may be heightened if the Fund invests in "high-yield" or "junk" debt; such securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment-grade debt with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of dividend or interest deferral, default or bankruptcy, and are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay dividends or interest and repay principal.

INTEREST RATE RISK. If interest rates rise, the prices of the fixed-rate instruments held by the Fund may fall.

INCOME RISK. If interest rates fall, the income from the Fund's portfolio may decline as the Fund may hold floating rate debt that will adjust lower with falling interest rates.

PREFERRED SECURITIES RISK. Preferred securities combine some of the characteristics of both common stocks and bonds. Preferred securities are typically subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure, in terms of priority to corporate income, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. Preferred securities are also subject to credit risk, interest rate risk and income risk.

TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES RISK. Unlike preferred stocks, distributions from trust preferred securities are treated as interest rather than dividends for federal income tax purposes and therefore, are not eligible for the dividends

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received deduction and do not constitute qualified dividend income. Distributions on trust preferred securities will be made only if interest payments on the related interest-bearing notes of the operating company are made.

LIQUIDITY RISK. The Fund may invest in lower-quality debt issued by companies that are highly leveraged. Lower-quality debt tends to be less liquid than higher-quality debt. Moreover, smaller debt issues tend to be less liquid than larger debt issues. If the economy experiences a sudden downturn, or if the debt markets for such companies become distressed, the Fund may have particular difficulty selling its assets in sufficient amounts, at reasonable prices and in a sufficiently timely manner to raise the cash necessary to meet any potentially heavy redemption requests by Fund shareholders.

MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular security owned by the Fund or shares of the Fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Overall securities values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.

CONCENTRATION RISK. A fund concentrated in a single industry or sector is likely to present more risks than a fund that is broadly diversified over several industries or sectors. Compared to the broad market, an individual industry or sector may be more strongly affected by changes in the economic climate, broad market shifts, moves in a particular dominant stock, or regulatory changes.

FINANCIAL COMPANY RISK. Financial companies are especially subject to the adverse effects of economic recession, currency exchange rates, government regulation, decreases in the availability of capital, volatile interest rates, portfolio concentrations in geographic markets and in commercial and residential real estate loans, and competition from new entrants in their fields of business.

REIT RISK. Investing in REITs involves risks related to their structure and focus, which include, but are not limited to, dependency upon management skills, limited diversification, the risks of locating and managing financing for projects, heavy cash flow dependency, possible default by borrowers, the costs and potential losses of self-liquidation of one or more holdings, the risk of a possible lack of mortgage funds and associated interest rate risks, overbuilding, property vacancies, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to environmental damages, changes in neighborhood values and appeal to purchases, the possibility of failing to maintain exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act and, in many cases, relatively small market capitalization, which may result in less market liquidity and greater price volatility. Fund shareholders indirectly pay REIT fees and expenses.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as "non-diversified" under the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as

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amended (the "Code"). The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly concentrated in certain issuers.

NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. The Fund may invest in securities of non-U.S. issuers. Such securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to possible adverse political, social or economic developments, restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities, lack of liquidity, currency exchange rates, excessive taxation, government seizure of assets, different legal or accounting standards, and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries. Although the Fund's NAV is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, because the Fund invests in foreign securities, you may lose money if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, even if the local currency value of the Fund's holdings goes up.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS RISK. Depositary receipts may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market. Any distributions paid to the holders of depositary receipts are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights, and investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of depositary receipts because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert equity shares into depositary receipts and vice versa. Such restrictions may cause equity shares of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the depositary receipts.

SMALL FUND RISK. Initially, the Fund may have less assets than larger funds, and like other relatively small funds, large inflows and outflows may impact the Fund's market exposure for limited periods of time, causing the Fund's performance to vary from that of the Fund's model portfolio.

CASH TRANSACTION RISK. The Fund may under certain circumstances effect a portion of creations and redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind securities. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects its creations and redemption for in-kind securities. Because the Fund may effect a portion of redemptions for cash, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. A sale of Shares may result in capital gains or losses, and may also result in higher brokerage costs.

MANAGEMENT RISK. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. In managing the Fund's investment portfolio, the sub-advisor will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not have the desired result. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective.

PERFORMANCE

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, does not have a performance history. Once available, the Fund's performance information, and information that gives some indication of the risks of an investment in the Fund by comparing the Fund's performance with a broad measure of market performance, will be available on the Fund's website at www.ftportfolios.com.

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MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISOR
First Trust Advisors L.P. ("First Trust" or the "Advisor")

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISOR
Stonebridge Advisors LLC ("Stonebridge" or the "Sub-Advisor")

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The following persons serve as the portfolio managers of the Fund. Each has managed the Fund since inception.

o Scott T. Fleming, President, Chief Investment Officer, Stonebridge Advisors LLC;

o Robert Wolf, Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Senior Credit Analyst, Stonebridge Advisors LLC;

o Allen Shepard, Vice President, Senior Risk Analyst and Portfolio Analytics, Stonebridge Advisors LLC; and

o Danielle Salters, CFA, Credit Analyst, Stonebridge Advisors LLC.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

The Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in Creation Units consisting of 50,000 Shares. The Creation Units are issued for securities in which the Fund invests and/or cash, and redeemed for securities and/or cash. Individual Shares may only be purchased and sold on NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade on NYSE Arca at market prices rather than NAV, which may cause the Shares to trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund's distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), First Trust and First Trust Portfolios L.P., the Fund's distributor, may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund Shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND
STRATEGIES

The Fund's investment objective is fundamental and may not be changed without approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Unless an investment policy is identified as being fundamental, all investment policies included in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of the Trust, of which the Fund is a series, without shareholder approval. The Fund has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy pursuant to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Name Policy") whereby the Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in preferred securities and other securities with similar economic characteristics. The Name Policy may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval upon 60 days' prior written notice.

In selecting securities for the Fund, Stonebridge's investment strategy is driven by comprehensive analysis of fixed income preferred and hybrid securities with a goal of investing in securities representing the best relative value in the market. Stonebridge's conservative style of active management combines a bottom-up and top-down approach to security selection that encompasses three significant areas of analysis: credit fundamentals, relative value, and technical aspects of the securities. The bottom-up analysis focuses on individual security analysis, idiosyncratic risks, credit fundamentals and opportunistic trading. The top-down analysis focuses on sector and industry analysis, duration and interest rate analysis, capital structure positioning and systematic risks. Diversification of the fund portfolio within the preferred and hybrid securities asset class is achieved through limits on issuer and industry weightings. In addition to fundamental analysis, Stonebridge draws upon their experience and understanding of the preferred and hybrid securities asset class to take advantage of market inefficiencies through active management.

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FUND INVESTMENTS

PREFERRED SECURITIES

Preferred securities, which generally pay fixed or adjustable-rate dividends or interest to investors, have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends or interest and the liquidation of a company's assets, which means that a company typically must pay dividends or interest on its preferred securities before paying any dividends on its common stock. Preferred securities are generally junior to all forms of the company's debt, including both senior and subordinated debt.

While some preferred securities are issued with a final maturity date, others are perpetual in nature. In certain instances, a final maturity date may be extended and/or the final payment of principal may be deferred at the issuer's option for a specified time without any adverse consequence to the issuer. No redemption can typically take place unless all cumulative payment obligations to preferred security investors have been met, although issuers may be able to engage in open-market repurchases without regard to any cumulative dividends or interest payable. A portion of the portfolio may include investments in non-cumulative preferred securities, whereby the issuer does not have an obligation to make up any arrearages to holders of such securities. Should an issuer default on its obligations under such a security, the amount of income earned by the Fund may be adversely affected.

Preferred securities may be issued by trusts or other special purpose entities established by operating companies, and therefore may not be direct obligations of operating companies. At the time a trust or special purpose entity sells its preferred securities to investors, the trust or special purpose entity generally purchases debt of the operating company (with terms comparable to those of the trust or special purpose entity securities). The trust or special purpose entity, as the holder of the operating company's debt, has priority with respect to the operating company's earnings and profits over the operating company's common shareholders, but is typically subordinated to other classes of the operating company's debt. Typically a preferred share has a rating that is below that of its corresponding operating company's senior debt securities due to its subordinated nature.

FINANCIAL COMPANY SECURITIES

The Fund intends to invest at least 25% of its assets in the securities of financial companies. Financial companies include, but are not limited to, companies involved in activities such as banking, mortgage finance, consumer finance, specialized finance, investment banking and brokerage, asset management and custody, corporate lending, insurance, and financial investment, and real estate, including but not limited to REITs.

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DEBT SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in a variety of debt securities, including corporate debt securities and U.S. government securities. Corporate debt securities are fixed-income securities issued by businesses to finance their operations. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their maturities and secured or unsecured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and is usually unsecured. Certain debt securities held by the Fund may include debt instruments that have economic characteristics that are similar to preferred securities, which shall be included in the 80% requirement for purposes of the Name Policy. Such debt instruments are typically issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest bearing notes, or by an affiliated business trust of a corporation, generally in the form of (i) beneficial interests in subordinated debentures or similarly structured securities or (ii) more senior debt securities that pay income and trade in a manner similar to preferred securities. Such debt instruments that have economic characteristics similar to preferred securities include, trust preferred securities, hybrid trust preferred securities and senior notes/baby bonds.

Trust Preferred Securities. Trust preferred securities combine features of corporate debt securities and preferred stock. The securities generally pay quarterly income. U.S. issues usually have long maturities, while foreign issues are normally perpetual. The creation of a trust preferred generally begins with a company establishing a Delaware limited business trust. The trust issues preferred securities to the public and uses the proceeds to purchase junior subordinated debentures from that company. The terms of the debentures are essentially the same as the terms of the preferred securities. Trust preferreds represent the "preferred" interest in trusts that hold junior subordinated deferrable debentures of the issuer. The parent may then use the proceeds for general corporate purposes. The issuer of trust preferred securities are generally able to defer or skip payments for up to five years without being in default. In the event that the issuer skips or defers a payment, the holder of the security is generally still subject to taxation on the missed payments.

Hybrid Trust Preferred Securities. Hybrid trust preferred securities have many characteristics that are similar to traditional trust preferred securities. The following items are some of the distinguishing features found in most hybrid structures.

o The securities have long-term maturities (a minimum of 30 years) or are perpetual. They typically rank senior to common shares and perpetual preferred shares, and junior to senior debt and trust preferred securities.

o In most cases, the issuer is allowed to defer the coupon payments for up to 10 years, provided certain conditions are met. The investor would still face tax liability on the skipped payments. In perpetual structures issued by foreign corporations, the issuer can generally skip a payment for an unlimited period without being in default, and the investor faces no tax liability on the skipped payments.

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o Some $25 par securities have mandatory payment deferral provisions that list objective financial criteria that would require the issuer to skip a coupon payment. Such provisions remove some of management's discretion in deciding to skip a payment.

o Most cumulative issues have an Alternative Payment Mechanism ("APM") in the event that the issuer cannot meet its coupon payments. At certain times, the issuer may issue new common stock to finance the deferred payment. In many cases, the APM becomes mandatory after five years of payment deferment.

o Most hybrid securities have "replacement language" that requires an issue to be replaced with a security of equal or greater equity credit. The language can be in the form of either a replacement capital covenant, or stated intent.

o Some hybrid securities have replacement capital covenants that can determine when the security will be redeemed. The replacement capital covenants limit the issuer to raising funds to redeem the securities at the 30-year scheduled date only by issuing new securities with equal or greater equity content than the maturing issue. If the issuer is unable to do so when the scheduled maturity date arrives, the security remains outstanding until the final maturity. In many cases, the coupon on the security turns from fixed to floating in the period between the scheduled and final maturity date.

Senior Notes/Baby Bonds. Senior notes, also called baby bonds, are bonds designed to trade like preferred securities. They trade in $25 par amounts, pay quarterly interest, and are typically callable five years after issuance. Unlike the other structures, the issuer generally cannot skip or defer payments on senior notes without entering into default. These bonds rank higher in the capital structure than hybrids, trust preferreds and traditional preferreds. The payments on senior notes/baby bonds are generally cumulative, in that the issuer must make good on all missed payments before making any payout on a junior ranking security such as a hybrid, trust preferred or perpetual preferred security.

U.S. Government Securities. U.S. government securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies of the U.S. government, or by various instrumentalities which have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. government. Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. government sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

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Other Debt Securities. The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt may be rated investment-grade or below investment-grade and may carry fixed or floating rates of interest. The Fund may also invest in senior loans, second lien loans, loan participations, payment-in-kind securities, zero coupon bonds, bank certificates of deposit, fixed-time deposits, bankers acceptances, U.S. government securities or fixed-income securities issued by non-U.S. governments denominated in U.S. dollars.

NON-U.S. INVESTMENTS

The Fund may invest in securities issued by non-U.S. companies that are traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND OTHER POOLED INVESTMENT VEHICLES

The Fund may invest in securities of other open-end or closed-end investment companies, including ETFs, that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund may invest in the securities of ETFs in excess of the limits imposed under the 1940 Act pursuant to exemptive orders obtained by certain ETFs and their sponsors from the Securities and Exchange Commission. An ETF is a fund that holds a portfolio of securities generally designed to track the performance of a securities index, including industry, sector, country and region indexes. ETFs trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value.

As a shareholder in a pooled investment vehicle, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that vehicle's expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund's advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the fund invests in other pooled investment vehicles. In addition, the Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs or closed-end funds. Securities of other pooled investment vehicles may be leveraged, in which case the value and/or yield of such securities will tend to be more volatile than securities of unleveraged vehicles.

CASH EQUIVALENTS AND SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS

Normally, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities with maturities of less than one year or cash equivalents, or it may hold cash. The percentage of the Fund invested in such holdings varies and depends on several factors, including market conditions. For temporary defensive purposes and during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, the Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies and invest part or all of its assets in these securities or it may hold cash. During such periods, the Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective. The Fund may adopt a defensive strategy when the portfolio managers believe securities in which the Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to political or economic factors and in other extraordinary circumstances. For more information on eligible short term investments, see the SAI.

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ILLIQUID SECURITIES

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities and other instruments that are, at the time of investment, illiquid (determined using the Securities and Exchange Commission's standard applicable to investment companies, i.e. securities that cannot be disposed of by the Fund within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities). For this purpose, illiquid securities may include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may only be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), that are deemed to be illiquid, and certain repurchase agreements.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. The investment in convertible securities is not a principal investment strategy of the Fund. Convertible securities combine the investment characteristics of bonds and common stocks. Convertible securities typically consist of debt securities or preferred stock that may be converted within a specified period of time (typically for the entire life of the security) into a certain amount of common stock or other equity security of the same or a different issuer at a predetermined price. They also include debt securities with warrants or common stock attached and derivatives combining the features of debt securities and equity securities. Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt, or dividends paid or accrued on preferred stock, until the security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

A description of the policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is included in the Fund's SAI and on the Fund's website at www.ftportfolios.com.

ADDITIONAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

PRINCIPAL RISKS

Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may lose all or part of your investment. There can be no assurance that the Fund will meet its stated objective. Before you invest, you should consider the following risks in addition to the Principal Risks set forth above in this Prospectus:

PREFERRED SECURITIES RISK. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks -- Preferred Securities Risk," an investment in preferred securities involves the further risks not associated with an investment in common stocks set forth below.

o Limited Voting Rights. Generally, holders of preferred securities (such as the Fund) have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may elect a number

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of directors to the issuer's board. Generally, once the issuer pays all the arrearages, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights.

o Special Redemptions Rights. In certain circumstances, an issuer of p referred securities may redeem the securities prior to a specified date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a redemption may be triggered by a change in federal income tax or securities laws. As with call provisions, a special redemption by the issuer may negatively impact the return of the security held by the Fund.

o Deferral. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring its distributions, the Fund may be required to report income for federal income tax purposes although it has not yet received such income in cash.

o Subordination. Preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.

o Liquidity. Preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks or U.S. government securities.

TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES RISK. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks -- Trust Preferred Securities Risk," the Fund may be subject to additional risk because a corporation issuing interest-bearing notes may defer interest payments on these instruments for up to 20 consecutive quarters, if such election is made distributions will not be made on the trust preferred securities during the deferral period. Further, certain tax or regulatory events may trigger the redemption of the interest-bearing notes by the issuing corporation and result in prepayment of the trust preferred securities prior to their stated maturity date.

CREDIT RISK. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks -- Credit Risk," the Fund may be subject to the following risks. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt instrument may be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of an instrument may decline because of concerns about the issuer's ability or unwillingness to make such payments. High-yield and comparable unrated debt securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment-grade debt with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of dividend or interest deferral, default or bankruptcy, and are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay dividends or interest and repay principal.

INTEREST RATE RISK. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks -- Interest Rate Risk," the Fund may be subject to the following risks. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the fixed-income instruments held by the

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Fund will decline because of rising market interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally lower for shorter-term investments and higher for longer-term investments. Duration is a common measure of interest rate risk. The longer the duration of a debt instrument, the greater the instrument's price sensitivity is to changes in interest rates.

FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES RISK. An investment in the Fund also involves risk associated with an investment in fixed-income securities including the risk that certain of the securities in the Fund may not have the benefit of covenants which would prevent the issuer from engaging in capital restructurings or borrowing transactions in connection with corporate acquisitions, leveraged buyouts or restructurings which could have the effect of reducing the ability of the issuer to meet its payment obligations and might result in increased credit risk. In addition, certain of the securities may be redeemed or prepaid by the issuer, resulting in lower interest payments received by the Fund and reduced distributions to shareholders.

NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks -- Non-U.S. Securities Risk," an investment in securities or instruments of non-U.S. issuers involves additional risks not associated with domestic issuers. Non-U.S. countries may impose higher withholding taxes on dividends and interest than the United States. Non-U.S. countries may also impose limitations on the use of or transfer of portfolio assets. Enforcing legal rights may be more difficult, expensive and time consuming in non-U.S. countries, and investors may force unique problems enforcing claims against non-U.S. governments. Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the Fund's net asset value, the value of dividends and interest earned, and gains and losses realized on the sale of securities. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies may cause the value of the Fund to decline. Certain non-U.S. currencies may be particularly volatile, and non-U.S. governments may intervene in the currency markets, causing a decline in value or liquidity in the Fund's non-U.S. holdings whose value is tied to the affected non-U.S. currency.

FINANCIAL COMPANY RISK. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks -- Financial Company Risk," an investment in financial companies involves additional risks not set forth above. Negative developments relating to the subprime mortgage market have adversely affected credit and capital markets worldwide and reduced the willingness of lenders to extend credit, making borrowing on favorable terms more difficult. In addition, the liquidity of certain debt instruments has been reduced or eliminated due to the lack of available market makers. Banks and thrifts face increased competition from nontraditional lending sources as regulatory changes permit new entrants to offer various financial products. Regulatory changes could cause business disruptions or result in significant loss of revenue, and there can be no assurance as to the actual impact that these laws and their regulations will have on the financial markets.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS RISK. In addition to the risks above in "Principal Risks -- Depositary Receipts Risk," an investment in depositary receipts involves further risks due to certain features of Depositary Receipts. Depositary receipts are usually in the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") or Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"). ADRs are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts representing shares of foreign-based corporations. ADRs are issued by U.S. banks or trust companies, and entitle the holder to all dividends and capital gains that are paid out on the underlying foreign shares. GDRs are similar to ADRs, but are shares of foreign-based corporations generally issued by international banks in one or more markets around the world. ADRs or GDRs may be less liquid

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than the underlying shares in their primary trading market. Any distributions paid to the holders of depositary receipts, whether ADRs or GDRs, are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary.

Holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights pursuant to a deposit agreement between the underlying issuer and the depositary. In certain cases, the depositary will vote the equity shares deposited with it as directed by the underlying issuer's board of directors. Furthermore, investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of depositary receipts because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert equity shares into depositary receipts and vice versa. Such restrictions may cause equity shares of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the depositary receipt. Moreover, if depositary receipts are converted into equity shares, the laws in certain countries may limit the ability of a non-resident to trade the equity shares and to reconvert the equity shares to depositary receipts.

Depositary receipts may be "sponsored" or "unsponsored." Sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depositary and the underlying issuer, whereas unsponsored depositary receipts may be established by a depositary without participation by the underlying issuer. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs associated with establishing the unsponsored depositary receipts. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts.

Depositary receipts may be unregistered and unlisted. The Fund's investments may also include depositary receipts that are not purchased in the public markets and are restricted securities that can be offered and sold only to "qualified institutional buyers" under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between the Fund's decision to sell these types of depositary receipts and the point at which the Fund is permitted or able to sell such security, the Fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell.

CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS RISK. Domestic and international markets have experienced a period of decreased economic activity across all sectors of the world economy, and unemployment remains at increased levels. These market conditions began with problems in the financial sector, many of which were caused by defaults on "subprime" mortgages and mortgage-backed securities. These market conditions increase the risk that the value of the Fund's assets may be subject to steep declines or increased volatility due to changes in performance or perception of the issuers.

LIQUIDITY RISK. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks--Liquidity Risk," an investment in the Fund involves further risk due to the fact that the Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in lower-quality debt instruments issued by companies that are highly leveraged. Lower-quality debt tends to be less liquid than higher-quality debt. If the economy experiences a sudden downturn, or if the debt markets for such companies become distressed, the Fund may have particular difficulty selling its assets in

15

sufficient amounts, at reasonable prices and in a sufficiently timely manner to raise the cash necessary to meet any potentially heavy redemption requests by Fund shareholders. In such event, there would be a greater chance that the Fund may be forced to curtail or suspend redemptions, in which case you might experience a delay or inability to liquidate your investment at the desired time or in the desired amount.

ADDITIONAL RISKS

HIGH-YIELD SECURITIES RISK. The Fund's investment in high-yield, high-risk, fixed-rate, domestic and foreign obligations, or "junk" securities, may entail increased credit risks and the risk that the value of Fund's assets will decline, and may decline precipitously, with increases in interest rates. In recent years there have been wide fluctuations in interest rates and thus in the value of fixed-rate, obligations generally. Securities such as those included in the Fund are, under most circumstances, subject to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss of income and principal than are investments in lower-yielding, higher-rated securities, and their value may decline precipitously because of increases in interest rates, not only because the increases in rates generally decrease values, but also because increased rates may indicate a slowdown in the economy and a decrease in the value of assets generally that may adversely affect the credit of issuers of high-yield, high-risk securities resulting in a higher incidence of defaults among high-yield, high-risk securities. A slowdown in the economy, or a development adversely affecting an issuer's creditworthiness, may result in the issuer being unable to maintain earnings or sell assets at the rate and at the prices, respectively, that are required to produce sufficient cash flow to meet its interest and principal requirements. For an issuer that has outstanding both senior commercial bank debt and subordinated high-yield, high-risk securities, an increase in interest rates will increase that issuer's interest expense insofar as the interest rate on the bank debt is fluctuating. However, many leveraged issuers enter into interest rate protection agreements to fix or cap the interest rate on a large portion of their bank debt. This reduces exposure to increasing rates, but reduces the benefit to the issuer of declining rates. The Advisor cannot predict future economic policies or their consequences or, therefore, the course or extent of any similar market fluctuations in the future.

High-yield debt may be issued by companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by issuers that have questionable credit strength. High-yield debt and comparable unrated debt securities: (a) will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of the rating agency evaluating the instrument, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions; and (b) are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay dividends or interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. Many lower-quality debt securities are subject to legal or contractual restrictions limiting the Fund's ability to resell the securities to the general public.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES RISK. Convertible securities have characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, are exposed to certain additional risks. The market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, a convertible security's market value also tends to reflect the market price of

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the common stock of the issuing company, particularly when the stock price is greater than the convertible security's conversion price (i.e., the predetermined price or exchange ratio at which the convertible security can be converted or exchanged for the underlying common stock). Convertible securities are also exposed to the risk that an issuer is unable to meet its obligation to make dividend or principal payments when due as a result of changing financial or market conditions. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of their potential for capital appreciation.

Mandatory convertible securities are a subset of convertible securities. The conversion of such securities is not optional, and the conversion price at maturity is based solely upon the market price of the underlying common stock, which may be significantly less than par or the price (above or below par) paid. Mandatory convertible securities generally are subject to a greater risk of loss of value than securities convertible at the option of the holder.

ISSUER SPECIFIC CHANGES RISK. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

BORROWING AND LEVERAGE RISKS. The Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes, including to meet redemption requests, pay dividends or clear portfolio transactions. Such borrowing may, in some instances, effectively leverage the Fund's portfolio, which could exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the Fund's shares and affect the Fund's net income. When the Fund borrows money, it must pay interest and other fees, which will reduce the Fund's returns if such costs exceed the returns on the portfolio securities purchased or retained with such borrowings. Any such borrowings are intended to be temporary. However, under certain market conditions, including periods of low demand or decreased liquidity, such borrowings might be outstanding for longer periods of time. As prescribed by the 1940 Act, the Fund will be required to maintain specified asset coverages of at least 300% with respect to any bank borrowing immediately following such borrowing. The Fund may be required to dispose of assets on unfavorable terms if market fluctuations or other factors reduce the Fund's asset coverage to less than the prescribed amount.

In addition, when the Fund invests in certain derivative securities, including, but not limited to, when issued securities, forward commitments, futures contracts and interest rate swaps, it is effectively leveraging its investments. Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the Fund's shares and can result in losses that exceed the amount originally invested.

RISK OF CASH TRANSACTIONS. In addition to the risks described above in "Principal Risks -- Cash Transaction Risk," the Fund currently intends to effect a significant portion of creations and redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind securities. As a result, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects its creations and redemptions for in-kind securities. ETFs are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gains on the distributed portfolio securities at the fund level. Because the Fund intends to effect a significant portion of redemptions for cash, it may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the

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cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. Any recognized gain on these sales by the Fund will generally cause the Fund to recognize gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. The Fund generally intends to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if the Fund sold and redeemed its shares principally in-kind, will be passed on to purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of the Fund's Shares than for ETFs that distribute portfolio securities in-kind.

INFLATION RISK. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the value of the Fund's assets can decline as can the value of the Fund's distributions. Certain securities in which the Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase.

TRADING ISSUES

Although Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such Shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Shares on NYSE Arca may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of NYSE Arca, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on NYSE Arca is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to NYSE Arca "circuit breaker" rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of NYSE Arca necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. Initially, due to the small asset size of the Fund, it may have difficulty maintaining its listing on NYSE Arca.

FLUCTUATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The NAV of Shares of the Fund will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund's holdings. The market prices of Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for Shares on NYSE Arca. First Trust cannot predict whether Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. However, given that Shares can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their NAV), First Trust believes that large discounts or premiums to the NAV of Shares should not be sustained.

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FUND ORGANIZATION

The Fund is the initial series of the Trust, an investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund is treated as a separate fund with its own investment objective and policies. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. Its Board is responsible for the overall management and direction of the Trust. The Board elects the Trust's officers and approves all significant agreements, including those with the investment advisor, custodian and fund administrative and accounting agent.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

First Trust Advisors L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, is the investment advisor to the Fund. In this capacity, First Trust is responsible for overseeing the Sub-Advisor in the investment of the Fund's assets, managing the Fund's business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services.

First Trust is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. Grace Partners of DuPage L.P. is a limited partnership with one general partner, The Charger Corporation, and a number of limited partners. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, the Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust discharges its responsibilities subject to the policies of the Board.

First Trust serves as advisor or sub-advisor for 16 mutual fund portfolios, 6 exchange traded funds consisting of 73 series and 13 closed-end funds and is also the portfolio supervisor of certain unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP"), 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. FTP specializes in the underwriting, trading and distribution of unit investment trusts and other securities. FTP is the principal underwriter of the Shares of the Fund.

The Fund and First Trust have retained Stonebridge, an affiliate of First Trust, to serve as investment sub-advisor. In this capacity, Stonebridge is responsible for the selection and on-going monitoring of the securities in the Fund's investment portfolio. Stonebridge is a niche asset management firm that manages portfolios of preferred securities for investors. Stonebridge, formed in December 2004, serves as investment advisor or portfolio supervisor to investment portfolios with approximately $1.4 billion in assets which it managed or supervised as of September 30, 2012. A portion of these assets are contained in investments sponsored by FTP, for which Stonebridge acts as sub-portfolio supervisor.

To implement the investment strategy, Stonebridge utilizes a repeatable and consistent investment process that centers on security selection. The process for security selection that it practices encompasses relative value analysis, fundamental credit analysis and market technical analysis. This process allows Stonebridge to source securities in the preferred asset class based on attributes such as credit quality, yield and capital structure positioning while also focusing on equally important market technicals such as trading volumes, liquidity and pricing inefficiencies.

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New investments are presented to the Stonebridge investment committee and thoroughly vetted before inclusion into the portfolio. Investment risk factors and compliance considerations are included in the vetting process. Once an investment decision has been approved by the investment committee, the portfolio managers will look to act upon that investment decision.

The members of Stonebridge's investment committee are Scott T. Fleming, Robert Wolf, Allen Shepard and Danielle Salters who serve as the Fund's portfolio managers and share responsibilities for the day-to-day management of the Fund's investment portfolio.

o Scott T. Fleming serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of Stonebridge. Prior to founding Stonebridge, Mr. Fleming co-founded Spectrum Asset Management, Inc., an investment advisor that specializes in preferred securities asset management for institutional clients and mutual funds. During his 13-year tenure there, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Fleming previously served as Vice President, Portfolio Manager for DBL Preferred Management, Inc. in New York City. There he managed over $300 million of institutional assets with a strategy specializing in preferred securities. Mr. Fleming received a BS in Accounting from Bentley College in Waltham, MA and his MBA in Finance from Babson College in Wellesley, MA.

o Robert Wolf serves as Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Senior Credit Analyst of Stonebridge. Mr. Wolf brings 13 years of fixed-income experience to Stonebridge. His primary focus is in analyzing both investment-grade and non-investment-grade securities, where he has developed a rigorous approach to credit and industry analysis. Prior to joining Stonebridge, Mr. Wolf was a high-yield fixed-income research analyst at Lehman Brothers. In this role, his responsibilities included detailed credit analysis across multiple sectors, relative value analysis, and developing trade recommendations for Lehman's High-Yield proprietary trading effort. Mr. Wolf previously worked for Lehman Brothers Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) trading desk as a credit analyst where he provided in-depth analysis of CMBS transactions and the underlying Commercial Real Estate. Mr. Wolf received his BS degree in Chemistry from Villanova University in 1999 and his MBA in Finance from the New York University Stern School of Business in 2004.

o Allen Shepard, PhD, serves as Senior Risk Analyst and Portfolio Analytics of Stonebridge. Dr. Shepard joined Stonebridge in 2004 and developed proprietary hedging models for use in managing preferred and fixed-income securities. Prior to joining Stonebridge, Dr. Shepard held positions as a Gibbs Instructor in the Mathematics Department at Yale University and as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Allegheny College. He received a BA in Mathematics from Hampshire College in 1980 and a PhD in Mathematics from Brown University in 1985, specializing in the field of algebraic topology. Dr. Shepard returned to graduate school during 1995-1997, first in the Economics Department at MIT and then in the PhD program in Economics at Boston University.

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o Danielle Salters serves as Credit Analyst for Stonebridge. Ms. Salters has five years of investment management experience of which four years have been focused on fixed income. Previous functions have included fundamental credit research, relative value analysis and trading. Prior to beginning at Stonebridge, Ms. Salters was Portfolio Analyst at a boutique asset manager where she focused on high-yield credit analysis and portfolio analytics for a hedge fund and institutional client. Previously, Ms. Salters was employed by UBS Financial Services, Inc. where she worked in Taxable Fixed Income Sales and, later, served as the Fixed Income Specialist to a Portfolio Manager. Ms. Salters received a B.A. in economics from Duke University in 2007 and is a CFA Charterholder.

Additional information about the portfolio managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers' ownership of securities in the Fund is provided in the SAI.

MANAGEMENT FEE

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, First Trust will manage the investment of the Fund's assets and will be responsible for the Fund's expenses, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, but excluding fee payments under the Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees pursuant to a 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses.

The Fund has agreed to pay First Trust an annual management fee equal to 0.85% of its average daily net assets. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has neither commenced operations nor paid management fees.

A discussion regarding the Board's approval of the Investment Management Agreement for the Fund will be available in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended ________, 20__.

STONEBRIDGE PERFORMANCE

The table and chart below illustrate the historical performance of the Stonebridge Taxable Preferred Composite, which is derived from all of the accounts that are managed by Stonebridge that have objectives, strategies and investment policies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. The Stonebridge Taxable Preferred Composite consisted of 808 accounts totaling approximately $201 million in assets as of December 31, 2011. The accounts included are not subject to all of the same investment restrictions, investment inflows and outflows, and distribution requirements as the Fund, which may affect Fund performance. The accounts are not subject to the diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and the Code, which, if applicable, may have adversely affected performance. Performance provided for the Stonebridge Taxable Preferred Composite is [gross/net] of the Fund's annual operating expenses of 0.__%. You cannot invest directly in an index.

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Of course, past performance is no indication of future results. The tables and charts presented here represent the performance of other accounts managed by Stonebridge and not actual Fund performance. The performance presented below is calculated on a daily basis. Please see www.ftportfolios.com for the Fund's most recent performance information, when available.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                   Average Annual Returns as of _____, 2012
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Since
                                                1 year      3 years      5 years     Inception
--------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
Stonebridge Taxable Preferred Composite(1)
--------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------
BofA Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred
Securities Index (POP1)(2)
--------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------

1 Inception date for Stonebridge Taxable Preferred Composite is July 13, 2005.

2 The BofA Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index (POP1) tracks the performance of fixed rate U.S. dollar-denominated preferred securities issued in the U.S. domestic market.

GROWTH OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT 12/2005 - 12/2009

[INSERT PERFORMANCE GRAPH]

HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES

Most investors will buy and sell Shares of the Fund in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of the Fund are expected to be listed for trading on the secondary market on NYSE Arca. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded shares. There is no minimum investment when buying Shares on NYSE Arca. Although Shares are generally purchased and sold in "round lots" of 100 Shares, brokerage firms typically permit investors to purchase or sell Shares in smaller "odd lots," at no per-Share price differential. When buying or selling Shares through a broker, investors should expect to incur customary brokerage commissions, investors may receive less than the NAV of the Shares, and investors may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offer price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. Share prices are reported in dollars and cents per Share.

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund is treated as a registered investment company, and the acquisition of Shares by other registered investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits certain registered investment companies to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions, including that any such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Fund regarding the terms of any investment.

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BOOK ENTRY

Shares are held in book-entry form, which means that no Share certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding Shares of the Fund and is recognized as the owner of all Shares for all purposes.

Investors owning Shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all Shares. Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of Shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of Share certificates or to have Shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of Shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of Shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other stocks that you hold in book-entry or "street name" form.

SHARE TRADING PRICES

The trading prices of Shares of the Fund on NYSE Arca may differ from the Fund's daily NAV and can be affected by market forces of supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors.

Information regarding the intra-day value of the Shares of the Fund, also referred to as the "indicative optimized portfolio value" ("IOPV"), is disseminated every 15 seconds throughout the Fund's trading day by the national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or by market data vendors or other information providers. The IOPV should not be viewed as a "real-time" update of the NAV per Share of the Fund because the IOPV may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once a day, generally at the end of the business day. The price of a non-U.S. security that is primarily traded on a non-U.S. exchange will be updated, using the last sale price, every 15 seconds throughout the trading day, provided, that upon the closing of such non-U.S. exchange, the closing price of the security, after being converted to U.S. dollars, will be used. Furthermore, in calculating the IOPV of the Fund's Shares, exchange rates may be used throughout the day (9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Eastern time) that may differ from those used to calculate the NAV per Share of the Fund and consequently may result in differences between the NAV and the IOPV. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the IOPV of Shares of the Fund and the Fund does not make any warranty as to its accuracy.

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF THE FUND'S SHARES

The Fund imposes no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions ("market timing"). In determining not to approve a written, established policy, the Board evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Fund's shareholders. The Board considered that the Fund's Shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund in Creation Units by broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (i.e., authorized participants ("APs") and that the vast majority of trading in the Fund's Shares occurs on the secondary market. Because the secondary market trades do not involve the Fund directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of

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portfolio management, increases in the Fund's trading costs and the realization of capital gains. As the Fund may effect the purchase or redemption of Creation Units in exchange wholly or partially for cash, the Board noted that such trades could result in dilution to the Fund and increased transaction costs, which could negatively impact the Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective. However, the Board noted that direct trading by APs is critical to ensuring that the Shares trade at or close to NAV. In addition, the Fund imposes fixed and variable transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by the Fund in effecting trades. Finally, the Advisor monitors orders from APs for patterns of abusive trading and the Fund reserves the right to not accept orders from APs that the Advisor has determined may be disruptive to the management of the Fund, or otherwise not in the Fund's best interests.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly by the Fund. The Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually.

Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole Shares only if the broker through whom you purchased Shares makes such option available. Such Shares will generally be reinvested by the broker based upon the market price of those Shares and investors may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by the broker.

FEDERAL TAX MATTERS

This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning Shares of the Fund. This section is current as of the date of this Prospectus. Tax laws and interpretations change frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do not describe your situation if you are a corporation, a non-U.S. person, a broker-dealer, or other investor with special circumstances. In addition, this section does not describe your state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.

This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Fund. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, counsel to the Fund was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to, the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be included in the Fund. This may not be sufficient for you to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law.

As with any investment, you should seek advice based on your individual circumstances from your own tax advisor.

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FUND STATUS

The Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the federal tax laws. If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes its income as required by the tax law, the Fund generally will not pay federal income taxes.

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund's distributions are generally taxable. After the end of each year, you will receive a tax statement that separates the distributions of the Fund into two categories, ordinary income distributions and capital gains dividends. Ordinary income distributions are generally taxed at your ordinary tax rate, however, as further discussed below, certain ordinary income distributions received from the Fund may be taxed at the capital gains tax rates. Generally, you will treat all capital gains dividends as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your Shares. Some capital gains dividend may be taxed at a maximum stated tax rate of 25%. To determine your actual tax liability for your capital gain dividends, you must calculate your total net capital gain or loss for the tax year after considering all of your other taxable transactions, as described below. In addition, the Fund may make distributions that represent a return of capital for tax purposes and thus will generally not be taxable to you. The tax status of your distributions from the Fund is not affected by whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Shares or receive them in cash. The income from the Fund that you must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts used to pay a deferred sales fee, if any. The tax laws may require you to treat distributions made to you in January as if you had received them on December 31 of the previous year.

Under the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," income from the Fund may also be subject to a new 3.8 % "Medicare tax" imposed for taxable years beginning after 2012. This tax will generally apply to your net investment income if your adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts, which are $250,000 in the case of married couples filing joint returns and $200,000 in the case of single individuals.

DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION

A corporation that owns Shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to many dividends received from the Fund because the dividends received deduction is generally not available for distributions from regulated investment companies. However, certain ordinary income dividends on Shares that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund from certain corporations may be reported by the Fund as being eligible for the dividends received deduction.

CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES AND CERTAIN ORDINARY INCOME DIVIDENDS

If you are an individual, the maximum marginal federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 20% for taxpayers in the 39.6% tax bracket, 15% for taxpayers in the 25%, 28%, 33% and 35% tax brackets and 0% for taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets.

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Net capital gain equals net long-term capital gain minus net short-term capital loss for the taxable year. Capital gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less. You must exclude the date you purchase your Shares to determine your holding period. However, if you receive a capital gain dividend from the Fund and sell your Shares at a loss after holding it for six months or less, the loss will be recharacterized as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividend received. The tax rates for capital gains realized from assets held for one year or less are generally the same as for ordinary income. The Code treats certain capital gains as ordinary income in special situations.

Ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a regulated investment company such as the Fund are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain (as discussed above), provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund itself. The Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distribution which may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for the capital gains tax rates.

SALE OF SHARES

If you sell or redeem your Shares, you will generally recognize a taxable gain or loss. To determine the amount of this gain or loss, you must subtract your tax basis in your Shares from the amount you receive in the transaction. Your tax basis in your Shares is generally equal to the cost of your Shares, generally including sales charges. In some cases, however, you may have to adjust your tax basis after you purchase your Shares.

TAXES ON PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

If you exchange equity securities for Creation Units you will generally recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and your aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the cash component paid. If you exchange Creation Units for equity securities, you will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between your basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the Cash Redemption Amount. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units or Creation Units for securities cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing "wash sales," or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

DEDUCTIBILITY OF FUND EXPENSES

Expenses incurred and deducted by the Fund will generally not be treated as income taxable to you. In some cases, however, you may be required to treat your

26

portion of these Fund expenses as income. In these cases you may be able to take a deduction for these expenses. However, certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, may be deducted by individuals only to the extent that all of these deductions exceed 2% of the individual's adjusted gross income. Some individuals may also be subject to further limitations on the amount of their itemized deductions, depending on their income.

NON-U.S. TAX CREDIT

Because the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, the tax statement that you receive may include an item showing non-U.S. taxes the Fund paid to other countries. In this case, dividends taxed to you will include your share of the taxes the Fund paid to other countries. You may be able to deduct or receive a tax credit for your share of these taxes.

NON-U.S. INVESTORS

If you are a non-U.S. investor (i.e., an investor other than a U.S. citizen or resident or a U.S. corporation, partnership, estate or trust), you should be aware that, generally, subject to applicable tax treaties, distributions from the Fund will be characterized as dividends for federal income tax purposes
(other than dividends which the Fund properly reports as capital gain dividends)
and will be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, subject to certain exceptions described below. However, distributions received by a non-U.S. investor from the Fund that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, provided that the Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met. In the case of dividends with respect to taxable years of the Fund beginning prior to 2014, distributions from the Fund that are properly reported by the Fund as an interest-related dividend attributable to certain interest income received by the Fund or as a short-term capital gains dividend attributable to certain net short-term capital gains income received by the Fund may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes when received by certain foreign investors, provided that the Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met. Distributions after December 31, 2013 may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax of 30% in the case of distributions to (i) certain non-U.S. financial institutions that have not entered into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury to collect and disclose certain information and are not resident in a jurisdiction that has entered into such an agreement with the U.S. Treasury and (ii) certain other non- U.S. entities that do not provide certain certifications and information about the entity's U.S. owners. Dispositions of Shares by such persons may be subject to such withholding after December 31, 2016.

INVESTMENTS IN CERTAIN NON-U.S. CORPORATIONS

If the Fund holds an equity interest in any PFICs, which are generally certain non-U.S. corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. The Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, the Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, the

27

Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be treated as qualified dividend income.

DISTRIBUTION PLAN

FTP serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. FTP does not maintain a secondary market in Shares.

The Board has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with its Rule 12b-1 plan, the Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets each year to reimburse FTP for amounts expended to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units or the provision of investor services. FTP may also use this amount to compensate securities dealers or other persons that are APs for providing distribution assistance, including broker-dealer and shareholder support and educational and promotional services.

Pursuant to a contractual arrangement, the Fund will not pay 12b-1 fees any time before February __, 2014. However, in the event 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.

NET ASSET VALUE

The Fund's NAV is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. NAV is calculated for the Fund by taking the market price of the Fund's total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing such amount by the total number of Shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the NAV per Share. All valuations are subject to review by the Board or its delegate.

The Fund's investments are valued at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Trust's Board of Trustees and in accordance with the 1940 Act. Portfolio securities listed on any exchange other than The NASDAQ(R) Stock Market Inc. ("NASDAQ(R)") and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market ("AIM") are valued at the last sale price on the business day as of which such value is being determined. Securities listed on the NASDAQ(R) or the AIM are valued at the official closing price on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, or no official closing price in the case of securities traded on NASDAQ(R) or the AIM, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Portfolio securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, on the business day as of which such value is being determined at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for

28

such securities. Portfolio securities traded in the over-the-counter market, but excluding securities trading on NASDAQ(R) and the AIM, are valued at the closing bid prices. Short-term investments that mature in less than 60 days when purchased are valued at amortized cost.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Board or its delegate at fair value. The use of fair value pricing by the Fund is governed by valuation procedures adopted by the Board and in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market 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 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. The use of fair value prices by the Fund generally results in the prices used by the Fund that may differ from current market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchange. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities. See the Fund's SAI for details.

Valuing the Fund's holdings using fair value pricing will result in using prices for those holdings that may differ from current market valuations.

Because foreign securities exchanges may be open on different days than the days during which an investor may purchase or sell Shares of the Fund, the value of the Fund's securities may change on days when investors are not able to purchase or sell Shares of the Fund. The value of securities denominated in foreign currencies is converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation.

FUND SERVICE PROVIDERS

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. acts as the administrator, accounting agent, custodian and transfer agent to the Fund. Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, serves as legal counsel to the Fund.

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, does not have information about the differences between the Fund's daily market price on NYSE Arca and its NAV.

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OTHER INFORMATION

CONTINUOUS OFFERING

The Fund will issue, on a continuous offering basis, its Shares in one or more groups of a fixed number of Fund Shares (each such group of such specified number of individual Fund Shares, a "Creation Unit Aggregation"). The method by which Creation Unit Aggregations of Fund Shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Unit Aggregations of Shares are issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, a "distribution," as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur at any point. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Unit Aggregations after placing an order with FTP, breaks them down into constituent Shares and sells such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a characterization as an underwriter.

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not "underwriters" but are effecting transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, are generally required to deliver a Prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker-dealer firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with the Shares that are part of an overallotment within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to Shares are reminded that, under the Securities Act Rule 153, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to a broker-dealer in connection with a sale on NYSE Arca is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available from NYSE Arca upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is available with respect to transactions on a national securities exchange, a trading facility or an alternative trading system.

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FIRST TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES AND INCOME ETF

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more detailed information on the Fund, several additional sources of information are available to you. The SAI, incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, contains detailed information on the Fund's policies and operation. Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the annual and semi-annual reports to Shareholders. In the Fund's annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly impacted the Fund's performance during the last fiscal year. The Fund's most recent SAI, annual or semi-annual reports and certain other information are available free of charge by calling the Fund at (800) 621-1675, on the Fund's website at www.ftportfolios.com or through your financial advisor. Shareholders may call the toll-free number above with any inquiries.

You may obtain this and other information regarding the Fund, including the Codes of Ethics adopted by First Trust, FTP and the Trust, directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Information on the SEC's website is free of charge. Visit the SEC's on-line EDGAR database at http://www.sec.gov or in person at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., or call the SEC at (202) 551-8090 for information on the Public Reference Room. You may also request information regarding the Fund by sending a request (along with a duplication fee) to the SEC's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-1520 or by sending an electronic request to publicinfo@sec.gov.

First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive
Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(800) 621-1675 SEC File #: 333-176976 www.ftportfolios.com 811-22245


THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OF SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DATED JANUARY 30, 2013
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-22245
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

TICKER
FUND NAME SYMBOL EXCHANGE

FIRST TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES AND INCOME ETF

DATED __________, 2013

This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated _________, 2013 for First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (the "Fund"), a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (the "Trust"), as it may be revised from time to time (the "Prospectus"). Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust's distributor, First Trust Portfolios L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, or by calling toll free at (800) 621-1675.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND.................................1

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING..................................................3

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES.............................................4

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.........................................................5

INVESTMENT RISKS.............................................................22

FUND MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND..................................................27

BROKERAGE ALLOCATIONS........................................................40

CUSTODIAN, ADMINISTRATOR, FUND ACCOUNTANT AND TRANSFER AGENT.................41

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.......................................................43

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.........................................44

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS........................45

REGULAR HOLIDAYS.............................................................53

FEDERAL TAX MATTERS..........................................................58

DETERMINATION OF NAV.........................................................64

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS..................................................66

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION....................................................67

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM......................68

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES..........................................69

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 9, 2008 and is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares in one or more series or "Funds." The Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

This Statement of Additional Information relates to the Fund. The shares of the Fund are referred to herein as "Shares" or "Fund Shares." The Fund, a non-diversified series of the Trust, represents a beneficial interest in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets, with its own objectives and policies.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board of Trustees" or the "Trustees") has the right to establish additional series in the future, to determine the preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges thereof and to modify such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges without shareholder approval. Shares of any series may also be divided into one or more classes at the discretion of the Trustees.

The Trust or any series or class thereof may be terminated at any time by the Board of Trustees upon written notice to the shareholders.

Each Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all series of the Trust vote together as a single class except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, or if the matter being voted on affects only a particular series, and, if a matter affects a particular series differently from other series, the Shares of that series will vote separately on such matter. The Trust's Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") requires a shareholder vote only on those matters where the 1940 Act requires a vote of shareholders and otherwise permits the Trustees to take actions without seeking the consent of shareholders. For example, the Declaration gives the Trustees broad authority to approve reorganizations between the Fund and another entity, such as another exchange-traded fund, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Fund's assets, or the termination of the Trust or the Fund without shareholder approval if the 1940 Act would not require such approval.

The Declaration provides that by becoming a shareholder of the Fund, each shareholder shall be expressly held to have agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Declaration. The Declaration may, except in limited circumstances, be amended by the Trustees in any respect without a shareholder vote. The Declaration provides that the Trustees may establish the number of Trustees and that vacancies on the Board of Trustees may be filled by the remaining Trustees, except when election of Trustees by the shareholders is required under the 1940 Act. Trustees are then elected by a plurality of votes cast by shareholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Declaration also provides that Trustees may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the voting power of the Trust, or by a vote of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees. The provisions of the Declaration relating to the election and removal of Trustees may not be amended without the approval of two-thirds of the Trustees.


The holders of Fund Shares are required to disclose information on direct or indirect ownership of Fund Shares as may be required to comply with various laws applicable to the Fund or as the Trustees may determine, and ownership of Fund Shares may be disclosed by the Fund if so required by law or regulation. In addition, pursuant to the Declaration, the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the Trust to redeem Shares held by any shareholder for any reason under terms set by the Trustees. The Declaration provides a detailed process for the bringing of derivative actions by shareholders in order to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction and other harm that can be caused to the Fund or its shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. Prior to bringing a derivative action, a demand must first be made on the Trustees. The Declaration details various information, certifications, undertakings and acknowledgements that must be included in the demand. Following receipt of the demand, the Trustees have a period of 90 days, which may be extended by an additional 60 days, to consider the demand. If a majority of the Trustees who are considered independent for the purposes of considering the demand determine that maintaining the suit would not be in the best interests of the Fund, the Trustees are required to reject the demand and the complaining shareholder may not proceed with the derivative action unless the shareholder is able to sustain the burden of proof to a court that the decision of the Trustees not to pursue the requested action was not a good faith exercise of their business judgment on behalf of the Fund. In making such a determination, a Trustee is not considered to have a personal financial interest by virtue of being compensated for his or her services as a Trustee. If a demand is rejected, the complaining shareholder will be responsible for the costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the Fund in connection with the consideration of the demand under a number of circumstances. If a derivative action is brought in violation of the Declaration, the shareholder bringing the action may be responsible for the Fund's costs, including attorneys' fees. The Declaration also provides that any shareholder bringing an action against the Fund waives the right to trial by jury to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Trust is not required to and does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders.

Under Massachusetts law applicable to Massachusetts business trusts, shareholders of such a trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for its obligations. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of this disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Trust for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Trust or the Fund itself was unable to meet its obligations.

The Declaration further provides that a Trustee acting in his or her capacity as Trustee is not personally liable to any person other than the Trust or its shareholders, for any act, omission, or obligation of the Trust. The Declaration requires the Trust to indemnify any persons who are or who have been Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust for any liability for actions or failure to act except to the extent prohibited by applicable federal law. In

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making any determination as to whether any person is entitled to the advancement of expenses in connection with a claim for which indemnification is sought, such person is entitled to a rebuttable presumption that he or she did not engage in conduct for which indemnification is not available. The Declaration provides that any Trustee who serves as chair of the Board of Trustees or of a committee of the Board of Trustees, lead independent Trustee, or audit committee financial expert, or in any other similar capacity will not be subject to any greater standard of care or liability because of such position.

The Fund is advised by First Trust Advisors L.P. (the "Advisor" or "First Trust").

The Fund intends to list and trade its Shares on The NYSE Arca, Inc. (the "Exchange"). The Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices that may be below, at or above net asset value ("NAV"). The Fund offers and issues Shares at NAV only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each a "Creation Unit" or a "Creation Unit Aggregation"), generally in exchange for a basket of securities and other instruments (the "Deposit Securities"), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the "Cash Component"). Creation Units are aggregations of 50,000 Shares of the Fund.

The Trust reserves the right to permit creations and redemptions of Fund Shares to be made in whole or in part on a cash basis under certain circumstances. Fund Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Fund cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities. See the "Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations" section. In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of Shares of the Fund will continue to be met. The Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the Shares of the Fund from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning at the commencement of trading of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of the Shares of the Fund for 30 or more consecutive trading days or (ii) such other event shall occur or condition exist that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will remove the Shares of the Fund from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.

As in the case of other stocks traded on the Exchange, broker's commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

The Fund reserves the right to adjust the price levels of Shares in the future to help maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments

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would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Fund.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The Prospectus describes the investment objectives and certain policies of the Fund. The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objectives and policies of the Fund.

The Fund is subject to the following fundamental policies, which may not be changed without approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund:

(1) The Fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

(2) The Fund may not borrow money, except that the Fund may (i) borrow money from banks for temporary or emergency purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase of investments) and (ii) engage in other transactions permissible under the 1940 Act that may involve a borrowing (such as obtaining short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, engaging in delayed-delivery transactions, or purchasing certain futures, forward contracts and options), provided that the combination of (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed), less the Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings).

(3) The Fund will not underwrite the securities of other issuers except to the extent the Fund may be considered an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

(4) The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate activities).

(5) The Fund may not make loans to other persons, except through
(i) the purchase of debt securities permissible under the Fund's investment policies, (ii) repurchase agreements, or (iii) the lending of portfolio securities, provided that no such loan of portfolio securities may be made by the Fund if, as a result, the aggregate of such loans would exceed 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets.

(6) The Fund may not 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, forward contracts or other derivative instruments, or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).

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(7) The Fund may not invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry or group of industries, except that the Fund will concentrate its assets in any of the group of industries constituting the financial sector. This restriction does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

Except for restriction (2), if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase in percentage resulting from a change in market value of the investment or the total assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction.

For purposes of applying restriction (1) above, under the 1940 Act as currently in effect, the Fund is not permitted to issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from any bank if immediately after such borrowing the value of the Fund's total assets is at least 300% of the principal amount of all of the Fund's borrowings (i.e., the principal amount of the borrowings may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets). In the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300% the Fund shall, within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays), reduce the amount of its borrowings to an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%. The fundamental investment limitations set forth above limit the Fund's ability to engage in certain investment practices and purchase securities or other instruments to the extent permitted by, or consistent with, applicable law. As such, these limitations will change as the statute, rules, regulations or orders (or, if applicable, interpretations) change, and no shareholder vote will be required or sought.

The foregoing fundamental policies of the Fund may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The 1940 Act defines a majority vote as the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding securities are represented; or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities. With respect to the submission of a change in an investment policy to the holders of outstanding voting securities of the Fund, such matter shall be deemed to have been effectively acted upon with respect to the Fund if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund vote for the approval of such matter, notwithstanding that (1) such matter has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any other series of the Trust affected by such matter, and (2) such matter has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities.

In addition to the foregoing fundamental policies, the Fund is also subject to strategies and policies discussed herein which, unless otherwise noted, are non-fundamental restrictions and policies and may be changed by the Board of Trustees.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in preferred securities ("Preferred Securities") and income-producing debt securities ("Income Securities"). Initially, 50% of the Preferred Securities and 50% of the Income Securities held by the Fund will be exchange-listed. For purposes of the 80% test set forth

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above, securities of other open-end funds, closed-end funds or exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") registered under the 1940 Act, that invest primarily in Preferred Securities or Income Securities will be deemed to be Preferred Securities or Income Securities, respectively.

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

Preferred Stock and Trust Preferred Securities: The Fund invests primarily in preferred securities. Certain of the preferred securities in which the Fund invests are traditional preferred stocks which issue dividends that qualify for the dividend received deduction under which "qualified" domestic corporations are able to exclude a percentage of the dividends received from their taxable income.

Certain of the preferred securities in which the Fund invests are preferred stock that does not issue dividends that qualify for the dividends received deduction for eligible investors ("non-DRD preferred stock") and debt instruments that are similar in many respects to preferred securities (such debt instruments and non-DRD preferred stock are often referred to as "hybrid securities") that do not qualify for the dividends received deduction or issue qualified dividend income. Pursuant to the dividends received deduction, corporations may generally deduct 70% of the dividend income they receive. Corporate shareholders of a regulated investment company like the Fund generally are permitted to claim a deduction with respect to that portion of their distributions attributable to amounts received by the regulated investment company that qualify for the dividends received deduction. However, not all preferred securities pay dividends that are eligible for the dividends received deduction. Any corporate shareholder who otherwise would qualify for the dividends received deduction should assume that none of the distributions it receives from the Fund will qualify for the dividends received deduction.

These types of hybrid securities typically offer additional yield spread versus other types of preferred securities due to this lack of special tax treatment. Hybrid securities are typically issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest bearing notes or preferred securities, or by an affiliated business trust of a corporation, generally in the form of (i) beneficial interests in subordinated debentures or similarly structured securities or (ii) more senior debt securities that pay income and trade in a manner similar to preferred securities. The hybrid securities market consists of both fixed and adjustable coupon rate securities that are either perpetual in nature or have stated maturity dates. The hybrid securities market is divided into the "$25 par" and the "institutional" segments. The $25 par segment is typified by securities that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), which trade and are quoted "flat", i.e., without accrued dividend income, and which are typically callable at par value five years after their original issuance date. The institutional segment is typified by $1,000 par value securities that are not exchange-listed, which trade and are quoted on an "accrued income" basis, and which typically have a minimum of 10 years of call protection (at premium prices) from the date of their original issuance.

Hybrid securities are typically junior and fully subordinated liabilities of an issuer or the beneficiary of a guarantee that is junior and fully subordinated to the other liabilities of the guarantor. In addition, hybrid securities typically permit an issuer to defer the payment of income for eighteen months or more without triggering an event of default. Generally, the

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deferral period is five years or more. Because of their subordinated position in the capital structure of an issuer, the ability to defer payments for extended periods of time without adverse consequence to the issuer, and certain other features (such as restrictions on common dividend payments by the issuer or ultimate guarantor when cumulative payments on the non-DRD preferred securities have not been made), these hybrid securities are often treated as close substitutes for traditional preferred stock, both by issuers and investors. Hybrid securities have many of the key characteristics of equity due to their subordinated position in an issuer's capital structure and because their quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets or cash flows.

Hybrid securities include but are not limited to: trust originated preferred securities, monthly income preferred securities, quarterly income bond securities, quarterly income debt securities, quarterly income preferred securities, corporate trust securities, public income notes, and other trust preferred securities.

Hybrid securities are typically issued with a final maturity date, although some are perpetual in nature. In certain instances, a final maturity date may be extended and/or the final payment of principal may be deferred at the issuer's option for a specified time without any adverse consequence to the issuer. No redemption can typically take place unless all cumulative payment obligations have been met, although issuers may be able to engage in open-market repurchases without regard to any cumulative dividends payable. A portion of the portfolio may include investments in non-cumulative preferred securities, whereby the issuer does not have an obligation to make up any arrearages to its shareholders. Should an issuer default on its obligations under such a security, the amount of dividends the Fund pays may be adversely affected.

Many hybrid securities are issued by a trust or other special purpose entities established by operating companies, and are not a direct obligation of an operating company. At the time a trust or special purpose entity sells its preferred securities to investors, the trust or special purpose entity purchases debt of the operating company (with terms comparable to those of the trust or special purpose entity securities), which enables the operating company to deduct for tax purposes the interest paid on the debt held by the trust or special purpose entity. The trust or special purpose entity is generally required to be treated as transparent for federal income tax purposes such that the holders of the non-DRD preferred securities are treated as owning beneficial interests in the underlying debt of the operating company. Accordingly, payments of the non-DRD preferred securities are treated as interest rather than dividends for federal income tax purposes and, as such, are not eligible for the dividends received deduction. The trust or special purpose entity in turn would be a holder of the operating company's debt and would have priority with respect to the operating company's earnings and profits over the operating company's common shareholders, but would typically be subordinated to other classes of the operating company's debt. Typically a non-DRD preferred share has a rating that is slightly below that of its corresponding operating company's senior debt securities.

Corporate Bonds: Corporate bonds, also known as fixed-income securities, are debt obligations issued by corporations. Corporate bonds are generally used by corporations to borrow money from investors. Corporate bonds may be either secured or unsecured. Collateral used for secured debt includes, but is not

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limited to, real property, machinery, equipment, accounts receivable, stocks, bonds or notes. If a corporate bond is unsecured, it is known as a debenture. Holders of corporate bonds, as creditors, have a prior legal claim over common and preferred stockholders as to both income and assets of the issuer for the principal and interest due them and may have a prior claim over other creditors if liens or mortgages are involved. Interest on corporate bonds may be fixed or floating, or the securities may be zero coupon fixed-income securities which pay no interest. Interest on corporate bonds is typically paid semi-annually and is fully taxable to the holder of the bonds. Corporate bonds contain elements of both interest rate risk and credit risk. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with changes in interest rates and may also be affected by the credit rating of the issuer, the issuer's performance and perceptions of the issuer in the marketplace. Corporate bonds usually yield more than government or agency bonds due to the presence of credit risk.

Loans: The Fund may invest in fixed and floating rate loans ("Loans"). Loans may include senior floating rate loans ("Senior Loans") and secured and unsecured loans, second lien or more junior loans and bridge loans ("Junior Loans"). Loans are typically arranged through private negotiations between borrowers in the United States or in foreign or emerging markets which may be corporate issuers or issuers of sovereign debt obligations ("Obligors") and one or more financial institutions and other lenders ("Lenders"). The Fund may invest in Loans by purchasing assignments of all or a portion of Loans ("Assignments") or Loan participations ("Participations") from third parties.

The Fund has direct rights against the Obligor on the Loan when it purchases an Assignment. Assignments are arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors. With respect to Participations, typically, the Fund will have a contractual relationship only with the Lender and not with the Obligor. The agreement governing Participations may limit the rights of the Fund to vote on certain changes which may be made to the Loan agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. However, the holder of a Participation will generally have the right to vote on certain fundamental issues such as changes in principal amount, payment dates and interest rate. Participations may entail certain risks relating to the creditworthiness of the parties from which the participations are obtained.

A Loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the "Agent") for a group of Loan investors. The Agent typically administers and enforces the Loan on behalf of the other Loan investors in the syndicate. The Agent's duties may include responsibility for the collection of principal and interest payments from the Obligor and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all Loan investors. The Agent is also typically responsible for monitoring compliance with the covenants contained in the Loan agreement based upon reports prepared by the Obligor. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Loan investors. In the event of a default by the Obligor, it is possible, though unlikely, that the Fund could receive a portion of the borrower's collateral. If the Fund receives collateral other than cash, any proceeds received from liquidation of such collateral will be available for investment as part of the Fund's portfolio.

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In the process of buying, selling and holding Senior Loans, the Fund may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When the Fund buys or sells a Loan it may pay a fee. In certain circumstances, the Fund may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon prepayment of a Loan.

There may be instances in which the Fund is required to vote upon amendments to certain of the Loans in which it invests. In these cases, the Fund will attempt to ensure that such amendments are voted consistently and solely in the best interests of the Fund.

Additional Information Concerning Senior Loans: Senior Loans typically hold the most senior position in the capital structure of the Obligor, are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the Obligor that is senior to that held by subordinated debtholders and shareholders of the Obligor. Collateral for Senior Loans may include (i) working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory; (ii) tangible fixed assets, such as real property, buildings and equipment; (iii) intangible assets, such as trademarks and patent rights; and/or (iv) security interests in shares of stock of subsidiaries or affiliates.

Non-U.S. Investments: Non-U.S. securities include securities issued or guaranteed by companies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States (including emerging markets), securities issued or guaranteed by foreign, national, provincial, state, municipal or other governments with taxing authority or by their agencies or instrumentalities and debt obligations of supranational governmental entities such as the World Bank or European Union. These securities may be U.S. dollar-denominated or non-U.S. dollar-denominated. Non-U.S. securities also include U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations, such as "Yankee Dollar" obligations, of foreign issuers and of supra-national government entities. Yankee Dollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued in the U.S. capital markets by foreign corporations, banks and governments. Foreign securities also may be traded on foreign securities exchanges or in over-the-counter capital markets.

Certain of the Fund's investment in foreign securities may be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. To the extent the Fund invests in such instruments, the value of the assets of the Fund as measured in U.S. dollars will be affected by changes in exchange rates. Generally, the Fund's currency exchange transactions will be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the currency exchange market. The cost of the Fund's currency exchange transactions will generally be the difference between the bid and offer spot rate of the currency being purchased or sold. In order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future currency exchange rates, the Fund is authorized to enter into various currency exchange transactions.

When-Issued or Delayed-Delivery Transactions: The Fund may from time to time purchase securities on a "when-issued" or other delayed-delivery basis. The price of securities purchased in such transactions is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date. During the period between the purchase and settlement, the Fund does not remit payment to the issuer, no interest is accrued on debt securities and dividend income is not earned on equity securities.
Delayed-delivery commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security

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to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of a decline in value of the Fund's other assets. While securities purchased in delayed-delivery transactions may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually acquiring them. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security in a delayed-delivery transaction, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its NAV.

The Fund will earmark or maintain in a segregated account cash, U.S. government securities, and high-grade liquid debt securities equal in value to commitments for delayed-delivery securities. Such earmarked or segregated securities will mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date. When the time comes to pay for delayed-delivery securities, the Fund will meet its obligations from then-available cash flow, sale of the securities earmarked or held in the segregated account as described above, sale of other securities, or, although it would not normally expect to do so, from the sale of the delayed-delivery securities themselves (which may have a market value greater or less than the Fund's payment obligation).

Although the Prospectus and this SAI describe certain permitted methods of segregating assets or otherwise "covering" certain transactions, the Fund may segregate against or cover such transactions using other methods permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or orders issued by the SEC thereunder. For these purposes, interpretations and guidance provided by the SEC staff may be taken into account when deemed appropriate by the Fund.

Illiquid Securities: The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable). For purposes of this restriction, illiquid securities include, but are not limited to, certain restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may only be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act but that are deemed to be illiquid; and repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days. However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid securities if, as a result, such securities would comprise more than 15% of the value of the Fund's net assets. The Board of Trustees or its delegate has the ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal securities laws, which securities are liquid or illiquid for purposes of this 15% limitation. The Board of Trustees has delegated to the First Trust the day-to-day determination of the illiquidity of any equity or fixed-income security, although it has retained oversight for such determinations. With respect to Rule 144A securities, First Trust considers factors such as (i) the nature of the market for a security (including the institutional private resale market, the frequency of trades and quotes for the security, the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security, the amount of time normally needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer), (ii) the terms of certain securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand instruments), and (iii) other permissible relevant factors.

Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the 1933 Act. Where registration is required, the

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Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. If, through the appreciation of illiquid securities or the depreciation of liquid securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 15% of the value of its net assets are invested in illiquid securities, including restricted securities which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as is deemed advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.

Money Market Funds: The Fund may invest in shares of money market funds to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

Temporary Investments: The Fund may, without limit as to percentage of assets, purchase U.S. government securities or short-term debt securities to keep cash on hand fully invested or for temporary defensive purposes. Short-term debt securities are securities from issuers having a long-term debt rating of at least A by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P Ratings"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch") and having a maturity of one year or less. The use of temporary investments is not a part of a principal investment strategy of the Fund.

Short-term debt securities are defined to include, without limitation, the following:

(1) U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest, which are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA" or "Fannie Mae") which is a government-sponsored organization owned entirely by private stockholders and whose securities are guaranteed as to principal and interest by FNMA; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are supported only by its credit. In September 2008, FNMA was placed into conservatorship overseen by the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA"). As conservator, FHFA will succeed to the rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and any stockholder, officer or director of the company with respect to FNMA and its assets and title to all books, records and company assets held by any other custodian or third party. FHFA is charged with operating FNMA. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its agencies, and instrumentalities

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do not guarantee the market value of their securities, and consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.

(2) Certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. If such certificates of deposit are non-negotiable, they will be considered illiquid securities and be subject to the Fund's 15% restriction on investments in illiquid securities. Pursuant to the certificate of deposit, the issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. On October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 increased the maximum amount of federal deposit insurance coverage payable as to any certificate of deposit from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, enacted on July 21, 2010, extended this increased coverage permanently. Certificates of deposit purchased by the Fund may not be fully insured.

(3) Bankers' acceptances which are short-term credit instruments used to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of interest for a specific maturity.

(4) Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities. In such an action, at the time the Fund purchases the security, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver the security to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the security at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for the Fund during its holding period since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed upon market rate. The period of these repurchase agreements will usually be short, from overnight to one week. Such actions afford an opportunity for the Fund to invest temporarily available cash. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; or bankers' acceptances in which the Fund may invest. In addition, the Fund may only enter into repurchase agreements where the market value of the purchased securities/collateral equals at least 100% of principal including accrued interest and is marked-to-market daily. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, however, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, the Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The Fund, however, intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with financial institutions and dealers believed by First Trust to present minimal credit risks in accordance with criteria approved by the Board of Trustees. First Trust will review and monitor the creditworthiness of such institutions. First

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Trust monitors the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and during the term of the repurchase agreement. First Trust does so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to the Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of the Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.

(5) Bank time deposits, which are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings and loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of interest. There may be penalties for the early withdrawal of such time deposits, in which case the yields of these investments will be reduced.

(6) Commercial paper, which are short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for the notes. However, they are redeemable by the Fund at any time. The Fund's portfolio managers will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity ratios) and will continuously monitor the corporation's ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because the Fund's liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. The Fund may only invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or higher by S&P Ratings, Prime-1 or higher by Moody's or F2 or higher by Fitch.

Pooled Investment Vehicles: The Fund may invest in other pooled investment vehicles, including other open-end or closed-end investment companies, ETFs and business development companies that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. As a shareholder in a pooled investment vehicle, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that vehicle's expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund's advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other pooled investment vehicles. In addition, the Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs. Other pooled investment vehicles may be leveraged, and the net asset value and market value of their securities will therefore be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield of unleveraged pooled investment vehicles.

The Fund may invest in the securities of ETFs in excess of the limits imposed under the 1940 Act pursuant to exemptive orders obtained by certain ETFs and their sponsors from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). An ETF is a fund that holds a portfolio of securities generally designed to track the performance of a securities index, including industry, sector, country and region indexes. ETFs trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value.

Non-U.S. Investments: Non-U.S. securities include securities issued or guaranteed by companies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States (including emerging markets), securities issued or guaranteed by foreign, national, provincial, state, municipal or other governments with taxing

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authority or by their agencies or instrumentalities and debt obligations of supranational governmental entities such as the World Bank or European Union.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund buys and sells portfolio securities in the normal course of its investment activities. The proportion of the Fund's investment portfolio that is bought and sold during a year is known as the Fund's portfolio turnover rate. A turnover rate of 100% would occur, for example, if the Fund bought and sold securities valued at 100% of its net assets within one year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in the payment by the Fund of increased brokerage costs, expenses and taxes.

HEDGING STRATEGIES

General Description of Hedging Strategies

The Fund may engage in hedging activities. The Fund may utilize a variety of financial instruments, including options, forward contracts, futures contracts (hereinafter referred to as "Futures" or "Futures Contracts"), options on Futures Contracts, shorting strategies and swap agreements to attempt to hedge the Fund's holdings. The use of Futures is not a part of a principal investment strategy of the Fund.

Hedging or derivative instruments on securities generally are used to hedge against price movements in one or more particular securities positions that the Fund owns or intends to acquire. Such instruments may also be used to "lock-in" realized but unrecognized gains in the value of portfolio securities. Hedging instruments on stock indices, in contrast, generally are used to hedge against price movements in broad equity market sectors in which the Fund has invested or expects to invest. Hedging strategies, if successful, can reduce the risk of loss by wholly or partially offsetting the negative effect of unfavorable price movements in the investments being hedged. However, hedging strategies can also reduce the opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements in the hedged investments. The use of hedging instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the several options and futures exchanges upon which they are traded, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") and various state regulatory authorities. In addition, the Fund's ability to use hedging instruments may be limited by tax considerations.

General Limitations on Futures and Options Transactions

The Fund limits its direct investments in futures, options on futures and swaps to the extent necessary for the Advisor to claim the exclusion from regulation as a "commodity pool operator" with respect to each Fund under CFTC Rule 4.5, as such rule may be amended from time to time. Under Rule 4.5 as currently in effect, the Fund limits its trading activity in futures, option on futures and swaps (excluding activity for "bona fide hedging purposes," as defined by the CFTC) such that it meets one of the following tests: (i) aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish its futures, options

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on futures and swap positions do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund's portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions; or (ii) aggregate net notional value of its futures, options on futures and swap positions does not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund's portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions.

The Advisor has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" with respect to the Fund with the National Futures Association, the Futures industry's self-regulatory organization. The Fund will not enter into Futures Contracts and options transactions if more than 30% of its net assets would be committed to such instruments.

If the Fund were no longer able to claim the exclusion, the Advisor would be required to register as a "commodity pool operator," and the Fund and the Advisor would be subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA").

The foregoing limitations are non-fundamental policies of the Fund and may be changed without shareholder approval as regulatory agencies permit.

Asset Coverage for Futures and Options Positions

The Fund will comply with the regulatory requirements of the SEC and the CFTC with respect to coverage of options and Futures positions by registered investment companies and, if the guidelines so require, will earmark or set aside cash, U.S. government securities, high grade liquid debt securities and/or other liquid assets permitted by the SEC and CFTC in a segregated custodial account in the amount prescribed. Securities earmarked or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the Futures or options position is outstanding, unless replaced with other permissible assets, and will be marked-to-market daily.

Stock Index Options

The Fund may purchase stock index options, sell stock index options in order to close out existing positions, and/or write covered options on stock indices for hedging purposes. Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the stock index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple.

A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the S&P 500 Index or the Value Line(R) Composite

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Index or a more narrow market index, such as the S&P 100 Index. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the following exchanges: the Chicago Board Options Exchange, NYSE Amex Options, The NASDAQ(R) Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ(R)")and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

The Fund's use of stock index options is subject to certain risks. Successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of First Trust to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, the Fund's ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund's securities will not duplicate the components of the index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund will bear the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Fund's securities, which would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.

Certain Considerations Regarding Options

There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.

The writing and purchasing of options is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Imperfect correlation between the options and securities markets may detract from the effectiveness of attempted hedging. Options transactions may result in significantly higher transaction costs and portfolio turnover for the Fund.

- 16 -

Futures Contracts

The Fund may enter into Futures Contracts, including index Futures as a hedge against movements in the equity markets, in order to hedge against changes on securities held or intended to be acquired by the Fund or for other purposes permissible under the CEA. The Fund's hedging may include sales of Futures as an offset against the effect of expected declines in stock prices and purchases of Futures as an offset against the effect of expected increases in stock prices. The Fund will not enter into Futures Contracts which are prohibited under the CEA and will, to the extent required by regulatory authorities, enter only into Futures Contracts that are traded on national Futures exchanges and are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument. The principal interest rate Futures exchanges in the United States are the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Futures exchanges and trading are regulated under the CEA by the CFTC.

An interest rate Futures Contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., a debt security) or currency for a specified price at a designated date, time and place. An index Futures Contract is an agreement pursuant to which the parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index Futures Contract was originally written. Transaction costs are incurred when a Futures Contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. A Futures Contract may be satisfied by delivery or purchase, as the case may be, of the instrument or by payment of the change in the cash value of the index. More commonly, Futures Contracts are closed out prior to delivery by entering into an offsetting transaction in a matching Futures Contract. Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no physical delivery of those securities is made. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, a gain will be realized. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, a gain will be realized; if it is less, a loss will be realized. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular Futures Contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the Futures Contract.

Margin is the amount of funds that must be deposited by the Fund with its custodian in a segregated account in the name of the Futures commission merchant in order to initiate Futures trading and to maintain the Fund's open positions in Futures Contracts. A margin deposit is intended to ensure the Fund's performance of the Futures Contract.

The margin required for a particular Futures Contract is set by the exchange on which the Futures Contract is traded and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the Futures Contract. Futures Contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the Futures Contract being traded.

- 17 -

If the price of an open Futures Contract changes (by increase in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the Futures Contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the Futures Contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund. In computing daily NAV, the Fund will mark to market the current value of its open Futures Contracts. The Fund expects to earn interest income on its margin deposits.

Because of the low margin deposits required, Futures trading involves an extremely high degree of leverage. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a Futures Contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, as well as gain, to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the Futures Contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the Futures Contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit, if the Future Contracts were closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a Futures Contract may result in losses in excess of the amount initially invested in the Futures Contract. However, the Fund would presumably have sustained comparable losses if, instead of the Futures Contract, it had invested in the underlying financial instrument and sold it after the decline.

Most U.S. Futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in Futures Contract prices during a single trading day. The day limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a Futures Contract may vary either up or down from the previous day's settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of Futures Contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures Contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of Futures positions and subjecting some investors to substantial losses.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a Futures position. The Fund would continue to be required to meet margin requirements until the position is closed, possibly resulting in a decline in the Fund's NAV. In addition, many of the contracts discussed above are relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.

A public market exists in Futures Contracts covering a number of indices, including, but not limited to, the S&P 500 Index, the S&P 100 Index, the NASDAQ-100 Index(R), the Value Line(R) Composite Index and the NYSE Composite Index.

- 18 -

Options on Futures

The Fund may also purchase or write put and call options on Futures Contracts and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. A Futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position
(put) in a Futures Contract at a specified exercise price prior to the expiration of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the Futures Contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. Prior to exercise or expiration, a Futures option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of a Futures option of the same series.

The Fund may use options on Futures Contracts in connection with hedging strategies. Generally, these strategies would be applied under the same market and market sector conditions in which the Fund uses put and call options on securities or indices. The purchase of put options on Futures Contracts is analogous to the purchase of puts on securities or indices so as to hedge the Fund's securities holdings against the risk of declining market prices. The writing of a call option or the purchasing of a put option on a Futures Contract constitutes a partial hedge against declining prices of securities which are deliverable upon exercise of the Futures Contract. If the price at expiration of a written call option is below the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the Fund's holdings of securities. If the price when the option is exercised is above the exercise price, however, the Fund will incur a loss, which may be offset, in whole or in part, by the increase in the value of the securities held by the Fund that were being hedged. Writing a put option or purchasing a call option on a Futures Contract serves as a partial hedge against an increase in the value of the securities the Fund intends to acquire.

As with investments in Futures Contracts, the Fund is required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on Futures Contracts written by them. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying Futures Contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option, and other Futures positions held by the Fund. The Fund will earmark or set aside in a segregated account at the Fund's custodian, liquid assets, such as cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade liquid debt obligations equal in value to the amount due on the underlying obligation. Such earmarked or segregated assets will be marked-to-market daily, and additional assets will be earmarked or placed in a segregated account whenever the total value of the earmarked or segegated assets falls below the amount due on the underlying obligation.

The risks associated with the use of options on Futures Contracts include the risk that the Fund may close out its position as a writer of an option only if a liquid secondary market exists for such options, which cannot be assured. The Fund's successful use of options on Futures Contracts depends on First Trust's ability to correctly predict the movement in prices of Futures Contracts and the underlying instruments, which may prove to be incorrect. In addition, there may be imperfect correlation between the instruments being hedged and the Futures Contract subject to the option. For additional information, see "Futures Contracts." Certain characteristics of the Futures market might increase the risk that movements in the prices of Futures Contracts or options on Futures Contracts might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the

- 19 -

investments being hedged. For example, all participants in the Futures and options on Futures Contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin calls and might be compelled to liquidate Futures or options on Futures Contracts positions whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject to further calls. These liquidations could increase the price volatility of the instruments and distort the normal price relationship between the Futures or options and the investments being hedged. Also, because of initial margin deposit requirements, there might be increased participation by speculators in the Futures markets. This participation also might cause temporary price distortions. In addition, activities of large traders in both the Futures and securities markets involving arbitrage, "program trading," and other investment strategies might result in temporary price distortions.

Swap Agreements

A swap is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swaps are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, non-U.S. currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices, indexes or inflation rates.

Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty's creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date only under limited circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract.

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund's gains or losses. In order to reduce the risk associated with leveraging, the Fund may cover its current obligations under swap agreements according to guidelines established by the SEC. If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will earmark assets with a daily value at least equal to the excess, if any, of the Fund's accrued obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount the Fund is entitled to receive under the agreement. If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on other than a net basis, it will earmark assets with a value equal to the full amount of the Fund's accrued obligations under the agreement.

- 20 -

Equity Swaps. In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.

Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are "fixed-for floating rate swaps," "termed basis swaps" and "index amortizing swaps." Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for floating swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met. Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

Currency Swaps. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency.

Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. Changes in non-U.S. exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

Credit Default Swaps. A credit default swap is similar to an insurance contract in that it provides the buyer with protection against specific risks. Most often, corporate bond investors buy credit default swaps for protection against a default by the issuer of the corporate bond, but these flexible instruments can be used in many ways to customize exposure to corporate credit. Credit default swap agreements can mitigate risks in bond investing by transferring a given risk from one party to another without transferring the underlying bond or other credit asset. In a credit default swap agreement, one party "sells" risk and the counterparty "buys" that risk. The "seller" of credit risk, who also tends to own the underlying credit asset, pays a periodic fee to the risk "buyer." In return, the risk "buyer" agrees to pay the "seller" a set amount if there is a default, or a credit event.

The Fund's use of credit default swap agreements exposes the Fund to additional risks, including but not limited to, the credit and liquidity risk of a counterparty. If the credit quality of any such counterparty deteriorates,

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such counterparty may default on its obligations to make payments under the swap agreement. The Fund may also be exposed to liquidity risk because the market for credit default swaps are relatively illiquid and the Fund will generally not be permitted to terminate or assign its credit default swaps without the consent of the related counterparty and accordingly may not be able to terminate or assign such credit default swaps in a timely fashion and for a fair price, potentially restricting its ability to take advantage of market opportunities.

Short Sales

The Fund may take short positions in securities, which are often referred to as "short sales." A short sale is a sale of a security the Fund has borrowed, with the expectation that the security will underperform the market. To settle the short sale transaction, the Fund buys the same security at a later date and returns it to the lender of the security. The Fund makes money on a short position if the market price of the security goes down after the short sale or if the market price of the securities it buys with the proceeds of the short sale increases more than that of the security sold short. Conversely, if the price of the security sold short goes up after the short sale, the Fund loses money because it has to pay more to replace the borrowed security than it received when it sold the security short. Short-selling is considered "leverage" and may involve substantial risk.

INVESTMENT RISKS

Preferred Stock and Trust Preferred Securities Risk

There are special risks associated with investing in preferred securities, including risks related to deferral, noncumulative dividends, subordination, liquidity, limited voting rights and special redemption rights. Trust preferred securities are limited-life preferred securities typically issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest-bearing notes or preferred securities issued by an affiliated business trust of a corporation whose only assets are generally in the form of beneficial interests in subordinated debentures or similarly structured securities. Dividend payments on the trust preferred securities generally coincide with interest payments on the underlying obligations. Trust preferred securities generally have a yield advantage over traditional preferred stocks, but unlike preferred stocks, distributions are treated as interest rather than dividends for federal income tax purposes and therefore, are not eligible for the dividends received deduction and do not constitute qualified dividend income. Trust preferred securities prices fluctuate for several reasons including changes in investors' perception of the financial condition of an issuer or the general economic condition of the market for trust preferred securities, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. Trust preferred securities are also sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase in a rising interest rate environment and the risk that a trust preferred security may be called for redemption in a falling interest rate environment. Certain of the other risks unique to trust preferred securities include: (i) distributions on trust preferred securities will be made only if interest payments on the interest-bearing notes, preferred securities or subordinated debentures are made; (ii) a corporation issuing the interest-bearing notes, preferred securities or subordinated debentures may defer interest payments on these instruments for up to 20 consecutive quarters and if such election is made,

- 22 -

distributions will not be made on the trust preferred securities during the deferral period; (iii) certain tax or regulatory events may trigger the redemption of the interest-bearing notes, preferred securities or subordinated debentures by the issuing corporation and result in prepayment of the trust preferred securities prior to their stated maturity date; (iv) future legislation may be proposed or enacted that may prohibit the corporation from deducting its interest payments on the interest-bearing notes, preferred securities or subordinated debentures for tax purposes, making redemption of these instruments likely; (v) a corporation may redeem the interest bearing notes, preferred securities or subordinated debentures in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after a stated call date; (vi) trust preferred securities holders have very limited voting rights; and (vii) payment of interest on the interest-bearing notes, preferred securities or subordinated debentures, and therefore distributions on the trust preferred securities, is dependent on the financial condition of the issuing corporation.

Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") Risk

REITs are financial vehicles that pool investors' capital to purchase or finance real estate. REITs may concentrate their investments in specific geographic areas or in specific property types, e.g., hotels, shopping malls, residential complexes and office buildings. The market value of REIT shares and the ability of the REITs to distribute income may be adversely affected by several factors, including rising interest rates; changes in the national, state and local economic climate and real estate conditions; perceptions of prospective tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties; the ability of the owners to provide adequate management, maintenance and insurance; the cost of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act; increased competition from new properties; the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws; changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses; adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies; adverse changes in zoning laws; and other factors beyond the control of the issuers of the REITs. 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 will not generally qualify for favorable treatment as qualified dividend income.

Non-U.S. Securities Risk

An investment in non-U.S. securities involves risks in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments, including currency risk. The value of a non-U.S. security in U.S. dollars tends to decrease when the value of the U.S. dollar rises against the non-U.S. currency in which the security is denominated and tends to increase when the value of the U.S. dollar falls against such currency. Non-U.S. securities are affected by the fact that in many countries there is less publicly available information about issuers than is available in the reports and ratings published about companies in the United States and companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. Other risks inherent in non-U.S. investments may include expropriation; confiscatory taxation; withholding taxes on dividends and interest; less extensive regulation of non-U.S. brokers, securities markets and issuers; diplomatic developments; and political or social instability. Non-U.S. economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in various respects, and many non-U.S. securities are less liquid and their prices tend to

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be more volatile than comparable U.S. securities. From time to time, non-U.S. securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price effects.

Depositary Receipts Risk

The Fund may hold securities of certain non-U.S. companies in the form of Depositary Receipts. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by an American bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs are receipts issued by a European bank or trust company evidencing ownership of securities issued by a foreign corporation. New York shares are typically issued by a company incorporated in the Netherlands and represent a direct interest in the company. Unlike traditional depositary receipts, New York share programs do not involve custody of the Dutch shares of the company. GDRs are receipts issued throughout the world that evidence a similar arrangement. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may trade in foreign currencies that differ from the currency the underlying security for each ADR, EDR or GDR principally trades in. Global shares are the actual (ordinary) shares of a non-U.S. company which trade both in the home market and the United States. Generally, ADRs and New York shares, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. EDRs, in registered form, are used to access European markets. GDRs, in registered form, are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. Global shares are represented by the same share certificate in the United States and the home market. Separate registrars in the United States and the home country are maintained. In most cases, purchases occurring on a U.S. exchange would be reflected on the U.S. registrar. Global shares may also be eligible to list on exchanges in addition to the United States and the home country. The Fund may hold unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States; therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies Risk

The Fund may invest in companies that are considered to be "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"), which are generally certain non-U.S. corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income. Therefore, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is distributed to its shareholders in a timely manner. The Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes.

ADDITIONAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

High Yield Securities Risk

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The securities that the Fund invests in may not be rated by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization ("NRSRO"), may not be registered with the SEC or any state securities commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. To the extent that such high yield securities are rated, they typically will be rated below-investment grade and are subject to an increased risk of default in the payment of principal and interest as well as other risks.

Liquidity Risk

Whether or not the securities in the Fund are listed on a securities exchange, the principal trading market for certain of the securities in the Fund may be in the over-the-counter ("OTC") market. As a result, the existence of a liquid trading market for the securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in the securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made for any of the equity securities, that any market for the securities will be maintained or that there will be sufficient liquidity of the equity securities in any markets made. The price at which the securities are held in the Fund will be adversely affected if trading markets for the securities are limited or absent.

RISKS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING DERIVATIVES

In addition to the foregoing, the use of derivative instruments involves certain general risks and considerations as described below.

(1) Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the underlying assets may go up or down. Adverse movements in the value of an underlying asset can expose the Fund to losses. Derivative instruments may include elements of leverage and, accordingly, fluctuations in the value of the derivative instrument in relation to the underlying asset may be magnified. The successful use of derivative instruments depends upon a variety of factors, particularly the portfolio managers' ability to predict movements of the securities, currencies, and commodities markets, which may require different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. There can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted will succeed. A decision to engage in a derivative transaction will reflect the portfolio managers' judgment that the derivative transaction will provide value to the Fund and its shareholders and is consistent with the Fund's objectives, investment limitations, and operating policies. In making such a judgment, the portfolio managers will analyze the benefits and risks of the derivative transactions and weigh them in the context of the Fund's overall investments and investment objectives.

(2) Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of a counterparty to comply with the terms of a derivative instrument. The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for privately-negotiated or OTC derivatives, since generally a clearing agency, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For privately-negotiated instruments, there is no similar clearing agency guarantee. In all transactions, the Fund will bear the risk that the counterparty will

- 25 -

default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Fund. The Fund will enter into transactions in derivative instruments only with counterparties that First Trust reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract.

(3) Correlation Risk. Correlation risk is the risk that there might be an imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of a derivative instrument and price movements of investments being hedged. When a derivative transaction is used to completely hedge another position, changes in the market value of the combined position (the derivative instrument plus the position being hedged) result from an imperfect correlation between the price movements of the two instruments. With a perfect hedge, the value of the combined position remains unchanged with any change in the price of the underlying asset. With an imperfect hedge, the value of the derivative instrument and its hedge are not perfectly correlated. For example, if the value of a derivative instrument used in a short hedge (such as writing a call option, buying a put option or selling a Futures Contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investments, the hedge would not be perfectly correlated. This might occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on indices will depend, in part, on the degree of correlation between price movements in the index and the price movements in the investments being hedged.

(4) Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a derivative instrument cannot be sold, closed out, or replaced quickly at or very close to its fundamental value. Generally, exchange contracts are very liquid because the exchange clearinghouse is the counterparty of every contract. OTC transactions are less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction. The Fund might be required by applicable regulatory requirements to maintain assets as "cover," maintain segregated accounts, and/or make margin payments when it takes positions in derivative instruments involving obligations to third parties (i.e., instruments other than purchase options). If the Fund is unable to close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expires, matures, or is closed out. These requirements might impair the Fund's ability to sell a security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time. The Fund's ability to sell or close out a position in an instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends upon the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the counterparty to enter into a transaction closing out the position. Due to liquidity risk, there is no assurance that any derivatives position can be sold or closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund.

(5) Legal Risk. Legal risk is the risk of loss caused by the unenforceability of a party's obligations under the derivative. While a party seeking price certainty agrees to surrender the potential upside in exchange for downside protection, the party taking the risk is looking for

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a positive payoff. Despite this voluntary assumption of risk, a counterparty that has lost money in a derivative transaction may try to avoid payment by exploiting various legal uncertainties about certain derivative products.

(6) Systemic or "Interconnection" Risk. Systemic or interconnection risk is the risk that a disruption in the financial markets will cause difficulties for all market participants. In other words, a disruption in one market will spill over into other markets, perhaps creating a chain reaction. Much of the OTC derivatives market takes place among the OTC dealers themselves, thus creating a large interconnected web of financial obligations. This interconnectedness raises the possibility that a default by one large dealer could create losses for other dealers and destabilize the entire market for OTC derivative instruments.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The general supervision of the duties performed for the Fund under the investment management agreement is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. There are five Trustees of the Trust, one of whom is an "interested person" (as the term is defined in the 1940 Act) and four of whom are Trustees who are not officers or employees of First Trust or any of its affiliates ("Independent Trustees"). The Trustees set broad policies for the Fund, choose the Trust's officers and hire the Trust's investment advisor. The officers of the Trust manage its day-to-day operations and are responsible to the Trust's Board of Trustees. The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and a statement of their present positions and principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each Trustee oversees and the other directorships they hold, if applicable. Each Trustee has been elected for an indefinite term. The officers of the Trust serve indefinite terms. Each Trustee, except for James A. Bowen, is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Bowen is deemed an "interested person" (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) ("Interested Trustee") of the Trust due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust, investment advisor to the Fund.

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                                                                                                        NUMBER OF
                                                                                                      PORTFOLIOS IN       OTHER
                                                         TERM OF OFFICE                              THE FIRST TRUST  TRUSTEESHIPS
                                                         AND YEAR FIRST                               FUND COMPLEX         OR
         NAME, ADDRESS           POSITION AND OFFICES      ELECTED OR      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS       OVERSEEN BY    DIRECTORSHIPS
       AND DATE OF BIRTH              WITH TRUST           APPOINTED        DURING PAST 5 YEARS          TRUSTEE     HELD BY TRUSTEE

Trustee who is an Interested
Person of the Trust
----------------------------

James A. Bowen(1)               Chairman of the Board  o Indefinite      Chief Executive Officer    __ Portfolios    None
120 East Liberty Drive,         and Trustee              term            (December 2010 to
  Suite 400                                                              Present), President
Wheaton, IL 60187                                                        (until December 2010),
D.O.B.: 09/55                                          o Since           First Trust Advisors L.P.
                                                         inception       and First Trust
                                                                         Portfolios L.P.; Chairman
                                                                         of the Board of
                                                                         Directors, BondWave LLC
                                                                         (Software Development
                                                                         Company/Investment
                                                                         Advisor) and Stonebridge
                                                                         Advisors LLC (Investment
                                                                         Advisor)

Independent Trustees
----------------------------

Richard E. Erickson             Trustee                o Indefinite      Physician; President,      __ Portfolios    None
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P.                            term            Wheaton Orthopedics;
120 East Liberty Drive,                                                  Co-owner and Co-Director
  Suite 400                                                              (January 1996 to May
Wheaton, IL 60187                                      o Since           2007), Sports Med Center
D.O.B.: 04/51                                            inception       for Fitness; Limited
                                                                         Partner, Gundersen Real
                                                                         Estate Limited
                                                                         Partnership; Member,
                                                                         Sportsmed LLC

Thomas R. Kadlec                Trustee                o Indefinite      President (March 2010 to   __ Portfolios    Director of ADM
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P.                            term            Present), Senior Vice                       Investor
120 East Liberty Drive,                                                  President and Chief                         Services, Inc.
  Suite 400                                            o Since           Financial Officer (May                      and ADM
Wheaton, IL 60187                                        inception       2007 to March 2010), Vice                   Investor
D.O.B.: 11/57                                                            President and Chief                         Services
                                                                         Financial Officer (1990                     International
                                                                         to May 2007), ADM
                                                                         Investor Services, Inc.
                                                                         (Futures Commission
                                                                         Merchant)

Robert F. Keith                 Trustee                o Indefinite      President (2003 to         __ Portfolios    Director of
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P.                            term            Present), Hibs                              Trust Company
120 East Liberty Drive,                                                  Enterprises (Financial                      of Illinois
  Suite 400                                            o Since           and Management
Wheaton, IL 60187                                        inception       Consulting)
D.O.B.: 11/56

Niel B. Nielson                 Trustee                o Indefinite      President and Chief        __ Portfolios    Director of
c/o First Trust Advisors L.P.                            term            Executive Officer (July                     Covenant
120 East Liberty Drive,                                                  2012 to Present), Dew                       Transport Inc.
  Suite 400                                            o Since           Learning LLC; President
Wheaton, IL 60187                                        inception       (June 2002 to June 2012),
D.O.B.: 03/54                                                            Covenant College


                                     - 28 -

                                                                                                        NUMBER OF
                                                                                                      PORTFOLIOS IN       OTHER
                                                         TERM OF OFFICE                              THE FIRST TRUST  TRUSTEESHIPS
                                                         AND YEAR FIRST                               FUND COMPLEX         OR
         NAME, ADDRESS           POSITION AND OFFICES      ELECTED OR      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS       OVERSEEN BY    DIRECTORSHIPS
       AND DATE OF BIRTH              WITH TRUST           APPOINTED        DURING PAST 5 YEARS          TRUSTEE     HELD BY TRUSTEE

Officers of the Trust
----------------------------

Mark R. Bradley                 President and Chief    o Indefinite      Chief Financial Officer,   N/A              N/A
120 East Liberty Drive,         Executive Officer        term            Chief Operating Officer
  Suite 400                                                              (December 2010 to
Wheaton, IL 60187                                                        Present), First Trust
D.O.B.: 11/57                                          o President and   Advisors L.P. and First
                                                         Chief           Trust Portfolios L.P.;
                                                         Executive       Chief Financial Officer,
                                                         Officer since   BondWave LLC (Software
                                                         January 2012;   Development
                                                         Treasurer and   Company/Investment
                                                         Chief           Advisor) and Stonebridge
                                                         Financial       Advisors LLC (Investment
                                                         Officer         Advisor)
                                                         (inception to
                                                         January 2012)

James M. Dykas                  Treasurer, Chief       o Indefinite      Controller (January 2011   N/A              N/A
120 East Liberty Drive,         Financial Officer and    term            to Present), Senior Vice
  Suite 400                     Chief Accounting                         President (April 2007 to
Wheaton, IL 60187               Officer                o Treasurer,      January 2011), Vice
D.O.B.: 01/66                                            Chief           President (January 2005
                                                         Financial       to April 2007), First
                                                         Officer and     Trust Advisors L.P. and
                                                         Chief           First Trust Portfolios
                                                         Accounting      L.P
                                                         Officer since
                                                         January 2012;
                                                         Assistant
                                                         Treasurer
                                                         (inception to
                                                         January 2012)

W. Scott Jardine                Secretary              o Indefinite      General Counsel, First     N/A              N/A
120 East Liberty Drive,                                  term            Trust Advisors L.P. and
  Suite 400                                                              First Trust Portfolios
Wheaton, IL 60187                                      o Since           L.P.; Secretary, BondWave
D.O.B.: 05/60                                            inception       LLC (Software Development
                                                                         Company/Investment
                                                                         Advisor) and Stonebridge
                                                                         Advisors LLC (Investment
                                                                         Advisor)

Daniel J. Lindquist             Vice President         o Indefinite      Senior Vice President      N/A              N/A
120 East Liberty Drive,                                  term            (September 2005 to
  Suite 400                                                              Present), Vice President
Wheaton, IL 60187                                      o Since           (April 2004 to September
D.O.B.: 02/70                                            inception       2005), First Trust
                                                                         Advisors L.P. and First
                                                                         Trust Portfolios L.P.

Kristi A. Maher                 Assistant Secretary    o Indefinite      Deputy General Counsel     N/A              N/A
120 East Liberty Drive,         and Chief Compliance     term            (May 2007 to Present),
  Suite 400                     Officer                                  Assistant General Counsel
Wheaton, IL 60187                                      o Assistant       (March 2004 to May 2007),
D.O.B.: 12/66                                            Secretary       First Trust Advisors L.P.
                                                         since           and First Trust
                                                         inception;      Portfolios L.P.
                                                         Chief
                                                         Compliance
                                                         Officer since
                                                         January 2011

Roger F. Testin                 Vice President         o Indefinite      Senior Vice President      N/A              N/A
120 East Liberty Drive,                                  term            (November 2003 to
  Suite 400                                                              Present), First Trust
Wheaton, IL 60187                                      o Since           Advisors L.P. and First
D.O.B.: 06/66                                            inception       Trust Portfolios L.P.


                                     - 29 -

                                                                                                        NUMBER OF
                                                                                                      PORTFOLIOS IN       OTHER
                                                         TERM OF OFFICE                              THE FIRST TRUST  TRUSTEESHIPS
                                                         AND YEAR FIRST                               FUND COMPLEX         OR
         NAME, ADDRESS           POSITION AND OFFICES      ELECTED OR      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS       OVERSEEN BY    DIRECTORSHIPS
       AND DATE OF BIRTH              WITH TRUST           APPOINTED        DURING PAST 5 YEARS          TRUSTEE     HELD BY TRUSTEE

Stan Ueland                     Vice President         o Indefinite      Vice President (August     N/A              N/A
120 East Liberty Drive,                                  term            2005 to Present), First
  Suite 400                                                              Trust Advisors L.P. and
Wheaton, IL 60187                                      o Since           First Trust Portfolios
D.O.B.: 11/70                                            inception       L.P; Vice President (May
                                                                         2004 to August 2005),
                                                                         BondWave LLC (Software
                                                                         Development
                                                                         Company/Investment
                                                                         Advisor)


(1) Mr. Bowen is deemed an "interested person" of the Trust due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust, investment advisor of the Fund.

UNITARY BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

Each Trustee serves as a trustee of all open-end and closed-end funds in the First Trust Fund Complex (as defined below), which is known as a "unitary" board leadership structure. Each Trustee currently serves as a trustee of First Trust Series Fund, First Trust Variable Insurance Trust and First Defined Portfolio Fund, LLC, open-end funds with twelve portfolios advised by First Trust; First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II, Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund, First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund, First Trust/Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund, First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, First Trust Strategic High Income Fund II, First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund, First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund, First Trust Active Dividend Income Fund, First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund, First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund and First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund, closed-end funds advised by First Trust; and the Trust, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund II, exchange-traded funds with __ portfolios advised by First Trust (each a "First Trust Fund" and collectively, the "First Trust Fund Complex"). None of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust, nor any of their immediate family members, has ever been a director, officer or employee of, or consultant to, First Trust, First Trust Portfolios or their affiliates. In addition, the officers of the Trust (other than Stan Ueland and Roger Testin) hold the same positions with the other funds in the First Trust Fund Complex as they hold with the Trust. Mr. Ueland, Vice President of the Trust, serves in the same position for all of the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex with the exception of First Defined Portfolio Fund, LLC, First Trust Series Fund and the closed-end funds. Mr. Testin, Vice President of the Trust, serves in the same position for all funds in the First Trust Fund Complex with the exception of the closed-end funds.

The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Fund under the investment management agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Advisor, is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees of the Trust set broad policies for the Fund,

- 30 -

choose the Trust's officers, and hire the Fund's investment advisor and other service providers. The officers of the Trust manage the day-to-day operations and are responsible to the Trust's Board. The Trust's Board is composed of four Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee. The Interested Trustee, James
A. Bowen, serves as the Chairman of the Board for each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex.

The same five persons serve as Trustees on the Trust's Board and on the Boards of all other First Trust Funds. The unitary board structure was adopted for the First Trust Funds because of the efficiencies it achieves with respect to the governance and oversight of the First Trust Funds. Each First Trust Fund is subject to the rules and regulations of the 1940 Act (and other applicable securities laws), which means that many of the First Trust Funds face similar issues with respect to certain of their fundamental activities, including risk management, portfolio liquidity, portfolio valuation and financial reporting. Because of the similar and often overlapping issues facing the First Trust Funds, including among the Fund, the Board of the First Trust Funds believes that maintaining a unitary board structure promotes efficiency and consistency in the governance and oversight of all First Trust Funds and reduces the costs, administrative burdens and possible conflicts that may result from having multiple boards. In adopting a unitary board structure, the Trustees seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board the overall composition of which will, as a body, possesses the appropriate skills, diversity, independence and experience to oversee the Fund's business.

Annually, the Board reviews its governance structure and the committee structures, their performance and functions and reviews any processes that would enhance Board governance over the Fund's business. The Board has determined that its leadership structure, including the unitary board and committee structure, is appropriate based on the characteristics of the funds it serves and the characteristics of the First Trust Fund Complex as a whole.

In order to streamline communication between the Advisor and the Independent Trustees and create certain efficiencies, the Board has a Lead Independent Trustee who is responsible for: (i) coordinating activities of the Independent Trustees; (ii) working with the Advisor, Fund counsel and the independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees to determine the agenda for Board meetings; (iii) serving as the principal contact for and facilitating communication between the Independent Trustees and the Fund's service providers, particularly the Advisor; and (iv) any other duties that the Independent Trustees may delegate to the Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee is selected by the Independent Trustees and serves a two-year term or until his successor is selected.

The Board has established four standing committees (as described below) and has delegated certain of its responsibilities to those committees. The Board and its committees meet frequently throughout the year to oversee the Fund's activities, review contractual arrangements with and performance of service providers, oversee compliance with regulatory requirements, and review Fund performance. The Independent Trustees are represented by independent legal counsel at all Board and committee meetings (other than meetings of the Executive Committee). Generally, the Board acts by majority vote of all the Trustees, including a majority vote of the Independent Trustees if required by applicable law.

- 31 -

The three committee Chairmen and the Lead Independent Trustee rotate every two years in serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee or the Valuation Committee, or as Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee also serves on the Executive Committee with the Interested Trustee.

The four standing committees of the First Trust Fund Complex are: the Executive Committee (and Pricing and Dividend Committee), the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Valuation Committee and the Audit Committee. The Executive Committee, which meets between Board meetings, is authorized to exercise all powers of and to act in the place of the Board of Trustees to the extent permitted by the Trust's Declaration of Trust and By-Laws. Such Committee is also responsible for the declaration and setting of dividends. Mr. Keith and Mr. Bowen are members of the Executive Committee. During the last fiscal year, the Executive Committee held two meetings.

The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for appointing and nominating non-interested persons to the Trust's Board of Trustees. Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson are members of the Nominating and Governance Committee. If there is no vacancy on the Board of Trustees, the Board will not actively seek recommendations from other parties, including shareholders. The Board of Trustees adopted a mandatory retirement age of 72 for Trustees, beyond which age Trustees are ineligible to serve. The Committee will not consider new trustee candidates who are 72 years of age or older. When a vacancy on the Board of Trustees of a First Trust Fund occurs and nominations are sought to fill such vacancy, the Nominating and Governance Committee may seek nominations from those sources it deems appropriate in its discretion, including shareholders of the applicable Fund. To submit a recommendation for nomination as a candidate for a position on the Board of Trustees, shareholders of the applicable Fund shall mail such recommendation to W. Scott Jardine, Secretary, at the Trust's address, 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Such recommendation shall include the following information: (i) evidence of Fund ownership of the person or entity recommending the candidate (if a Fund shareholder); (ii) a full description of the proposed candidate's background, including their education, experience, current employment and date of birth; (iii) names and addresses of at least three professional references for the candidate; (iv) information as to whether the candidate is an "interested person" in relation to the Fund, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, and such other information that may be considered to impair the candidate's independence; and (v) any other information that may be helpful to the Committee in evaluating the candidate. If a recommendation is received with satisfactorily completed information regarding a candidate during a time when a vacancy exists on the Board or during such other time as the Nominating and Governance Committee is accepting recommendations, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the counsel to the Independent Trustees.
Recommendations received at any other time will be kept on file until such time as the Nominating and Governance Committee is accepting recommendations, at which point they may be considered for nomination.

The Valuation Committee is responsible for the oversight of the pricing procedures of each Fund. Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson are members of the Valuation Committee.

- 32 -

The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing each Fund's accounting and financial reporting process, the system of internal controls, audit process and evaluating and appointing independent auditors (subject also to Board approval). Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson serve on the Audit Committee.

RISK OVERSIGHT

As part of the general oversight of the Fund, the Board is involved in the risk oversight of the Fund. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address each Fund's risks. Oversight of investment and compliance risk, including oversight of any sub-advisors, is performed primarily at the Board level in conjunction with the Advisor's investment oversight group and the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO"). Oversight of other risks also occurs at the committee level. The Advisor's investment oversight group reports to the Board at quarterly meetings regarding, among other things, Fund performance and the various drivers of such performance as well as information related to sub-advisors and their operations and processes. The Board reviews reports on the Fund's and the service providers' compliance policies and procedures at each quarterly Board meeting and receives an annual report from the CCO regarding the operations of the Fund's and the service providers' compliance program. In addition, the Independent Trustees meet privately each quarter with the CCO. The Audit Committee reviews with the Advisor the Fund's major financial risk exposures and the steps the Advisor has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including the Fund's risk assessment and risk management policies and guidelines. The Audit Committee also, as appropriate, reviews in a general manner the processes other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Nominating and Governance Committee monitors all matters related to the corporate governance of the Fund. The Valuation Committee monitors valuation risk and compliance with the Fund's Valuation Procedures and oversees the pricing agents and actions by the Advisor's Pricing Committee with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities.

Not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the Fund or the Advisor or other service providers. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment related risks) to achieve the Fund's goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Fund's ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations.

BOARD DIVERSIFICATION AND TRUSTEE QUALIFICATIONS

As described above, the Nominating and Governance Committee of each Board oversees matters related to the nomination of Trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee seeks to establish an effective Board with an appropriate range of skills and diversity, including, as appropriate, differences in background, professional experience, education, vocations, and other individual characteristics and traits in the aggregate. Each Trustee must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability,

- 33 -

and if qualifying as an Independent Trustee, independence from the Advisor, sub-advisors, underwriters or other service providers, including any affiliates of these entities.

Listed below for each current Trustee are the experiences, qualifications and attributes that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this SAI, that each current Trustee should serve as a trustee.

Richard E. Erickson, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon and President of Wheaton Orthopedics. He also has been a co-owner and director of a fitness center and a limited partner of two real estate companies. Dr. Erickson has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund since its inception. Dr. Erickson has also served as the Lead Independent Trustee (2008 - 2009), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2003 - 2007) and Chairman of the Valuation Committee (June 2006 - 2007 and 2010 - 2011) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee (since January 1, 2012) of the First Trust Funds.

Thomas R. Kadlec is President of ADM Investor Services Inc. ("ADMIS"), a futures commission merchant and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Archer Daniels Midland Company ("ADM"). Mr. Kadlec has been employed by ADMIS and its affiliates since 1990 in various accounting, financial, operations and risk management capacities. Mr. Kadlec serves on the boards of several international affiliates of ADMIS and is a member of ADM's Integrated Risk Committee, which is tasked with the duty of implementing and communicating enterprise-wide risk management. Mr. Kadlec has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund, except First Defined Portfolio Fund, LLC, since its inception. He has served as a Trustee of First Defined Portfolio Fund, LLC, since 2004. Mr. Kadlec also served on the Executive Committee from the organization of the first First Trust closed-end fund in 2003 until he was elected as the first Lead Independent Trustee in December 2005, serving as such through 2007. He also served as Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2008 - 2009), Chairman of the Audit Committee (2010 - 2011) and he currently serves as Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (since January 1, 2012) of the First Trust Funds.

- 34 -

Robert F. Keith is President of Hibs Enterprises, a financial and management consulting firm. Mr. Keith has been with Hibs Enterprises since 2003. Prior thereto, Mr. Keith spent 18 years with ServiceMaster and Aramark, including three years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Consumer Services, where he led the initial expansion of certain products overseas, five years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Management Services and two years as President of Aramark ServiceMaster Management Services. Mr. Keith is a certified public accountant and also has held the positions of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of ServiceMaster, at which time he oversaw the financial aspects of ServiceMaster's expansion of its Management Services division in to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Keith has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds since June 2006. Mr. Keith has also served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee (2008 - 2009) and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2010 - 2011) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Lead Independent Trustee and on the Executive Committee (since January 1, 2012) of the First Trust Funds.

Niel B. Nielson, Ph.D., has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Dew Learning LLC (a global provider of digital and on-line educational products and services) since 2012. Mr. Nielson formerly served as President of Covenant College (2002-2012), and as a partner and trader (of options and futures contracts for hedging options) for Ritchie Capital Markets Group (1996 -1997), where he held an administrative management position at this proprietary derivatives trading company. He also held prior positions in new business development for ServiceMaster Management Services Company, and in personnel and human resources for NationsBank of North Carolina, N.A. and Chicago Research and Trading Group, Ltd. ("CRT"). His international experience includes serving as a director of CRT Europe, Inc. for two years, directing out of London all aspects of business conducted by the U.K. and European subsidiary of CRT. Prior to that, Mr. Nielson was a trader and manager at CRT in Chicago. Mr. Nielson has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999. Mr. Nielson has also served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee (2003 - 2006), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2008 - 2009) and Lead Independent Trustee (2010 - 2011) and currently serves as Chairman of the Valuation Committee (since January 1, 2012) of the First Trust Funds.

James A. Bowen is Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. and until January 23, 2012, also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the First Trust Funds. Mr. Bowen is involved in the day-to-day management of the First Trust Funds and serves on the Executive Committee. He has over 26 years of experience in the investment company business in sales, sales management and executive management. Mr. Bowen has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999.

Each Independent Trustee is paid a fixed annual retainer of $125,000 per year and an annual per fund fee of $4,000 for each closed-end fund or other actively managed fund and $1,000 for each index fund in the First Trust Fund Complex. The fixed annual retainer is allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on net assets. Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee is paid $15,000 annually, the Chairman of the Audit Committee is paid $10,000 annually, and each of the Chairmen of the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Valuation Committee is paid $5,000 annually to serve in such capacities, with such compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on net assets. Trustees are also reimbursed by the investment companies in the First Trust Fund Complex for travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with all meetings. Each Chairman and the Lead Independent Trustee will serve a two year term expiring December 31, 2013 before rotating to serve as a Chairman of another Committee or as Lead Independent Trustee.

The following table sets forth the estimated compensation (including reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses) to be paid by the Fund for one fiscal year and the actual compensation paid by the First Trust Fund Complex to each of the Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 2011. The Trust has no retirement or pension plans. The officers and Trustee who are "interested persons" as designated above serve without any compensation from the Trust. The Trust has no employees. Its officers are compensated by First Trust.

- 35 -

                               ESTIMATED COMPENSATION FROM              TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM
NAME OF TRUSTEE                        THE FUND(1)                  THE FIRST TRUST FUND COMPLEX(2)
Richard E. Erickson                        $                                    $276,500
Thomas R. Kadlec                           $                                    $271,500
Robert F. Keith                            $                                    $282,250
Niel B. Nielson                            $                                    $275,249


(1) The estimated compensation to be paid by the Fund to the Independent Trustees for one fiscal year for services to the Fund.

(2) The total compensation paid to the Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 2012 for services to the twelve portfolios of First Defined Portfolio Fund, LLC, First Trust Series Fund and First Trust Variable Insurance Trust, open-end funds, 13 closed-end funds and 73 series of the Trust, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund II, all advised by First Trust.

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in the Fund and in other funds overseen by the Trustees in the First Trust Fund Complex as of December 31, 2012:

                                                                         AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF
                                                                           EQUITY SECURITIES IN
                                         DOLLAR RANGE OF            ALL REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES
                                        EQUITY SECURITIES            OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE IN THE FIRST
                                           IN THE FUND                             TRUST
TRUSTEE                              (NUMBER OF SHARES HELD)                   FUND COMPLEX
Interested Trustee
James Bowen                                   None                          $50,001 - $100,000
Independent Trustees
Richard Erickson                              None                             Over $100,000
Thomas Kadlec                                 None                             Over $100,000
Robert Keith                                  None                             Over $100,000
Niel Nielson                                  None                             Over $100,000

As of _________, 2012 the Independent Trustees of the Trust and immediate family members do not own beneficially or of record any class of securities of an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund or any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund.

As of _________, 2012 the officers and Trustees, in the aggregate, owned less than 1% of the Shares of the Fund.

As of _________, 2012 First Trust Portfolios was the sole shareholder of the Fund. As sole shareholder, First Trust Portfolios has the ability to control the outcome of any item presented to shareholders for approval.

- 36 -

Investment Advisor. The Board of Trustees of the Trust, including the Independent Trustees, approved an investment management agreement (the "Investment Management Agreement") for the Fund for an initial two-year term at a meeting held on [_________, 2012]. The Board of Trustees determined that the Investment Management Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund in light of the services, expenses and such other matters as the Board of Trustees considered to be relevant in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment.

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement between First Trust and the Trust, First Trust will manage the investment of the Fund's assets and will be responsible for paying all expenses of the Fund, excluding the fee payments under the Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees payable pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses. The Fund has agreed to pay First Trust an annual management fee equal to 0.__% of its average daily net assets.

First Trust, 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, is the investment advisor to the Fund. First Trust is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. Grace Partners of DuPage L.P. is a limited partnership with one general partner, The Charger Corporation, and a number of limited partners. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, the Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust discharges its responsibilities subject to the policies of the Board of Trustees.

First Trust provides investment tools and portfolios for advisors and investors. First Trust is committed to theoretically sound portfolio construction and empirically verifiable investment management approaches. Its asset management philosophy and investment discipline is deeply rooted in the application of intuitive factor analysis and model implementation to enhance investment decisions.

First Trust acts as investment advisor for and manages the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund. First Trust also administers the Trust's business affairs, provides office facilities and equipment and certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services, and permits any of its officers or employees to serve without compensation as Trustees or officers of the Trust if elected to such positions.

Under the Investment Management Agreement, First Trust shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any security, whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of First Trust in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties. The Investment Management Agreement terminates automatically upon assignment and is terminable at any time without penalty as to the Fund by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities on 60 days' written notice to First Trust, or by First Trust on 60 days' written notice to the Fund.

- 37 -

Portfolio Managers.

o Scott T. Fleming serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of Stonebridge. Prior to founding Stonebridge, Mr. Fleming co-founded Spectrum Asset Management, Inc., an investment advisor that specializes in preferred securities asset management for institutional clients and mutual funds. During his 13-year tenure there, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Fleming previously served as Vice President, Portfolio Manager for DBL Preferred Management, Inc. in New York City. There he managed over $300 million of institutional assets with a strategy specializing in preferred securities. Mr. Fleming received a BS in Accounting from Bentley College in Waltham, MA and his MBA in Finance from Babson College in Wellesley, MA.

o Robert Wolf serves as Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Senior Credit Analyst of Stonebridge. Mr. Wolf brings 13 years of fixed-income experience to Stonebridge. His primary focus is in analyzing both investment-grade and non-investment-grade securities, where he has developed a rigorous approach to credit and industry analysis. Prior to joining Stonebridge, Mr. Wolf was a high-yield fixed-income research analyst at Lehman Brothers. In this role, his responsibilities included detailed credit analysis across multiple sectors, relative value analysis, and developing trade recommendations for Lehman's High-Yield proprietary trading effort. Mr. Wolf previously worked for Lehman Brothers Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) trading desk as a credit analyst where he provided in-depth analysis of CMBS transactions and the underlying Commercial Real Estate. Mr. Wolf received his BS degree in Chemistry from Villanova University in 1999 and his MBA in Finance from the New York University Stern School of Business in 2004.

o Allen Shepard, PhD, serves as Senior Risk Analyst and Portfolio Analytics of Stonebridge. Dr. Shepard joined Stonebridge in 2004 and developed proprietary hedging models for use in managing preferred and fixed-income securities. Prior to joining Stonebridge, Dr. Shepard held positions as a Gibbs Instructor in the Mathematics Department at Yale University and as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Allegheny College. He received a BA in Mathematics from Hampshire College in 1980 and a PhD in Mathematics from Brown University in 1985, specializing in the field of algebraic topology. Dr. Shepard returned to graduate school during 1995-1997, first in the Economics Department at MIT and then in the PhD program in Economics at Boston University.

o Danielle Salters serves as Credit Analyst for Stonebridge. Ms. Salters has five years of investment management experience of which four years have been focused on fixed income. Previous functions have included fundamental credit research, relative value analysis and trading. Prior to beginning at Stonebridge, Ms. Salters was Portfolio Analyst at a boutique asset manager where she focused on high-yield credit analysis and portfolio analytics for a hedge fund and institutional client. Previously, Ms. Salters was employed by UBS Financial Services, Inc. where she worked in Taxable Fixed

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Income Sales and, later, served as the Fixed Income Specialist to a Portfolio Manager. Ms. Salters received a B.A. in economics from Duke University in 2007 and is a CFA Charterholder.

Compensation. The portfolio managers are compensated with an industry competitive salary and a year-end discretionary bonus based on client service, asset growth and the performance of the Fund. Each portfolio manager's performance is formally evaluated annually based on a variety of factors. Bonus compensation is primarily a function of the firm's overall annual profitability and the individual portfolio manager's contribution as measured by the overall investment performance of client portfolios in the strategy the portfolio manager manages relative to the strategy's general benchmark.

Other Accounts Managed. In addition to the Fund, as of [___________], the portfolio managers are also primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the following accounts:

                                                                                        NUMBER OF          ASSETS OF
                                                                                      ACCOUNTS WITH      ACCOUNTS WITH
                       TYPE OF                       NUMBER OF        ($ ASSETS        PERFORMANCE        PERFORMANCE
PORTFOLIO MANAGER    ACCOUNT MANAGED                 ACCOUNTS       IN MILLIONS)       BASED FEES         BASED FEES

Scott T. Fleming
                     Retail SMA                        [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Registered Investment
                     Companies                         [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Pooled Investment
                     Vehicles                          [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Accounts                    [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
Robert Wolf
                     Retail SMA                        [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Registered Investment
                     Companies                         [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Pooled Investment
                     Vehicles                          [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Accounts                    [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
Allen Shepard
                     Retail SMA                        [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Registered Investment
                     Companies                         [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Pooled Investment
                     Vehicles                          [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Accounts                    [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
Danielle Salters
                     Retail SMA                        [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Registered Investment
                     Companies                         [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Pooled Investment
                     Vehicles                          [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]
                     Other Accounts                    [___]            [___]              [___]             [___]

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BROKERAGE ALLOCATIONS

First Trust is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's securities business, the negotiation of the commissions to be paid on brokered transactions, the prices for principal trades in securities, and the allocation of portfolio brokerage and principal business. It is the policy of First Trust to seek the best execution at the best security price available with respect to each transaction, and with respect to brokered transactions in light of the overall quality of brokerage and research services provided to First Trust and its clients. The best price to the Fund means the best net price without regard to the mix between purchase or sale price and commission, if any. Purchases may be made from underwriters, dealers, and, on occasion, the issuers. Commissions will be paid on the Fund's Futures and options transactions, if any. The purchase price of portfolio securities purchased from an underwriter or dealer may include underwriting commissions and dealer spreads. The Fund may pay mark-ups on principal transactions. In selecting broker/dealers and in negotiating commissions, First Trust considers, among other things, the firm's reliability, the quality of its execution services on a continuing basis and its financial condition. Fund portfolio transactions may be effected with broker/dealers who have assisted investors in the purchase of Shares.

Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") permits an investment advisor, under certain circumstances, to cause an account to pay a broker or dealer who supplies brokerage and research services a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction. Brokerage and research services include (a) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (b) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (c) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). Such brokerage and research services are often referred to as "soft dollars." First Trust has advised the Board of Trustees that it does not currently intend to use soft dollars.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in selecting brokers, First Trust may in the future consider investment and market information and other research, such as economic, securities and performance measurement research, provided by such brokers, and the quality and reliability of brokerage services, including execution capability, performance, and financial responsibility. Accordingly, the commissions charged by any such broker may be greater than the amount another firm might charge if First Trust determines in good faith that the amount of such commissions is reasonable in relation to the value of the research information and brokerage services provided by such broker to First Trust or the Trust. In addition, First Trust must determine that the research information received in this manner provides the Fund with benefits by supplementing the research otherwise available to the Fund. The Investment Management Agreement provides that such higher commissions will not be paid by the Fund unless First Trust determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable in relation to the services provided. The investment advisory fees paid by the Fund to First Trust under the Investment Management Agreement would not be reduced as a result of receipt by First Trust of research services.

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First Trust places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts advised by it, and research services furnished by firms through which the Fund effects securities transactions may be used by First Trust in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such services may be used by First Trust in connection with the Fund. First Trust believes it is not possible to measure separately the benefits from research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund) advised by it. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of those charged by another broker paid by each account for brokerage and research services will vary. However, First Trust believes such costs to the Fund will not be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Fund on a continuing basis. First Trust seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the Fund and another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Fund. In making such allocations between the Fund and other advisory accounts, the main factors considered by First Trust are the respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holding of the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment and the size of investment commitments generally held.

CUSTODIAN, ADMINISTRATOR, FUND ACCOUNTANT AND TRANSFER AGENT

Custodian, Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. ("BBH"), as custodian for the Fund pursuant to a Custodian Agreement, holds the Fund's assets. Also, pursuant to an Administrative Agency Agreement, BBH provides 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; acting as liaison with the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm by providing such accountant with various audit-related information with respect to the Fund; and providing other continuous accounting and administrative services. BBH also serves as the Fund's transfer agent pursuant to a Administrative Agency Agreement. BBH is located at
[_______________________].

Pursuant to the Administrative Agency Agreement, the Trust on behalf of the Fund has agreed to indemnify the Administrator for certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws, unless such loss or liability results from negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties.

Pursuant to the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement between BBH and the Trust, the Fund has agreed to pay such compensation as is mutually agreed from time to time and such out-of-pocket expenses as incurred by BBH in the performance of its duties.

Distributor. First Trust Portfolios L.P., an affiliate of First Trust, is the distributor ("FTP" the "Distributor") and principal underwriter of the Shares of the Fund. Its principal address is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes Fund Shares. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Fund through the Distributor only in Creation Unit Aggregations, as described in the Prospectus and below under the heading "Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations."

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First Trust may, from time to time and from its own resources, pay, defray or absorb costs relating to distribution, including payments out of its own resources to the Distributor, or to otherwise promote the sale of Shares. First Trust's available resources to make these payments include profits from advisory fees received from the Fund. The services First Trust may pay for include, but are not limited to, advertising and attaining access to certain conferences and seminars, as well as being presented with the opportunity to address investors and industry professionals through speeches and written marketing materials.

12b-1 Plan. The Trust has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan") pursuant to which the Fund may reimburse the Distributor up to a maximum annual rate of 0.25% its average daily net assets.

Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will receive and review after the end of each calendar quarter a written report provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made. With the exception of the Distributor and its affiliates, no "interested person" of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) and no Trustee of the Trust has a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any related agreement.

No such fee is currently paid by the Fund under the Plan, and pursuant to a contractual agreement, the Fund will not pay 12b-1 fees any time before February __, 2014.

Aggregations. Fund Shares in less than Creation Unit Aggregations are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Unit Aggregations and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA").

The Distribution Agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days' written notice by the Trust to the Distributor (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The Distributor shall enter into agreements with participants that utilize the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the "DTC Participants"), which have international, operational, capabilities and place orders for Creation Unit Aggregations of Fund Shares. Participating Parties (which are participants in the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation) shall be DTC Participants.

Exchange. The only relationship that the Exchange has with First Trust or the Distributor of the Fund in connection with the Fund is that the Exchange will list the Shares of the Fund and disseminates the intra-day portfolio values that are calculated by [the IPV Calculator] pursuant to its listing agreement with the Trust. The Exchange is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of pricing or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Shares of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the asset value of the

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Fund. The Exchange has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Book Entry Only System. The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled "How to Buy and Sell Shares-Book Entry."

DTC Acts as Securities Depository for Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.

DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants (the "DTC Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities, certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (the "Indirect Participants").

Beneficial ownership of Shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as "Beneficial Owners") is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase and sale of Shares.

Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to a letter agreement between DTC and the Trust, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the Shares of the Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participants a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

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Fund distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, as the registered holder of all Fund Shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall immediately credit DTC Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in Shares of the Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of Shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a "street name," and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such Shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to Shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

[The Board has delegated to First Trust the proxy voting responsibilities for the Fund and has directed First Trust to vote proxies consistent with the Fund's best interests. First Trust has engaged the services of ISS Governance Services, a division of RiskMetrics Group, Inc. ("ISS"), to make recommendations to First Trust on the voting of proxies relating to securities held by the Fund. If First Trust manages the assets of a company or its pension plan and any of First Trust's clients hold any securities of that company, First Trust will vote proxies relating to such company's securities in accordance with the ISS recommendations to avoid any conflict of interest. While these guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive, they do provide guidance on First Trust's general voting policies.]

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, will be available upon request and without charge on the Fund's website at http://www.ftportfolios.com, by calling (800) 621-1675 or by accessing the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

Quarterly Portfolio Schedule. The Trust is required to disclose, after its first and third fiscal quarters, the complete schedule of the Fund's portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q. Form N-Q for the Trust is available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund's Form N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Trust's Form N-Q is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 621-1675 or by writing to First Trust Portfolios L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.

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Policy Regarding Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings. The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund's portfolio holdings. The Board of Trustees must approve all material amendments to this policy. The Fund's portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services, including publicly accessible Internet websites. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and quantities to deliver in exchange for Fund Shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated each day the NYSE is open for trading via the National Securities Clearing Corporation ("NSCC"). The basket represents one Creation Unit of the Fund. The Fund's portfolio holdings are also available on the Fund's website at http://www.ftportfolios.com. The Trust, First Trust and BBH will not disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust.

Codes of Ethics. In order to mitigate the possibility that the Fund will be adversely affected by personal trading, the Trust, First Trust and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These Codes of Ethics contain policies restricting securities trading in personal accounts of the officers, Trustees and others who normally come into possession of information on portfolio transactions. Personnel subject to the Codes of Ethics may invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund; however, the Codes of Ethics require that each transaction in such securities be reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee. These Codes of Ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS

GENERAL

The Trust issues and sells Shares of the Fund only in Creation Unit Aggregations on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at their NAVs next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined below), of an order in proper form.

A "Business Day" is any day on which the NYSE is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

PURCHASE AND ISSUANCE OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS

Fund Deposit. Unless cash purchases are required or permitted for the Fund under the circumstances described below, the consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit Aggregation of Shares of the Fund generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities and other instruments (the "Deposit Securities") generally corresponding pro rata (except in certain circumstances) to the Fund's portfolio positions (including cash positions) and an amount of cash computed as described below (the "Cash Component"). Together, the Deposit Securities (and/or any cash with respect to cash purchases and cash-in-lieu amounts) and the Cash Component constitute the "Fund Deposit," which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit Aggregation of the Fund.

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The Cash Component is sometimes also referred to as the Balancing Amount. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation and the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Component is an amount equal to the difference between (x) the NAV of Fund Shares (per Creation Unit Aggregation) and (y) the "Deposit Amount" -- an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities and/or cash in lieu of all or a portion of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation exceeds the Deposit Amount), the creator will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation is less than the Deposit Amount), the creator will receive the Cash Component.

The Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business of the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time), the list of the names and the required quantity of each Deposit Security to be included in the current Fund Deposit, as well as the estimated Cash Component (if any) that will be applicable to the Fund for that day (subject to correction of any errors). Such Fund Deposit is applicable in order to effect creations of Creation Unit Aggregations of the Fund until such time as the next-announced Fund Deposit is made available.

[The identities and quantities of the Deposit Securities required for a Fund Deposit for the Fund change as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected within the Fund from time to time [by First Trust and/or the Sub-Advisor] with a view to the investment objectives of the Fund.]

The Fund reserves the right to require or permit purchases of Creation Unit Aggregations to be made in whole or in part on a cash basis, rather than in-kind, under the following circumstances: (i) to the extent there is a Cash Component; (ii) if, on a given Business Day, the Fund announces before the open of trading that all purchases on that day will be made entirely in cash; (iii) if, upon receiving a purchase order from an Authorized Participant (as defined below), the Fund determines to require the purchase to be made entirely in cash;
(iv) if, on a given Business Day, the Fund requires all Authorized Participants purchasing Shares on that day to deposit cash in lieu of some or all of the Deposit Securities because: (a) such instruments are not eligible for transfer through either the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC as such processes have been enhanced to effect purchases and redemptions of Creation Unit Aggregations (the "NSCC Process") or through the facilities of DTC (the "DTC Process"); or (b) in the case of non-U.S. Deposit Securities, such instruments are not eligible for trading due to local trading restrictions, local restrictions on securities transfers or other similar circumstances; or
(v) if the Fund permits an Authorized Participant to deposit cash in lieu of some or all of the Deposit Securities because: (a) such instruments are not available in sufficient quantity; or (b) such instruments are not eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant or the investor on whose behalf the Authorized Participant is acting.

In addition, under the following circumstances, it is possible that Deposit Securities may not correspond pro rata to the positions in the Fund's portfolio as of the end of the prior Business Day: (i) in the case of bonds, for minor differences when it is impossible to break up bonds beyond certain minimum sizes needed for transfer and settlement; (ii) for minor differences when

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rounding is necessary to eliminate fractional shares or lots that are not tradeable round lots (a tradeable round lot for a security will be the standard unit of trading in that particular type of security in its primary market); or
(iii) with respect to "to-be-announced" transactions, short positions and other positions that cannot be transferred in kind (including instruments that can be transferred in kind only with the consent of the original counterparty to the extent the Fund does not intend to seek such consents), and they will therefore be excluded from the Deposit Securities with their value reflected in the determination of the Cash Component.

Procedures for Creation of Creation Unit Aggregations. In order to be eligible to place orders with the Distributor and to create a Creation Unit Aggregation of the Fund, an entity must be a DTC Participant (see the Book Entry Only System section), must have executed an agreement with the Distributor and transfer agent, with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Unit Aggregations ("Participant Agreement") (discussed below), and must have international operational capabilities. A DTC Participant is also referred to as an "Authorized Participant." Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants that have signed a Participant Agreement. All Fund Shares, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.

All standard orders to create Creation Unit Aggregations must be received by the transfer agent no later than the closing time of the regular trading session on the NYSE ("Closing Time") (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) in each case on the date such order is placed in order for the creation of Creation Unit Aggregations to be effected based on the NAV of Shares of the Fund as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Participant Agreement, in the case of custom orders, the order must generally be received by the transfer agent no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the trade date. The Fund may require custom orders for the purchase of Creation Unit Aggregations to be placed earlier in the day (for example, on days when the generally accepted close of the Exchange or the applicable fixed-income security market occurs earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday)). In addition, it is possible that orders to purchase a Creation Unit Aggregation may not be accepted on any day when the applicable fixed-income security markets are closed. The date on which an order to create Creation Unit Aggregations (or an order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations, as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the "Transmittal Date." Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the transfer agent pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the transfer agent or an Authorized Participant.

All orders from investors who are not Authorized Participants to create Creation Unit Aggregations shall be placed with an Authorized Participant, as applicable, in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, the Authorized Participant may request the investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, e.g., to provide for payments of cash, when required. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and that, therefore, orders to create Creation Unit Aggregations of the Fund have to be placed by the investor's broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of

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broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement. Those persons placing orders should ascertain the deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effectuating such transfer of Deposit Securities and Cash Component.

Deposit Securities must be delivered to the Trust through the applicable processes set forth in the Participant Agreement. Deposit Securities which are non-U.S. securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local subcustodian of the Trust on or before the International Contractual Settlement Date (as defined below), all in accordance with the terms of the Participant Agreement. If a Deposit Security is an ADR or similar domestic instrument, it may be delivered to the Custodian. The Authorized Participant must also pay on or before the International Contractual Settlement Date immediately available or same-day funds estimated by Trust to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component next determined after acceptance of the creation order, together with the applicable Creation Transaction Fee (as defined below) and additional variable amounts, as described below, all in accordance with the terms of the Participant Agreement. The "International Contractual Settlement Date" is the earlier of (i) the date upon which all of the required Deposit Securities, the Cash Component and any other cash amounts which may be due are delivered to the Fund or (ii) the latest day for settlement on the customary settlement cycle in the jurisdiction(s) where any of the securities of the Fund are customarily traded. Any excess funds will be returned following settlement of the issue of the Creation Unit Aggregation.

Issuance of Creation Unit Aggregations. A Creation Unit Aggregation will generally not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Trust of the portfolio of Deposit Securities and the payment of the Cash Component, the Creation Transaction Fee (as defined below) and any other required cash amounts have been completed. As described in the next paragraph, in the event that an order for a Creation Unit is incomplete because certain or all of the Deposit Securities are missing, the Trust may issue a Creation Unit notwithstanding such deficiency in reliance on the undertaking of the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Deposit Securities as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by an additional cash deposit (described below) with respect to the undelivered Deposit Securities.

To the extent contemplated by the applicable Participant Agreement, Creation Unit Aggregations of the Fund will be issued to such Authorized Participant notwithstanding the fact that the corresponding Fund Deposits have not been received in part or in whole, in reliance on the undertaking of the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Deposit Securities as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by such Authorized Participant's delivery and maintenance of collateral consisting of cash in the form of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds having a value (marked to market daily) at least equal to 115% (which First Trust may change from time to time) of the value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Participant Agreement will permit the Fund to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such securities and the value of the collateral.

Acceptance of Orders for Creation Unit Aggregations. The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor with respect to the Fund if: (i) the order is not in proper form;

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(ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Fund Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (iii) the required Fund Deposit is not delivered; (iv) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of the Trust, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Distributor, have an adverse effect on the Trust, the Fund or the rights of Beneficial Owners; or
(vii) circumstances outside the control of the Trust or the Fund make it impossible to process creation orders for all practical purposes. Examples of such circumstances include: acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Fund, First Trust, the Sub-Advisor, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the transfer agent, the Custodian, the sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process; the imposition by a foreign government or a regulatory body of controls, or other monetary, currency or trading restrictions that directly affect the portfolio securities held; and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such prospective creator of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Fund, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits, nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust's determination shall be final and binding.

Creation Transaction Fee. Purchasers of Creation Units must pay a creation transaction fee (the "Creation Transaction Fee") that is currently $_______. The Creation Transaction Fee is applicable to each purchase transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction. The Creation Transaction Fee may vary and is based on the composition of the securities included in the Fund's portfolio and the countries in which the transactions are settled. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per Share times the number of Shares in a Creation Unit plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees or stamp taxes. When the Fund permits an Authorized Participant to substitute cash in lieu of depositing one or more of the requisite Deposit Securities, the Authorized Participant may also be assessed an amount to cover the cost of purchasing the Deposit Securities, including operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes, and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to such Deposit Securities.

REDEMPTIONS OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS

Redemption of Fund Shares In Creation Unit Aggregations. Fund Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Unit Aggregations at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the transfer agent and only on a Business Day. The Fund will not redeem Shares in amounts less than Creation Unit Aggregations. Beneficial Owners must accumulate

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enough Shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit Aggregation in order to have such Shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit Aggregation. Investors should expect to incur customary brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Fund Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit Aggregation.

The Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time), the list of the names and the required quantity of the securities and other instruments ("Fund Securities"), as well as the estimated Cash Redemption Amount (defined below) (if any), that will be applicable for the Fund for that day (subject to correction of any errors) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day.

Unless cash redemptions are specified for the Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit Aggregation generally consist of Fund Securities--as announced on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form--plus or minus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund Shares (per Creation Unit Aggregation) being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the aggregate market value of the Fund Securities (the "Cash Redemption Amount"), less the applicable Redemption Transaction Fee as listed below and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees or stamp taxes. In the event that the Fund Securities have an aggregate market value greater than the NAV of the Fund Shares (per Creation Unit Aggregation), a compensating cash payment equal to the difference plus, the applicable Redemption Transaction Fee and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees or stamp taxes is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder.

The Fund reserves the right to require or permit redemptions of Creation Unit Aggregations to be made in whole or in part on a cash basis, rather than in-kind, under the following circumstances: (i) to the extent there is a Cash Redemption Amount; (ii) if, on a given Business Day, the Fund announces before the open of trading that all redemptions on that day will be made entirely in cash; (iii) if, upon receiving a redemption order from an Authorized Participant, the Fund determines to require the redemption to be made entirely in cash; (iv) if, on a given Business Day, the Fund requires all Authorized Participants redeeming Shares on that day to receive cash in lieu of some or all of the Fund Securities because: (a) such instruments are not eligible for transfer through either the NSCC Process or the DTC Process; or (b) in the case of non-U.S. Fund Securities, such instruments are not eligible for trading due to local trading restrictions, local restrictions on securities transfers or other similar circumstances; or (v) if the Fund permits an Authorized Participant to receive cash in lieu of some or all of the Fund Securities because: (a) such instruments are not eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant or the investor on whose behalf the Authorized Participant is acting; or (b) with respect to non-U.S. Fund Securities, a holder of Shares of the Fund would be subject to unfavorable income tax treatment if the holder receives redemption proceeds in kind.

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In addition, under the following circumstances, it is possible that Fund Securities may not correspond pro rata to the positions in the Fund's portfolio as of the end of the prior Business Day: (i) in the case of bonds, for minor differences when it is impossible to break up bonds beyond certain minimum sizes needed for transfer and settlement; (ii) for minor differences when rounding is necessary to eliminate fractional shares or lots that are not tradeable round lots; or (iii) with respect to "to-be-announced" transactions, short positions and other positions that cannot be transferred in kind (including instruments that can be transferred in kind only with the consent of the original counterparty to the extent the Fund does not intend to seek such consents), and they will therefore be excluded from the Fund Securities with their value reflected in the determination of the Cash Redemption Amount.

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed
(i) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Shares of the Fund or determination of the Fund's NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as are permitted by the SEC.

Redemption Transaction Fee. Parties redeeming Creation Units must pay a redemption transaction fee (the "Redemption Transaction Fee") that is currently $________. The Redemption Transaction Fee is applicable to each redemption transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction. The Redemption Transaction Fee may vary and is based on the composition of the securities included in the Fund's portfolio and the countries in which the transactions are settled. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary in addition to an Authorized Participant to effect a redemption of a Creation Unit Aggregation may be charged an additional fee for such services.

Placement of Redemption Orders. Orders to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations must be delivered through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement and must comply with the applicable provisions of such Participant Agreement. Investors other than Authorized Participants are responsible for making arrangements for a redemption request to be made through an Authorized Participant.

Deliveries of Fund Securities to investors are generally expected to be made within three Business Days. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds for the Fund may take longer than three Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. In such cases, the local market settlement procedures will not commence until the end of the local holiday periods. See below for a list of the local holidays in the foreign countries relevant to the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund would generally be required to make payment of redemption proceeds within seven days after a security is tendered for redemption. However, because the settlement of redemptions of Fund Shares is contingent not only on the settlement cycle of the United States securities markets, but also on delivery cycles of foreign markets, pursuant to an exemptive order upon which the Fund may rely, the Fund's in-kind redemption proceeds are permitted to be paid within the maximum number of calendar days required for such payment or satisfaction in the principal local foreign markets

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where transactions in portfolio securities customarily clear and settle, but no later than 15 calendar days following tender of a Creation Unit Aggregation in proper form.

In connection with taking delivery of shares of non-U.S. Fund Securities upon redemption of shares of the Fund, a redeeming Beneficial Owner, or Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such Beneficial Owner, must maintain appropriate security arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody provider in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered.

To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant's agreement, in the event the Authorized Participant has submitted a redemption request in proper form but is unable to transfer all or part of the Creation Unit Aggregation to be redeemed to the Fund's transfer agent, the transfer agent may nonetheless accept the redemption request in reliance on the undertaking by the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Shares as soon as possible. Such undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant's delivery and maintenance of collateral consisting of cash having a value (marked to market daily) at least equal to 115%, (which First Trust may change from time to time), of the value of the missing Shares.

The current procedures for collateralization of missing shares require, among other things, that any cash collateral shall be in the form of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds and shall be held by BBH and marked to market daily, and that the fees of BBH and any sub-custodians in respect of the delivery, maintenance and redelivery of the cash collateral shall be payable by the Authorized Participant. If the Authorized Participant's agreement provides for collateralization, it will permit the Trust, on behalf of the affected Fund, to purchase the missing Shares at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such Shares and the value of the collateral.

The calculation of the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered/received upon redemption will be made by BBH according to the procedures set forth in this SAI under "Determination of NAV" computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Trust. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to BBH by a DTC Participant not later than Closing Time on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of shares of the relevant Fund are delivered to BBH prior to the specified time, then the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be determined by BBH on such Transmittal Date. A redemption order must be submitted in proper form.

Redemptions of Fund Shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the Fund reserves the right to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations for cash under the circumstances described above. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting may therefore be paid redemption proceeds in cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming Beneficial Owner of the Fund Shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment, beneficial ownership of Shares or delivery instructions.

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Because the portfolio securities of the Fund may trade on the relevant exchange(s) on days that the listing exchange for the Fund is closed or are otherwise not Business Days for the Fund, shareholders may not be able to redeem their shares of such Fund, or purchase and sell shares of the Fund on the listing exchange for the Fund, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant foreign markets.

REGULAR HOLIDAYS

The Fund generally intends to effect deliveries of Creation Units and securities in its portfolio ("Portfolio Securities") on a basis of "T" plus three Business Days (i.e., days on which the NYSE is open). The Fund may effect deliveries of Creation Units and portfolio securities on a basis other than T plus three in order to accommodate local holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among non-U.S. and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates, or under certain other circumstances. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind creations and redemptions within three Business Days of receipt of an order in good form is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the order to the date of delivery of the securities, there are no days that are holidays in the applicable foreign market. For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable non-U.S. market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle will be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a non-U.S. market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within normal settlement period.

The longest redemption cycle for the Fund is a function of the longest redemption cycle among the countries whose securities comprise the Fund. The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring Portfolio Securities to redeeming investors, coupled with non-U.S. market holiday schedules, will require a delivery process longer than seven calendar days for the Fund in certain circumstances. In no event, however, will the Fund take more that fifteen calendar days from the date of the tender to deliver the redemption proceeds. The holidays applicable to the Fund during such periods are listed below. Certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as "informal holidays" (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays, or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future.

The dates of the regular holidays affecting the relevant securities markets from February 1, 2013 through February 1, 2014 of the below-listed countries are as follows:

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ARGENTINA               AUSTRALIA             AUSTRIA              BELGIUM
---------               ---------             -------              -------

February 11             March 29              April 1              April 1
February 12             April 1               May 1                May 1
March 29                April 25              May 9                May 9
April 1                 December 25           May 20               May 20
April 2                 December 26           May 30               August 15
May 1                   January 1             August 15            November 1
May 25                  January 27            October 26           November 11
June 20                                       November 1           December 25
June 21                                       December 25          January 1
July 9                                        December 26
August 19                                     January 1
October 14
November 25
December 8
December 25
January 1

BRAZIL                  CANADA                CHILE                CHINA
------                  ------                -----                -----

February 12             March 29              Mach 19              February 11
February 13             April 1               May 1                February 18
March 29                May 20                May 21               February 19
May 1                   July 1                July 16              February 20
May 30                  September 2           August 15            February 21
November 15             October 14            September 18         April 4
December 25             December 25           September 19         May 1
December 31             December 26           September 20         June 12
January 1               January 1             October 31           September 19
                                              November 1           September 30
                                              December 25          October 1
                                              January 1            October 2
                                                                   October 3
                                                                   October 8
                                                                   October 9
                                                                   October 10
                                                                   October 11
                                                                   January 1
                                                                   January 2
                                                                   January 3
                                                                   January 4
                                                                   January 7

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DENMARK                 FINLAND               FRANCE               GERMANY
-------                 -------               ------               -------

March 28                March 29              April 1              March 29
March 29                April 1               May 1                April 1
April 1                 May 1                 May 8                May 1
April 26                May 9                 May 9                May 9
May 9                   December 6            May 20               May 20
May 20                  December 25           August 15            October 3
December 25             December 26           November 1           December 25
December 26             January 1             November 11          December 26
January 1               January 6             December 25          January 1
                                              January 1

GREECE                  HONG KONG             INDIA                IRELAND
------                  ---------             -----                -------
March 18                February 11           February 15          March 18
March 25                February 12           February 19          April 1
May 1                   February 13           March 25             May 6
May 3                   March 29              March 26             June 3
May 6                   April 1               March 27             August 5
June 24                 April 4               March 29             October 28
August 15               May 1                 April 11             December 25
October 28              May 17                April 24             December 26
December 25             June 12               May 8                January 1
December 26             July 1                May 24
January 1               September 20          July 10
January 6               October 1             August 2
                        October 14            August 15
                        December 25           August 20
                        December 26           August 28
                        January 1             September 9
                        January 31            September 16
                                              October 2
                                              October 11
                                              October 16
                                              October 18
                                              October 22
                                              November 4
                                              November 5
                                              November 8
                                              November 14
                                              December 24
                                              December 25
                                              January 1

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ISRAEL                  ITALY                 JAPAN                MALAYSIA
------                  -----                 -----                --------
March 26                April 1               February 11          February 11
April 1                 April 25              March 20             May 1
April 8                 May 1                 April 29             August 8
April 15                August 15             May 3                August 9
April 16                November 1            May 6                September 16
May 15                  December 25           July 15              October 15
July 16                 December 26           September 16         November 5
September 5             January 1             September 23         December 25
September 6                                   October 14           January 1
September 19                                  November 4           January 24
September 26                                  December 23
November 28                                   January 1
                                              January 13


MEXICO                  NEW ZEALAND           NETHERLANDS          NORWAY
------                  -----------           -----------          ------
February 4              February 6            March 29             March 28
February 5              March 29              April 1              March 29
March 18                April 1               April 30             April 1
March 21                April 25              May 9                May 1
May 1                   June 3                May 20               May 9
September 16            October 28            December 25          May 17
November 18             December 25           December 26          May 20
November 20             December 26           January 1            December 25
December 25             January 1                                  December 26
January 1               January 2                                  January 1

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PORTUGAL                SINGAPORE             SOUTH AFRICA         SOUTH KOREA
--------                ---------             ------------         -----------
March 29                February 11           March 21             February 11
April 25                February 12           March 29             March 1
May 1                   March 29              April 1              May 17
June 10                 April 6               May 1                June 6
August 15               May 1                 June 17              August 15
December 25             May 24                August 9             September 18
January 1               August 8              September 24         September 19
                        August 9              December 16          September 20
                        October 15            December 25          October 3
                        November 4            December 26          December 25
                        December 25           January 1            January 1
                        January 1

SPAIN                   SWEDEN                SWITZERLAND          TAIWAN
-----                   ------                -----------          ------
March 29                March 29              March 29             February 11
May 1                   April 1               April 1              February 12
November 1              May 1                 April 9              February 13
December 6              May 9                 May 20               February 28
December 9              June 6                May 30               April 4
December 25             December 25           August 1             May 1
January 1               December 26           August 15            June 12
                        January 1             November 1           September 3
                        January 6             December 8           September 19
                                              December 25          October 10
                                              December 26          January 1
                                              January 1
                                              January 2
                                              January 6

- 57 -

THAILAND                UNITED KINGDOM        UNITED STATES
--------                --------------        -------------
April 5                 March 29              February 18
April 15                May 6                 May 27
April 16                May 27                July 4
April 17                December 25           September 2
May 6                   December 26           October 14
August 12               January 1             November 11
October 23                                    November 28
December 5                                    December 25
December 10                                   January 1
December 31                                   January 20
January 1

FEDERAL TAX MATTERS

This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning Shares of the Fund. This section is current as of the date of the Prospectus. Tax laws and interpretations change frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do not describe your situation if you are a corporation, a non-U.S. person, a broker-dealer, or other investor with special circumstances. In addition, this section does not describe your state, local or foreign tax consequences.

This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Fund. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, our counsel was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be deposited in the Fund. This may not be sufficient for prospective investors to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law.

As with any investment, prospective investors should seek advice based on their individual circumstances from their own tax advisor.

The Fund intends to qualify annually and to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, the Fund must, among other things,
(a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in certain publicly traded

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partnerships; (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund's assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer generally limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or two or more issuers which the Fund controls which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more of certain publicly traded partnerships; and (c) distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income each taxable year. There are certain exceptions for failure to qualify if the failure is for reasonable cause or is de minimis, and certain corrective action is taken and certain tax payments are made by the Fund.

As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain. If the Fund retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will generally be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. In addition, amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax unless, generally, the Fund distributes during each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at least 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. In order to prevent application of the excise tax, the Fund intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the current calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.

Subject to certain reasonable cause and de minimis exceptions, if the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company or failed to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, the Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation on its taxable income (even if such income were distributed to its shareholders) and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income.

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DISTRIBUTIONS

Dividends paid out of the Fund's investment company taxable income are generally taxable to a shareholder as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund's earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. However, certain ordinary income distributions received from the Fund may be taxed at capital gains tax rates. In particular, ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a regulated investment company such as the Fund are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain, provided that certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund itself. Dividends received by the Fund from REITs and foreign corporations are qualifying dividends eligible for this lower tax rate only in certain circumstances. The Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distributions that may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for the capital gains tax rates. The Fund cannot make any guarantees as to the amount of any distribution which will be regarded as a qualifying dividend.

Under the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," income from the Fund may also be subject to a new 3.8% "Medicare tax" imposed for taxable years beginning after 2012. This tax will generally apply to net investment income if the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts, which are $250,000 in the case of married couples filing joint returns and $200,000 in the case of single individuals.

A corporation that owns Shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to many dividends received from the Fund because the dividends received deduction is generally not available for distributions from regulated investment companies. However, certain ordinary income dividends on Shares that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund from certain domestic corporations may be reported by the Fund as being eligible for the dividends received deduction.

Distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, properly reported as capital gain dividends are taxable to a shareholder as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholder has held Fund Shares. Some capital gains dividends may be taxed at a maximum stated rate of 25%. Shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional Shares, rather than cash, generally will have a cost basis in each such Share equal to the value of a Share of the Fund on the reinvestment date. A distribution of an amount in excess of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital which is applied against and reduces the shareholder's basis in his or her Shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder's basis in his or her Shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the Shares.

Shareholders will be notified annually as to the U.S. federal income tax status of distributions, and shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional Shares will receive a report as to the value of those Shares.

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SALE OR EXCHANGE OF FUND SHARES

Upon the sale or other disposition of Shares of the Fund, which a shareholder holds as a capital asset, such a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss which will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the shareholder's holding period for the Shares. Generally, a shareholder's gain or loss will be a long-term gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year.

Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent that Shares disposed of are replaced (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after disposition of Shares or to the extent that the shareholder, during such period, acquires or enters into an option or contract to acquire, substantially identical stock or securities. In such a case, the basis of the Shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of Fund Shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of long-term capital gain received by the shareholder with respect to such Shares.

TAXES ON PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

If a shareholder exchanges equity securities for Creation Units the shareholder will generally recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and the shareholder's aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the Cash Component paid. If a shareholder exchanges Creation Units for equity securities, then the shareholder will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the shareholder's basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the Cash Redemption Amount. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units or Creation Units for securities cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing "wash sales," or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

NATURE OF FUND INVESTMENTS

Certain of the Fund's investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gain into higher taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur and (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions.

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FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS

The Fund's transactions in Futures Contracts and options will be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and may defer Fund losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for qualifying to be taxed as a regulated investment company and the distribution requirements for avoiding excise taxes.

INVESTMENTS IN CERTAIN FOREIGN CORPORATIONS

If the Fund holds an equity interest in any PFICs, which are generally certain foreign corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. The Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, the Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, the Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above). Dividends paid by PFICs will not be treated as qualified dividend income.

BACKUP WITHHOLDING

The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax from all taxable distributions and sale proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding Corporate shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. This withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability.

NON-U.S. SHAREHOLDERS

U.S. taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate, a foreign corporation

- 62 -

or foreign partnership ("non-U.S. shareholder") depends on whether the income of the Fund is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the shareholder.

In addition to the rules described above concerning the potential imposition of withholding on distributions to non-U.S. persons, distributions after December 31, 2013, to non-U.S. persons that are "financial institutions" may be subject to a withholding tax of 30% unless an agreement is in place between the financial institution and the U.S. Treasury to collect and disclose information about accounts, equity investments, or debt interests in the financial institution held by one or more U.S. persons or the institution is resident in a jurisdiction that has entered into such an agreement with the U.S. Treasury. For these purposes, a "financial institution" means any entity that
(i) accepts deposits in the ordinary course of a banking or similar business,
(ii) holds financial assets for the account of others as a substantial portion of its business, or (iii) is engaged (or holds itself out as being engaged) primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, partnership interests, commodities or any interest (including a futures contract or option) in such securities, partnership interests or commodities. Dispositions of Shares by such persons may be subject to such withholding after December 31, 2016.

Distributions to non-financial non-U.S. entities (other than publicly traded foreign entities, entities owned by residents of U.S. possessions, foreign governments, international organizations, or foreign central banks) after December 31, 2013, will also be subject to a withholding tax of 30% if the entity does not certify that the entity does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provide the name, address and TIN of each substantial U.S. owner. Dispositions of Shares by such persons may be subject to such withholding after December 31, 2016.

Income Not Effectively Connected. If the income from the Fund is not "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the non-U.S. shareholder, distributions of investment company taxable income will generally be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions.

Distributions of capital gain dividends and any amounts retained by the Fund which are preoperly reported by the Fund as undistributed capital gains will not be subject to U.S. tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) unless the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements. However, this 30% tax on capital gains of nonresident alien individuals who are physically present in the United States for more than the 182 day period only applies in exceptional cases because any individual present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year is generally treated as a resident for U.S. income tax purposes; in that case, he or she would be subject to U.S. income tax on his or her worldwide income at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, rather than the 30% U.S. tax. In the case of a non-U.S. shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. income tax from distributions of net capital gain unless the non-U.S. shareholder certifies his or her non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption. If a non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual, any gain such shareholder realizes upon the sale or exchange of such shareholder's shares of the Fund in the United States will ordinarily be exempt from U.S. tax unless

- 63 -

the gain is U.S. source income and such shareholder is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements.

In the case of dividends with respect to taxable years of the Fund beginning prior to 2014, distributions from the Trust that are properly reported by the Fund as an interest-related dividend attributable to certain interest income received by the Fund or as a short-term capital gain dividend attributable to certain net short-term capital gain income received by the Fund may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes when received by certain foreign investors, provided that the Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met. In addition, capital gains distributions attributable to gains from U.S. real property interests (including certain U.S. real property holding corporations) will generally be subject to United States withholding tax and will give rise to an obligation on the part of the foreign shareholder to file a United States tax return.

Income Effectively Connected. If the income from the Fund is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a non-U.S. shareholder, then distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Fund which are properly reported by the Fund as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be subject to U.S. income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents and domestic corporations. Non-U.S. corporate shareholders may also be subject to the branch profits tax imposed by the Code. The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.

OTHER TAXATION

Fund shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their Fund distributions. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.

DETERMINATION OF NAV

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled "Net Asset Value."

The per share NAV of the Fund is determined by dividing the total value of the securities and other assets, less liabilities, by the total number of Shares outstanding. Under normal circumstances, daily calculation of the NAV will utilize the last closing price of each security held by the Fund at the close of the market on which such security is principally listed. In determining NAV, portfolio securities for the Fund for which accurate market quotations are readily available will be valued by the Fund accounting agent as follows:

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(1) Common stocks and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange other than NASDAQ(R) and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market ("AIM") will be valued at the last sale price on the business day as of which such value is being determined. Securities listed on NASDAQ(R) or AIM are valued at the official closing price on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, or no official closing price in the case of securities traded on NASDAQ(R) and AIM, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Portfolio securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, on the business day as of which such value is being determined at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities.

(2) Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at their closing bid prices.

(3) Exchange traded options and Futures Contracts will be valued at the closing price in the market where such contracts are principally traded. If no closing price is available, exchange-traded options and futures contracts will be valued at the mean between the last bid and asked price. Over-the-counter options and Futures Contracts will be valued at their closing bid prices.

(4) Forward foreign currency exchange contracts which are traded in the United States on regulated exchanges will be valued by calculating the mean between the last bid and asked quotations supplied to a pricing service by certain independent dealers in such contracts.

In addition, the following types of securities will be valued as follows:

(1) Fixed income securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or more will be valued by the fund accounting agent using a pricing service. When price quotes are not available, fair value is based on prices of comparable securities.

(2) Fixed income securities maturing within 60 days are valued by the Fund accounting agent on an amortized cost basis.

(3) Repurchase agreements will be valued as follows. Overnight repurchase agreements will be valued at cost. Term repurchase agreements (i.e., those whose maturity exceeds seven days) will be valued by First Trust at the average of the bid quotations obtained daily from at least two recognized dealers.

The value of any portfolio security held by the Fund for which market quotations are not readily available will be determined by First Trust in a manner that most fairly reflects fair market value of the security on the valuation date, based on a consideration of all available information.

- 65 -

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Board of Trustees or its delegate 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 1933 Act) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market 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 Fund NAV (as may be the case in foreign markets on which the security is primarily traded) or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, does not reflect the security's "fair value." As a general principle, the current "fair value" of an issue of securities would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for them upon their current sale. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities.

The Fund may suspend the right of redemption for the Fund only under the following unusual circumstances: (a) when the NYSE is closed (other than weekends and holidays) or trading is restricted; (b) when trading in the markets normally utilized is restricted, or when an emergency exists as determined by the SEC so that disposal of the Fund's investments or determination of its net assets is not reasonably practicable; or (c) during any period when the SEC may permit.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."

General Policies. Dividends from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid semi-annually. Distributions of net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Trust may make distributions on a more frequent basis. The Trust reserves the right to declare special distributions if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the status of the Fund as a regulated investment company or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.

Dividends and other distributions of Fund Shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such Shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the Fund.

Dividend Reinvestment Service. No reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by Beneficial Owners of the Fund for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Beneficial Owners should contact their brokers in order to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Brokers may require Beneficial Owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables. If this service is available and used,

- 66 -

dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole Shares of the Fund purchased in the secondary market.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Counsel. Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, is counsel to the Trust.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 111 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 serves as the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. The firm audits the Fund's financial statements and performs other related audit services.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholder of First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (the "Fund"), a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, as of January 29, 2013. This statement of assets and liabilities is the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this statement of assets and liabilities based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the statement of assets and liabilities referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF as of January 29, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois
January 30, 2013

- 68 -

FIRST TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES AND INCOME ETF
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

JANUARY 29, 2013

ASSETS:

Cash                                                   $    100,000
                                                       ------------
Total Assets                                           $    100,000
                                                       ------------


Paid in Capital                                        $    100,000
                                                       ------------
NET ASSETS                                             $    100,000
                                                       ============

Shares outstanding (unlimited amount
authorized, $0.01 par value)                                  5,000
                                                       ============

Net asset value, offering price,
and redemption price per share                         $      20.00
                                                       ============

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Note 1: Organization

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (the "Fund"), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), is a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, a registered open-end investment company that was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 9, 2008. The Fund has had no operations through January 29, 2013 other than matters relating to organization and registration and the sale of its shares to First Trust Portfolios L.P., the sole shareholder of the Fund.

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide current income and total return. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in preferred securities ("Preferred Securities") and income-producing debt securities ("Income Securities"). Initially, 50% of the Preferred Securities and 50% of the Income Securities held by the Fund will be exchange-listed. For purposes of the 80% test set forth above, securities of other open-end funds, closed-end funds or exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") registered under the 1940 Act, that invest primarily in Preferred Securities or Income Securities will be deemed to be Preferred Securities or Income Securities, respectively.

- 69 -

Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The Fund intends to comply in its initial fiscal year and thereafter with provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and as such, will not be subject to federal income taxes on otherwise taxable income (including net realized capital gains) distributed to shareholders.

Note 3: Fees and Expenses

First Trust Advisors L.P. ("First Trust"), the Fund's Advisor, has agreed to bear the organization and offering costs of the Fund. The Fund and First Trust have retained Stonebridge Advisors LLC ("Stonebridge"), an affiliate of First Trust, to serve as its investment sub-advisor. In this capacity, Stonebridge is responsible for the selection and on-going monitoring of the securities in the Fund's investment portfolio. First Trust will supervise Stonebridge and its management of the investment of the Fund's assets and will pay Stonebridge for its services as the Fund's sub-advisor. First Trust will also be responsible for the Fund's expenses, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, but excluding fee payments under the Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees, pursuant to a 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses. The Fund has agreed to pay First Trust an annual management fee equal to 0.85% of its average daily net assets.

Note 4: Capital

Subsequent to the Fund's organization, shares will be created and redeemed by the Fund only in large blocks consisting of 50,000 Shares. Each block of 50,000 Shares is called a "Creation Unit". As a practical matter, only broker-dealers or large institutional investors with creation and redemption agreements, called "Authorized Participants" ("APs"), can purchase or redeem these Creation Units. Transaction fees, based on the composition of the securities included in the Fund's portfolio and the countries in which the transactions are settled, are charged to those APs creating or redeeming Creation Units. Such transactions are generally permitted on an in-kind basis, with a balancing cash component to equate the transaction to the net asset value per unit of the Fund on the transaction date. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund.

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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III
PART C - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 28. EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION

(a) (1) Declaration of Trust of the Registrant and Establishment and Designation of Series Attached Thereto as Schedule A. (1)

(2) Amendment to the Declaration of Trust, dated December 11, 2009.

(1)

(3) Amended and Restated Establishment and Designation of Series, dated September 19, 2011. (1)

(b) By-Laws of the Registrant. (2)

(c) Not Applicable.

(d) Form of Investment Management Agreement. (2)

(e) Form of Distribution Agreement. (2)

(f) Not Applicable.

(g) Form of Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (2)

(h) (1) Form of Administrative Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (2)

(2) Form of Subscription Agreement. (2)

(i) (1) Opinion and Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP dated January 30, 2013. (2)

(2) Opinion and Consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP dated January 30, 2013. (2)

(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. (2)

(k) Not Applicable.

(l) Not Applicable.

(m) Form of 12b-1 Service Plan. (2)

(n) Not Applicable.

(o) Not Applicable.

(p) (1) First Trust Advisors L.P., First Trust Portfolios L.P. Code of Ethics, amended on January 1, 2009. (2)

(2) First Trust Funds Code of Ethics, amended on January 1, 2009.

(2)

(q) Powers of Attorney for Messrs. Bowen, Erickson, Kadlec and Keith authorizing James A. Bowen, Mark R. Bradley, W. Scott Jardine, Kristi A. Maher and Eric F. Fess to execute the Registration Statement. (1)


(1) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-176976) filed on September 23, 2011.

(2) Filed herewith.

ITEM 29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

Not Applicable.

ITEM 30. INDEMNIFICATION

Section 9.5 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

Section 9.5. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 9.5, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, or employee of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person"), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him or in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by applicable federal law.

The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

Subject to applicable federal law, expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 9.5 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.5.

To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to whether a Covered Person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

As used in this Section 9.5, the words "claim," "action," "suit" or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, demands, actions, suits, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings or any other occurrence of a similar nature, whether actual or threatened and whether civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

ITEM 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

First Trust Advisors L.P. ("First Trust"), investment adviser to the Registrant, serves as adviser or subadviser to 14 mutual funds, 83 exchange-traded funds and 13 closed-end funds and is the portfolio supervisor of certain unit investment trusts. Its principal address is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.

The principal business of certain of First Trust's principal executive officers involves various activities in connection with the family of unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP"). FTP's principal address is 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.

Information as to other business, profession, vocation or employment during the past two years of the officers and directors of First Trust is as follows:

NAME AND POSITION WITH FIRST TRUST                         EMPLOYMENT DURING PAST TWO YEARS

James A. Bowen, Chief Executive Officer                    Chief Executive Officer (since December 2010) and
                                                           President (prior to December 2010), FTP; Chairman of the
                                                           Board of Directors, BondWave LLC and Stonebridge
                                                           Advisors LLC

NAME AND POSITION WITH FIRST TRUST                         EMPLOYMENT DURING PAST TWO YEARS

Ronald D. McAlister, Managing Director                     Managing Director, FTP

Mark R. Bradley, Chief Financial Officer/Chief             Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Operating Officer                                          (since December 2010), FTP; Chief Financial Officer,
                                                           BondWave LLC and Stonebridge Advisors LLC

Robert F. Carey, Chief Market Strategist and Senior        Senior Vice President, FTP
Vice President

W. Scott Jardine, General Counsel and Secretary            Secretary and General Counsel, FTP; Secretary of
                                                           BondWave LLC and Stonebridge Advisors LLC

Kristi A. Maher, Deputy General Counsel                    Deputy General Counsel, FTP

Erin Klassman, Assistant General Counsel                   Assistant General Counsel, FTP

John Vasko, Assistant General Counsel                      Assistant General Counsel, FTP

Amy Lum, Assistant General Counsel                         Assistant General Counsel (since November 2010), FTP;
                                                           Of Counsel, The Law Offices of Beau T. Grieman (August 2009 to
                                                           March 2010); Associate, Perkins Coie (April 2008 to August 2009)

Lisa Weier, Assistant General Counsel                      Assistant General Counsel (since January 2011), FTP;
                                                           Associate, Chapman and Cutler LLP

Heidemarie Gregoriev, Compliance Counsel                   Compliance Counsel (since October 2011), FTP; Of
                                                           Counsel,  Vedder Price P.C.

Benjamin D. McCulloch                                      Associate Counsel, FTP

R. Scott Hall, Managing Director                           Managing Director, FTP

Andrew S. Roggensack, President                            Managing Director and President (since December 2010), FTP

Kathleen Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief            CCO and Senior Vice President, FTP
Compliance Officer

Elizabeth H. Bull, Senior Vice President                   Senior Vice President, FTP

Christopher L. Dixon, Senior Vice President                Senior Vice President, FTP

Jane Doyle, Senior Vice President                          Senior Vice President, FTP

NAME AND POSITION WITH FIRST TRUST                         EMPLOYMENT DURING PAST TWO YEARS

James M. Dykas, Senior Vice President and Controller       Senior Vice President and Controller (since December 2010), FTP

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President                     Senior Vice President, FTP

Ken Fincher, Senior Vice President                         Senior Vice President, FTP

Rosanne Gatta, Board Liaison Associate                     Board Liaison Associate (July 2010 to Present), FTP;
                                                           Assistant Vice President (July 2010 to February 2011),
                                                           PNC Global Investment Servicing

Kenneth N. Hass, Senior Vice President                     Senior Vice President, FTP

Jason T. Henry, Senior Vice President                      Senior Vice President, FTP

Daniel J. Lindquist, Senior Vice President                 Senior Vice President, FTP

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer and Senior      Senior Vice President, FTP
Vice President

Mitchell Mohr, Senior Vice President                       Senior Vice President, FTP

Robert M. Porcellino, Senior Vice President                Senior Vice President, FTP

Alan M. Rooney, Senior Vice President                      Senior Vice President, FTP

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President                     Senior Vice President, FTP

Christina Knierim, Senior Vice President                   Vice President, FTP

Brad Bradley, Vice President                               Vice President, FTP

Chris Fallow, Vice President                               Vice President, FTP

Todd Larson, Vice President                                Vice President, FTP

Ronda L. Saeli-Chiappe, Vice President                     Vice President, FTP

Stan Ueland, Vice President                                Vice President, FTP

Katherine Urevig, Vice President                           Vice President, FTP

Katie D. Collins, Assistant Vice President                 Assistant Vice President, FTP

Kristen Johanneson, Assistant Vice President               Assistant Vice President, FTP

Coleen D. Lynch, Assistant Vice President                  Assistant Vice President, FTP

Omar Sepulveda, Assistant Vice President                   Assistant Vice President, FTP

NAME AND POSITION WITH FIRST TRUST                         EMPLOYMENT DURING PAST TWO YEARS

John H. Sherren, Assistant Vice President                  Assistant Vice President, FTP

Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist                             Senior Vice President, FTP

Rob Stein, Senior Economist                                Vice President, FTP

ITEM 32. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

(a) FTP serves as principal underwriter of the shares of the Registrant, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX(R) Fund II, First Trust Series Fund and the First Defined Portfolio Fund LLC. FTP serves as principal underwriter and depositor of the following investment companies registered as unit investment trusts: the First Trust Combined Series, FT Series (formerly known as the First Trust Special Situations Trust), the First Trust Insured Corporate Trust, the First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds, and the First Trust GNMA. The name of each director, officer and partner of FTP is provided below.

(b) Positions and Offices with Underwriter.

NAME AND PRINCIPAL                        POSITIONS AND OFFICES               POSITIONS AND
BUSINESS ADDRESS*                         WITH UNDERWRITER                    OFFICES WITH FUND

The Charger Corporation                   General Partner                     None

Grace Partners of DuPage L.P.             Limited Partner                     None

James A. Bowen                            Chief Executive Officer             Trustee and Chairman of the Board


Mark R. Bradley                           Chief Financial Officer/Chief       President and Chief Executive
                                          Operating Officer                   Officer

James M. Dykas                            Senior Vice President/Controller    Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer
                                                                              and Chief Accounting Officer

Frank L. Fichera                          Managing Director                   None

Russell J. Graham                         Managing Director                   None

R. Scott Hall                             Managing Director                   None

Ronald D. McAlister                       Managing Director                   None

Richard A. Olson                          Managing Director                   None

Andrew S. Roggensack                      Managing Director/President         None

NAME AND PRINCIPAL                        POSITIONS AND OFFICES               POSITIONS AND
BUSINESS ADDRESS*                         WITH UNDERWRITER                    OFFICES WITH FUND

W. Scott Jardine                          Secretary and General Counsel       Secretary

Kristi A. Maher                           Deputy General Counsel              Chief Compliance Officer and
                                                                              Assistant Secretary

Erin Klassman                             Assistant General Counsel           Assistant Secretary

John Vasko                                Assistant General Counsel           None

Amy Lum                                   Assistant General Counsel           None
Lisa Weier                                Assistant General Counsel           None
Heidemarie Gregoriev                      Compliance Counsel                  None
Benjamin D. McCulloch                     Associate Counsel                   None

Dan Affeto                                Senior Vice President               None

Bob Bartel                                Senior Vice President               None

Elizabeth H. Bull                         Senior Vice President               None

Robert F. Carey                           Senior Vice President               None

Patricia L. Costello                      Senior Vice President               None

Christopher L. Dixon                      Senior Vice President               None

Jane Doyle                                Senior Vice President               None

Jon C. Erickson                           Senior Vice President               None

Ken Fincher                               Senior Vice President               None
Rosanne Gatta                             Board Liaison Associate             Assistant Secretary

Kenneth N. Hass                           Senior Vice President               None

Jason T. Henry                            Senior Vice President               None

Rich Jaeger                               Senior Vice President               None

Christian D. Jeppesen                     Senior Vice President               None

Christopher A. Lagioia                    Senior Vice President               None

Daniel J. Lindquist                       Senior Vice President               Vice President

NAME AND PRINCIPAL                        POSITIONS AND OFFICES               POSITIONS AND
BUSINESS ADDRESS*                         WITH UNDERWRITER                    OFFICES WITH FUND

David G. McGarel                          Senior Vice President               None

Mark R. McHenney                          Senior Vice President               None

Mitchell Mohr                             Senior Vice President               None

Paul E. Nelson                            Senior Vice President               None

Steve R. Nelson                           Senior Vice President               None

Robert M. Porcellino                      Senior Vice President               None

Steven R. Ritter                          Senior Vice President               None

Alan Rooney                               Senior Vice President               None

Francine Russell                          Senior Vice President               None

Brad A. Shaffer                           Senior Vice President               None

Brian Sheehan                             Senior Vice President               None

Andrew C. Subramanian                     Senior Vice President               None

Mark P. Sullivan                          Senior Vice President               None

Roger F. Testin                           Senior Vice President               Vice President

Gregory E. Wearsch                        Senior Vice President               None

Patrick Woelfel                           Senior Vice President               None

Kathleen Brown                            Senior Vice President; Chief        None
                                          Compliance Officer

Jonathan Ackerhalt                        Vice President                      None

Lance Allen                               Vice President                      None

Jeff Ambrose                              Vice President                      None

Kyle Baker                                Vice President                      None

Carlos Barbosa                            Vice President                      None

Andrew Barnum                             Vice President                      None

Michael Bean                              Vice President                      None

NAME AND PRINCIPAL                        POSITIONS AND OFFICES               POSITIONS AND
BUSINESS ADDRESS*                         WITH UNDERWRITER                    OFFICES WITH FUND

Dan Blong                                 Vice President                      None

Bill Braasch                              Vice President                      None

Brad Bradley                              Vice President                      None

Cory Bringle                              Vice President                      None

Mike Britt                                Vice President                      None

Alex Brozyna                              Vice President                      None

Nathan S. Cassel                          Vice President                      None

Joshua Crosley                            Vice President                      None

Michael Dawson                            Vice President                      None

Michael Darr                              Vice President                      None

Daren J. Davis                            Vice President                      None

Michael DeBella                           Vice President                      None

Sean Degnan                               Vice President                      None

Joel D. Donley                            Vice President                      None

Brett Egner                               Vice President                      None

Stacy Eppen                               Vice President                      None

Chris Fallow                              Vice President                      Assistant Vice President

Ben Ferwerdo                              Vice President                      None

Don Fuller                                Vice President                      None

Joann Godbout                             Vice President                      None

Matt D. Graham                            Vice President                      None

William M. Hannold                        Vice President                      None

Mary Jane Hansen                          Vice President                      None

Gaby Harman                               Vice President                      None

Ryan Issakainen                           Vice President                      None

NAME AND PRINCIPAL                        POSITIONS AND OFFICES               POSITIONS AND
BUSINESS ADDRESS*                         WITH UNDERWRITER                    OFFICES WITH FUND

Rich Jacquemart                           Vice President                      None

Rick Johnson                              Vice President                      None

Greg Keefer                               Vice President                      None

Tom Knickerbocker                         Vice President                      None

Christina Knierim                         Vice President                      None

Thomas E. Kotcher                         Vice President                      None

Todd Larson                               Vice President                      None

Daniel Lavin                              Vice President                      None

Michael P. Leyden                         Vice President                      None

Keith L. Litavsky                         Vice President                      None

Eric Maisel                               Vice President                      None

Grant Markgraf                            Vice President                      None

Stephanie L. Martin                       Vice President                      None

Marty McFadden                            Vice President                      None

Nate Memmott                              Vice President                      None

Sean Moriarty                             Vice President                      None

John O'Sullivan                           Vice President                      None

David Pagano                              Vice President                      None

Brian K. Penney                           Vice President                      None

Blair R. Peterson                         Vice President                      None

Jason Peterson                            Vice President                      None

Craig Pierce                              Vice President                      None

Marisa Prestigiacomo                      Vice President                      None

Craig Prichard                            Vice President                      None

David A. Rieger                           Vice President                      None

NAME AND PRINCIPAL                        POSITIONS AND OFFICES               POSITIONS AND
BUSINESS ADDRESS*                         WITH UNDERWRITER                    OFFICES WITH FUND

James Rowlette                            Vice President                      None

Ronda L. Saeli-Chiappe                    Vice President                      None

Jeffrey M. Samuel                         Vice President                      None

Debra K. Scherbring                       Vice President                      None

Nim Short                                 Vice President                      None

Edward J. Sistowicz                       Vice President                      None

Cal Smith                                 Vice President                      None

Eric Stoiber                              Vice President                      None

Terry Swagerty                            Vice President                      None

Brian Taylor                              Vice President                      None

Kerry Tazakine                            Vice President                      None

Timothy Trudo                             Vice President                      None

Stanley Ueland                            Vice President                      Assistant Vice President

Bryan Ulmer                               Vice President                      None

Katherine Urevig                          Vice President                      None

Barbara E. Vinson                         Vice President                      None

Dan Waldron                               Vice President                      None

Lewin M. Williams                         Vice President                      None

Jeffrey S. Barnum                         Assistant Vice President            None

Toby A. Bohl                              Assistant Vice President            None

Steve Claiborne                           Assistant Vice President            None

Katie D. Collins                          Assistant Vice President            None

Ann Marie Giudice                         Assistant Vice President/Treasurer  None

Debbie Del Giudice                        Assistant Vice President            None

NAME AND PRINCIPAL                        POSITIONS AND OFFICES               POSITIONS AND
BUSINESS ADDRESS*                         WITH UNDERWRITER                    OFFICES WITH FUND

Ken Harrison                              Assistant Vice President            None

Anita K. Henderson                        Assistant Vice President            None

James V. Huber                            Assistant Vice President            None

Kristen Johanneson                        Assistant Vice President            None

Daniel C. Keller                          Assistant Vice President            None

Coleen D. Lynch                           Assistant Vice President            Assistant Vice President

Robert J. Madeja                          Assistant Vice President            None

David M. McCammond-Watts                  Assistant Vice President            None

Michelle Parker                           Assistant Vice President            None

Steve Schwarting                          Assistant Vice President            None

Omar Sepulveda                            Assistant Vice President            None

John H. Sherren                           Assistant Vice President            None

Lee Sussman                               Assistant Vice President            None

Christopher J. Thill                      Assistant Vice President            None

Dave Tweeten                              Assistant Vice President            None

Thomas G. Wisnowski                       Assistant Vice President            None

* All addresses are 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 unless otherwise noted.

(c) Not Applicable.

ITEM 33. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

First Trust, 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, maintains the Registrant's organizational documents, minutes of meetings, contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser.

ITEM 34. MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Not Applicable.

ITEM 35. UNDERTAKINGS

Not Applicable.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized in the City of Wheaton, and State of Illinois on the 30th day of January, 2013.

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

By: /s/ Mark R. Bradley
    ----------------------------------
    Mark R. Bradley, President and
    Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

SIGNATURE                               TITLE                                 DATE

/s/ Mark R. Bradley                     President and Chief Executive         January 30, 2013
-------------------------------------   Officer
    Mark R. Bradley


/s/ James M. Dykas                      Treasurer, Chief Financial  Officer   January 30, 2013
-------------------------------------   and Chief Accounting Officer
    James M. Dykas

                                                         )
James A. Bowen*                                  Trustee )
                                                         )
                                                         )
Richard E. Erickson*                             Trustee )
                                                         )
                                                         )
Thomas R. Kadlec*                                Trustee )                    BY: /s/ W. Scott Jardine
                                                         )                        ------------------------------
                                                         )                            W. Scott Jardine
Robert F. Keith*                                 Trustee )                            Attorney-In-Fact
                                                         )                            January 30, 2013
                                                         )
Niel B. Nielson*                                 Trustee )
                                                         )

* Original powers of attorney authorizing James A. Bowen, W. Scott Jardine, Mark R. Bradley, Eric F. Fess and Kristi A. Maher to execute Registrant's Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for each of the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, are filed herewith.


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

(b) By-Laws of the Registrant

(d) Form of Investment Management Agreement

(e) Form of Distribution Agreement

(g) Form of Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

(h) (1) Form of Administrative Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

(2) Form of Subscription Agreement

(i) (1) Opinion and Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP dated January 30, 2013

(2) Opinion and Consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP dated January 30, 2013

(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

(m) Form of 12b-1 Service Plan

(p) (1) First Trust Advisors L.P., First Trust Portfolios L.P. Code of Ethics, amended on January 1, 2009

(2) First Trust Funds Code of Ethics, amended on January 1, 2009


BY-LAWS

OF

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the respective meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust as the same may be in effect from time to time.

ARTICLE II

OFFICES

SECTION 2.1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Until changed by the Trustees, the principal office of the Trust shall be 120 E. Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. The Trust shall maintain a registered agent for service of process in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts unless such maintenance is not required by law.

SECTION 2.2. OTHER OFFICES. The Trust may have offices in such other places without as well as within The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Trustees may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE III

SHAREHOLDERS

SECTION 3.1. MEETINGS. There shall be no annual meetings of Shareholders except as required by law. A meeting of the Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series or Class shall be called by the Secretary whenever ordered by a majority of Trustees then in office. Meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series or Class shall also be called by the Secretary upon the order of the Trustees upon the written request of the Shareholders holding Shares representing in the aggregate not less than one-third of the voting power of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote on the matters specified in such written request provided that (1) such request shall state the purposes of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on, and (2) the Shareholders requesting such meeting shall have paid to the Trust the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing the notice thereof, which the Secretary shall determine and specify to such Shareholders. Any such meeting shall be held at such place within or without The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on such day and at such time as the Trustees shall designate or as designated by an officer authorized by the


Trustees to so designate. Any meeting so called may be postponed prior to the meeting with notice to the Shareholders entitled to vote at that meeting.

If the meeting is a meeting of Shareholders of any Series or Class, but not a meeting of all Shareholders of the Trust, only Shareholders of such Series or Class shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting. Whenever a matter is required to be voted by Shareholders of the Trust in the aggregate under the Declaration, if there is then more than one Series or Class of Shares outstanding, the Trust may either hold a meeting of Shareholders of all Series and Classes to vote on such matter, or hold separate meetings of Shareholders of one or more of the individual Series and/or Classes to vote on such matter, provided that (i) such separate meetings shall be held within one year of each other and (ii) a quorum of the individual Series or Classes shall be present at each such separate meeting, and the votes of Shareholders at all such separate meetings shall be aggregated in order to determine if sufficient votes have been cast for such matter to be voted.

SECTION 3.2. QUORUM. The holders of Outstanding Shares representing thirty-three and a third percent (33-1/3%) of the voting power of the Outstanding Shares entitled to vote present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Shareholders, except that where pursuant to any provision of law, the Declaration or these By-Laws a vote shall be taken by individual Series or Classes, then Shares representing thirty-three and a third percent (33-1/3%) of the voting power of the aggregate number of Outstanding Shares of that Series or Class entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that Series or Class. For the purposes of establishing whether a quorum is present, all shares present and entitled to vote, including abstentions and broker non-votes, shall be counted. Section 4.7 of the Declaration contains further provisions relating to quorum requirements.

SECTION 3.3. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Notice of all meetings of Shareholders and any postponements thereof, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting, shall be given by the Secretary in accordance with Section 3.9 hereof at least seven days and not more than 120 days before the date for the meeting set forth in such notice to each Shareholder of record of the applicable Series or Class on the date set in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, even if the date of such adjourned meeting is more than 120 days after the notice of the original meeting or the postponement thereof, was given. Where separate meetings are held for Shareholders of the individual Series or Class to vote on a matter required to be voted on by Shareholders of the Trust in the aggregate, notice of each such separate meeting shall be provided in the manner described above in this Section.

SECTION 3.4. RECORD DATE. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, or to participate in any distribution, or for the purpose of any other action, the Trustees may from time to time close the transfer books for such period, not exceeding 30 days, as the Trustees may determine; or without closing the transfer books the Trustees may fix a date not more than 120 days prior to the date set for any meeting of Shareholders (before giving effect to any adjournments or postponements thereof) or more than 60 days before the date of payment of any distribution or other action as a record date for the determination of the persons to be treated as Shareholders of record for such

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purpose, provided however that the Trustees may delegate the determination of such dates to one or more officers of the Trust. Where separate meetings are held for Shareholders of one or more of the individual series or classes to vote on a matter required to be voted on by Shareholders of the Trust in the aggregate, the record date of each such separate meeting shall be determined in the manner described above in this Section 3.4. Only Shareholders of record on the record date so determined shall have the rights described in this Section, notwithstanding any subsequent transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust. The Trustees also may select, or may authorize one or more officers to select, the time of day as of which the calculations for determining how many votes each Shareholder is entitled to pursuant to the Declaration shall be performed.

SECTION 3.5. ADJOURNMENTS. Any meeting of Shareholders may, by action of the person presiding thereat, be adjourned without further notice with respect to one or more matters to be considered at such meeting to a designated time and place, if a quorum is not present with respect to such matter; any meeting of Shareholders may, by motion of the person presiding thereat, be adjourned with respect to one or more matters to be considered at such meeting, even if a quorum is present with respect to such matters, to a designated time and place, when such adjournment is approved by the vote of holders of Shares representing a majority of the voting power of the Shares present and entitled to vote with respect to the matter or matters adjourned, and voting on the adjournment, without further notice. Unless a proxy is otherwise limited in this regard, any Shares present and entitled to vote at a meeting that are represented by broker non-votes, may, at the discretion of the proxies named therein, be voted in favor of such an adjournment.

SECTION 3.6. PROXIES. At any meeting of Shareholders, any holder of Shares entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Secretary may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. In connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Trustees, a Shareholder may give instructions through telephonic or electronic methods of communication or via the Internet for another person to execute his or her proxy, if in each case such method has been authorized by the Trust by its officers, and pursuant in each case to procedures established or approved by the officers of the Trust or agents employed by the Trust for such purpose as reasonably designed to verify that such instructions have been authorized by such Shareholder; and the placing of a Shareholder's name on a proxy pursuant to such instructions shall constitute execution of such proxy by or on behalf of such Shareholder. Proxies may also be submitted via facsimile if such method has been authorized by the Trust by its officers, and pursuant to procedures established or approved by the officers of the Trust or agents employed by the Trust for such purpose. Pursuant to a vote of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees and/or one or more of the officers of the Trust. When any Share is held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Share, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Share, but shall be counted as present at the meeting for all other purposes. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. If the holder of any such Share is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to

3

guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the charge or management of such Share, such Share may be voted by such guardian or such other person appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy. Unless otherwise specifically limited by their terms, proxies shall entitle the holder thereof to vote at any postponement or adjournment of a meeting, and no proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date. A Shareholder who has submitted a proxy may revoke or withdraw the proxy with respect to any matter to be considered at a meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof if such revocation or withdrawal is properly received prior to the vote on that matter, or a Shareholder may revoke a prior proxy by delivering in a timely manner a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the meeting or the adjournment or postponement thereof and voting in person on the matter or matters.

SECTION 3.7. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. For any matter to be properly before any meeting of Shareholders, the matter must be either specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of a majority of the Trustees then in office or otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Chair or other presiding officer. With the exception of Shareholder proposals submitted in accordance with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provisions, only matters proposed by the Trustees may be included in the Trust's proxy materials. The Trustees may from time to time in their discretion provide for procedures by which Shareholders may, prior to any meeting at which Trustees are to be elected, submit the names of potential candidates for Trustee, to be considered by the Trustees, or any proper committee thereof. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the Chair or other presiding officer.

SECTION 3.8. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of Shareholders the Trustees, or at any such meeting of the Shareholders the Trustees or the Chair or other presiding officer, may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the Chair or other presiding officer may appoint a person to fill the vacancy. Unless otherwise instructed by the Trustees, or by the Chair or other presiding officer at the meeting, the Inspectors of Election shall determine the number of Outstanding Shares, the Shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, shall receive votes, ballots or consents, shall hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote, shall count and tabulate all votes and consents, determine the results, and do such other acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote.

SECTION 3.9. COMMUNICATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS. Any notices, reports, statements or other communications with Shareholders of any kind required under the Declaration, these By-Laws or applicable law may be sent, delivered or made available in any reasonable manner as may be determined by the Trustees if not otherwise prohibited by applicable law, including, without limitation, by email or other electronic means or by posting on a website or other publication; and such communications may be sent, delivered or otherwise made available to Shareholders in accordance with householding or other similar rules under which a single copy of such notice or report may be sent to Shareholders who reside at the same address. No communication need be given to any Shareholder who shall

4

have failed to inform the Trust of the Shareholder's current address and the Trustees may from time to time adopt, or may authorize the officers or agents of the Trust to adopt, procedures or policies with respect to communications to Shareholders that are returned to the Trust or its agents as undeliverable and similar matters. Any Shareholder may waive receipt of any notice or other communication. Communications shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or with another carrier or sent by any means of written or electronic communication or, where notice is given by posting on a website or by publication, on the date of posting or publication. An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be filed and maintained with the records of the Trust.

The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any communications given to a Shareholder's counsel under Section 9.8 of the Declaration, provided however that communications provided to either a Shareholder or Shareholder's counsel under Section 9.8 may not be made by means of posting on a website or by publication.

SECTION 3.10. ACTION BY CONSENT OF SHAREHOLDERS. Section 4.8 of the Declaration contains provisions relating to action by written consent in lieu of a meeting of shareholders.

ARTICLE IV

TRUSTEES

SECTION 4.1. CHAIR. The Trustees may elect from their own number a Chair, to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. The Chair (or, if the Chair is unable to attend any such meeting, the Chair's designee) shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees and the Shareholders. The Chair shall have such other duties and powers as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Trustees.

SECTION 4.2. MEETINGS OF THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees may in their discretion provide for regular or stated meetings of the Trustees. Notice of regular or stated meetings need not be given. Meetings of the Trustees other than regular or stated meetings shall be held whenever called by the Chair or by any Trustee. Notice of the time and place of each meeting other than regular or stated meetings shall be given by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or by the Chair or Trustee calling the meeting and shall be mailed to each Trustee, at least two days before the meeting, or shall be faxed, telephoned, emailed or sent by other electronic means to each Trustee at the Trustee's business or residence, or personally delivered to the Trustee, at least one day before the meeting. Such notice may, however, be waived by any Trustee. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice, executed by the Trustee before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice. A notice or waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any meeting. The Trustees may meet by means of a telephone or video conference circuit or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a telephone or video conference meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

5

SECTION 4.3. QUORUM AND MANNER OF ACTING. A majority of the Trustees then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting of the Trustees. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present. Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given.
Section 6.7 of the Declaration contains provisions relating to the manner of acting by the Trustees.

SECTION 4.4. ACTIONS BY CONSENT. If in accordance with Section 6.7 of the Declaration any action is taken by the Trustees by a written consent of fewer than all of the Trustees, prompt notice of any such action shall be furnished to each Trustee who did not execute such written consent, provided that the effectiveness of such action shall not be impaired by any delay or failure to furnish such notice. Any written consents may be executed and delivered by electronic means.

SECTION 4.5. COUNSEL AND EXPERTS. The Trustees who are not Interested Persons may, by vote of a majority of such Trustees, at the Trust's expense, hire such employees and retain such counsel, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants whose services such Trustees may, in their discretion, determine to be necessary or desirable from time to time, including services to one or more committees established by the Trustees, and may execute any agreements, contracts, instruments or other documents in connection therewith.

ARTICLE V

COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY BOARD

SECTION 5.1 ESTABLISHMENT AND AUTHORITY. Section 6.4 of the Declaration contains provisions relating to the establishment of committees by the Trustees (which committees may include individuals who are not Trustees). Each committee shall have such powers and authority as shall be authorized by the Trustees, and may fix its own rules and procedures, and adopt its own charter, in each case subject to approval by the Trustees. The Trustees may designate a chair of any such committee, provided however that in the absence of such designation a committee may elect its own chair. The Trustees may abolish any such committee at any time in their sole discretion. Any committee to which the Trustees delegate any of their powers shall maintain records of its meetings and shall report its actions to the Trustees. The Trustees shall have the power to rescind any action of any committee, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect. The Trustees shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in the committees. The Trustees may designate one or more Trustees as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee.

SECTION 5.2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Trustees may elect from their own number an Executive Committee to consist of not less than two Trustees to hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees. While the Trustees are not in session, the Executive Committee shall have the power to conduct the current and ordinary business of the Trust, including the purchase and sale of securities and the designation of securities to be delivered upon redemption of Shares of the Trust, the terms of any underwriting of Shares of the Trust, and such other powers of the Trustees as the Trustees may, from time to time, delegate to the

6

Executive Committee except those powers which by the Declaration or these By-Laws the Trustees are prohibited from so delegating.

SECTION 5.3. MEETINGS, QUORUM AND MANNER OF ACTING. The Trustees may (i) provide for stated meetings of any committee, (ii) specify the manner of calling and notice required for special meetings of any committee, (iii) specify the number of members of a committee required to constitute a quorum and the number of members of a committee required to exercise specified powers delegated to such committee, (iv) authorize the making of decisions to exercise specified powers by written assent of the requisite number of members of a committee without a meeting, and (v) authorize the members of a committee to meet by means of a telephone or video conference circuit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the absence of such provision, specification or authorization by the Trustees, the provisions of these By-Laws applicable to meetings and actions by the Trustees shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to meetings of, and the exercise of powers delegated to, a committee.

SECTION 5.4. ADVISORY BOARD. The Trustees may appoint an Advisory Board to consist in the first instance of not less than three members. Members of such Advisory Board shall not be Trustees or officers and need not be Shareholders. A member of such Advisory Board shall hold office for such period as the Trustees may by vote provide and may resign therefrom by a written instrument signed by him or her which shall take effect upon its delivery to the Trustees. The Advisory Board shall have no legal powers and shall not perform the functions of Trustees in any manner, such Advisory Board being intended merely to act in an advisory capacity. Such Advisory Board shall meet at such times and upon such notice as the Trustees may by resolution provide.

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS

SECTION 6.1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Treasurer or a Controller, a Chief Compliance Officer and a Secretary, who shall be elected by the Trustees. The Trustees may elect or appoint such other officers or agents as the business of the Trust may require, including one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Controllers and one or more Assistant Secretaries. The Trustees may delegate to any officer or committee the power to appoint any subordinate officers or agents.

SECTION 6.2. TERM OF OFFICE AND QUALIFICATIONS. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws, each of the President, the Treasurer (or Controller), the Chief Compliance Officer and the Secretary shall be in office until his or her resignation is accepted by the Trustees or until his or her respective successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or in each case until he or she sooner dies or is removed. All other officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees. Any two or more offices, except those of President and Vice-President, may be held by the same person. Any officer may be, but none need be, a Trustee or Shareholder.

7

SECTION 6.3. REMOVAL. The Trustees, at any regular or special meeting of the Trustees, may remove any officer with or without cause by a vote of a majority of the Trustees. Any officer or agent appointed by any officer or Committee may be removed with or without cause by such appointing officer or Committee.

SECTION 6.4. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Trust. Subject to the control of the Trustees and any committee of the Trustees, the President shall at all times, exercise a general supervision and direction over the affairs of the Trust. The President shall have the power to employ attorneys and counsel for the Trust and to employ such subordinate officers, agents, clerks and employees as he or she may find necessary to transact the business of the Trust. The President shall also have the power to grant, issue, execute or sign such powers of attorney, proxies or other documents as may be deemed advisable or necessary in the furtherance of the interests of the Trust. The President shall have such other powers and duties as, from time to time, may be conferred upon or assigned to him or her by the Trustees.

SECTION 6.5. POWERS AND DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President or, if there be more than one Vice President, any Vice President designated by the Trustees shall perform all the duties and may exercise any of the powers of the President, subject to the control of the Trustees. Each Vice President shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Trustees or the President.

SECTION 6.6. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TREASURER (OR CONTROLLER). The Treasurer shall be the principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust. The Treasurer shall deliver all funds of the Trust that may come into his or her hands to such custodian as the Trustees may employ. The Treasurer shall render a statement of condition of the finances of the Trust to the Trustees as often as they shall require the same and shall in general perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Trustees. The Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties, if required to do so by the Trustees, in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Trustees shall require. The principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust may be the Controller instead of the Treasurer, in which case all provisions of these By-Laws concerning the Treasurer shall be deemed to refer to the Controller instead.

SECTION 6.7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER. The Chief Compliance Officer shall be the principal compliance officer of the Trust. The Chief Compliance Officer shall have full responsibility and authority to develop and enforce appropriate policies and procedures for the Trust. The Chief Compliance Officer shall have sufficient seniority and authority to compel others to adhere to the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust. The Chief Compliance Officer shall be appointed by the Trustees and may only be removed by the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust (the "Independent Trustees"). The Chief Compliance Officer shall report periodically to the Trustees with respect to compliance matters and at least annually meet separately in executive session with the independent Trustees, without other officers or interested Trustees. The Chief Compliance Officer shall annually review the policies and procedures of the Trust and prepare an annual written report to the Trustees.

8

SECTION 6.8. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Shareholders in proper books provided for that purpose; shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Trustees; shall have custody of the seal of the Trust, if any, and shall have charge of the Share transfer books, lists and records unless the same are in the charge of the Transfer Agent. The Secretary shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices by the Trust in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law; and subject to these By-Laws, shall in general perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Trustees.

SECTION 6.9. POWERS AND DUTIES OF ASSISTANT TREASURERS. In the absence or disability of the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer designated by the Trustees shall perform all the duties, and may exercise any of the powers, of the Treasurer. Each Assistant Treasurer shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Trustees or by the Treasurer. Each Assistant Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties, if required to do so by the Trustees, in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Trustees shall require. If the principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust is the Controller, all provisions of these By-Laws concerning Assistant Treasurers shall be deemed to refer to Assistant Controllers.

SECTION 6.10. POWERS AND DUTIES OF ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary designated by the Trustees shall perform all of the duties, and may exercise any of the powers, of the Secretary. Each Assistant Secretary shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Trustees or by the Secretary.

SECTION 6.11. COMPENSATION. Subject to any applicable law or provision of the Declaration, the compensation of the officers, Trustees, and members of the Advisory Board, if any, shall be fixed from time to time by the Trustees or, in the case of officers, by any committee of officers upon whom such power may be conferred by the Trustees. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation as such officer by reason of the fact that he or she is also a Trustee.

ARTICLE VII

SHARES OF THE TRUST

SECTION 7.1. SHARE CERTIFICATES. Unless the issuance of certificates is authorized by the Trustees, Shares shall be held on the books of the Trust by one or more transfer agents appointed in accordance with Section 7.2 of the Declaration (each, a "Transfer Agent") in uncertificated form, and the record holders of such shares shall be treated for all purposes as Shareholders under the Declaration.

The Trustees may at any time authorize the issuance of share certificates for Shares of any Series or Class in such form as the Trustees may prescribe from time to time. Each such certificate shall bear a distinguishing number,

9

shall exhibit the holder's name and the number of whole shares owned by such holder, and shall be signed in the name of the Trust by the Chair of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (which signatures may be either manual or facsimile, engraved or printed if the certificate is signed by the Transfer Agent with respect to such Shares or by a registrar), or, in the event of one or more global certificates issued to a depository, may otherwise be signed in accordance with the requirements of such depository. In case the Chair of the Board or any officer who shall have signed such certificates shall have ceased to hold such position or office before such certificates shall be issued, they may nevertheless be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if such person were still in such position or office at the date of their issuance.

SECTION 7.2 SHARE TRANSFERS. Transfers of Shares of the Trust shall be made only on the books of the Trust, as maintained by the Transfer Agent with respect to such Shares, by the registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Transfer Agent for such Shares and upon surrender of any certificate or certificates representing such Shares, if any, properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes thereon. Except as may be otherwise provided by law or these By-Laws, the person in whose name Shares stand on the books of the Trust shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes as regards the Trust; provided that properly documented pledges of Shares as collateral security may be accounted for by the Transfer Agent in accordance with its standard procedures with respect thereto.

SECTION 7.3. LOSS OF CERTIFICATES. The Transfer Agent for any Series or Class of Shares, with the approval of any two officers of the Trust, is authorized to issue and countersign replacement certificates for Shares which have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon (i) receipt of an affidavit or affidavits of loss or non receipt and of an indemnity agreement executed by the registered holder or his legal representative and supported by an open penalty surety bond, said agreement and said bond in all cases to be in form and content satisfactory to and approved by the President or the Treasurer, or (ii) receipt of such other documents and assurances as may be approved by the President or the Treasurer.

SECTION 7.4. REGULATIONS. The Trustees may make, or may authorize the officers or agents of the Trust to make, such additional rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, certification, transfer and registration of Shares.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.1. BOOKS AND RECORDS. The books and records of the Trust and any Series or Classes thereof, including the share ledger or ledgers, may be kept in or outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such office or offices of the Trust and/or its agents as may from time to time be determined by the officers of the Trust.

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SECTION 8.2. ACCESS TO BOOK AND RECORDS. Section 4.11 of the Declaration contains provisions relating to access to books and records.

SECTION 8.3 SEAL. Section 6.2(b)(ix) of the Declaration provides for the adoption of a seal.

SECTION 8.4 EXECUTION OF PAPERS. All deeds, leases, contracts, notes and other obligations made by the Trustees shall be signed by the President, any Vice President elected by the Trustees, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any other officer elected by the Trustees, except as the Trustees may generally or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, or as otherwise provided in these By-Laws.

SECTION 8.5 SEVERABILITY. The provisions of these By-Laws are severable. If the Trustees determine, with the advice of counsel, that any provision hereof conflicts with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company or other provisions of the Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of these By-Laws; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of these By-Laws or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision hereof shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision only in such jurisdiction and shall not affect any other provision of these By-Laws.

SECTION 8.6 HEADINGS. Headings are placed in these By-Laws for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of these By-Laws rather than the headings shall control.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws, or any of them, may be altered, amended, repealed in whole or in part or restated, or new By-Laws may be adopted, at any time by a majority of the Trustees then in office at any meeting of the Trustees, or by one or more writings signed by such a majority.

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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT made this ___ day of February, 2013, by and between FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P., an Illinois limited partnership (the "Adviser").

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), as an open-end management investment company;

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;

WHEREAS, the Trust intends to initially offer shares in series as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto and any other series as to which this Agreement may hereafter be made applicable and set forth on Schedule A, which may be amended from time to time (each such series being herein referred to as a "Fund," and collectively as the "Funds"); and

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser as investment adviser, to furnish certain investment advisory and portfolio management services to the Trust with respect to the Funds, and the Adviser is willing to furnish such services.

W I T N E S S E T H:

In consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

1. The Trust hereby engages the Adviser to act as the investment adviser for, and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of, each Fund in accordance with each Fund's investment objectives and policies and limitations, and to administer each Fund's affairs to the extent requested by and subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Company for the period and upon the terms herein set forth. The investment of each Fund's assets shall be subject to the Fund's policies, restrictions and limitations with respect to securities investments as set forth in the Fund's then current registration statement under the l940 Act, and all applicable laws and the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the management of registered open-end management investment companies.

The Adviser accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render such services, to furnish office facilities and equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services (other than such services, if any, provided by the Funds' transfer agent, administrator or other service providers) for the Funds, to permit any of its officers or employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of the Trust if elected to such positions, and to assume the obligations herein set forth for the compensation herein provided. The Adviser shall at its own expense furnish all executive and other personnel, office space, and office facilities required to render the investment management and


administrative services set forth in this Agreement. In the event that the Adviser pays or assumes any expenses of a Fund not required to be paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or similar expense in the future; provided, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to relieve the Adviser of any obligation to a Fund under any separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.

2. The Adviser shall, for all purposes herein provided, be deemed to be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, shall neither have the authority to act for nor represent the Trust in any way, nor otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.

3. For the services and facilities described in Section 1, each Fund will pay to the Adviser, at the end of each calendar month, and the Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation therefor, an investment management fee equal to the annual rate of each Fund's average daily net assets as set forth on Schedule A.

For the month and year in which this Agreement becomes effective, or terminates, there shall be an appropriate proration on the basis of the number of days that the Agreement shall have been in effect during the month and year, respectively. The services of the Adviser to the Trust under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services or other services to others so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.

4. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser shall pay all of the expenses of each Fund of the Trust (including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services) but excluding the fee payment under this Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses.

5. The Adviser shall arrange for suitably qualified officers or employees of the Adviser to serve, without compensation from the Trust, as trustees, officers or agents of the Trust, if duly elected or appointed to such positions, and subject to their individual consent and to any limitations imposed by law.

6. For purposes of this Agreement, brokerage commissions paid by a Fund upon the purchase or sale of a Fund's portfolio securities shall be considered a cost of securities of the Fund and shall be paid by the Fund.

7. The Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of a Fund's securities on behalf of the Fund, and is directed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain best execution, which includes most favorable net results and execution of the Fund's orders, taking into account all appropriate factors, including price, dealer spread or commission, size and difficulty of the transaction and research or other services provided. Subject to approval by the Trust's Board of Trustees and to the extent permitted by

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and in conformance with applicable law (including Rule 17e-1 of the 1940 Act), the Adviser may select brokers or dealers affiliated with the Adviser. It is understood that the Adviser will not be deemed to have acted unlawfully, or to have breached a fiduciary duty to the Trust, or be in breach of any obligation owing to the Trust under this Agreement, or otherwise, solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a member of a securities exchange, a broker or a dealer a commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount of commission another member of an exchange, broker or dealer would have charged if the Adviser determined in good faith that the commission paid was reasonable in relation to the brokerage or research services provided by such member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of that particular transaction or the Adviser's overall responsibilities with respect to its accounts, including the Fund, as to which it exercises investment discretion.

In addition, the Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules and regulations thereunder, aggregate purchase and sale orders of securities with similar orders being made simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, if in the Adviser's reasonable judgment such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit to a Fund, taking into consideration the selling or purchase price, brokerage commissions and other expenses. In the event that a purchase or sale of an asset of a Fund occurs as part of any aggregate sale or purchase orders, the objective of the Adviser and any of its affiliates involved in such transaction shall be to allocate the securities so purchased or sold, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, among the Fund and other accounts in an equitable manner. Nevertheless, each Fund acknowledges that under some circumstances, such allocation may adversely affect the Fund with respect to the price or size of the securities positions obtainable or salable. Whenever a Fund and one or more other investment advisory clients of the Adviser have available funds for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable to each, although such allocation may result in a delay in one or more client accounts being fully invested that would not occur if such an allocation were not made. Moreover, it is possible that due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons, the Adviser and its affiliates may purchase securities of an issuer for one client and at approximately the same time recommend selling or sell the same or similar types of securities for another client.

The Adviser will not arrange purchases or sales of securities between a Fund and other accounts advised by the Adviser or its affiliates unless (a) such purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law (including Rule 17a-7 of the 1940 Act) and the Com Trust pany's policies and procedures, (b) the Adviser determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of each Fund, and (c) the Trust's Board of Trustees have approved these types of transactions.

To the extent a Fund seeks to adopt, amend or eliminate any objectives, policies, restrictions or procedures in a manner that modifies or restricts Adviser's authority regarding the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions, the Fund agrees to use reasonable commercial efforts to consult with the Adviser regarding the modifications or restrictions prior to such adoption, amendment or elimination.

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The Adviser will communicate to the officers and trustees of the Company such information relating to transactions for the Funds as they may reasonably request. In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased by or sold to the Adviser or any affiliated person of either the Trust or the Adviser, except as may be permitted under the 1940 Act.

The Adviser further agrees that it:

(a) will use the same degree of skill and care in providing such services as it uses in providing services to fiduciary accounts for which it has investment responsibilities;

(b) will conform in all material respects to all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and comply in all material respects with all policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees for the Trust and communicated to the Adviser and, in addition, will conduct its activities under this Agreement in all material respects in accordance with any applicable regulations of any governmental authority pertaining to its investment advisory activities;

(c) will report regularly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust (generally on a quarterly basis) and will make appropriate persons available for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of the Board of Trustees on a regular basis at reasonable times the management of each Fund, including, without limitation, review of the general investment strategies of each Fund, the performance of each Fund's investment portfolio in relation to relevant standard industry indices and general conditions affecting the marketplace and will provide various other reports from time to time as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees of the Trust; and

(d) will prepare and maintain such books and records with respect to each Fund's securities and other transactions as required under applicable law and will prepare and furnish the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request. The Adviser further agrees that all records which it maintains for each Fund are the property of the Fund and the Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any such records upon the request of the Fund (provided, however, that Adviser shall be permitted to retain copies thereof); and shall be permitted to retain originals (with copies to the Fund) to the extent required under Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or other applicable law.

8. Subject to applicable statutes and regulations, it is understood that officers, trustees, or agents of the Trust are, or may be, interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder) of the Adviser as officers, directors, agents, shareholders or otherwise, and that the officers, directors, shareholders and agents of the Adviser may be interested persons of the Fund otherwise than as trustees, officers or agents.

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9. The Adviser shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any security, whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

10. Subject to obtaining the initial and periodic approvals required under Section 15 of the 1940 Act, the Adviser may retain one or more sub-advisers at the Adviser's own cost and expense for the purpose of furnishing one or more of the services described in Section 1 hereof with respect to a Fund. Retention of a sub-adviser shall in no way reduce the responsibilities or obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the Adviser shall be responsible to a Fund for all acts or omissions of any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of the Adviser's duties hereunder.

Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the duties of any sub-adviser or delegate, the portion of portfolio assets of the Trust that the sub-adviser or delegate shall manage and the fees to be paid to the sub-adviser or delegate by the Adviser under and pursuant to any sub-advisory agreement or other arrangement entered into in accordance with this Agreement may be adjusted from time to time by the Adviser, subject to the prior approval of a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons," as defined in the 1940 Act.

11. The Trust acknowledges that the Adviser now acts, and intends in the future to act, as an investment adviser to other managed accounts and as investment adviser or sub-investment adviser to one or more other investment companies that are not a series of the Trust. In addition, the Trust acknowledges that the persons employed by the Adviser to assist in the Adviser's duties under this Agreement will not devote their full time to such efforts. It is also agreed that the Adviser may use any supplemental research obtained for the benefit of the Trust in providing investment advice to its other investment advisory accounts and for managing its own accounts.

12. This Agreement shall be effective on the date provided on Schedule A for each respective Fund, provided it has been approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities held by shareholders of the respective Fund in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act. This Agreement shall continue in effect until the two-year anniversary of the date of its effectiveness, unless and until terminated by either party as hereinafter provided, and shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only as long as such continuance is specifically approved, at least annually, in the manner required by the 1940 Act.

This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, and may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by a Fund or by the Adviser upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party. Each Fund may effect termination by action of the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding

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voting securities of the Fund, accompanied by appropriate notice. This Agreement may be terminated, at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, in the event that it shall have been established by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Adviser, or any officer or director of the Adviser, has taken any action which results in a breach of the material covenants of the Adviser set forth herein. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the right of the Adviser to receive payments on any unpaid balance of the compensation, described in Section 3, earned prior to such termination and for any additional period during which the Adviser serves as such for the Fund, subject to applicable law. The terms "assignment" and "vote of the majority of outstanding voting securities" shall have the same meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

13. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by both parties.

14. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder shall not be thereby affected.

15. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at such address as such other party may designate for receipt of such notice.

16. All parties hereto are expressly put on notice of the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto, a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the limitation of shareholder and trustee liability contained therein. This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trust by the Trust's officers as officers and not individually and the obligations imposed upon the Trust by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trust's Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, and persons dealing with the Trust must look solely to the assets of the Trust and those assets belonging to the subject Trust, for the enforcement of any claims.

17. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with applicable federal law and (except as to Section 16 hereof which shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts) the laws of the State of Illinois.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust and the Adviser have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year above written.

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

By:

Name:


Title:

ATTEST:
Name:
Title:

FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.

By:

Name:


Title:

ATTEST:
Name:
Title:

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SCHEDULE A

(as of February , 2013)

FUNDS

                                                        ANNUAL RATE OF
                                                        AVERAGE DAILY
Series                                                  NET ASSETS      EFFECTIVE DATE
------------------------------------------------------  --------------  ---------------

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund ETF        .85%         February  1, 2013


DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

February 1, 2013

First Trust Portfolios L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187

To Whom It May Concern:

This is to confirm that, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter contained, the above-named investment company (the "Trust") has agreed that you shall be, during the term of this agreement, the distributor of shares of each Index Series of the Trust set forth on Exhibit A hereto, as such Exhibit may be revised from time to time (each, an "Index Series"). For purposes of this agreement the term "Shares" shall mean the authorized shares of the relevant Index Series.

1. SERVICES AS DISTRIBUTOR

1.1. You will act as an agent of the Trust for the distribution of Shares in Creation Units (as defined herein) covered by, and in accordance with, the registration statement and prospectus then in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and will transmit promptly any orders received by you for purchase or redemption of Shares in Creation Units to the transfer agent for the Trust as identified in the Trust's prospectus. You shall deliver or cause the delivery of a prospectus to persons purchasing Shares in Creation Units and shall maintain records of both orders placed with you and confirmations of acceptance furnished by you. You represent and warrant that you are a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") and a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. You agree to comply with all of the applicable terms and provisions of the 1934 Act.

1.2. You agree to use your best efforts to perform the services contemplated herein on a continuous basis. It is contemplated that you may enter into "Participant Agreements" with broker-dealers who agree to solicit orders for Shares. In addition, you may enter into sales or servicing agreements with securities dealers, financial institutions and other industry professionals, such as investment advisers, accountants and estate planning firms. In entering into sales or servicing agreements, you will act only on your own behalf as principal.


1.3. You shall act as distributor of Shares in Creation Units in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitations, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any securities association registered under the 1934 Act.

1.4. Whenever the parties hereto, in their collective judgment, mutually agree that such action is warranted by unusual market, economic or political conditions, or by abnormal circumstances of any kind deemed by them to render sales of a Trust's Shares in Creation Units not in the best interest of the Trust, the parties hereto may agree to decline to accept any orders for, or make any sales of, any Shares in Creation Units until such time as the parties deem it advisable to accept such orders and to make such sales.

1.5. The Trust agrees to pay all appropriate costs and expenses, including but not limited to, all expenses in connection with the registration of Shares under the 1933 Act and all expenses in connection with maintaining facilities for the issue and transfer of Shares in Creation Units and for supplying information, prices and other data to be furnished by the Trust hereunder, and all expenses in connection with the preparation and printing of the Trust's prospectuses and statements of additional information for regulatory purposes and for distribution to shareholders; provided, however, that the Trust shall not pay any of the costs of advertising or promotion for the sale of Shares, except as such payments may be made pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act.

1.6. The Trust agrees to execute any and all documents and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all actions which may be reasonably necessary in the discretion of the Trust's officers in connection with the qualification of Shares for sale in Creation Units in such states as you may designate to the Trust and the Trust may approve, and the Trust agrees to pay all expenses which may be incurred in connection with such qualification. You shall pay all expenses connected with your own qualification as a dealer under state or Federal laws and, except as otherwise specifically provided in this agreement, all other expenses incurred by you in connection with the sale of Shares in Creation Units as contemplated in this agreement.

1.7. The Trust shall furnish you from time to time, for use in connection with the sale of Shares in Creation Units, such information with respect to the Trust or any relevant Index Series and the Shares as you may reasonably request, all of which shall be signed by one or more of the Trust's duly authorized officers; and the Trust warrants that the statements contained in any such information, when so signed by the Trust's officers, shall be true and correct. The Trust also shall furnish you upon request with: (a) semi-annual reports and annual audited reports of the Trust's books and accounts made by independent public accountants regularly retained by the Trust, (b) quarterly earnings statements prepared by the Trust, (c) a monthly itemized list of the securities in the Trust's or, if applicable, each Index Series' portfolio, (d) monthly balance sheets as soon as practicable after the end of each month, and (e) from time to time such additional information regarding the Trust's financial condition as you may reasonably request.

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1.8. The Trust represents to you that all registration statements and prospectuses filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, with respect to the Shares have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of said Acts and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. As used in this agreement the terms "registration statement" and "prospectus" shall mean any registration statement and prospectus, including the statement of additional information incorporated by reference therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any amendments and supplements thereto which at any time shall have been filed with said Commission. The Trust represents and warrants to you that any registration statement and prospectus, when such registration statement becomes effective, will contain all statements required to be stated therein in conformity with said Acts and the rules and regulations of said Commission; that all statements of fact contained in any such registration statement and prospectus will be true and correct when such registration statement becomes effective; and that neither any registration statement nor any prospectus when such registration statement becomes effective will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Trust may, but shall not be obligated to, propose from time to time such amendment or amendments to any registration statement and such supplement or supplements to any prospectus as it may deem necessary or advisable. If the Trust shall not propose such amendment or amendments and/or supplement or supplements within fifteen days after receipt by the Trust of a written request from you to do so, you may, at your option, terminate this agreement or decline to make offers of the Trust's securities until such amendments are made. The Trust will give you reasonable notice in advance of its filing of any amendment to any registration statement or supplement to any prospectus; provided, however, that nothing contained in this agreement shall in any way limit the Trust's right to file at any time such amendments to any registration statement and/or supplements to any prospectus, of whatever character, as the Trust may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.

1.9. The Trust authorizes you and any dealers with whom you have entered into Participant Agreements to use any prospectus in the form most recently furnished by the Trust in connection with the sale of Shares in Creation Units. The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold you, your several officers and directors, and any person who controls you within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which you, your officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or common law or otherwise, (a) arising out of or on the basis of any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in either any registration statement or any prospectus or any statement of additional information, or (b) arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any registration statement, any prospectus or any statement of additional information or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading, or (c) arising out of breach of any obligation, representation or warranty pursuant to this Agreement by the Trust, or (d) the Trust's failure to comply with applicable securities laws, except that the Trust's agreement to indemnify you, your officers or directors, and any such controlling person will not be deemed to cover any such claim, demand, liability or expense to the extent that it arises

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out of or is based upon any such untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission made in any registration statement, any prospectus or any statement of additional information in reliance upon information furnished by you, your officers, directors or any such controlling person to the Trust or its representatives for use in the preparation thereof, and except that the Trust's agreement to indemnify you and the Trust's representations and warranties set out in paragraph 1.8 of this Agreement will not be deemed to cover any liability to the Trusts or their shareholders to which you would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of your duties, or by reason of your reckless disregard of your obligations and duties under this Agreement ("Disqualifying Conduct"). The Trust's agreement to indemnify you, your officers and directors, and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon the Trust's being notified of any action brought against you, your officers or directors, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by letter, by facsimile or by telegram addressed to the Trust at its address set forth above within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served. The failure so to notify the Trust of any such action shall not relieve the Trust from any liability which the Trust may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of the Trust's indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph
1.9. The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the Trust and approved by you. In the event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing approved by you, the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them; but in case the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, the Trust will reimburse you, your officers and directors, or the controlling person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by you or them. The Trust's indemnification agreement contained in this paragraph 1.9 and the Trust's representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of you, your officers and directors, or any controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to your benefit, to the benefit of your several officers and directors, and their respective estates, and to the benefit of any controlling persons or other affiliates, and their successors. The Trust agrees promptly to notify you of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its officers or Board members in connection with the issue and sale of Shares.

1.10. You agree to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its several officers and Board members, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Trust, its officers or Board members, or any such controlling person, may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Trust, its officers or Board members, or such controlling person resulting from such claims or demands, (a) shall arise out of or be based upon any information, statements or representations made or provided by you in any sales literature or advertisements, or any Disqualifying Conduct by you in connection with the offering and sale of any Shares, (b) shall

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arise out of or be based upon any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by you to the Trust specifically for use in the Trust's registration statement and used in the answers to any of the items of the registration statement or in the corresponding statements made in the prospectus or statement of additional information, or shall arise out of or be based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by you to the Trust and required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such information not misleading, (c) arising out of your breach of any obligation, representation or warranty pursuant to this Agreement, or (d) your failure to comply with applicable securities laws. Your agreement to indemnify the Trust, its officers and Board members, and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon your being notified of any action brought against the Trust, its officers or Board members, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by letter, by facsimile or by telegram addressed to you at your address set forth above within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served. The failure so to notify you of any such action shall not relieve you from any liability which you may have to the Trust, its officers or Board members, or to such controlling person by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of your indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. You will be entitled to assume the defense of such action, but, in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by you and approved by an executive officer of the Trust, if such action is based solely upon such alleged misstatement or omission on your part, and in any other event Trust, its officers or Board members, or such controlling person shall each have the right to participate in the defense or preparation of the defense of any such action. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the Trust's benefit, to the benefit of the Trust's officers and Board members, and their respective estates, and to the benefit of any controlling persons and their successors. You agree promptly to notify the Trust of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against you or any of your officers or directors in connection with the issue and sale of Shares.

1.11. No Shares shall be offered by either you or the Trust under any of the provisions of this agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of such Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust if and so long as the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or any necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the 1933 Act or if and so long as a current prospectus as required by Section 10 of said 1933 Act is not on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph 1.11 shall in any way restrict or have any application to or bearing upon the Trust's obligation to redeem or repurchase any Shares from any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Trust's prospectus or charter documents.

1.12. The Trust agrees to advise you immediately in writing of the occurrence of any of the following events, as soon as any such event comes to the attention of the Trust:

(a) any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for amendments to the registration statement or prospectus then in effect or for additional information;

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(b) the event of the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or prospectus then in effect or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose;

I the happening of any event which makes untrue any statement of a material fact made in the registration statement or prospectus then in effect or which requires the making of a change in such registration statement or prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and

(d) all actions of the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to any amendments to any registration statement or prospectus which may from time to time be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2. OFFERING CREATION UNITS

Shares in Creation Units of each Index Series will be offered for sale by you at a price per Creation Unit in the manner set forth in the then-current prospectus, based on a net asset value determined in accordance with the Trust's prospectus and charter documents. Any payments to dealers shall be governed by a separate agreement between you and such dealer and the Trust's then-current prospectus.

You will accept as compensation for the performance of your obligations hereunder such compensation, if any, as may be provided for in any plan of distribution adopted by the Trust with respect to the Trust or any Index Series pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.

3. TERM

This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Index Series of the Trust as of the date set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and will continue for an initial two-year term from the date of effectiveness and is renewable annually thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved (a) by the Trust's Board on behalf of each Index Series or (b) by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Shares of the Trust or the relevant Index Series, as the case may be, provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. This agreement may be terminated in respect of an Index Series at any time, without the payment of any penalty, (i) by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined under the 1940 Act) or (ii) by vote of a majority (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Index Series, on at least 60 days' written notice to you. This agreement may also be terminated at any time by you, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days' notice by you and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined under the 1940 Act).

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4. MISCELLANEOUS

4.1. The Trust recognizes that your directors, officers and employees may from time to time serve as directors, trustees, officers and employees of corporations and business trusts (including other investment companies), and that you or your affiliates may enter into distribution or other agreements with such other corporations and trusts.

4.2. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

4.3. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

4.4. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.

Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding and indicate your acceptance hereof by signing below, whereupon it shall become a binding agreement between us.

Very truly yours,

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

By ________________________________________
James A. Bowen, Chairman of the Board

ACCEPTED:

FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.

By_________________________________________________ James M. Dykas, Controller

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EXHIBIT A
(AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2013)

                              SERIES OF THE TRUST
SERIES                                                       EFFECTIVE DATE

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First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF              February 1, 2013


CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of January __, 2013, between First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended ("the 1940 ACT") (the TRUST), and BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of New York (BBH&CO. or the CUSTODIAN).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets; and

WHEREAS, the Trust, so authorized, intends that this Agreement be applicable to each of its series as set forth on Schedule A (each such series together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement by amendment hereof, being referred to as a "Fund" and collectively as the "Funds"); and

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Custodian to provide for the Funds the services described herein, and the Custodian is willing to provide such services, all as more fully set forth below;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Fund and BBH&Co. hereby agree, as follows:

1. APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN. The Trust hereby appoints BBH&Co. as the Trust's Custodian, and BBH&Co. hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to establish and maintain one or more accounts for each Fund in which Custodian will hold Investments as provided herein. Custodian shall maintain books and records, segregating the assets of each Fund from the assets of any other Fund. All Investments of the Fund delivered to the Custodian or its agents or Subcustodians shall be dealt with as provided in this Agreement. The duties of the Custodian with respect to the Fund's Investments shall be only as set forth expressly in this Agreement which duties are generally comprised of safekeeping and various administrative duties that will be performed in accordance with Instructions and as reasonably required to effect Instructions.

2. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE FUND. The Trust hereby represents, warrants and covenants each of the following:

2.1. This Agreement has been, and at the time of delivery of each Instruction such Instruction will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust. Neither this Agreement nor any Instruction issued thereunder violates any Applicable Law or conflicts with or constitutes a default under a Fund's prospectus, articles of organization or other constitutive document or any agreement, judgment, order or decree to which a Fund is a party or by which it or its Investments is bound.

2.2. By providing an Instruction with respect to the first acquisition of an Investment in a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, a Fund shall be deemed to have confirmed to the Custodian that a Fund has (a) assessed and accepted all material Country or Sovereign Risks and accepted responsibility for their occurrence, (b) made all determinations required to be made by a Fund under the 1940 Act, and (iii) appropriately and adequately disclosed to its shareholders, other investors and all persons who have rights in or to such Investments, all material investment risks, including those relating to the custody and settlement infrastructure or the servicing of securities in such jurisdiction.

2.3. The Trust shall safeguard and shall solely be responsible for the safekeeping of any testkeys, identification codes, passwords, other security devices or statements of account with which the Custodian provides it. If the Fund uses any on-line or similar communications service made available by the Custodian, the Trust shall be solely responsible for ensuring the security of its access to the service and for the use of the service, and shall only attempt to access the service and the Custodian's computer systems as directed by the Custodian. If the Custodian provides any computer software to the Trust relating to the services described in this Agreement, the Trust will only use the software for the purposes for which the Custodian


provided the software to the Trust, and will abide by the license agreement accompanying the software and any other security policies which the Custodian provides to the Trust.

2.4. By providing an Instruction in respect of an Investment (which Instruction may relate to among other things, the execution and/or settlement of trades), the Trust hereby (i) authorizes BBH&Co. to complete such documentation as may be required or appropriate for the execution of the Instruction, and agrees to be contractually bound to the terms of such documentation "as is" without recourse against BBH&Co.; (ii) represents, warrants and covenants that it has accepted and agreed to comply with all Applicable Law, terms and conditions to which it and/or its Investment may be bound, including without limitation, requirements imposed by the Investment prospectus or offering circular, subscription agreement, any application or other documentation relating to an Investment (e.g., compliance with suitability requirements and eligibility restrictions); (iii) acknowledges and agrees that BBH&Co. will not be responsible for the accuracy of any information provided to it by or on behalf of a Fund, or for any underlying commitment or obligation inherent to an Investment; (iv) except as otherwise provided for in Section 2.4.1, represents, warrants and covenants that it will not effect any sale, transfer or disposition of Investment(s) held in BBH&Co.'s name by any means other than the issuance of an Instruction by a Fund to BBH&Co.; (v) acknowledges that collective investment schemes (and/or their agent(s)) in which a Fund invests may pay to BBH&Co. certain fees (including without limitation, shareholder servicing and/or trailer fees) in respect of a Fund's investments in such schemes;
(vi) agrees that BBH&Co. shall have no obligation or responsibility whatsoever to respond to, or provide capital in connection with any capital calls, letters of intent of other requirements as set out in the prospectus or offering circular of an Investment; (vii) represents, warrants and covenants that it will provide BBH&Co. with such information as is necessary or appropriate to enable BBH&Co.'s performance pursuant to an Instruction or under this Agreement;
(viii) represents that it is not a "Plan" (which term includes (1) employee benefit plans that are subject to the United States ("US") Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), or plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), (2) plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, and (3) entities the underlying assets of which are considered to include "plan assets" of such plans, accounts and arrangements), or an entity purchasing shares on behalf of, or with the "plan assets" of, a Plan; (ix) undertakes to inform BBH&Co. and to keep the same updated as to the status under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, each as amended, of the beneficial investor to the Investment, and as to any tax withholding or benefit to which an Investment may be subject; (x) acknowledges that BBH&Co. shall have no obligation to fund any order placed by the Fund for which the Fund does not have sufficient cash on deposit with BBH&Co.; and (xi) agrees that BBH&Co. shall be held harmless for the acts, omissions or any unlawful activity of any agent of the Fund, or any transfer agent or other agent of an Investment in which the Fund may invest.

2.4.1 To the extent that a Fund holds Investments in an account opened in the name of BBH&Co. as custodian for and at the direction of a Fund, and a Fund requests that BBH&Co. provide a Fund with the capability to place orders and execute trades in fund shares directly with such fund companies and/or their transfer agents which shall be settled in an account established with each such fund company or its transfer agent, the Fund hereby acknowledges that BBH&Co. is under no obligation to agree to such arrangement but if BBH&Co. so agrees, the Fund (i) acknowledges that all relevant terms under Section 2.4 above apply thereto, (ii) authorizes BBH&Co. as custodian, to grant a limited power of attorney to the Fund or its designated agent to enable the Fund to so execute,
(iii) agrees to ensure that any instructions issued by the Fund or its designated agent shall also be concurrently submitted to BBH&Co., and (iv) shall adhere to any BBH&Co. procedures established with each such fund or its transfer agent with respect thereto including, but not limited to, the terms of the limited power of attorney. The Fund also acknowledges and agrees that (1) BBH&Co. is acting solely in its capacity as custodian and is not acting as a broker or introducing broker on behalf of the Fund, (2) BBH&Co. is not

2

receiving compensation in connection with the Fund's execution hereunder of trades with each such fund other than its usual and customary custody fees and transaction charges, (3) it will provide such account opening information to each such fund and/or transfer agent as and when requested by such fund and/or transfer agent, and (4) BBH&Co. is not responsible for
(a) providing information published by the relevant distributor of each such fund including, but not limited to, the prospectus for each such Investment in a fund or for resolving execution queries or complaints relative to any such Investment, and (b) assessing the suitability of any such Investment executed directed by the Fund.

3. REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTY OF BBH&CO. BBH&Co. hereby represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by BBH&Co. and does not and will not violate any Applicable Law or conflict with or constitute a default under BBH&Co.'s limited partnership agreement or any agreement, instrument, judgment, order or decree to which BBH&Co. is a party or by which it is bound.

4. INSTRUCTIONS. Unless otherwise explicitly indicated herein, the Custodian shall perform its duties pursuant to Instructions. As used herein, the term INSTRUCTION shall mean a directive initiated by the Fund, acting through its board of directors or trustees or other Authorized Person, which directive shall conform to the requirements of this Section 4.

4.1. AUTHORIZED PERSONS. For purposes hereof, an AUTHORIZED PERSON shall be a person or entity authorized to give Instructions to the Custodian by written notices or otherwise for or on behalf of the Fund in accordance with procedures delivered to and acknowledged by the Custodian. The Custodian may treat any Authorized Person as having the full authority of the Fund to issue Instructions hereunder unless the notice of authorization contains explicit limitations as to said authority. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the authority of Authorized Persons until it receives appropriate written notice from the Fund to the contrary.

4.2. FORM OF INSTRUCTION. Each Instruction shall be transmitted by such secured or authenticated electro-mechanical means as the Custodian shall make available to the Fund from time to time unless the Fund shall elect to transmit such Instruction in accordance with Subsections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3 of this Section.

4.2.1 FUND DESIGNATED SECURED-TRANSMISSION METHOD. Instructions may be transmitted through a secured or tested electro-mechanical means identified by the Fund or by an Authorized Person entitled to give Instruction and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian, it being understood that such acknowledgment shall authorize the Custodian to accept such means of delivery but shall not represent a judgment by the Custodian as to the reasonableness or security of the means utilized by the Authorized Person.

4.2.2 WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS. Instructions may be transmitted in a writing that bears the manual signature of Authorized Persons.

4.2.3 OTHER FORMS OF INSTRUCTION. Instructions may also be transmitted by another means determined by the Fund or Authorized Persons and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian (subject to the same limits as to acknowledgements as are contained in Subsection 4.2.1, above) including Instructions given orally or by SWIFT or telefax (whether tested or untested).

When an Instruction is given by means established under Subsections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3, it shall be the responsibility of the Custodian to use reasonable care to adhere to any security or other procedures established in writing between the Custodian and the Authorized Person with respect to such means of Instruction, but the Authorized Person shall be solely responsible for determining that the particular means chosen is reasonable under the circumstances. Oral Instructions shall be binding upon the Custodian only if and when the Custodian takes action with respect thereto. With respect to

3

telefax instructions, the parties agree and acknowledge that receipt of legible instructions cannot be assured, that the Custodian cannot verify that authorized signatures on telefax instructions are original or properly affixed, and that the Custodian shall not be liable for losses or expenses incurred through actions taken in reasonable reliance on inaccurately stated, illegible or unauthorized telefax instructions. The provisions of Section 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code shall apply to Funds Transfers performed in accordance with Instructions. The Funds Transfer Services Schedule and the Electronic and Online Services Schedule to this Agreement shall each comprise a designation of a means of delivering Instructions for purposes of this Section 4.2.

4.3. COMPLETENESS AND CONTENTS OF INSTRUCTIONS. The Authorized Person shall be responsible for assuring the adequacy and accuracy of Instructions. Particularly, upon any acquisition or disposition or other dealing in the Fund's Investments and upon any delivery and transfer of any Investment or moneys, the person initiating the Instruction shall give the Custodian an Instruction with appropriate detail, including, without limitation:

4.3.1 The transaction date and the date and location of settlement;

4.3.2 The specification of the type of transaction;

4.3.3 A description of the Investments or moneys in question, including, as appropriate, quantity, price per unit, amount of money to be received or delivered and currency information. Where an Instruction is communicated by electronic means, or otherwise where an Instruction contains an identifying number such as a CUSIP, SEDOL or ISIN number, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on such number as controlling notwithstanding any inconsistency contained in the Instruction, particularly with respect to Investment description; and

4.3.4 The name of the broker or similar entity concerned with execution of the transaction.

If the Custodian determines that an Instruction is either unclear or incomplete, the Custodian may give prompt notice of such determination to the Fund, and the Fund shall thereupon amend or otherwise reform the Instruction. In such event, the Custodian shall have no obligation to take any action in response to the Instruction initially delivered until the redelivery of an amended or reformed Instruction.

4.4. TIMELINESS OF INSTRUCTIONS. In giving an Instruction, the Fund shall take into consideration delays which may occur due to the involvement of a Subcustodian or agent, differences in time zones, and other factors particular to a given market, exchange or issuer. When the Custodian has established specific timing requirements or deadlines with respect to particular classes of Instruction, or when an Instruction is received by the Custodian at such a time that it could not reasonably be expected to have acted on such instruction due to time zone differences or other factors beyond its reasonable control, the execution of any Instruction received by the Custodian after such deadline or at such time (including any modification or revocation of a previous Instruction) shall be at the risk of the Fund.

5. SAFEKEEPING OF FUND ASSETS. The Custodian shall hold Investments delivered to it or Subcustodians for the Fund in accordance with the provisions of this Section. The Custodian shall not be responsible for (a) the safekeeping of Investments not delivered or that are not caused to be issued to it or its Subcustodians; or, (b) pre-existing faults or defects in Investments that are delivered to the Custodian or its Subcustodians. The Custodian is hereby authorized to hold with itself or a Subcustodian, and to record in one or more accounts, all Investments delivered to and accepted by the Custodian, any Subcustodian or their respective agents pursuant to an Instruction or in consequence of any corporate action or income event. The Custodian shall hold Investments for the account of the Fund and shall segregate Investments from assets belonging to the Custodian and shall cause its Subcustodians to segregate Investments from assets belonging to the Subcustodian in an account held for the Fund or in an account maintained by the Subcustodian generally for non-proprietary assets of the Custodian.

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5.1. USE OF SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES. The Custodian may deposit and maintain Investments in any Securities Depository, either directly or through one or more Subcustodians appointed by the Custodian. Investments held in a Securities Depository shall be held (a) subject to the agreement, rules, statement of terms and conditions or other document or conditions effective between the Securities Depository and the Custodian or the Subcustodian, as the case may be, and (b) in an account for the Fund or in bulk segregation in an account maintained for the non-proprietary assets of the entity holding such Investments in the Depository. If market practice or the rules and regulations of the Securities Depository prevent the Custodian, the Subcustodian or (any agent of either) from holding its client assets in such a separate account, the Custodian, the Subcustodian or other agent shall as appropriate segregate such Investments for benefit of the Fund or for benefit of clients of the Custodian generally on its own books.

5.2. CERTIFICATED ASSETS. Investments which are certificated may be held in registered or bearer form: (a) in the Custodian's vault; (b) in the vault of a Subcustodian or agent of the Custodian or a Subcustodian; or (c) in an account maintained by the Custodian, Subcustodian or agent at a Securities Depository; all in accordance with customary market practice in the jurisdiction in which any Investments are held.

5.3. REGISTERED ASSETS. Investments which are registered may be registered in the name of the Custodian, a Subcustodian, or in the name of the Fund or a nominee for any of the foregoing, and may be held in any manner set forth in Section 5.2 above with or without any identification of fiduciary capacity in such registration.

5.4. BOOK ENTRY ASSETS. Investments which are represented by book-entry may be so held in an account maintained by the Book-entry Agent on behalf of the Custodian, a Subcustodian or another Agent of the Custodian, or a Securities Depository.

5.5. REPLACEMENT OF LOST INVESTMENTS. In the event of a loss of Investments for which loss the Custodian is responsible under the terms of this Agreement, the Custodian shall replace such Investment, or in the event that such replacement cannot be effected, the Custodian shall pay to the Fund the fair market value of such Investment based on the last available price as of the close of business in the relevant market on the date that a claim was first made to the Custodian with respect to such loss, or such other lesser amount as shall be agreed by the parties.

6. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN. The Custodian shall perform the following administrative duties with respect to Investments of the Fund.

6.1. PURCHASE OF INVESTMENTS. Pursuant to Instruction, Investments purchased for the account of the Fund shall be paid for (a) against delivery thereof to the Custodian or a Subcustodian, as the case may be, either directly or through a Clearing Corporation or a Securities Depository (in accordance with the rules of such Securities Depository or such Clearing Corporation), or (b) otherwise in accordance with an Instruction, Applicable Law, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Investment.

6.2. SALE OF INVESTMENTS. Pursuant to Instruction, Investments sold for the account of the Fund shall be delivered (a) against payment therefor in cash, by check or by bank wire transfer, (b) by credit to the account of the Custodian or the applicable Subcustodian, as the case may be, with a Clearing Corporation or a Securities Depository (in accordance with the rules of such Securities Depository or such Clearing Corporation), or (c) otherwise in accordance with an Instruction, Applicable Law, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Investment.

6.3. DELIVERY AND RECEIPT IN CONNECTION WITH BORROWINGS OF THE FUND OR OTHER COLLATERAL AND MARGIN REQUIREMENTS. Pursuant to Instruction, the Custodian may deliver or receive Investments or cash of the Fund in connection with borrowings or loans by the Fund and other collateral and margin requirements.

6.4. FUTURES AND OPTIONS. If, pursuant to an Instruction, the Custodian shall become a party to an agreement with the Fund and a futures

5

commission merchant regarding margin (Tri-Party Agreement), the Custodian shall (a) receive and retain, to the extent the same are provided to the Custodian, confirmations or other documents evidencing the purchase or sale by the Fund of exchange-traded futures contracts and commodity options, (b) when required by such Tri-Party Agreement, deposit and maintain in an account opened pursuant to such Agreement (Margin Account), segregated either physically or by book-entry in a Securities Depository for the benefit of any futures commission merchant, such Investments as the Fund shall have designated as initial, maintenance or variation "margin" deposits or other collateral intended to secure the Fund's performance of its obligations under the terms of any exchange-traded futures contracts and commodity options; and (c) thereafter pay, release or transfer Investments into or out of the margin account in accordance with the provisions of such Agreement. Alternatively, the Custodian may deliver Investments, in accordance with an Instruction, to a futures commission merchant for purposes of margin requirements in accordance with Rule 17f-6 under the 1940 Act. The Custodian shall in no event be responsible for the acts and omissions of any futures commission merchant to whom Investments are delivered pursuant to this Section; for the sufficiency of Investments held in any Margin Account; or, for the performance of any terms of any exchange-traded futures contracts and commodity options.

6.5. CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND SIMILAR INVESTMENTS. From time to time, the Fund's Investments may include Investments that are not ownership interests as may be represented by certificate (whether registered or bearer), by entry in a Securities Depository or by Book-Entry Agent, registrar or similar agent for recording ownership interests in the relevant Investment. If the Fund shall at any time acquire such Investments, including without limitation deposit obligations, loan participations, repurchase agreements and derivative arrangements, the Custodian shall (a) receive and retain, to the extent the same are provided to the Custodian, confirmations or other documents evidencing the arrangement; and (b) perform on the Fund's account in accordance with the terms of the applicable arrangement, but only to the extent directed to do so by Instruction. The Custodian shall have no responsibility for agreements running to the Fund as to which it is not a party other than to retain, to the extent the same are provided to the Custodian, documents or copies of documents evidencing the arrangement and, in accordance with Instruction, to include such arrangements in reports made to the Fund.

6.6. EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES. Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian shall: (a) exchange securities held for the account of the Fund for other securities in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, conversion, stock split, change of par value of shares or similar event, and (b) deposit any such securities in accordance with the terms of any reorganization or protective plan.

6.7. SURRENDER OF SECURITIES. Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian may surrender securities: (a) in temporary form for definitive securities; (b) for transfer into the name of an entity allowable under Section 5.3; and (c) for a different number of certificates or instruments representing the same number of shares or the same principal amount of indebtedness.

6.8. RIGHTS, WARRANTS, ETC. Pursuant to Instruction, the Custodian shall
(a) deliver warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities to the issuer or trustee thereof, or to any agent of the issuer or trustee, for purposes of exercising such rights or selling such securities, and (b) deliver securities in response to any tender offer.

6.9. MANDATORY CORPORATE ACTIONS. Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian shall: (a) comply with the terms of all mandatory or compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions or similar rights of securities ownership affecting securities held on the Fund's account and promptly notify the Fund of such action; and
(b) collect all stock dividends, rights and other items of like nature with respect to such securities.

6.10. INCOME COLLECTION. Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian shall collect any amount due and payable to the Fund with respect to Investments and promptly credit the amount collected to a Principal or Agency Account; provided, however, that the Custodian shall not be responsible for: (a) the collection of amounts due and payable with respect to Investments that are in default or (b) the

6

collection of cash or share entitlements with respect to Investments that are not registered in the name of the Custodian or its Subcustodians. The Custodian is hereby authorized to endorse and deliver any instrument required to be so endorsed and delivered to effect collection of any amount due and payable to the Fund with respect to Investments.

6.11. CORPORATE ACTION INFORMATION. In fulfilling the duties set forth in Sections 6.6 through 6.10 above, the Custodian shall provide to the Fund such material information pertaining to a corporate action which the Custodian actually receives; provided that the Custodian shall not be responsible for the completeness or accuracy of such information. Information relative to any pending corporate action made available to the Fund via any of the services described in the Electronic and Online Services Schedule shall constitute the delivery of such information by the Custodian. Any advance credit of cash or shares expected to be received as a result of any corporate action shall be subject to actual collection and may be reversed by the Custodian.

6.12. PROXY MATERIALS. The Custodian shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Fund proxy forms, notices of meeting, and any other notices or announcements materially affecting or relating to Investments received by the Custodian. Information relative to any pending corporate action made available to the Fund via any of the services described in the Electronic and Online Services Schedule shall constitute the delivery of such information by the Custodian.

6.13. OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES AND DISCLOSURE OF THE FUND'S INTEREST. The Custodian is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of the Fund ownership certificates, affidavits or other disclosure required under Applicable Law or established market practice in connection with the receipt of income, capital gains or other payments by the Fund with respect to Investments, or in connection with the sale, purchase or ownership of Investments.

With respect to securities issued in the United States of America, the Custodian [XX] may [ ] may not release the identity of the Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and the Fund. IF NO BOX IS CHECKED, THE CUSTODIAN SHALL RELEASE SUCH INFORMATION UNTIL IT RECEIVES CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FUND. With respect to securities issued outside of the United States of America, information shall be released in accordance with law or custom of the particular country in which such security is located.

6.14. TAXES. The Custodian shall, where applicable, assist the Fund in the reclamation of taxes withheld on dividends and interest payments received by the Fund. In the performance of its duties with respect to tax withholding and reclamation, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on the advice of counsel and upon information and advice regarding the Fund's tax status that is received from or on behalf of the Fund without duty of separate inquiry.

6.15. OTHER DEALINGS. The Custodian shall otherwise act as directed by Instruction, including without limitation effecting the free payments of moneys or the free delivery of securities, provided that such Instruction shall indicate the purpose of such payment or delivery and that the Custodian shall record the party to whom the payment or delivery is made.

6.16. NONDISCRETIONARY DETAILS AND MINOR EXPENSES. The Custodian shall attend to all nondiscretionary details in connection with the sale or purchase or other administration of Investments, except as otherwise directed by Instruction, and may make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of administering Investments under this Agreement, provided that the Fund shall have the right to request an accounting with respect to such expenses.

6.17. USE OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) agents (other than Subcustodians) to carry out some or all of the administrative provisions of this Agreement (AGENTS), provided, however, that the appointment of an Agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its administrative obligations under this Agreement.

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7. CASH ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS AND MONEY MOVEMENTS. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7, the Fund hereby authorizes the Custodian to open and maintain, with itself or with Subcustodians, cash accounts in United States Dollars, in such other currencies as are the currencies of the countries in which the Fund maintains Investments or in such other currencies as the Fund shall from time to time request by Instruction. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fund shall be liable as principal for any overdrafts occurring in any cash accounts.

7.1. TYPES OF CASH ACCOUNTS. Cash accounts opened on the books of the Custodian (PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTS) shall be opened in the name of the Fund. Such accounts collectively shall be a deposit obligation of the Custodian and shall be subject to the terms of this Section 7 and the general liability provisions contained in Section 9. Cash accounts opened on the books of a Subcustodian may be opened in the name of the Fund or the Custodian or in the name of the Custodian for its customers generally (AGENCY ACCOUNTS). Such deposits shall be obligations of the Subcustodian and shall be treated as an Investment of the Fund. Accordingly, the Custodian shall be responsible for exercising reasonable care in the administration of such accounts, but shall not be liable for their repayment in the event the Subcustodian, by reason of its bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise, fails to make repayment. In connection with the services provided hereunder, the Custodian is hereby directed to open cash accounts on its books and records from time to time for the purposes of receiving subscriptions and/or processing redemptions on behalf of the Fund, and/or for the purposes of aggregating, netting and/or clearing transactions (including, without limitation foreign exchange, repurchase agreements, capital stock activity, expense payment) or other administrative purposes on behalf of the Fund or the Fund and affiliated funds (each an "Account"). Each such Account shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including, without limitation Section 7.6) and the Fund shall be liable for the satisfaction of its own obligations in connection with each Account; provided however, the Fund shall not be liable for the obligations of any other affiliated fund thereunder.

7.1.1 ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTS. In connection with the services provided hereunder, the Custodian is hereby directed to open cash accounts on its books and records from time to time for the purposes of receiving subscriptions and/or processing redemptions on behalf of the Fund and/or for the purposes of aggregating, netting and/or clearing transactions (including, without limitation foreign exchange, repurchase agreements, capital stock activity, expense payment) or other administrative purposes, each on behalf of the Fund (each an "Account"). Each such Account shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Fund shall be liable for the satisfaction of its obligations in connection with each Account.

7.2. PAYMENTS AND CREDITS WITH RESPECT TO THE CASH ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall make payments from or deposits to any of the cash accounts in the course of carrying out its administrative duties, including but not limited to income collection with respect to the Fund's Investments, and otherwise in accordance with Instructions. The Custodian and its Subcustodians shall be required to credit amounts to the cash accounts only when moneys are actually received in cleared funds in accordance with banking practice in the country and currency of deposit. Any credit made to any Principal or Agency Account before actual receipt of cleared funds shall be provisional and may be reversed by the Custodian in the event such payment is not actually collected. Unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Custodian or any Subcustodian, all deposits shall be payable only at the branch of the Custodian or Subcustodian where the deposit is made or carried.

7.3. CURRENCY AND RELATED RISKS. The Fund bears the risks of holding or transacting in any currency, including any mark to market exposure associated with a foreign exchange transaction undertaken with the Custodian. The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or from the occurrence of any event, which may delay or affect the transferability, convertibility or availability of any currency in the country (a) in which such Principal or Agency Accounts are maintained or (b) in which such currency is issued, and in no event shall the Custodian be obligated to make payment of a deposit denominated in a currency during the period during which its transferability, convertibility or availability has been affected by

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any such law, regulation or event. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian shall be required to repay any deposit made at a foreign branch of either the Custodian or Subcustodian if such branch cannot repay the deposit due to a cause for which the Custodian would not be responsible in accordance with the terms of Section 9 of this Agreement unless the Custodian or such Subcustodian expressly agrees in writing to repay the deposit under such circumstances. All currency transactions in any account opened pursuant to this Agreement are subject to exchange control regulations of the United States and of the country where such currency is the lawful currency or where the account is maintained. Any taxes, costs, charges or fees imposed on the convertibility of a currency held by the Fund shall be for the account of the Fund.

7.4. FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS. The Custodian shall, subject to the terms of this Section, settle foreign exchange transactions (including contracts, futures, options and options on futures) on behalf and for the account of the Fund with such currency brokers or banking institutions, including Subcustodians, as the Fund may direct pursuant to Instructions. The Custodian may act as principal in any foreign exchange transaction with the Fund in accordance with Section 7.4.2 of this Agreement. The obligations of the Custodian in respect of all foreign exchange transactions (whether or not the Custodian shall act as principal in such transaction) shall be contingent on the free, unencumbered transferability of the currency transacted on the actual settlement date of the transaction.

7.4.1 THIRD PARTY FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS. The Custodian shall process foreign exchange transactions (including without limitation contracts, futures, options, and options on futures), where any third party acts as principal counterparty to the Fund on the same basis it performs duties as agent for the Fund with respect to any other of the Fund's Investments. Accordingly the Custodian shall only be responsible for delivering or receiving currency on behalf of the Fund in respect of such contracts pursuant to Instructions. The Custodian shall not be responsible for the failure of any counterparty (including any Subcustodian) in such agency transaction to perform its obligations thereunder. The Custodian (a) shall transmit cash and Instructions to and from the currency broker or banking institution with which the Fund has executed a foreign exchange contract or option, (b) may make free outgoing payments of cash in the form of Dollars or foreign currency without receiving confirmation of a foreign exchange contract or option or confirmation that the countervalue currency completing the foreign exchange contract has been delivered or received or that the option has been delivered or received, (c) may, in connection with cash payments made to third party currency brokers/dealers for settlement of the Fund's foreign exchange spot or forward transactions, foreign currency swap transactions and similar foreign exchange transactions, process settlements using the facilities of the CLS Bank according to CLS Bank's standard terms and conditions, and (d) shall hold in safekeeping all confirmations, certificates and other documents and agreements received by the Custodian and evidencing or relating to such foreign exchange transactions. The Fund accepts full responsibility for its use of third-party foreign exchange dealers and for execution of the foreign exchange contracts and options and understands that the Fund shall be responsible for any and all costs and interest charges which may be incurred by the Fund or the Custodian as a result of the failure or delay of third parties to deliver foreign exchange.

7.4.2 FOREIGN EXCHANGE WITH THE CUSTODIAN AS PRINCIPAL. The Custodian, as principal, may enter into foreign exchange transactions with the Fund as the Custodian and the Fund may agree from time to time. In this event, the foreign exchange transaction will be performed in accordance with the particular agreement of the parties, or in the event a principal foreign exchange transaction is initiated by Instruction in the absence of a specific agreement, in accordance with the usual commercial terms of the Custodian and the Online Terms and Conditions described in Section 12.13 of this Agreement. .

7.5. DELAYS. If no event of Force Majeure shall have occurred and be continuing and in the event that a delay shall have been caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian in carrying out an

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Instruction to credit or transfer cash, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund: (a) with respect to Principal Accounts, for interest to be calculated at the rate customarily paid on such deposit and currency by the Custodian on overnight deposits at the time the delay occurs for the period from the day when the transfer should have been effected until the day it is in fact effected; and, (b) with respect to Agency Accounts, for interest to be calculated at the rate customarily paid on such deposit and currency by the Subcustodian on overnight deposits at the time the delay occurs for the period from the day when the transfer should have been effected until the day it is in fact effected. The Custodian shall not be liable for delays in carrying out Instructions to transfer cash which are not due to the Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct.

7.6. ADVANCES. If, for any reason in connection with this Agreement the Custodian or any Subcustodian makes an Advance to facilitate settlement or otherwise for the benefit of the Fund (whether or not any Principal or Agency Account shall be overdrawn either during, or at the end of, any Business Day), the Fund hereby does:

7.6.1 acknowledge that the Fund shall have no right, title or interest in or to any Investments purchased with such Advance or proceeds of such Investments, and that any credit to an account of Fund shall be provisional, until: (a) the debit of the Principal or Agency Account by Custodian for an amount equal to Advance Costs; and/or (b) if such debit produces an overdraft in such account, reimbursement to the Custodian or Subcustodian for the amount of such overdraft;

7.6.2 acknowledge that the Custodian has an automatically perfected statutory security interest in Investments purchased with any such Advance pursuant to Section 9-206 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time;

7.6.3 in addition, in order to secure the obligations of the Fund to pay or perform any and all obligations of the Fund pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation to repay any Advance made pursuant to this Agreement, grant to the Custodian a security interest in all Investments and proceeds thereof (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as currently in effect in the State of New York); and agree to take, and agree that the Custodian may take, in respect of the security interest referenced above, any further actions that the Custodian may reasonably require.

7.7. CUSTODIAN'S RIGHTS Neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian shall be obligated to make any Advance or to allow an Advance to occur to the Fund, and in the event that the Custodian or any Subcustodian does make or allow an Advance, any such Advance and any transaction giving rise to such Advance shall be for the account and risk of the Fund and shall not be deemed to be a transaction undertaken by the Custodian for its own account and risk. If such Advance shall have been made or allowed by a Subcustodian or any other person, the Custodian may assign all or part of its security interest referenced above and any other rights granted to the Custodian hereunder to such Subcustodian or other person. If the Fund shall fail to repay the Advance Costs when due, the Custodian or its assignee, as the case may be, shall be entitled to a portion of the available cash balance in any Agency or Principal Account equal to such Advance Costs, and the Fund authorizes the Custodian, on behalf of the Fund, to pay an amount equal to such Advance Costs irrevocably to such Subcustodian or other person, and to dispose of any property in such Account to the extent necessary to make such payment. Any Investments credited to accounts subject to this Agreement created pursuant hereto shall be treated as financial assets credited to securities accounts under Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time. Accordingly, the Custodian and any Subcustodian shall have the rights and benefits of a secured creditor that is a securities intermediary under such Articles 8 and 9.

7.8. INTEGRATED ACCOUNT. For purposes hereof, deposits maintained in all Principal Accounts (whether or not denominated in Dollars) shall collectively constitute a single and indivisible current account with respect to the Fund's obligations to the Custodian or its assignee, and balances in the Principal Accounts shall be available for satisfaction of the Fund's obligations under this Section 7. The

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Custodian shall further have a right of offset against the balances in any Agency Account maintained hereunder to the extent that the aggregate of all Principal Accounts is overdrawn.

8. Subcustodians and Securities Depositories. Subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth in this Section 8, the Fund hereby authorizes the Custodian to utilize Securities Depositories to act on behalf of the Fund and to appoint from time to time and to utilize Subcustodians. With respect to securities and funds held by a Subcustodian, either directly or indirectly (including by a Securities Depository or Clearing Corporation), notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, payment for securities purchased and delivery of securities sold may be made prior to receipt of securities or payment, respectively, and securities or payment may be received in a form in accordance with (a) governmental regulations, (b) rules of Securities Depositories and Clearing Agencies,
(c) generally accepted trade practice in the applicable local market, (d) the terms and characteristics of the particular Investment, or (e) the terms of Instructions.

8.1. DOMESTIC SUBCUSTODIANS AND SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES. The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain, either directly or through one or more Agents appointed by the Custodian, Investments of the Fund in any Securities Depository in the United States, including The Depository Trust Company, provided such Depository meets applicable requirements of the Federal Reserve Bank or of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Custodian may, from time to time, appoint any bank as defined in
Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder to act on behalf of the Fund as a Subcustodian for purposes of holding Investments of the Fund in the United States.

8.2. FOREIGN SUBCUSTODIANS AND SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES. Unless instructed otherwise by the Fund, the Custodian may deposit and/or maintain non-U.S. Investments of the Fund in any non-U.S. Securities Depository provided such Securities Depository meets the requirements of an "eligible securities depository" under Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act, or any successor rule or regulation ("Rule 17f-7") or which by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission is exempted therefrom. Prior to the time that securities are placed with such depository, but subject to the provisions of Section 8.2.4 below, the Custodian shall have prepared an assessment of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Securities Depository and shall have established a system to monitor such risks on a continuing basis in accordance with subsection 8.2.3 of this Section. Additionally, the Custodian may, from time to time, appoint (a) any bank, trust company or other entity meeting the requirements of an "eligible foreign custodian" under Rule 17f-5 or which by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission is exempted therefrom, or (b) any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, to act on behalf of the Fund as a Subcustodian for purposes of holding Investments of the Fund outside the United States.

8.3. DELEGATION OF BOARD REVIEW OF SUBCUSTODIANS. From time to time, the Custodian may agree to perform certain reviews of Subcustodians and of Subcustodian Contracts as the delegate of the Fund's Board. In such event, the Custodian's duties and obligations with respect to this delegated review will be performed in accordance with the terms of the attached 17f-5 Delegation Schedule to this Agreement.

8.4. BOARD APPROVAL OF FOREIGN SUBCUSTODIANS. Unless and except to the extent that the Board has delegated to the Custodian and the Custodian has accepted delegation of review of certain matters concerning the appointment of Subcustodians pursuant to Subsection 8.3, the Custodian shall, prior to the appointment of any Subcustodian for purposes of holding Investments of the Fund outside the United States, obtain written confirmation of the approval of the Board of Trustees or Directors of the Fund with respect to (a) the identity of a Subcustodian, and (b) the Subcustodian agreement which shall govern such appointment, such approval to be signed by an Authorized Person. An Instruction to open an account in a given country shall comprise authorization of the Custodian to hold assets in such country in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be required to make independent inquiry as to the authorization of the Fund to invest in such country.

8.5. MONITORING AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES. Prior to the placement of any assets of the Fund with a non-U.S. Securities

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Depository, the Custodian: (a) shall provide to the Fund or its authorized representative an assessment of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets within such Securities Depository; and (b) shall have established a system to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with such Securities Depository on a continuing basis and to promptly notify the Fund or its Investment Adviser of any material changes in such risk. In performing its duties under this subsection, the Custodian shall use reasonable care and may rely on such reasonable sources of information as may be available including but not limited to: (i) published ratings; (ii) information supplied by a Subcustodian that is a participant in such Securities Depository; (iii) industry surveys or publications; (iv) information supplied by the depository itself, by its auditors (internal or external) or by the relevant Foreign Financial Regulatory Authority. It is acknowledged that information procured through some or all of these sources may not be independently verifiable by the Custodian and that direct access to Securities Depositories is limited under most circumstances. Accordingly, the Custodian shall not be responsible for errors or omissions in its duties hereunder provided that it has performed its monitoring and assessment duties with reasonable care. The risk assessment shall be provided to the Fund or its Investment Advisor by such means as the Custodian shall reasonably establish. Advices of material change in such assessment may be provided by the Custodian in the manner established as customary between the Fund and the Custodian for transmission of material market information.

8.6. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUBCUSTODIANS. Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 8.6, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund caused by or resulting from the acts or omissions of any Subcustodian to the extent that such acts or omissions would be deemed to be negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct in accordance with the terms of the relevant subcustodian agreement under the laws, circumstances and practices prevailing in the place where the act or omission occurred. With respect to any losses incurred by the Trust or any Fund as a result of the acts or any failures to act by any Subcustodian, Custodian shall take appropriate action to recover any losses from such Subcustodian. The liability of the Custodian in respect of the countries and Subcustodians designated by the Custodian, from time to time on the Global Custody Network Listing shall be subject to the additional condition that the Custodian actually recovers such loss or damage from the Subcustodian.

8.7. NEW COUNTRIES. The Fund shall be responsible for informing the Custodian sufficiently in advance of a proposed investment which is to be held in a country in which no Subcustodian is authorized to act in order that the Custodian shall, if it deems appropriate to do so, have sufficient time to establish a subcustodial arrangement in accordance herewith. In the event, the Custodian is unable to establish such arrangements prior to the time the investment is to be acquired, the Custodian is authorized to designate at its discretion a local safekeeping agent, and the use of the local safekeeping agent shall be at the sole risk of the Fund, and accordingly the Custodian shall be responsible to the Fund for the actions of such agent if and only to the extent the Custodian shall have recovered from such agent for any damages caused the Fund by such agent.

9. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTODIAN. In performing its duties and obligations hereunder, the Custodian shall use reasonable care under the facts and circumstances prevailing in the market where performance is effected. Subject to the specific provisions of this Section, the Custodian shall be liable for any direct damage incurred by the Fund in consequence of the Custodian's negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. In no event shall the Custodian be liable hereunder for any special, indirect, punitive or consequential damages arising out of, pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement even if the Custodian has been advised of the possibility of such damages. It is agreed that the Custodian shall have no duty to assess the risks inherent in the Fund's Investments or to provide investment advice with respect to such Investments and that the Fund as principal shall bear any risks attendant to particular Investments such as failure of counterparty or issuer.

9.1. LIMITATIONS OF PERFORMANCE. The Custodian shall not be responsible under this Agreement for any failure to perform its duties, and shall not be liable hereunder for any loss or damage in association with such failure to perform for or in consequence of the following causes:

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9.1.1 FORCE MAJEURE. Force Majeure shall mean any circumstance or event which is beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian, a Subcustodian or any agent of the Custodian or a Subcustodian and which adversely affects the performance by the Custodian of its obligations hereunder, by the Subcustodian of its obligations under its Subcustody Agreement or by any other Agent of the Custodian or the Subcustodian, including any event caused by, arising out of or involving (a) an act of God, (b) accident, fire, water or wind damage or explosion,
(c) any computer, system or other equipment failure or malfunction caused by any computer virus or the malfunction or failure of any communications medium, (d) any interruption of the power supply or other utility service, (e) any strike or other work stoppage, whether partial or total, (f) any delay or disruption resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Country or Sovereign Risk, (g) any disruption of, or suspension of trading in, the securities, commodities or foreign exchange markets, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Country or Sovereign Risk,
(h) any encumbrance on the transferability of a currency or a currency position on the actual settlement date of a foreign exchange transaction, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Country or Sovereign Risk, or
(i) any other cause similarly beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian.

9.1.2 COUNTRY RISK. Country Risk shall mean, with respect to the acquisition, ownership, settlement or custody of Investments in a jurisdiction, all risks relating to, or arising in consequence of, systemic and markets factors affecting the acquisition, payment for or ownership of Investments including
(a) the prevalence of crime and corruption, (b) the inaccuracy or unreliability of business and financial information, (c) the instability or volatility of banking and financial systems, or the absence or inadequacy of an infrastructure to support such systems, (d) custody and settlement infrastructure of the market in which such Investments are transacted and held, (e) the acts, omissions and operation of any Securities Depository, (f) the risk of the bankruptcy or insolvency of banking agents, counterparties to cash and securities transactions, registrars or transfer agents, and
(g) the existence of market conditions which prevent the orderly execution or settlement of transactions or which affect the value of assets.

9.1.3 SOVEREIGN RISK. Sovereign Risk shall mean, in respect of any jurisdiction, including the United States of America, where Investments are acquired or held hereunder or under a Subcustody Agreement, (a) any act of war, terrorism, riot, insurrection or civil commotion, (b) the imposition of any investment, repatriation or exchange control restrictions by any Governmental Authority, (c) the confiscation, expropriation or nationalization of any Investments by any Governmental Authority, whether de facto or de jure, (d) any devaluation or revaluation of the currency, (e) the imposition of taxes, levies or other charges affecting Investments, (f) any change in the Applicable Law, or (g) any other economic or political risk incurred or experienced.

9.2. LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY. The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, claim, damage or other liability arising from the following causes:

9.2.1 FAILURE OF THIRD PARTIES. The failure of any third party including: (a) any issuer of Investments or Book-Entry Agent or other agent of an issuer; (b) any counterparty with respect to any Investment, including any issuer of exchange-traded or other futures, option, derivative or commodities contract; (c) failure of an Investment Advisor, foreign custody manager or other agent of the Fund; or (d) failure of other third parties similarly beyond the control or choice of the Custodian.

9.2.2 INFORMATION SOURCES. The Custodian may rely upon information received from issuers of Investments or agents of such issuers, information received from Subcustodians and from other commercially reasonable sources such as commercial data bases and the like, but shall not be responsible for specific inaccuracies in such information, provided that the Custodian

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has relied upon such information in good faith, or for the failure of any commercially reasonable information provider.

9.2.3 RELIANCE ON INSTRUCTION. Action by the Custodian or the Subcustodian in accordance with an Instruction, even when such action conflicts with, or is contrary to any provision of, the Fund's declaration of trust, certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other constitutive document, Applicable Law, or actions by the trustees, directors or shareholders of the Fund.

9.2.4 RESTRICTED SECURITIES. The limitations inherent in the rights, transferability or similar investment characteristics of a given Investment of the Fund.

10. INDEMNIFICATION. The Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund agrees to indemnify Custodian and hold Custodian harmless from and against any and all losses sustained or incurred by or asserted against Custodian by reason of or as a result of any action or inaction, or arising out of Custodian's performance hereunder, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel incurred by Custodian in a successful defense of claims by the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund; provided, however, that the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund shall not indemnify Custodian for those losses arising out of Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.

11. REPORTS AND RECORDS. The Custodian shall:

11.1. create and maintain records relating to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement;

11.2. make available to the Fund, its auditors, agents and employees, upon reasonable request and during normal business hours of the Custodian, all records maintained by the Custodian pursuant to
Section 11.1 above, subject, however, to all reasonable security requirements of the Custodian then applicable to the records of its custody customers generally; and

11.3. make available to the Fund all Electronic Reports; it being understood that the Custodian shall not be liable hereunder for the inaccuracy or incompleteness thereof or for errors in any information included therein.

11.4. The Fund shall examine all records, however produced or transmitted, promptly upon receipt and notify the Custodian promptly of any discrepancy or error. Unless the Fund delivers written notice of any such discrepancy or error within a reasonable time after its receipt of the records, the records shall be deemed to be true and accurate.

11.5. The Fund acknowledges that the Custodian obtains information on the value of assets from outside sources which may be utilized in certain reports made available to the Fund. The Custodian deems such sources to be reliable but the Fund acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian does not verify such information nor make any representations or warrantees as to its accuracy or completeness and accordingly shall be without liability in selecting and using such sources and furnishing such information.

12. MISCELLANEOUS.

12.1. POWERS OF ATTORNEY, ETC. The Fund will promptly execute and deliver, upon request, such proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as may be necessary or desirable for the Custodian to provide, or to cause any Subcustodian to provide, custody services.

12.2. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes any other oral or written agreements heretofore in effect between the Fund and the Custodian with respect to the subject matter hereof. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or terminated except by a statement in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment or termination is sought, provided, however, that an Instruction shall, whether or not such Instruction shall constitute a

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waiver, amendment or modification for purposes hereof, be deemed to have been accepted by the Custodian when it commences actions pursuant thereto or in accordance therewith. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a service level agreement or other operating agreement in place between the parties from time to time, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

12.3. BINDING EFFECT; ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Custodian/Administrator and the Fund and their successors and assignees, provided that the Fund may not assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Custodian. Each party agrees that only the parties to this Agreement and/or their successors in interest shall have a right to enforce the terms of this Agreement. Accordingly, no client of the Fund or other third party shall have any rights under this Agreement and such rights are explicitly disclaimed by the parties.

12.4. GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION AND VENUE. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES OF SUCH STATE. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK CITY. THE FUND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. FURTHERMORE, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

12.5. NOTICES. Notices and other writings contemplated by this Agreement, other than Instructions, shall be delivered (a) by hand, (b) by first class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (c) by a nationally recognized overnight courier, or (d) by facsimile transmission, provided that any notice or other writing sent by facsimile transmission shall also be mailed, postage prepaid, to the party to whom such notice is addressed. All such notices shall be addressed, as follows:

   If to the Fund:          c/o First Trust Advisors L.P.
                            120 E. Liberty Dr., Suite 400
                            Wheaton, IL 60187
                            Attn:  General Counsel
                            Telephone:       (630) 765-8798
                            Facsimile        (630) 517-7437
                            Email:   sjardine@ftportfolios.com

If to the Custodian:        Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
                            40 Water Street
                            Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Telephone: (617) 772-1818 Facsimile: (617) 772-2263 Attn: Head of Investor Services

or such other address as the Fund or the Custodian may have designated in writing to the other. Notices given by the Custodian pursuant to Section 12.13 may also be given by electronic mail to the email address of any Authorized Person. The Fund agrees that such notices given by electronic mail shall be conclusively presumed to have been delivered and received by the Fund as of the date such electronic mail was sent by the Custodian, as recorded by the Custodian's systems.

12.6. HEADINGS. Paragraph headings included herein are for convenience of

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reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.

12.7. SEVERABILITY. In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.

12.8. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. This Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by the Fund and the Custodian. A photocopy or telefax of the Agreement shall be acceptable evidence of the existence of the Agreement and the Custodian shall be protected in relying on the photocopy or telefax until the Custodian has received the original of the Agreement.

12.9. CONFIDENTIALITY. The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or obtaining services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior consent of such providing party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any bank examiner of the Custodian or any Subcustodian, any Regulatory Authority, any auditor of the parties hereto, or by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by Applicable Law.

12.10. TAPE-RECORDING. The Fund on behalf of itself and its Customers authorizes the Custodian to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian by or on behalf of the Fund, including from any Authorized Person. This authorization will remain in effect until and unless revoked by the Fund in writing. The Fund further agrees to solicit valid written or other consent from any of its employees with respect to telephone communications to the extent such consent is required by applicable law.

12.11. COUNSEL/CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT. In fulfilling its duties hereunder, the Custodian shall be entitled to receive and act upon the advice of (i) counsel and/or a certified public accountant regularly retained by the Custodian in respect of such matters, (ii) counsel and/or a certified public accountant for the Fund or (iii) such counsel or certified public accountant as the Fund and the Custodian may agree upon, with respect to all matters, and the Custodian shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.

12.12. CONFLICT. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Custodian and its associates from (i) dealing as a principal or an intermediary in the sale, purchase or loan of the Fund's Investments to, or from the Custodian or its associates; (ii) acting as a custodian, a subcustodian, a trustee, an agent, securities dealer, an investment manager or in any other capacity for any other client whose interests may be adverse to the interest of the Fund; or (iii) buying, holding, lending, and dealing in any way in any assets for the benefit of its own account, or for the account of any other client whose interests may be adverse to the Fund notwithstanding that the same or similar assets may be held or dealt in by, or for the account of the Fund by the Custodian. The Fund hereby voluntarily consents to, and waives any potential conflict of interest between the Custodian and/or its associates and the Fund, and agrees that:

(a) the Custodian's and/or its associates' engagement in any such transaction shall not disqualify the Custodian from continuing to perform as the custodian of the Fund under this Agreement;

(b) the Custodian and/or its associates shall not be under any duty to disclose any information in connection with any such transaction to the Fund;

(c) the Custodian and/or its associates shall not be liable to account to the Fund for any profits or benefits made or derived by or in connection with any such transaction; and

12.13. Online TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Foreign exchange services provided under or otherwise referenced in this Agreement will be performed

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and subject to the terms and conditions posted on the Custodian's website at http://www.bbh.com/fx/termsandconditions/ StandardTerms.pdf (the "FX Online Terms and Conditions"), which terms are available in hardcopy upon request, and which terms may be updated from time to time. The Custodian shall provide notice of any change to the FX Online Terms and Conditions to the Fund at least ten business days prior to their taking effect, unless the Custodian determines that the circumstances require that a shorter period apply. Foreign exchange transactions that occur or are placed on or after the effective date of such changes, as stated in the applicable notice, shall be governed by the modified FX Online Terms and Conditions.

12.14. (a) It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the obligations of the Trust (and Funds thereof) hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust (and Funds thereof), personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust and the applicable Fund as provided in the Trust's Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and signed by an officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust and the applicable Fund as provided in the Trust's Declaration of Trust.

(b) This Agreement is an agreement entered into between the Custodian and the Trust with respect to each Fund. With respect to any obligation of the Trust on behalf of any Fund arising out of this Agreement, the Custodian shall look for payment of such obligation solely to the assets for the Fund to which such obligation relates with the same effect as if the Custodian had separately contracted with the Trust by separate written instrument with respect to each Fund.

(c) As used herein, the "applicable Fund" shall be each Fund in respect of which any amount due the Custodian arises, and if any amount due the Custodian arises in respect of more than one Fund, the same shall be allocated by the Custodian among such Funds in accordance with Section 12.14(b). Any amounts due the Custodian which may not be allocated in accordance with the preceding sentence shall constitute General Liabilities as defined in the Trust's Declaration of Trust and allocated by the Trust and paid in accordance with the provisions thereof.

13. DEFINITIONS. The following defined terms will have the respective meanings set forth below.

13.1. ADVANCE(S) shall mean any extension of credit by or through the Custodian or by or through any Subcustodian and shall include, without limitation, amounts due to the Custodian as the principal counterparty to any foreign exchange transaction with the Fund as described in Section 7.4.2 hereof, or paid to third parties for account of the Fund or in discharge of any expense, tax or other item payable by the Fund.

13.2. ADVANCE COSTs shall mean any Advance, interest on the Advance and any related expenses, including without limitation any mark to market loss of the Custodian or Subcustodian on any Investment to which
Section 7.6.1 applies.

13.3. AGENCY ACCOUNT(S) shall mean any deposit account opened on the books of a Subcustodian or other banking institution in accordance with
Section 7.1 hereof.

13.4. AGENT(S) shall have the meaning set forth in the last sentence of
Section 6 hereof.

13.5. APPLICABLE LAW shall mean with respect to each jurisdiction, all (a) laws, statutes, treaties, regulations, guidelines (or their equivalents); (b) orders, interpretations, licenses and permits; and
(c) judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs, orders and similar actions by a court of competent jurisdiction; compliance with which is required or customarily observed in such jurisdiction.

13.6. AUTHORIZED PERSON(S) shall mean any person or entity authorized to give Instructions on behalf of the Fund in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof.

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13.7. BOOK-ENTRY AGENT(S) shall mean an entity acting as agent for the issuer of Investments for purposes of recording ownership or similar entitlement to Investments, including without limitation a transfer agent or registrar.

13.8. CLEARING CORPORATION shall mean any entity or system established for purposes of providing securities settlement and movement and associated functions for a given market(s).

13.9. DELEGATION SCHEDULE shall mean any separate schedule entered into between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative with respect to certain matters concerning the appointment and administration of Subcustodians delegated to the Custodian pursuant to Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act.

13.10. ELECTRONIC AND ONLINE SERVICES SCHEDULE shall mean any separate agreement entered into between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative with respect to certain matters concerning certain electronic and online services as described therein and as may be made available from time to time by the Custodian to the Fund.

13.11. ELECTRONIC REPORTS shall mean any reports prepared by the Custodian and remitted to the Fund or its authorized representative via the internet or electronic mail.

13.12. FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER shall mean the Fund's foreign custody manager appointed pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act.

13.13. FOREIGN FINANCIAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY shall have the meaning given by Section 2(a)(50) of the 1940 Act.

13.14. FUNDS TRANSFER SERVICES SCHEDULE shall mean any separate schedule entered into between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative with respect to certain matters concerning the processing of payment orders from Principal Accounts of the Fund.

13.15. GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK LISTING shall mean the Countries and Subcustodians approved for Investments in non-U.S. Markets.

13.16. INSTRUCTION(S) shall have the meaning assigned in Section 4 hereof.

13.17. INVESTMENT ADVISOR shall mean any person or entity who is an Authorized Person to give Instructions with respect to the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's Investments.

13.18. INVESTMENT(S) shall mean any investment asset of the Fund, including without limitation securities, bonds, notes, and debentures as well as receivables, derivatives, contractual rights or entitlements and other intangible assets, but shall not include any Principal Account.

13.19. MARGIN ACCOUNT shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4 hereof.

13.20. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT(S) shall mean deposit accounts of the Fund carried on the books of BBH&Co. as principal in accordance with Section 7 hereof.

13.21. SAFEKEEPING ACCOUNT shall mean an account established on the books of the Custodian or any Subcustodian for purposes of segregating the interests of the Fund (or clients of the Custodian or Subcustodian) from the assets of the Custodian or any Subcustodian.

13.22. SECURITIES DEPOSITORY shall mean a central or book entry system or agency established under Applicable Law for purposes of recording the ownership and/or entitlement to investment securities for a given market that, if a foreign Securities Depository, meets the definitional requirements of Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act.

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13.23. SUBCUSTODIAN(S) shall mean each foreign bank appointed by the Custodian pursuant to Section 8 hereof, but shall not include Securities Depositories.

13.24. TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4 hereof.

13.25. 1940 ACT shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940.

14. COMPENSATION. The Fund agrees to pay to the Custodian (a) a fee in an amount set forth in the fee letter between the Fund and the Custodian in effect on the date hereof or as amended from time to time, and (b) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Custodian, including the fees and expenses of all Subcustodians and other amounts paid by the Custodian to a third party for account or benefit of the Fund, and payable from time to time. Amounts payable by the Fund under and pursuant to this Section 14 shall be payable by wire transfer to the Custodian at BBH&Co. in New York, New York.

15. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by either party in accordance with the provisions of this Section. The provisions of this Agreement and any other rights or obligations incurred or accrued by any party hereto prior to termination of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

15.1. TERM, NOTICE AND EFFECT. This Agreement shall have an initial term of one (1) years from the date hereof. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one (1) year periods unless either party terminates this Agreement by written notice effective no sooner than seventy-five (75) days following the date that notice to such effect shall be delivered to the other party at its address set forth in Section 12.5 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, either party may terminate this Agreement at any time (a) for cause, which is a material breach of the Agreement not cured within 60 days, in which case termination shall be effective upon written receipt of notice by the non-terminating party, or (b) upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party in the event that either party is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or there shall be commenced against such party a case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law now or hereafter in effect.

15.2. NOTICE AND SUCCESSION. In the event a termination notice is given by a party hereto, all reasonable costs and expenses associated with any required systems, facilities, procedures, personnel, and other resourced modifications as well as the movement of records and materials and the conversion thereof shall be paid by the Fund for which Services shall cease to be performed hereunder. Furthermore, to the extent that it appears impracticable given the circumstances to effect an orderly delivery of the necessary and appropriate records of BBH to a successor within the time specified in the notice of termination as aforesaid, BBH and the Fund agree that this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for such reasonable period as may be required to complete necessary arrangements with a successor.

15.3. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN. In the event of the appointment of a successor custodian, it is agreed that the Investments of the Fund held by the Custodian or any Subcustodian shall be delivered to the successor custodian in accordance with reasonable Instructions. The Custodian agrees to cooperate with the Fund in the execution of documents and performance of other actions necessary or desirable in order to facilitate the succession of the new custodian. If no successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall in like manner transfer the Fund's Investments in accordance with Instructions.

15.4. DELAYED SUCCESSION. If no Instruction has been given as of the effective date of termination, Custodian may at any time on or after such termination date and upon ten (10) consecutive calendar days written notice to the Fund either (a) deliver the Investments of the Fund held hereunder to the Fund at the address designated for receipt of notices hereunder; or (b) deliver any investments held hereunder to a bank or trust company having a capitalization of $2,000,000 USD equivalent and operating under the Applicable Law of the jurisdiction where such Investments are located, such delivery to be at the risk of the Fund. In the event that Investments or moneys of the Fund remain in the custody of the Custodian or its Subcustodians after the date of termination owing to the failure of the Fund to issue Instructions with respect to their disposition or owing to the fact that such disposition could not be accomplished in accordance with such Instructions despite diligent efforts of the Custodian, the

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Custodian shall be entitled to compensation for its services with respect to such Investments and moneys during such period as the Custodian or its Subcustodians retain possession of such items and the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until disposition in accordance with this Section is accomplished.

16. COMPLIANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. To assist the Fund in complying with Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act, BBH&Co. represents that it has adopted written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws in fulfilling its obligations under the Agreement and that it has in place a compliance program to monitor its compliance with those policies and procedures. BBH&Co will upon request provide the Fund with information about our compliance program as mutually agreed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document.

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.              First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III



By: __________________________________     By: ________________________________
Name:                                              Name:
Title:                                             Title:

Date: Date:

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. ("BBH&Co.") is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the United States of America ("US") and is subject to the US Treasury Regulations set forth under 31 CFR 500, et seq. BBH&Co. may not establish any relationship with any Prohibited Person or Entity as such term is defined under the regulations. No customer of BBH&Co. may be owned or controlled by an entity or person: (i) that is listed in the Annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of Executive Order 13224, issued on September 24, 2001 ("EO13224") www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/terror/ terror.pdf; (ii) whose name appears on the United States Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") most current list of "Specifically Designated National and Blocked Persons" (which list may be published from time to time in various mediums including, but not limited to, the OFAC website;
(iii) who commits, threatens to commit or supports "terrorism", as such term is defined in EO13224; or (iv) who is otherwise affiliated with any entity or person listed above (any and all parties or persons described in clauses (i) through (iv) above are herein referred to as a "Prohibited Person").

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SCHEDULE A

1. First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF

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FUNDS TRANSFER SERVICES SCHEDULE
("FTSS")

In accordance with Section 4.2 of the Custodian Agreement, the Fund acknowledges the following terms and conditions in respect of all funds transfers affected by the Custodian. References to UCC 4A shall mean Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code as currently in effect in the State of New York. Terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings accorded to them in the Custodian Agreement.

1. Transmission of Payment Orders. Each FT Instruction shall be transmitted by such secured or authenticated means and subject to such security procedures as the Custodian shall make available to the Fund from time to time (such transmission method and security procedures, a CUSTODIAN DESIGNATED SECURITY PROCEDURE), unless the Fund shall elect to transmit such FT Instruction in accordance with a Fund Designated Security Procedure (as defined in Section 4 below). The Fund acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian will use the security procedures referenced in Sections 3 and 4 below solely to authenticate a FT Instruction, as set forth herein, and not to detect any errors or omissions therein.

2. Custodian Designated Security Procedure. The Custodian will make the following Custodian Designated Security Procedures available to the Fund for use in communicating FT Instructions to the Custodian:

o BBH Worldview(R) Payment Products. The Custodian offers to the Fund use of its BBH Worldview Payment Products ("BBH Worldview"), which are Custodian proprietary on-line payment order authorization facilities with built-in authentication procedures. The Custodian and the Fund shall each be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of passwords or other codes used by them in connection with BBH Worldview. The Custodian will act on FT Instructions received through BBH Worldview without duty of further confirmation unless the Fund notifies the Custodian that its password is not secure. The Fund agrees that access to, and use of, BBH Worldview shall be governed by an Electronic and On-line Services Schedule, which the Fund will execute prior to access to BBH Worldview.

o SWIFT Transmission. The Custodian and the Fund shall comply with SWIFT's authentication procedures. The Custodian will act on FT Instructions received via SWIFT provided the instruction is authenticated by the SWIFT system.

o Written Instructions. Instructions may be transmitted in an original writing that bears the manual signature of an Authorized Person(s).

3. Fund Designated Security Procedure. FT Instructions may be transmitted through such other means, and subject to such additional security procedures, as may be elected by the Fund (or by an Authorized Person entitled to give Instructions) and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian (the transmission methods and security procedures referenced below, as may be supplemented by such additional security procedures, each a FUND DESIGNATED SECURITY PROCEDURE); it being understood that the Custodian's acknowledgment shall authorize it to accept such means of delivery but shall not represent a judgment by the Custodian as to the reasonableness or security of the means utilized by the Fund.

o Computer Transmission. The Custodian is able to accept transmissions sent from the Fund's computer facilities to the Custodian's computer facilities. If the Fund determines to use its proprietary transmission or other electronic transmission method, it must provide Custodian sufficient notice and information to allow testing or other confirmation that FT Instructions received via the Fund Designated Security Procedure can be processed in good time and order. The Custodian may require the Fund to execute additional documentation prior to the use of such transmission method.

o Facsimile Transmission.

A FT Instruction transmitted to the Custodian by facsimile transmission must be transmitted by the Fund to a telephone number specified from time to time by the Custodian for such purposes. The Custodian will then follow one of the procedures below:

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1. If the facsimile requests a non-repetitive order, the Custodian will call the Fund and request to speak to a person authorized to validate orders on behalf of the Fund, and confirm the authorization and details of the payment order (a CALLBACK);

2. If the facsimile FT Instruction pertains to a repetitive payment order (see Section 7 below), the Custodian may (at its sole discretion) perform a Callback. The Fund acknowledges that prior to its issuance of any repetitive payment order, it must (a) request that the appropriate repetitive payment order process be approved and set up at the Custodian, and (b) complete such documentation as may be required by the Custodian, including a PPO (as defined in Section 7).

The Custodian shall rely on the purported identity of the originator but due to the lack of reliability of a facsimile signature, it will not perform signature verification on facsimiles.

o Telephonic. The Fund may call a telephonic payment order into the Custodian at the telephone number designated from time-to-time by the Custodian for that purpose. The caller shall identify herself/himself as an Authorized Person. The Custodian shall obtain the FT Instruction details from the caller. The Custodian shall then follow one of the procedures below:

i. If the telephonic FT Instruction pertains to a non-repetitive payment order, the Custodian will perform a Callback; or

ii. If the telephonic FT Instruction pertains to a repetitive payment order (see Section 7 below), the Custodian may (at its sole discretion) perform a Callback. The Fund acknowledges that prior to its issuance of any repetitive payment order, it must (a) request that the appropriate repetitive payment order process be approved and set up at the Custodian, and (b) complete such documentation as may be required by the Custodian, including a PPO.

In electing to transmit a FT Instruction via a Fund Designated Security Procedure, the Fund (i) agrees to be bound by the transaction(s) or payment order(s) specified on said FT Instruction, whether or not authorized, and accepted by the Custodian in compliance with such Fund Designated Security Procedure, and (ii) accepts the risk associated with such Fund Designated Security Procedure and confirms it is commercially reasonable for the transmission and authentication of the FT Instruction.

The parties agree that the Fund's transmission of a FT Instruction by means of any of the above Fund Designated Security Procedures and the Custodian's acceptance and execution of such FT Instruction shall constitute a FT Instruction sent via a Fund Designated Security Procedure and governed by the terms of this FTSA.

4. Rejection of Payment Orders; Rescission of Designated Security Procedure. The Custodian shall give the Fund timely notice of the Custodian's rejection of a FT Instruction. Such notice may be given in writing, via a Custodian Designated Security Procedure or any Fund Designated Security Procedure used by the Fund, or orally by telephone, each of which is hereby deemed commercially reasonable. In the event the Custodian fails to execute a properly executable FT Instruction and fails to give the Fund notice of the Custodian's non-execution, the Custodian shall be liable only for the Fund's actual damages and only to the extent that such damages are recoverable under UCC 4A. The Custodian, after providing prior written notice, may decide to no longer accept a particular Fund or Custodian Designated Security Procedure, or to do so only on revised terms, in the event that it determines that such agreed or established method of transmission represents a security risk or is attendant to any general change in the Custodian's policy regarding FT Instructions. Notwithstanding anything in this FTSA and the Agreement to the contrary, the Custodian shall in no event be liable for any consequential, indirect, special or punitive damages under this FTSA, whether or not such damages relate to services covered by UCC 4A, even if the Custodian was advised of the possibility of such damages.

5. Cancellation of Payment Orders. The Fund may cancel a FT Instruction but the Custodian shall have no liability for the Custodian's failure to act on a cancellation FT Instruction unless the Custodian has received such cancellation FT Instruction at a time and in a manner affording the Custodian reasonable opportunity to act prior to the Custodian's execution of the original FT

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Instruction. Any cancellation FT Instruction shall be sent and confirmed by such means as is set forth in Section 3 or 4 above.

6. Preauthorized Repetitive Payment Orders. The Fund may establish with the Custodian a process to preauthorize certain repetitive payments or transfers. The Fund will execute all documentation required by the Custodian, including a separate Preauthorized Repetitive Payment Order (PPO) form. The PPO shall be delivered to the Custodian in writing or by another Custodian Designated Security Procedure or Fund Designated Security Procedure, and will become effective after the Custodian shall have had a reasonable opportunity to act thereon (or if later, two (2) banking days after receipt by the Custodian). The PPO may take the form of either:

(i) A standing instruction in which the Fund provides in the PPO all required information for a FT Instruction (except for the transfer date and amount) on a "standing instructions" basis. The Fund may from time-to-time instruct the Custodian to make a payment under the PPO, in writing or another Custodian Designated Security Procedure or Fund Designated Security Procedure, which instruction shall reference the repetitive line number (a number assigned to it by the Custodian after execution of the PPO), details of the payment, the transfer date and the amount of the transfer; or

(ii) A recurring instruction in which the Fund supplies all required information for a FT Instruction with an instruction to process such payments with a specific frequency.

7. Responsibility for the Detection of Errors in Payment Orders; Liability of the Parties. The purpose of any Fund Designated Security Procedure or Custodian Designated Security Procedure is to confirm the authenticity of any FT Instruction and is not designed to detect errors or omissions in such FT Instructions. Therefore, the Custodian is not responsible for detecting any Fund error or omission contained in any FT Instruction received by the Custodian. In the event that the FT Instruction either (i) identifies the beneficiary by both a name and an identifying or Fund account number and the name and number identify different persons or entities, or (ii) identifies any Fund by both a name and an identifying number and the number identifies a person or entity different from the Fund identified by name, execution of the relevant payment order, payment to the beneficiary, cancellation of the payment order or actions taken by the Custodian or any Fund in respect of such payment order may be made solely on the basis of the number.

The Custodian shall not be liable for interest on the amount of any FT Instruction that was not authorized or was erroneously executed unless the Fund so notifies the Custodian within thirty (30) days following the Fund's receipt of notice that such FT Instruction was processed. Any compensation payable in the form of interest shall be payable in accordance with UCC 4A. If a FT Instruction in the name of the Fund and accepted by the Custodian was not authorized by the Fund, the liability of the parties will be governed by the applicable provisions of UCC 4A.

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ELECTRONIC AND ON-LINE SERVICES SCHEDULE

This Electronic and On-Line Services Schedule (this SCHEDULE) to a Custodian Agreement dated as of January __, 2013 (as amended from time to time hereafter, the AGREEMENT) by and between Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (WE, US OUR) and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (YOU, YOUR), provides general provisions governing your use of and access to the Services (as hereinafter defined) provided to you by us via the Internet (at www.bbhco.com or such other URL as we may instruct you to use to access our products) and via a direct dial-up connection between your computer and our computers, as of ________________, _____, 2013 (the EFFECTIVE DATE). Use of the Services constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Schedule, any Appendices hereto, the Terms and Conditions posted on our web site, and any terms and conditions specifically governing a particular Service or our other products, which may be set forth in the Agreement or in a separate related agreement (collectively, the RELATED AGREEMENTS).

1. GENERAL TERMS. You will be granted access to our suite of online products, which may include, but shall not be limited to the following services via the Internet or dial-up connection (each separate service is a SERVICE; collectively referred to as the SERVICES):
1.1. BBH WorldView(R), a system for effectuating securities and fund trade instruction and execution, processing and handling instructions, and for the input and retrieval of other information;

1.2. F/X WorldView, a system for executing foreign exchange trades;

1.3. Fund WorldView, a system for receiving fund and prospectus information;

1.4. BBHCOnnect, a system for placing securities trade instructions and following the status and detail of trades

1.5. ActionView(SM), a system for receiving certain corporate action information; and,

1.6. Such other services as we shall from time to time offer.

2. SECURITY / PASSWORDS.
2.1. A digital certificate and/or an encryption key may be required to access certain Services. You may apply for a digital certificate and/or an encryption key by following the procedures set forth at http://www.bbh.com/certs/. You also will need an identification code (ID) and password(s) (PASSWORD) to access the Services.

2.2. You agree to safeguard your digital certificate and/or encryption key, ID, and Password and not to give or make available, intentionally or otherwise, your digital certificate, ID, and/or Password to any unauthorized person. You must immediately notify us in writing if you believe that your digital certificate and/or encryption key, Password, or ID has been compromised or if you suspect unauthorized access to your account by means of the Services or otherwise, or when a person to whom a digital certificate and/or an encryption key, Password, or ID has been assigned leaves or is no longer permitted to access the Services.

2.3. We will not be responsible for any breach of security, or for any unauthorized trading or theft by any third party, caused by your failure (be it intentional, unintentional, or negligent) to maintain the confidentiality of your ID and/or Password and/or the security of your digital certificate and/or encryption key.

3. INSTRUCTIONS.
3.1. Proper instructions under this Schedule shall be provided as designated in the Related Agreements (INSTRUCTIONS).

3.2. The following additional provisions apply to Instructions provided via the Services:

a. Instructions sent by electronic mail will not be accepted or acted upon.

b. You authorize us to act upon Instructions received through the Services utilizing your digcertificate, ID, and/or Password as though they were duly authorized written instructions, without any duty of verification or inquiry on our part, and agree to hold us harmless for any losses you experience as a result.

c. From time to time, the temporary unavailability of third party telecommunications or computer systems required by the Services may result in a delay in processing Instructions. In such an event, we shall not be liable to you or any third party for any liabilities, losses, claims, costs, damages, penalties, fines, obligations, or expenses of any kind (including without limitation, reasonable

25

attorneys', accountants', consultants', or experts' fees and disbursements) that you experience due to such a delay.

4. ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS. We may make periodic statements, disclosures, notices, and other documents available to you electronically, and, subject to any delivery and receipt verification procedures required by law, you agree to receive such documents electronically and to check the statements for accuracy. If you believe any such statement contains incorrect information, you must follow the procedures set forth in the Related Agreement(s).

5. MALICIOUS CODE. You understand and agree that you will be responsible for the introduction (by you, your employees, agents, or representatives) into the Services, whether intentional or unintentional, of (i) any virus or other code, program, or sub-program that damages or interferes with the operation of the computer system containing the code, program or sub-program, or halts, disables, or interferes with the operation of the Services themselves; or
(ii) any device, method, or token whose knowing or intended purpose is to permit any person to circumvent the normal security of the Services or the system containing the software code for the Services (MALICIOUS CODE). You agree to take all necessary actions and precautions to prevent the introduction and proliferation of any Malicious Code into those systems that interact with the Services.

6. INDEMNIFICATION. For avoidance of doubt, you hereby agree that the provisions in the Related Agreement(s) related to your indemnification of us and any limitations on our liability and responsibilities to you shall be applicable to this Agreement, and are hereby expressly incorporated herein. You agree that the Services are comprised of telecommunications and computer systems, and that it is possible that Instructions, information, transactions, or account reports might be added to, changed, or omitted by electronic or programming malfunction, unauthorized access, or other failure of the systems which comprise the Services, despite the security features that have been designed into the Services. You agree that we will not be liable for any action taken or not taken in complying with the terms of this Schedule, except for our willful misconduct or gross negligence. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Schedule and the Related Agreements.

7. PAYMENT. You may be charged for services hereunder as set forth in a fee schedule from time to time agreed by us.

8. TERM/TERMINATION.
8.1. This Schedule is effective as of the date you sign it or first use the Services, whichever is first, and continues in effect until such time as either you or we terminate the Schedule in accordance with this
Section 8 and/or until your off-line use of the Services is terminated.

8.2. We may terminate your access to the Services at any time, for any reason, with five (5) business days prior notice; provided that we may terminate your access to the Services with no prior notice (i) if your account with us is closed, (ii) if you fail to comply with any of the terms of this Agreement, (iii) if we believe that your continued access to the Services poses a security risk, or (iv) if we believe that you are violating or have violated applicable laws, and we will not be liable for any loss you may experience as a result of such termination. You may terminate your access to the Services at any time by giving us ten (10) business days notice. Upon termination, we will cancel all your Passwords and IDs and any in-process or pending Instructions will be carried out or cancelled, at our sole discretion.

9. MISCELLANEOUS.
9.1. NOTICES. All notices, requests, and demands (other than routine operational communications, such as Instructions) shall be in such form and effect as provided in the Related Agreement(s).

9.2. INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS. Each Service may be governed by separate terms and conditions in addition to this Schedule and the Related Agreement(s). Except where specifically provided to the contrary in this Schedule, in the event that such separate terms and conditions conflict with this Schedule and the Related Agreement(s), the provisions of this Schedule shall prevail to the extent this Schedule applies to the transaction in question.

9.3. BINDING EFFECT; ASSIGNMENT; SEVERABILITY. This Schedule shall be binding on you, your employees, officers and agents. We may assign or delegate our rights and duties under this Schedule at any time without

26

notice to you. Your rights under this Schedule may not be assigned without our prior written consent. In the event that any provision of this Schedule conflicts with the law under which this Schedule is to be construed or if any such provision is held invalid or unenforceable by a court with jurisdiction over you and us, such provision shall be deemed to be restated to effectuate as nearly as possible the purposes of the Schedule in accordance with applicable law. The remaining provisions of this Schedule and the application of the challenged provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is invalid or unenforceable shall not be affected thereby, and each such provision shall be valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

9.4. CHOICE OF LAW; JURY TRIAL. This Schedule shall be governed by and construed, and the legal relations between the parties shall be determined, in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws. Each party agrees to waive its right to trial by jury in any action or proceeding based upon or related to this Agreement. The parties agree that all actions and proceedings based upon or relating to this Schedule shall be litigated exclusively in the federal and state courts located within New York City, New York.

The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document.

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III ("YOU")

By: ______________________________________ Name:
Title:
Date:

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17F-5 DELEGATION SCHEDULE

By its execution of this Delegation Schedule dated as of January __, 2013, between First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, a Massachusetts business trust registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the COMMISSION) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 ACT), acting through its Board of Directors/Trustees or its duly appointed representative (the "Trust" on behalf of each series listed on Appendix A hereto each a "FUND" and collectively, the "FUNDS"), hereby appoints BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO., a New York limited partnership with an office in Boston, Massachusetts (the DELEGATE) as its delegate to perform certain functions with respect to the custody of each Fund's Assets outside the United States.

1. Maintenance of Fund's Assets Abroad. The Trust, acting through its Board or its duly authorized representative, hereby instructs the Delegate pursuant to the terms of the Custodian Agreement dated as of the date hereof executed by and between the Trust and the Delegate (the CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT) to place and maintain each Fund's Assets in countries outside the United States in accordance with Instructions received from the Fund's Investment Advisor. Such instruction shall constitute an Instruction under the terms of the Custodian Agreement. The Trust acknowledges that (a) the Delegate shall perform services hereunder only with respect to the countries where it accepts delegation as Foreign Custody Manager as indicated on the Delegate's Global Custody Network Listing; (b) depending on conditions in the particular country, advance notice may be required before the Delegate shall be able to perform its duties hereunder in or with respect to such country (such advance notice to be reasonable in light of the specific facts and circumstances attendant to performance of duties in such country); and (c) nothing in this Delegation Schedule shall require the Delegate to provide delegated or custodial services in any country, and there may from time to time be countries as to which the Delegate determines it will not provide delegation services.

2. Delegation. Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act as amended, the Board hereby delegates to the Delegate, and the Delegate hereby accepts such delegation and agrees to perform only those duties set forth in this Delegation Schedule concerning the safekeeping of each Fund's Assets in each of the countries as to which it acts as the Board's delegate. The Delegate is hereby authorized to take such actions on behalf of or in the name of each Fund as are reasonably required to discharge its duties under this Delegation Schedule, including, without limitation, to cause each Fund's Assets to be placed with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian in accordance herewith. The Trust confirms to the Delegate that the Trust or its Investment Adviser has considered the Sovereign Risk and prevailing Country Risk as part of its continuing investment decision process, including such factors as may be reasonably related to the systemic risk of maintaining each Fund's Assets in a particular country, including, but not limited to, financial infrastructure, prevailing custody and settlement systems and practices (including the use of any Securities Depository in the context of information provided by the Custodian in the performance of its duties as required under Rule 17f-7 and the terms of the Custodian Agreement governing such duties), and the laws relating to the safekeeping and recovery of the Fund's Assets held in custody pursuant to the terms of the Custodian Agreement.

3. Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodian and Contract Administration. The Delegate shall perform the following duties with respect to the selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians and administration of certain contracts governing each Fund's foreign custodial arrangements:

(a) Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodian. The Delegate shall place and maintain each Fund's Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, provided that the Delegate shall have determined that the Fund's Assets will be subject to reasonable care based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market after considering factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets including without limitation:

(i) The Eligible Foreign Custodian's practices, procedures, and internal controls, including, but not limited to, the physical protections available for certificated securities (if applicable), the controls and procedures for dealing with any Securities Depository, the method of keeping custodial records, and the security and data protection practices;

(ii) Whether the Eligible Foreign Custodian has the requisite financial strength to provide reasonable care for the Fund's Assets;

(iii) The Eligible Foreign Custodian's general reputation and standing; and

(iv) Whether the Fund will have jurisdiction over and be able to enforce judgments against the Eligible Foreign Custodian, such as by virtue of the existence of any offices of such Eligible Foreign Custodian in the United States or such Eligible Foreign Custodian's

28

appointment of an agent for service of process in the United States or consent to jurisdiction in the United States.

The Delegate shall be required to make the foregoing determination to the best of its knowledge and belief based only on information reasonably available to it.

(b) Contract Administration. The Delegate shall cause that the foreign custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian shall be governed by a written contract that the Delegate has determined will provide reasonable care for Fund assets based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market. Each such contract shall, except as set forth in the last paragraph of this subsection (b), include provisions that provide:

(i) For indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any combination of the foregoing) such that the Fund will be adequately protected against the risk of loss of assets held in accordance with such contract;

(ii) That the Fund's Assets will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the Eligible Foreign Custodian or its creditors except a claim of payment for their safe custody or administration or, in the case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors of such Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws;

(iii) That beneficial ownership of the Fund's Assets will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration;

(iv) That adequate records will be maintained identifying the Fund's Assets as belonging to the Fund or as being held by a third party for the benefit of the Fund;

(v) That the Fund's independent public accountants will be given access to those records described in (iv) above or confirmation of the contents of such records; and

(vi) That the Delegate will receive sufficient and timely periodic reports with respect to the safekeeping of the Fund's Assets, including, but not limited to, notification of any transfer to or from the Fund's account or a third party account containing the Fund's Assets.

Such contract may contain, in lieu of any or all of the provisions specified in this Section 3(b), such other provisions that the Delegate determines will provide, in their entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for the Fund's Assets as the specified provisions, in their entirety.

(c) Limitation to Delegated Selection. Notwithstanding anything in this Delegation Schedule to the contrary, the duties under this Section 3 shall apply only to Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Delegate and shall not apply to Securities Depositories or to any Eligible Foreign Custodian that the Delegate is directed to use pursuant to Section 7 of this Delegation Schedule.

4. Monitoring. The Delegate shall establish a system to monitor at reasonable intervals (but at least annually) the appropriateness of maintaining the Fund's Assets with each Eligible Foreign Custodian that has been selected by the Delegate pursuant to Section 3 of this Delegation Schedule. The Delegate shall monitor the continuing appropriateness of placement of the Fund's Assets in accordance with the criteria established under Section 3(a) of this Delegation Schedule. The Delegate shall monitor the continuing appropriateness of the contract governing the Fund's arrangements in accordance with the criteria established under Section 3(b) of this Delegation Schedule.

5. Reporting. At least annually and more frequently as mutually agreed between the parties, the Delegate shall provide to the Board written reports specifying placement of the Fund's Assets with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Delegate pursuant to Section 3 of this Delegation Schedule and shall promptly report on any material changes to such foreign custody arrangements. Delegate will prepare such a report with respect to any Eligible Foreign Custodian that the Delegate has been instructed to use pursuant to Section 7 of this Delegation Schedule only to the extent specifically agreed with respect to the particular situation.

6. Withdrawal of Fund's Assets. If the Delegate determines that an arrangement with a specific Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Delegate under
Section 3 of this Delegation Schedule no longer meets the requirements of said Section, Delegate shall withdraw the Fund's Assets from the non-complying

29

arrangement as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, however, that if in the reasonable judgment of the Delegate, such withdrawal would require liquidation of any of the Fund's Assets or would materially impair the liquidity, value or other investment characteristics of the Fund's Assets, it shall be the duty of the Delegate to provide information regarding the particular circumstances and to act only in accordance with Instructions of the Fund or its Investment Advisor with respect to such liquidation or other withdrawal.

7. Direction as to Eligible Foreign Custodian. Notwithstanding this Delegation Schedule, the Fund, acting through its Board, its Investment Advisor or its other Authorized Representative, may direct the Delegate to place and maintain the Fund's Assets with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian, including without limitation with respect to investment in countries as to which the Custodian will not provide delegation services. In such event, the Delegate shall be entitled to rely on any such instruction as an Instruction under the terms of the Custodian Agreement and shall have no duties under this Delegation Schedule with respect to such arrangement save those that it may undertake specifically in writing with respect to each particular instance.

8. Standard of Care. In carrying out its duties under this Delegation Schedule, the Delegate agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for safekeeping the Fund's Assets would exercise.

9. Representations. The Delegate hereby represents and warrants that it is a U.S. Bank and that this Delegation Schedule has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Delegate and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Delegate.

The Fund hereby represents and warrants that its Board of Directors has determined that it is reasonable to rely on the Delegate to perform the delegated responsibilities provided for herein and that this Delegation Schedule has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Fund.

10. Effectiveness; termination. This Delegation Schedule shall be effective as of the date on which this Delegation Schedule shall have been accepted by the Delegate, as indicated by the date set forth below the Delegate's signature. This Delegation Schedule may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Such termination shall be effective on the 30th calendar day following the date on which the non-terminating party shall receive the foregoing notice. The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, this Delegation Schedule shall be deemed to have been terminated concurrently with the termination of the Custodian Agreement.

11. Notices. Notices and other communications under this Delegation Schedule are to be made in accordance with the arrangements designated for such purpose under the Custodian Agreement unless otherwise indicated in a writing referencing this Delegation Schedule and executed by both parties.

12. Definitions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Delegation Schedule have the following meanings:

a. Country Risk - shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.2 of the Custodian Agreement.

b. Eligible Foreign Custodian - shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-5(a)(1) of the 1940 Act and shall also include a U.S. Bank.

c. Fund's Assets - shall mean any of the Fund's investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States, and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund's transactions in such investments.

d. Instructions - shall have the meaning set forth in the Custodian Agreement.

e. Securities Depository - shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-7 of the 1940 Act.

f. Sovereign Risk - shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.3 of the Custodian Agreement.

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g . U.S. Bank - shall mean a bank which qualifies to serve as a custodian of assets of investment companies under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Delegation Schedule shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts sitting in the State of New York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or of the state courts of either such State or such Commonwealth.

14. Fees. Delegate shall perform its functions under this Delegation Schedule for the compensation determined under the Custodian Agreement.

15. Integration. This Delegation Schedule sets forth all of the Delegate's duties with respect to the selection and monitoring of Eligible Foreign Custodians, the administration of contracts with Eligible Foreign Custodians, the withdrawal of assets from Eligible Foreign Custodians and the issuance of reports in connection with such duties. The terms of the Custodian Agreement shall apply generally as to matters not expressly covered in this Delegation Schedule, including dealings with the Eligible Foreign Custodians in the course of discharge of the Delegate's obligations under the Custodian Agreement.

16.

(a). It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the obligations of the Trust (and Funds thereof) hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust (and Funds thereof), personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust and the applicable Fund as provided in the Trust's Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and signed by an officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust and the applicable Fund as provided in the Trust's Declaration of Trust.

(b) This Agreement is an agreement entered into between the Delegate and the Trust with respect to each Fund. With respect to any obligation of the Trust on behalf of any Fund arising out of this Agreement, the Delegate shall look for payment of such obligation solely to the assets for the Fund to which such obligation relates with the same effect as if the Delegate had separately contracted with the Trust by separate written instrument with respect to each Fund.

(c) As used herein, the "applicable Fund" shall be each Fund in respect of which any amount due the Delegate arises, and if any amount due the Delegate arises in respect of more than one Fund, the same shall be allocated by the Delegate among such Funds in accordance with Section 16(b). Any amounts due the Delegate which may not be allocated in accordance with the preceding sentence shall constitute General Liabilities as defined in the Trust's Declaration of Trust and allocated by the Trust and paid in accordance with the provisions thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document.

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.              First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III




By: __________________________________     By: ________________________________
Name:                                              Name:

Title: Title:

31

SCHEDULE A
TO
THE CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III
and
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
Dated as of January__, 2013

The following is a list of Funds/Portfolios for which the Custodian shall serve under a Custodian Agreement dated as of January __, 2013:

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this to be executed in its name and on behalf of each such Fund/Portfolio.

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III

BY:_________________________________
NAME:
TITLE:

32

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of January __, 2013 by and between BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO., a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of New York (the "ADMINISTRATOR"), and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, a Massachusetts business trust (the "FUND" on behalf of each series listed on Appendix A to this Agreement each a "PORTFOLIO" and collectively, the "PORTFOLIOS") and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("the 1940 ACT").

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Fund is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as a management investment company under the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Administrator to render certain services to the Fund and each Portfolio, and the Administrator is willing to render such services.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR. The Fund hereby employs and appoints the Administrator to act as its administrative agent on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and the Administrator accepts such appointment.

2. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Fund will on a continuing basis provide the Administrator with:

2.1 properly certified or authenticated copies of resolutions of the Fund's Board of Trustees authorizing the appointment of the Administrator as administrative agent of the Fund and approving this Agreement;

2.2 a copy of the Fund's most recent registration statement;

2.3 copies of all agreements between the Fund and its service providers, including without limitation, advisory, distribution and administration agreements and distribution and/or shareholder servicing plans;

2.4 a copy of the Fund's valuation procedures;

2.5 a copy of the Fund's Declaration of Trust and By-laws;

2.6 any other documents or resolutions (including but not limited to directions or resolutions of the Fund's Board of Trustees) which relate to or affect the Administrator's performance of its duties hereunder or which the Administrator may at any time reasonably request; and


2.7 copies of any and all amendments or supplements to the foregoing.

3. DUTIES AS ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the supervision and direction of the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Administrator will perform the administrative services described in Appendix B hereto. Additional services may be provided by the Administrator upon the request of the Fund as mutually agreed from time to time. In performing its duties and obligations hereunder, the Administrator will act in accordance with the Fund's instructions as defined in Section 5 ("Instructions"). It is agreed and understood that the Administrator shall not be responsible for the Fund's compliance with any applicable documents, laws or regulations, or for losses, costs or expenses arising out of the Fund's failure to comply with said documents, laws or regulations or the Fund's failure or inability to correct any non-compliance therewith. The Administrator shall in no event be required to take any action, which is in contravention of any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.

3.1 RECORDS. The Administrator will maintain and retain such records as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable federal securities laws and created pursuant to the performance of the Administrator's obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator will maintain such other records as requested by the Fund and received by the Administrator. The Administrator shall not be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of any records not created by the Administrator. The Administrator acknowledges that the records maintained and preserved by the Administrator pursuant to this Agreement are the property of the Fund and will be, at the Fund's expense, surrendered promptly upon reasonable request. In performing its obligations under this Section, the Administrator may utilize micrographic and electronic storage media as well as independent third party storage facilities.

4. DUTIES OF THE FUND. The Fund shall notify the Administrator promptly of any matter affecting the performance by the Administrator of its services under this Agreement and where the Administrator is providing fund accounting services pursuant to this Agreement shall promptly notify the Administrator as to the accrual of liabilities of the Fund, liabilities of the Fund not appearing on the books of account kept by the Administrator as to the existence, status and proper treatment of reserves, if any, authorized by the Fund. Where the Administrator is providing portfolio compliance monitoring services pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund agrees to notify the Administrator in the event the Fund or any officer, employee or agent of the Fund detects a possible non-compliance of the Fund with its investment restrictions, policies and limitations. The Fund agrees to provide such information to the Administrator as may be requested under the banking and securities laws of the United States or other jurisdictions relating to "Know Your Customer" and money laundering prevention rules and regulations (collectively, the "KYC Requirements"). For

2

purposes of this subsection, and in connection with all applicable KYC Requirements, the Fund and each Portfolio is the "client" or "customer" of the Administrator. The Fund further represents that it will perform all obligations required under applicable KYC Requirements with respect to its "customers" (as defined in the KYC Requirements) and that, because these customers do not constitute "customers" or "clients" of the Administrator under such applicable rules and regulations, the Administrator is under no such similar obligations.

5. INSTRUCTIONS.

5.1 The Administrator shall not be liable for, and shall be indemnified by the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of this Agreement against any and all losses, costs, damages or expenses arising from or as a result of, any action taken or omitted in reasonable reliance upon Instructions or upon any other written notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or other instrument believed by it to be genuine and signed or authorized by the proper party or parties. A list of persons so authorized by the Fund ("Authorized Persons") is attached hereto as Appendix C and upon which the Administrator may rely until its receipt of notification to the contrary by the Fund.

5.2 Instructions shall include a written request, direction, instruction or certification signed or initialed on behalf of the Fund by one or more persons as the Board of Trustees of the Fund shall have from time to time authorized in writing. Those persons authorized to give Instructions may be identified by the Board of Trustees by name, title or position and will include at least one officer empowered by the Board to name other individuals who are authorized to give Instructions on behalf of the Fund.

5.3 Telephonic or other oral instructions or instructions given by telefax transmission may be given by any one of the above persons and will also be considered Instructions if the Administrator reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such Instructions with respect to the transaction involved.

5.4 With respect to telefax transmissions, the Fund hereby acknowledges that (i) receipt of legible instructions cannot be assured, (ii) the Administrator cannot verify that authorized signatures on telefax instructions are original, and (iii) the Administrator shall not be responsible for losses or expenses incurred through actions taken in reasonable reliance on such telefax instructions. The Fund agrees that such telefax instructions shall be conclusive evidence of the Fund's Instruction to the Administrator to act or to omit to act.

5.5 Instructions given orally will not be confirmed in writing and the lack of such confirmation shall in no way affect any action taken by the Administrator in reliance upon such oral Instructions. The Fund authorizes the Administrator to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral Instructions given to the Administrator by or on behalf of

3

the Fund (including any of its officers, directors, trustees, employees or agents or any investment manager or adviser or person or entity with similar responsibilities which is authorized to give Instructions on behalf of the Fund to the Administrator.)

6. EXPENSES AND COMPENSATION. For the services to be rendered and the facilities to be furnished by the Administrator as provided for in this Agreement, the Fund shall pay the Administrator for its services rendered pursuant to this Agreement a fee based on such fee schedule as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing by the Fund and the Administrator. Additional services performed by the Administrator as requested by the Fund shall be subject to additional fees as mutually agreed from time to time. In addition to such fee, the Administrator shall bill the Fund separately for any out-of-pocket disbursements of the Administrator based on an out-of-pocket schedule as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing by the Fund and the Administrator. The foregoing fees and disbursements shall be billed to the Fund by the Administrator and shall be paid promptly by wire transfer or other appropriate means to the Administrator.

7. STANDARD OF CARE. The Administrator shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care and diligence in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, provided that the Administrator shall not thereby be required to take any action which is in contravention of any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.

8. GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY. The Administrator shall incur no liability with respect to any telecommunications, equipment or power failures, or any failures to perform or delays in performance by postal or courier services or third-party information providers (including without limitation those listed on Appendix D).

8.1 The Administrator shall also incur no liability under this Agreement if the Administrator or any agent or entity utilized by the Administrator shall be prevented, forbidden or delayed from performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Agreement provides shall be performed or omitted to be performed, by reason of causes or events beyond its control, including but not limited to:

8.1.1 any Sovereign Event. A "Sovereign Event" shall mean any nationalization; expropriation; devaluation; revaluation; confiscation; seizure; cancellation; destruction; strike; act of war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or any other act or event beyond the Administrator's reasonable control;

8.1.2 any provision of any present or future law, regulation or order of the United States or any state thereof, or of any foreign country or political subdivision thereof, or of any securities depository or clearing agency; and

4

8.1.3 any provision of any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.

8.2 The Administrator shall not be held accountable or liable for any losses, damages or expenses the Fund or any shareholder or former shareholder of the Fund or any other person may suffer or incur arising from acts, omissions, errors or delays of the Administrator in the performance of its obligations and duties as provided in Section 3 hereof, including without limitation any error of judgment or mistake of law, except a damage, loss or expense resulting from the Administrator's willful malfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such Administrator's obligations and duties.

8.3 The Administrator shall not be liable for any damages arising out of any misstatement or omission in the Fund's registration statement, prospectus, shareholder report, offering document or other information filed or made public by the Fund or First Trust Portfolios, L.P. (the "Distributor").

8.4 In no event and under no circumstances shall either party be held liable to the other party for consequential or indirect damages, loss of profits, damage to reputation or business or any other special or punitive damages arising under or by reason of any provision of this Agreement or for any act or omissions hereunder, even if the party has been advised of the possibility of such damages or losses.

9. SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY. In addition to, and without limiting the application of the general limitations on liability contained in Section 8, above, the following specific limitations on the Administrator's liability shall apply to the particular administrative services set forth on Appendix B hereto.

9.1 PORTFOLIO COMPLIANCE MONITORING. The compliance monitoring of the investments of the Fund and/or each Portfolio with respect to investment restrictions and policies is subject to parameters that may vary over time and which may be beyond the control or knowledge of the Administrator. Consequently, the results of the monitoring as notified by the Administrator to the Fund are to be considered merely as an indication of possible non-compliance with the investment restrictions and policies of the Fund and/or Portfolio rather than an affirmative statement as to non-compliance with the investment restrictions and policies. Moreover, the Administrator may not detect a breach and consequently might not notify the Fund thereof if information or data in its possession is inaccurate, incomplete or ambiguous. The Board of Trustees of the Fund shall remain fully responsible for ensuring compliance of the investments of the Fund and each Portfolio with its investment restrictions and policies and the services provided by the Administrator in monitoring investment restrictions and policies shall not be deemed to be a delegation of the Board's responsibility to the Administrator. In addition, the Fund agrees that the Administrator

5

shall not be liable for the accuracy, completeness or use of any information or data that CRD (as defined in Appendix B hereof) or any other compliance system used by the Administrator generates in connection with such administrative compliance monitoring on any given date so long as not a result of Administrator's willful malfeasance, bad faith or negligence.

9.2 LIABILITY FOR FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES. Without limiting the provisions in Section 8 hereof, the Administrator's liability for acts, omissions, errors or delays relating to its fund accounting obligations and duties shall be limited to the amount of any expenses associated with a required recalculation of net asset value per share ("NAV") or any direct damages suffered by shareholders in connection with such recalculation. The Administrator's liability or accountability for such acts, omissions, errors or delays shall be further subject to clauses 9.2.1 through 9.2.4 below.

9.2.1. The parties hereto acknowledge that the Administrator's causing an error or delay in the determination of NAV may, but does not in and of itself, constitute negligence or reckless or willful misconduct. The parties further acknowledge that in accordance with industry practice, the Administrator shall be liable and the recalculation of NAV shall be performed only with regard to errors in the calculation of the NAV that are greater than or equal to $.01 per share of a Fund. If a recalculation of NAV occurs, the Fund agrees to reprocess shareholder transactions or take such other action(s) so as to eliminate or minimize to the extent possible the liability of the Administrator.

9.2.2. In no event shall the Administrator be liable or responsible to the Fund, any present or former shareholder of the Fund, or any other person for any error or delay that continued or was undetected after the date of an audit performed by the certified public accountants employed by the Fund if, in the exercise of reasonable care in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards, such accountants should have become aware of such error or delay in the course of performing such audit.

9.2.3 The Administrator shall not be held accountable or liable to the Fund, any shareholder or former shareholder thereof or any other person for any delays or losses, damages or expenses any of them may suffer or incur resulting from (i) the Administrator's usage of a third party service provider for the purpose of storing records delivered to the Administrator by the Fund and which the Administrator did not create in the performance of its obligations hereunder; (ii) the Administrator's failure to receive timely and suitable notification concerning quotations or corporate actions relating to or affecting portfolio securities of the Fund; or (iii) any errors in the computation of NAV based upon or arising out of quotations or information as to corporate actions if received by the Administrator either (a) from a source which the Administrator was authorized to rely upon (including, but not limited to, the fair

6

value pricing procedures of any investment manager of adviser of the Fund and those sources listed on Appendix D), (b) from a source which in the Administrator's reasonable judgment was as reliable a source for such quotations or information as such authorized sources, or (c) relevant information known to the Fund or its service provider which would impact the calculation of NAV but which is not communicated by the Fund or its service providers to the Administrator. To the extent that Fund assets are not in the custody of the Administrator, the Administrator may conclusively rely on any reporting in connection with such assets provided to the Administrator by a third party on behalf of the Fund.

9.2.4. In the event of any error or delay in the determination of such NAV for which the Administrator may be liable, the Fund and the Administrator will consult and make good faith efforts to reach agreement on what actions should be taken in order to mitigate any loss suffered by the Fund or its present or former shareholders, in order that the Administrator's exposure to liability shall be reduced to the extent possible after taking into account all relevant factors and alternatives consistent with the Fund's Pricing Error Correction Guidelines. It is understood that in attempting to reach agreement on the actions to be taken or the amount of the loss which should appropriately be borne by the Administrator, the Fund and the Administrator will consider such relevant factors as the amount of the loss involved, the Fund's desire to avoid loss of shareholder good will, the fact that other persons or entities could have been reasonably expected to have detected the error sooner than the time it was actually discovered, the appropriateness of limiting or eliminating the benefit which shareholders or former shareholders might have obtained by reason of the error, and the possibility that other parties providing services to the Fund might be induced to absorb a portion of the loss incurred.

9.3 LIABILITY FOR ETF TRANSFER AGENCY AND RELATED SERVICES. Without limiting the provisions in Section 8 hereof, the Administrator shall have no liability for any damages arising out of (i) the failure of any Authorized Participant to perform its obligations under a Participant Agreement ("Participant Agreement" defined for this purpose as any Participant Agreement between the Distributor and an Authorized Participant acknowledged by the Administrator); (ii) activities or statements of sales or wholesaler personnel who are employed by the Distributor or its affiliates; or (iii) the failure of any Authorized Participant to deposit with the Fund's Custodian sufficient collateral, or to provide additional collateral upon request by the Administrator, in connection with the monitoring services provided for herein on Appendix B; or (b) any errors in the computation of collateral

7

requirements based upon or arising out of quotations or information received by the Administrator from a source which the Administrator was authorized to rely upon (including, but not limited to, those sources listed on Appendix D).

10. INDEMNIFICATION. The Fund hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrator against and hold it harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) resulting from any act, omission, error or delay or any third party claim, demand, action or suit, in connection with or arising out of performance of the Administrator's obligations and duties under this Agreement, not resulting from the willful malfeasance, bad faith or negligence of the Administrator in the performance of such obligations and duties. The provisions of this Section 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

11. RELIANCE BY THE ADMINISTRATOR ON OPINIONS OF COUNSEL AND OPINIONS OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.

The Administrator may consult with its counsel or the Fund's counsel in any case where so doing appears to the Administrator to be necessary or desirable. The Administrator shall not be considered to have engaged in any misconduct or to have acted negligently and shall be without liability in acting upon the advice of its counsel or of the Fund's counsel.

The Administrator may consult with a certified public accountant or the Fund's Treasurer in any case where so doing appears to the Administrator to be necessary or desirable. The Administrator shall not be considered to have engaged in any misconduct or to have acted negligently and shall be without liability in acting upon the advice of such certified public accountant or of the Fund's Treasurer.

12. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be terminated by either party in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

12.1 This Agreement shall have an initial term of one (1) year from the date hereof. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one (1) year periods unless either party terminates this Agreement by written notice effective no sooner than seventy-five (75) days following the date that notice to such effect shall be delivered to the other party at its address set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, either party may terminate this Agreement at any time (a) for cause, which is a material breach of the Agreement not cured within sixty (60) days, in which case termination shall be effective upon written receipt of notice by the non-terminating party, or upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party in the event that the either party is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or there shall be commenced against such party a case under any applicable bankruptcy,

8

insolvency, or other similar law now or hereafter in effect. In the event a termination notice is given by a party hereto, all expenses associated with the movement of records and materials and the conversion thereof shall be paid by the Fund for which services shall cease to be performed hereunder. The Administrator shall be responsible for completing all actions in progress when such termination notice is given unless otherwise agreed.

12.2. Upon termination of the Agreement in accordance with this Section 12, the Fund may request the Administrator to promptly deliver to the Fund or to any designated third party all records created and maintained by the Administrator pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement, as well as any Fund records maintained but not created by the Administrator. If such request is provided in writing by the Fund to the Administrator within seventy-five (75) days of the date of termination of the Agreement, the Administrator shall provide to the Fund a certification that all records created by the Administrator pursuant to its obligations under Section 3.1 of this Agreement are accurate and complete. After seventy-five (75) days of the date of termination of this Agreement, no such certification will be provided to the Fund by the Administrator and the Administrator is under no further obligation to ensure that records created by the Administrator pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement are maintained in a form that is accurate or complete.

13. CONFIDENTIALITY. The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or obtaining services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior consent of such providing party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any Regulatory Authority, any auditor of the parties hereto, or by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by Applicable Law.

Each of the parties agrees that: (i) "confidential information" will include any and all information within the term "Nonpublic Personal Information" as defined in section 509(4) of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 ("GLB"), Rule 3 of SEC Regulation S-P and under the regulations, interpretations, rulings and other issuances of other applicable federal agencies (collectively, "GLB Regulations"); (ii) for client-shareholders who are residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "confidential information" will include any and all information within the term "Personal Information" as defined in section 17.02 of the Standards for the Protection of Personal Information of the Residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ("Mass. Data Privacy Law"); (iii) the receipt, disclosure, use, sharing and dissemination of confidential

9

information will be consistent with the provisions and requirements of GLB, the GLB Regulations and, if applicable, the Mass. Data Privacy Law; (iv) the parties will: (A) protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of the confidential information subject to GLB, the GLB Regulations, and, if applicable, the Mass. Data Privacy Law and (B) implement appropriate measures designed to meet the objectives of GLB, GLB Regulations and the Mass. Data Privacy Law.

14. TAPE-RECORDING. The Fund authorizes the Administrator to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Administrator by or on behalf of the Fund, including from any Authorized Person. This authorization will remain in effect until and unless revoked by the Fund in writing. The Fund further agrees to solicit valid written or other consent from any of its employees with respect to telephone communications to the extent such consent is required by applicable law.

15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes any other oral or written agreements heretofore in effect between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or terminated except by a statement in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment or termination is sought.

16. SEVERABILITY. In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.

17. HEADINGS. The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions thereof.

18. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles and each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the City of Boston and the federal courts located in the City of Boston. The fund irrevocably waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding in any of the aforesaid courts and any claim that any such action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Furthermore, each party hereto irrevocably waives any right that it may have to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or related to this Agreement or the services contemplated hereby.

19. NOTICES. Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage prepaid to the Fund addressed to the Fund at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton 60187, Attention: General Counsel or to such other address as the Fund may have designated to the Administrator in writing, or to the Administrator at 40 Water

10

Street, Boston, MA 02109, Attention: Manager, Fund Administration Department, or to such other address as the Administrator may have designated to the Fund in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given hereunder to the respective addressee.

20. BINDING EFFECT; ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Fund and the Administrator and their respective successors and assigns, provided that no party hereto may assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the other party. Each party agrees that only the parties to this Agreement and/or their successors in interest shall have a right to enforce the terms of this Agreement. Accordingly, no client of the Fund or other third party shall have any rights under this Agreement and such rights are explicitly disclaimed by the parties.

21. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original. This Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by each of the parties. A photocopy or telefax of the Agreement shall be acceptable evidence of the existence of the Agreement and the Administrator shall be protected in relying on the photocopy or telefax until the Administrator has received the original of the Agreement.

22. EXCLUSIVITY. The services furnished by the Administrator hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Administrator shall be free to furnish similar services to others.

23. AUTHORIZATION. The Fund hereby represents and warrants that the Fund's Board of Trustees has authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and that an authorized officer of the Fund has signed this Agreement, Appendices A, B, C, and D and the fee schedule hereto.

24. (a) It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the obligations of the Fund (and Portfolios thereof) hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Fund (and Portfolios thereof), personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Fund and the applicable Portfolios as provided in the Fund's Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Fund and signed by an officer of the Fund, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Fund and applicable Portfolio as provided in the Fund's Declaration of Trust.

(b) This Agreement is an agreement entered into between the Administrator and the Fund with respect to each Portfolio. With respect to any obligation of the Fund on behalf of any Portfolio arising out of this Agreement, the Administrator shall look for payment of such obligation solely to the assets for

11

the Portfolio to which such obligation relates with the same effect as if the Administrator had separately contracted with the Fund by separate written instrument with respect to each Portfolio.

(c) As used herein, the "applicable Portfolio" shall be each Portfolio in respect of which any amount due the Administrator arises, and if any amount due the Administrator arises in respect of more than one Portfolio, the same shall be allocated by the Administrator among such Portfolios in accordance with
Section 24(b). Any amounts due the Administrator which may not be allocated in accordance with the preceding sentence shall constitute General Liabilities as defined in the Fund's Declaration of Trust and allocated by the Fund and paid in accordance with the provisions thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.

The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document .

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:

12

APPENDIX A
TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III
and
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
Dated as of January __, 2013

The following is a list of Funds/Portfolios for which the Administrator shall serve under a Administrative Agency Agreement dated as of January __, 2013:

First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this to be executed in its name and on behalf of each such Fund/Portfolio.

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

BY:_________________________________
NAME:
TITLE:

13

APPENDIX B

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT

Services

FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
The Administrator will provide the following fund accounting services to each Portfolio each day that such Portfolio and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open (each a "Business Day"): transaction processing and review, custodial reconciliation, securities pricing and investment accounting.

Transaction Processing and Review. The Administrator shall input and reconcile each Portfolio's investment activity including with respect to:

o Investment taxlots
o Income
o Dividends
o Principal paydowns
o Capital activity
o Expense accruals
o Cash activity
o Corporate Reorganizations

Custodial Reconciliation. The Administrator shall reconcile the following positions of each Portfolio against the records of the Custodian:

o Securities holdings
o Cash including cash transfers, fees assessed and other investment related cash transactions
o Trade settlements

Securities Pricing. The Administrator shall update each security position of each Portfolio as to the following:

o Market prices obtained from approved sources including those listed on Appendix D or Fair Valuations obtained from an Authorized Person of the Fund
o Mark to market of non-base receivables/payables utilizing approved foreign exchange quotations as quoted in Appendix D
o Mark to market of non-base currency positions utilizing the approved sources quoted in Appendix D or Fair Valuations obtained from an Authorized Person of the Fund

Investment Accounting. The Administrator shall provide the following investment accounting services to each Portfolio:

o Amortization/accretion at the individual tax lot level
o General ledger entries
o Book value calculations
o Trade Date + 1 accounting
o Calculation of Net Asset Value Per Share ("NAV") as of the close of business of the NYSE

14

PORTFOLIO COMPLIANCE MONITORING SERVICES
The Administrator shall perform the following compliance monitoring services with respect to the investments of each Portfolio on each Business Day unless otherwise specified ("Portfolio Compliance Monitoring Services"):

o Trade date plus one monitoring of each Portfolio's investments with respect to the investment restrictions, policies and limitations as described in the current prospectus and statement of additional information, which shall be provided to the Administrator by the Fund, and agreed to by the Administrator and Fund
o Monitoring of policies, restrictions and limitations with respect to certain derivative investments is performed monthly (or as requested)

o Trade date plus one monitoring of each Portfolio's investments with respect to the 1940 Act requirements and rules thereunder (including Rule 2a-7 if applicable) and applicable Internal Revenue Code rules and regulations as described in Exhibit A attached hereto
o Rule 17g-1 monitoring shall be performed monthly as requested
o Qualifying income monitoring with respect to Subchapter M compliance shall be performed monthly

o Trade date plus one monitoring of other portfolio investment restrictions, policies and limitations at such times as may be agreed in writing by the Fund and Administrator

o The Administrator shall notify the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") or such other Authorized Person as may be agreed to by the Fund in the event and at such times as the Administrator detects possible non-compliance with a Portfolio's investment restrictions, policies and limitations ("Daily Exception Reporting")

o Provide the Fund's CCO or such other Authorized Person as may be agreed to by the Fund a monthly report summarizing the results of the Portfolio Compliance Monitoring Services ("Monthly Summary Reporting")

o Provide the Fund's Board of Trustees/Directors a quarterly report summarizing the results of the Portfolio Compliance Monitoring Services ("Quarterly Board Summary Reporting")

o Assist the Fund in producing quarterly brokerage-related reports for the Fund's Board of Trustees as requested by the Fund and agreed to by the Administrator

o The Administrator shall perform the following additional compliance monitoring services with respect to each Portfolio one each Business Day:

o Provide the Fund's CCO or such other Authorized Person as may be agreed to by the Fund a daily portfolio compliance summary report
("Daily Summary Reporting")

TAX SUPPORT SERVICES
The Administrator shall provide the following tax support services to the Fund:
o Prepare fiscal year-end and excise tax distribution calculations;
o Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual income distributions as described in each Fund's or Portfolio's prospectus
o Provide any tax analysis of portfolio transactions
o Prepare annual capital gain distribution(s) including spillback amounts as required
o Prepare tax-related ROCSOP entries for fund accounting purposes
o Review required tax disclosures (such as tax cost, long-term capital gain, tax-exempt designation, foreign tax credits, dividend-received deductions, and qualified dividend income pass throughs) in the Fund's financial statements

15

o Prepare and file federal, state and local (if any) income tax returns, including tax return extension requests, for signature by the Fund and/or its auditor
o Prepare shareholder year-end tax information
o Calculate the amounts and characterizations of distributions declared during the calendar year for Form 1099/DIV reporting
o Provide analysis and necessary adjustments based on passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") that have been identified by the Fund and communicated to the Administrator
o Consult with the Fund's Authorized Persons on their management and/or investment strategy regarding straddles identified by the Fund and communicated to the Administrator and provide necessary adjustments

DESCRIPTION OF ADDITIONAL TAX SUPPORT SERVICES

o Prepare and maintain tax accruals and necessary adjustments for convertible preferred stock investments
o Prepare available tax equalization schedules
o Prepare monthly Qualified Investment Income
o Prepare quarterly estimates of Qualified Dividend Income
o Prepare interim estimates of taxable income and capital gains
o Consult with the Fund's Authorized Persons on various tax issues as requested and with the Fund's independent public accountant when appropriate

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SERVICES

The Administrator shall provide the following services related to calculating and reporting Fund performance:
o Calculate time weighted total returns for each Portfolio (by class, if applicable) and report such returns to the Fund on a monthly basis, and SEC after-tax returns on a monthly basis. The tax treatment of any distributions will be considered preliminary until after the receipt of an official 1099 at year end.
o If applicable, calculate 30-day SEC yields and report such returns to the Fund on a monthly basis
o Provide and review each Portfolio's performance information disclosed in its financial statements, prospectus and statement of additional information
o At the Fund's request, report portfolio holdings to identified database companies

ASSISTANT TREASURER SERVICES

The Administrator shall perform the following services as requested by the Fund's Treasurer:

o Prepare the Fund's quarterly budget and make recommendations for adjustments as appropriate

o Prepare a monthly asset based fee calculations

o Provide an "Assistant Treasurer" who may be approved as an officer of the Fund by the Board of Trustees/Directors

o Provide consultative services with respect to financial matters of the Fund as may be requested and agreed to by the Fund and Administrator from time to time

The Administrator shall perform the following additional services as requested by the Fund's Treasurer:

16

o Prepare Form 1099 reporting for Fund's independent Trustees/Directors and any other 1099-Misc. reporting (i.e. partnership, law firm, accounting firm, etc.)

o Prepare budgets and expense pro formas for new series, Portfolios or classes and/or with respect to mergers, acquisitions and restructurings, as may be requested and agreed to between the Fund and Administrator

ETF TRANSFER AGENCY AND RELATED SERVICES

The Administrator shall perform the following ETF Transfer Agency and Related services and such other obligations as are set forth in any Participant Agreement:

I. Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.

It is agreed and understood that the Administrator on the Fund's behalf, shall process the issuance and redemption of Creation Units of the Fund in blocks of Shares as established in the Prospectus for the Fund ("Creation Units") to and from such persons as are identified and approved by the Distributor as Authorized Participants and who have entered into a Participant Agreement.

A. Accept from Authorized Participants creation and redemption orders for communication to the appropriate parties, approval (as may be agreed with the Distributor) and processing.

B. Pursuant to creation and redemption orders that the Administrator as transfer agent shall receive from Authorized Participants (and which shall be confirmed by the Distributor, as required) and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, the Administrator shall communicate such orders to the Trust or Fund as appropriate.

B. Pursuant to such creation orders that the Administrator as the Index Receipt Agent shall receive (and which shall be confirmed by the Distributor) and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, the Administrator shall transfer appropriate trade instructions to the Fund's custodian, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. ("Custodian") and pursuant to such orders register the appropriate number of book entry only Creation Units in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee as a shareholder (each a "Authorized Participant") of the Fund and deliver the Creation Units of the Fund to the appropriate Authorized Participant.

C. Pursuant to such redemption orders that Index Receipt Agent shall receive from the Authorized Participant and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, the Administrator shall transfer appropriate trade instructions to the Custodian and, pursuant to such orders, redeem the appropriate number of Creation Units that are delivered to the designated DTC Participant Account of the Custodian for redemption and debit such Creation Units from the account of the Authorized Participant on the register of the Fund.

D. On behalf of the Fund, the Administrator shall issue Creation Units for settlement with purchasers through DTC as the purchaser is authorized to receive. Beneficial ownership of ETF Shares shall be shown on the records of DTC and DTC Participants and not on any records maintained by the Administrator. In issuing Creation Units through DTC to an Authorized Participant, the Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon the latest Instructions that are received from the Distributor by the Administrator as Index Receipt Agent concerning the issuance and delivery of such Creation Units for settlement.

E. The Administrator shall not issue on behalf of the Fund any Creation Units where it has received an Instruction from the Fund or the Distributor or written notification from any federal or state authority

17

that the sale of the ETF Shares has been suspended or discontinued, and the Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon such Instructions or written notification.

F. Upon the issuance of Creation Units as provided herein, the Administrator shall not be responsible for the payment of any original issue or other taxes, if any, required to be paid by the Fund or the Distributor in connection with such issuance.

G. The Administrator will act only upon Instruction from the Fund and/or the Distributor in addressing any failure in the delivery of cash, securities and/or shares in connection with the creation and redemption of Creation Units. The Administrator shall not be required to advance, expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur or become exposed to financial liability in the performance of its duties hereunder.

II. Recordkeeping.

A. The Administrator shall record the creation and redemption of Creation Units and maintain, pursuant to Rule 17Ad-14(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a record of the total number of Creation Units that are authorized, issued and outstanding based upon data provided to the Administrator by the Fund or the Distributor. The Administrator shall also provide the Fund on a regular basis with the total number of Creation Units authorized, issued and outstanding; provided however that the Administrator shall not be responsible for monitoring the issuance of such Creation Units or compliance with any laws relating to the validity of the issuance or the legality of the sale of such Creation Units or shares.

III. Services Related to the Monitoring of Cash Collateral.

(a) Monitor the collateralization levels as set forth in Participant Agreements in connection with cash collateral posted by Authorized Participants in connection with Creation Unit activity.

(b) Mark to market daily the value of such cash collateral using a pricing source set forth on Appendix D.

(c) Monitor collateral levels daily and communicate calls for additional collateral to the Authorized Participants as necessary based upon daily collateral requirement calculations using ratios set forth in Participant Agreements.

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:

18

APPENDIX C

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT

List of Authorized Persons

James A. Bowen          Daniel J. Lindquist
Mark R. Bradley         Chris R. Fallow
W. Scott Jardine        Erin E. Chapman
James A. Dykas          Coleen D. Lynch
Kristi A. Maher         Stan Ueland
Scott Hall              Eric Anderson
Lance Hinkle            Roger Testin
                        Tim Henry

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:

19

APPENDIX D TO

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT

AUTHORISED SOURCES

The Investment Manager and Fund hereby acknowledge that the Administrator is authorized to use the following authorized sources and their successors and assigns for financial reporting, compliance monitoring, performance measurement, pricing (including corporate actions, dividends and rights offering), and foreign exchange quotations, to assist it in fulfilling its obligations under the aforementioned Agreement.

BLOOMBERG
RUSSELL/MELLON
FUND MANAGERS / CLIENT DIRECTED
INTERACTIVE DATA CORPORATION
REPUTABLE BROKERS
THOMSON REUTERS
SUBCUSTODIAN BANKS
SIX TELEKURS
REPUTABLE FINANCIAL PUBLICATIONS
STOCK EXCHANGES
STAT PRO
MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL
WALL STREET OFFICE
PRICING DIRECT
MARKIT
SUPER DERIVATIVES
S&P
DOW JONES
JP MORGAN - contract pending
SQX (SECURITIES QUOTE EXCHANGE)
BARCLAYS - contract pending
FITCH SOLUTIONS
MOODYS
FORD EQUITY RESEARCH
FTSE GROUP
INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGY GROUP (ITG)
WM COMPANY
WOLTERS KLUWER FINANCIAL SERVICES
DEPOSITORIES (DTC, EUROCLEAR, ETC)
CLEARING BANKS (JP MORGAN CHASE, BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, ETC)

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.

By:_________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:

20

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

This Subscription Agreement (the "Agreement") made this ____ day of February, 2013 by and between First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of its series, First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (the "Fund") and First Trust Portfolios L.P., an Illinois limited partnership (the "Subscriber").

RECITALS:

1. The Trust has been formed for the purposes of carrying on business as an open-end management investment company;

2. The Fund is a series of the Trust; and

3. The Subscriber wishes to subscribe for and purchase, and the Trust wishes to sell to the Subscriber, 2 shares of the Fund at $20 per share.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

l. The Subscriber subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Trust 2 shares of the Fund at $20 per share. Subscriber agrees to make payment for these shares of the Fund at such time as demand for payment may be made by an officer of the Trust.

2. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, agrees to issue and sell said shares to Subscriber promptly upon its receipt of the purchase price.

3. To induce the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, to accept its subscription and issue the shares subscribed for, the Subscriber represents that it is informed as follows:

(a) That the shares being subscribed for have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of l933 ("Securities Act");

(b) That the shares will be sold by the Fund in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

(c) That the Trust's reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is predicated in part on the representations and agreements contained in this Agreement;

(d) That when issued, the shares will be "restricted securities" as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of Rule l44 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act ("Rule l44") and cannot be sold or transferred by Subscriber unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or unless an exemption from such registration is available; and


(e) That there do not appear to be any exemptions from the registration provisions of the Securities Act available to the Subscriber for resale of the shares. In the future, certain exemptions may possibly become available, including an exemption for limited sales including an exemption for limited sales in accordance with the conditions of Rule l44.

The Subscriber understands that a primary purpose of the information acknowledged in subparagraphs (a) through (e) above is to put it on notice as to restrictions on the transferability of the shares.

4. To further induce the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, to accept its subscription and issue the shares subscribed for, the Subscriber:

(a) Represents and warrants that the shares subscribed for are being and will be acquired for investment for its own account and not on behalf of any other person or persons and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any public distribution thereof; and

(b) Agrees that any certificates representing the shares subscribed for may bear a legend substantially in the following form:

The shares represented by this certificate have been acquired for investment and have not been registered under the Securities Act of l933 or any other federal or state securities law. These shares may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred unless registered under said securities laws or unless some exemption from registration is available.

5. This Agreement and all of its provisions shall be binding upon the legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

6. The Trust's Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by the Trust's officers as officers and not individually and the obligations imposed upon the Trust by this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trust's Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund, a series of the Trust.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK.
SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Subscription Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the day and date first above written.

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III,
on behalf of its series, First Trust
Preferred Securities and Income ETF

By _______________________________
Name: James A. Bowen
Title: Chairman of the Board

FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.

By _______________________________
Name: James M. Dykas
Title: Controller


January 30, 2013

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III
120 E. Liberty Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60532

Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 West Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60187

Re: First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Massachusetts counsel to First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (the "Trust") on behalf of its series First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (the "Fund") in connection with the Trust's Pre-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about January __, 2013 (as so amended, the "Registration Statement") with respect to the Fund's shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"). You have requested that we deliver this opinion to you in connection with the Trust's filing of such Registration Statement.

In connection with the furnishing of this opinion, we have examined the following documents:

(a) a certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as to the existence of the Trust;

(b) a copy, stamped as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on January 9, 2008, of the Trust's Declaration of Trust dated as of January 9, 2008 (the "Declaration");

(c) a copy of Trust's Amended and Restated Establishment and Designation of Series, effective as of September 19, 2011, as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on September 26, 2011 (the "Designation");

(d) a certificate executed by an appropriate officer of the Trust, certifying as to, and attaching copies of, the Trust's Declaration, Designation, By-Laws, and certain resolutions adopted by the Trustees of


First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III
Chapman and Cutler LLP
January 30, 2013

Page 2 of 3

the Trust at meetings held on September 19, 2011 and September 17. 2012 (the "Resolutions"); and

(e) a draft of the Registration Statement received on January 24, 2013

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to the originals of all of the documents reviewed by us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of all original documents reviewed by us in original or copy form and the legal competence of each individual executing any document. We note that the minutes from the Board meeting held on September 17, 2012 and referred to in paragraph (d) above are in draft form, and we have assumed that the minutes, when approved by the Trustees, will be in substantially the form reviewed by us. We have also assumed that the Registration Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will be in substantially the form of filing referred to in paragraph (e) above. We have further assumed that the Trust's Declaration, Designation, By-Laws and the Resolutions will not have been amended, modified or withdrawn with respect to matters relating to the Shares and will be in full force and effect on the date of the issuance of such Shares.

This opinion is based entirely on our review of the documents listed above and such investigation of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. We have made no other review or investigation of any kind whatsoever, and we have assumed, without independent inquiry, the accuracy of the information set forth in such documents.

As to any opinion below relating to the due formation or existence of the Trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, our opinion relies entirely upon and is limited by the certificate of public officials referred to in (a) above.

This opinion is limited solely to the internal substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as applied by courts located in Massachusetts (other than Massachusetts securities laws, as to which we express no opinion), to the extent that the same may apply to or govern the transactions referred to herein. No opinion is given herein as to the choice of law which any tribunal may apply to such transaction. In addition, to the extent that the Trust's Declaration, Designation or By-Laws refer to, incorporate or require compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any other law or regulation applicable to the Trust, except for the internal substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as aforesaid, we have assumed compliance by the Trust with such Act and such other laws and regulations.


First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III
Chapman and Cutler LLP
January 30, 2013

Page 3 of 3

We understand that all of the foregoing assumptions and limitations are acceptable to you.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, please be advised that it is our opinion that:

1. The Trust has been formed and is existing under the Trust's Declaration of Trust and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest commonly referred to as a "Massachusetts business trust."

2. The Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the Trust's Declaration, Designation and the Resolutions and for the consideration described in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, except that, as set forth in the Registration Statement, shareholders of the Trust may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for its obligations.

This opinion is given as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update this opinion to reflect any changes in law or any other facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention. We hereby consent to your reliance on this opinion in connection with your opinion to the Trust with respect to the Shares and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In rendering this opinion and giving this consent, we do not admit that we are "experts" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Very truly yours,

BINGHAM McCUTCHEN LLP


CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LLP 111 WEST MONROE STREET

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603

January 30, 2013

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

Re: First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as counsel for the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (the "Trust"), which proposes to offer and sell shares of each of its series (the "Shares"), First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (the "Fund"), in the manner and on the terms set forth in Amendment No. 2 and Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on or about January 30, 2013 (the "Amendment") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, respectively.

In connection therewith, we have examined such pertinent records and documents and matters of law, including the opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP issued to the Trust or Trust's counsel upon which we have relied as they relate to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us to express the opinion hereinafter set forth.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

The Shares of each Fund may be issued from time to time in accordance with the Trust's Declaration of Trust dated January 9, 2008 and the Trust's By-Laws, and subject to compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and applicable state laws regulating the sale of securities and the receipt by each Fund of the purchase price of not less than the net asset value per Share, and such Shares, when so issued and sold by each Fund, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable, except that, as set forth in the Amendment, shareholders of each Fund may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for its obligations.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-176976) relating to the Shares referred to above, to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said Registration Statement.

Respectfully submitted,

CHAPMAN AND CUTLER LLP


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the use in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 333-176976 on Form N-1A of our report dated January 30, 2013, related to the statement of assets and liabilities of First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF, appearing in the Statement of Additional Information, which is a part of such Registration Statement, and to the reference to us under the heading "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in the Statement of Additional Information.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois
January 30, 2013


FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN

1. The Trust. First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III (the "Trust") is an open-end management investment company registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and organized as a series trust (each such series is referred to herein as a "Fund").

2. The Plan. The Trust desires to adopt a plan of distribution pursuant to Rule l2b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the shares of beneficial interest ("Shares") of certain of the Funds which are identified in Exhibit A hereof, and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board of Trustees") has determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that adoption of this Distribution and Service Plan (the "Plan") will benefit each such Fund (the "Designated Funds") and its holders of Shares. Accordingly, on behalf of each Designated Fund, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act on the following terms and conditions (capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned thereto in the Trust's registration statement under the 1940 Act and under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such registration statement is amended by any amendments thereto at the time in effect).

3. The Distributor. The Trust has entered into a written Distribution Agreement with First Trust Portfolios L.P. (the "Distributor"), pursuant to which the Distributor will act as the exclusive distributor with respect to the creation and distribution of Creation Unit size aggregations of Shares as described in the Trust's registration statement ("Creation Units") of each Fund.

4. Payments. (a) The Trust may pay a monthly fee not to exceed 0.25% per annum of each Fund's average daily net assets to reimburse the Distributor for actual amounts expended to finance any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of each Fund or the provision of investor services, including but not limited to (i) delivering copies of the Trust's then-current prospectus to prospective purchasers of such Creation Units, statement of additional information or annual or semi-annual reports relating to the Trust;
(ii) marketing and promotional services including advertising; (iii) facilitating communications with beneficial owners of shares of the Trust, including providing explanations to owners regarding fund investment objectives and policies and other information about the Trust or any Funds thereof; (iv) delivering any notices of shareholder meetings and proxy statements accompanying such notices in connection with general and special meetings of interest holders of the Trust; and (v) such other services and obligations as are set forth in the Distribution Agreement. Such payments shall be made within ten (10) days of the end of each calendar month. The determination of daily net assets shall be made at the close of business each day throughout the month and computed in the manner specified in the then current Prospectus for the determination of the net asset value of Creation Units.

(b) Distribution expenses incurred in any one year in excess of 0.25% of each Fund's average daily net assets may be reimbursed in subsequent years subject to the annual 0.25% limit and subject further to the approval of the Board of Trustees including a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested


persons" of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement related to this Plan (the "Independent Trustees").

(c) The Distributor may use all or any portion of the amount received pursuant to this Plan to compensate securities dealers or other persons that are Authorized Participants for providing distribution assistance, including broker-dealer and shareholder support and educational and promotional services, pursuant to agreements with the Distributor, or to pay any of the expenses associated with other activities authorized under paragraph 4(a) hereof.

(d) First Trust Advisors L.P., may use any portion of its advisory fee to compensate dealers, including the Distributor, for expenses incurred in connection with the sales and distribution of a Fund's shares, including, without limitation, compensation of its sales force, expenses of printing and distributing prospectuses to persons other than shareholders, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing advertising and sales literature and reports to shareholders used in connection with the sale of a Fund's share, certain other expenses associated with the distribution of shares of a Fund, and any distribution-related expenses that may be authorized from time to time by the Board of Trustees.

All such expenses covered by the Plan shall be deemed incurred whether paid directly by the Distributor or by a third party to the extent reimbursed therefor by the Distributor.

5. Effective Date. This Plan shall become effective upon approval by a vote of both a majority of the Board of Trustees and a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan.

6. Term. This Plan shall, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, remain in effect with respect to the Designated Fund for one year from its effective date and shall continue thereafter, provided that its continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of both a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan.

7. Amendment. This Plan may be amended at any time by the Board of Trustees, provided that (a) any amendment to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services provided for in paragraph 4 hereof shall be effective only upon approval by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Designated Fund, and (b) any material amendment of this Plan shall be effective only upon approval by a vote of both a majority of the Board of Trustees and a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment.

8. Termination. This Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Designated Fund. In the event of termination or non-continuance of this Plan, the Trust may reimburse any expense which it incurred prior to such termination or non-continuance, provided that such reimbursement is


specifically approved by both a majority of the Board of Trustees and a majority of the Independent Trustees.

9. Assignment. This Plan will not be terminated by an assignment, however, an assignment will terminate any agreement under the Plan involving any such assignment.

10. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Distributor shall provide to the Trustees, and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.

11. Records. The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan, each agreement related hereto and each report referred to in paragraph 9 hereof for a period of at least six years from the date of the Plan, agreement and report, the first two years in an easily accessible place.

12. Independent Trustees. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Independent Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act).

13. Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Plan shall not be affected thereby.


EXHIBIT A
(AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2013)

FUND                                                       EFFECTIVE DATE

-------------------------------------------------          --------------------
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF            February 1, 2013


FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.

FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.
CODE OF ETHICS

I. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES

This Code of Ethics is being adopted by First Trust Advisors L.P. ("FTA") and First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP" and, together with FTA, the "Companies"), The FT Series (formerly known as The First Trust Special Situations Trust), The First Trust Combined Series, The First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds, The First Trust GNMA, and The First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds - Multi-State in recognition of the fact that (i) FTA owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty at all times to Clients, including investment companies for which FTA provides investment advisory services, to act in the best interests of Clients and always place the Clients' interest first and foremost and (ii) FTP owes a duty at all times to place the interests of Clients first including investment companies for which FTP acts as sponsor or distributor and the Unit holders or shareholders thereof. In recognition of such duties it is each Company's policy that the personal securities transactions and other activities of each Company's personnel be conducted consistent with this Code of Ethics and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of an individual's position of trust and responsibility that could occur through such activities including, taking an investment opportunity from the Client for an employee's own portfolio, insider trading or frontrunning Clients or investment company securities trades. It is also each Company's policy that such Company personnel should not take inappropriate advantage of their position with respect to Clients and that such personnel should avoid any situation that might compromise, or call into question, their exercise of fully independent judgment in the interest of Clients. This Code of Ethics does not attempt to identify all possible conflicts of interest, and literal compliance with each of its specific provisions will not shield Supervised Persons from liability for personal trading or other conduct that violates a fiduciary duty to advisory clients.

II. DEFINITIONS

For Purposes of this Code of Ethics:

A. "Access Person" shall mean, with respect to FTP, any partner, officer, or employee of FTP who in the ordinary course of business makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of securities for a Client's portfolio or whose functions or duties as part of the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of securities for a Client and, with respect to FTA, any officer, director or partner of FTA and any Supervised Person who (1) has access to nonpublic information regarding any Clients' purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Reportable Fund; or (2) is involved in making securities recommendations to Clients, or who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic; or (3) in connection with his or her regular functions or duties makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of securities by a Client or whose functions relate to the making of any such recommendations with respect to such purchase or sales. An Access Person includes, but is not limited to, all personnel in each Company's research, new products, securities trading, unit investment trust trading, wholesaling, evaluation, marketing, trust administration, compliance, legal, corporate publishing and investment advisory departments and any and all supervisors thereof.

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B. "Client" shall mean (i) with respect to FTA, any client of FTA, including separate managed accounts and any Reportable Fund, and (ii) with respect to FTP, any open-end management investment company for which FTP acts as distributor and any Trust for which FTP acts as sponsor or principal underwriter.

C. "Company" shall mean First Trust Advisors L.P. or First Trust Portfolios L.P., as applicable.

D. "ETFs" shall mean exchange-traded funds, including both exchange-traded funds that are open-end investment companies or unit investment trusts.

E. "Investment Person" shall mean any Access Person of a Company who in connection with his or her regular functions or duties makes, participates in or executes decisions regarding the purchase or sale of securities for a Client's portfolio and includes, but is not limited to, all personnel in a Company's research, new products, securities trading, trust administration and investment advisory departments and any and all supervisors thereof. Each person designated as an Investment Person is therefore also designated as an Access Person for purposes of this Code of Ethics.

F. "Reportable Fund" shall have the same meaning as it does in Rule 204A-1 and generally means (1) any fund for which FTA serves as an investment adviser (including sub-adviser), including closed-end funds and open-end funds, (2) any fund whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls FTA, is controlled by FTA, or is under common control with FTA, or (3) any Trust.

G. "Shareholder" shall mean the holder of any share of any management investment company for which FTP acts as distributor or principal underwriter or for which FTA acts as investment adviser.

H. "Supervised Person" shall include any of a Company's directors (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), officers, partners, employees or any other person who provides investment advice on behalf of a Company and is subject to the supervision and control of the Company as well as any other person designated by such Company's Chief Compliance Officer. All Access Persons and Investment Persons are also considered Supervised Persons.

I. "Trust" shall mean any unit investment trust sponsored by FTP.

J. "Unit holder" shall mean the holder of any unit of any Trust.

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III. STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

Each Company and all of its Supervised Persons shall at all times comply and adhere to the following standards of business conduct which reflect such Company's and all Supervised Persons' obligations:

A. Federal Securities Laws. Each Company and all Supervised Persons must at all times comply with applicable federal securities laws, including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to funds and investment advisers, and any applicable rules adopted thereunder by the Commission or the Department of the Treasury. In connection with this standard of business conduct, Supervised Persons shall not, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a security held or to be acquired by a Client:

a. Defraud such Client in any manner;

b. Mislead such Client, including by making any untrue statement of a material fact or making a statement that omits material facts;

c. Engage in any act, practice or course of conduct which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such Client;

d. Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to such Client; or

e. Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation.

B. Conflicts of Interest. As a fiduciary, FTA has an affirmative duty of care, loyalty and honesty and good faith to act in the best interests of Clients. Supervised Persons can fulfill this duty by trying to avoid conflicts of interest and by fully disclosing all material facts with respect to any conflicts that may arise. Specific types of undisclosed conflicts of interest that are prohibited include:

a. Conflicts among different Client accounts or favoring one account over another; and

b. Competition with trading in Client accounts.

C. Insider Trading. In accordance with each Company's Insider Trading Policy, all Supervised Persons are prohibited from trading, either for their own accounts or on behalf of others, while in possession of material, non-public information as well as communicating material non-public information to others. Refer to Section 11 of FTA's Compliance Manual and Part III of FTP's Compliance Manual.

D. Personal Securities Transactions. All Access Persons shall comply with the policies and procedures included in this Code of Ethics with respect to personal securities transactions.

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IV. PROHIBITED PRACTICES

In furtherance of the policies set forth in Section I above, the following practices shall be prohibited:

A. No Access Person shall purchase any security during the initial public offering of such security.

B. No Access Person shall purchase any security in a private placement transaction unless the purchase has been approved IN WRITING AND IN ADVANCE by the Compliance Department. In considering whether to approve any such transaction, the Compliance Department shall take into account, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for Clients, including any Unit holders, Shareholders, Reportable Funds or proposed Trusts and whether the opportunity is being offered to an individual by virtue of his or her position. Any Access Person who has been authorized to acquire securities in a private placement shall disclose that investment to the Compliance Department before he or she takes part in a subsequent consideration of any Client's investment in that issuer, and the decision to include securities of such issuer in a Client shall be subject to independent review by the Compliance Department of the Companies. The Compliance Department shall maintain a written record of any approvals granted hereunder including the reasons supporting such approvals.

C. No Access Person shall purchase or sell any security prior to the initial public offering period of a Trust which it is proposed may contain that security in its portfolio. No Access Person shall purchase or sell any security on the same day that security is bought or sold on behalf of a Client. With respect only to non-discretionary services provided by FTA to an investment adviser or program sponsor, no Access Person shall purchase or sell any security on (i) the day of the initial delivery by FTA of a model portfolio investment recommendation to an investment adviser or program sponsor or (ii) any day changes are made with respect to a model portfolio investment recommendation (i.e., recommendation to buy a security for the model or sell a security from the model).

No Investment Person shall purchase or sell a security within seven days before or after that security is bought or sold on behalf of a Client. With respect only to non-discretionary services provided by FTA to an investment adviser or program sponsor, no Investment Person shall purchase or sell a security within seven days before or after (i) the day of the initial delivery by FTA of a model portfolio investment recommendation to an investment adviser or program sponsor or (ii) the day changes are made with respect to a model portfolio investment recommendation (i.e., recommendation to buy a security for the model or sell a security from the model). Any profits realized on transactions prohibited by this Section shall be disgorged.

D. No Investment Person shall profit from the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) securities within 30 calendar days. Any profits realized on transactions prohibited by this Section shall be disgorged.

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E. No Investment Person shall serve on the Board of Directors of a publicly traded company absent prior authorization of the Compliance Department upon a determination that board service would be consistent with the interests of Clients (including investors with respect to investment companies) and the establishment of appropriate "Chinese wall" procedures by the Compliance Department.

F. Any provision of this Code of Ethics prohibiting any transaction by an Access Person or Investment Person shall prohibit any transaction in which such person has, obtains or disposes of any beneficial ownership interest.

G. Except with respect to private placement transactions set forth in
Section IV.B. above, no Access Person or Investment Person shall purchase or sell any security of an issuer with a market capitalization of less than $1 billion unless the security is a Reportable Fund or an ETF. Any profits realized on transactions prohibited by this Section shall be disgorged.

V. COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

In order to effectuate and monitor the foregoing policies and prohibitions, all Access Persons and Investment Persons shall be required to comply with the following procedures and requirements:

A. The securities trading personnel of the Companies shall provide the Compliance Department with (i) a daily summary of all executed orders entered by, on behalf of, or with respect to Clients and FTP's unit investment trust accumulation account or accounts and (ii) a daily summary of all model portfolio investment recommendations (including changes to any such portfolio investment recommendations) provided to investment advisers or program sponsors.

B. Each Access Person shall direct any brokers, dealers or banks at which he or she maintains securities accounts to provide on a timely basis (within 30 days of each month end or calendar quarter, as applicable) duplicate copies of confirmations of all personal securities transactions and periodic statements for all securities accounts to the Compliance Department. The Compliance Department shall date stamp all duplicate copies of personal securities transactions and account statements upon receipt.

C. Upon commencement of employment with a Company or upon a change of employment status that results in an employee being deemed an Access Person with a Company, each Access Person shall disclose all personal securities holdings to the Compliance Department within 10 days after such person becomes an Access Person by submitting the form attached to this Code of Ethics as Exhibit A, and the information provided must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date such person becomes an Access Person.

D. Each Access Person shall disclose all personal securities holdings to the Compliance Department within 30 days of the end of each calendar year by submitting the form attached to this Code of Ethics as Exhibit A, and the information provided must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of the report.

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E. Any provision of this Code of Ethics requiring an Access Person or Investment Person to report securities transactions or securities positions to a Company shall require the reporting of any transaction or position, in which such person has, acquires or disposes of any beneficial ownership interest.

F. The Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee shall review all reports submitted by Access Persons and Investment Persons to ensure that all reporting requirements are complied with.

VI. PRE-CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. Subject to Section VIII.C. below, an Access Person may not purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any security in which the Access Person has (or after such transaction would have) any beneficial ownership interest unless the Access Person obtains prior approval for the transaction from the Compliance Department. Pre-clearance requests must be made on the date of the contemplated transaction, through the use of the pre-trade authorization function contained within a Company's automated pre-clearance system. Pre-clearance requests will be reviewed to determine whether the proposed transaction complies with this Code of Ethics, whether the security is restricted for Company employees and whether the proposed transaction raises any potential conflicts of interest or other issues. The Compliance Department will communicate to the requesting Access Person its approval or denial of the proposed transaction via the automated pre-clearance system application or via e-mail. Any approval will remain in effect only until the end of the trading day on which the approval was granted. Access Persons must wait for approval before placing the order with their broker.

B. The Compliance Department will maintain an electronic log of all pre-clearance requests and will record the approval or denial of each request contained in the log.

VII. APPROVED BROKER LIST

A. With respect to all personal securities transactions, each Access Person shall maintain an account only with a broker, dealer or bank that is on the Companies' approved broker list attached as Exhibit C hereto (the "Approved Broker List"). The Approved Broker List shall be maintained by the Compliance Department and may be amended at any time at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer.

VIII. EXEMPTIONS

A. The following shall be exempted from the Prohibited Practices of
Section IV.C., IV.D. and IV.G. and the Compliance Procedures and Reporting Requirements set forth in Section V; provided, however, that transactions included in Section VIII.A.5 must be included in the initial and annual holdings reports submitted pursuant to Section V.C. and V.D; and provided further that the names of any and all brokers, dealers or banks with which an Access Person maintains accounts in which ANY SECURITIES ARE HELD for the Access Person's direct or indirect benefit must be disclosed in the initial and annual holdings reports submitted pursuant to Section V.C. and V.D.:

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1. Direct obligations of the Government of the United States.

2. Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements.

3. Shares issued by money market funds.

4. Shares issued by open-end investment companies other than Reportable Funds and ETFs.

5. Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan, including dividend reinvestment plans.

B. The following shall be exempted from the Prohibited Practices of
Section IV.C., IV.D. and IV.G., BUT NOT FROM THE COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION V ABOVE:

1. The purchase or sale of shares of issuers whose shares are traded on a national or foreign securities exchange and which have a market capitalization of at least $1 billion at the time of the transaction.

2. With respect to the purchase or sale of shares of issuers who have a market capitalization of less than $1 billion, the purchase or sale of shares in a single round-lot transaction of 100 shares, or odd-lot transactions of less than 100 shares, when the aggregate number of shares of such securities purchased or sold on a given day does not exceed 100 shares.

3. Purchases or sales of a security on behalf of an Investment Person or Access Person within a discretionary account when ALL investment decisions are made by a person or entity who is UNRELATED to the Investment Person or Access Person and such discretionary account has been approved in advance by the Companies' Compliance Department. A copy of the executed investment management agreement must also be provided to the Companies' Compliance Department. If such discretionary account is not approved by the Companies' Compliance Department the Investment Person or Access Person, as the case may be, is prohibited from maintaining the discretionary account regardless of whether the Investment Person or Access Person is seeking exemption from the Prohibited Practices of
Section IV.C. and IV.D.

4. Purchases or sales of shares of ETFs.

5. Unit investment trusts.

6. Sales of shares of distressed issuers (i.e., imminent bankruptcy) whose shares are traded on a national or foreign securities exchange and which had a market capitalization of at least $1 billion at the time of the acquisition so long as such transaction is approved in advance by the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel. Such approval may be withheld at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel.

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C. The following shall be exempted from the Pre-Clearance Requirements of
Section VI:

1. Direct obligations of the Government of the United States.

2. Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements.

3. Shares issued by money market funds.

4. Shares issued by open-end investment companies other than Reportable Funds and ETFs.

5. Unit investment trusts.

6. Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan, including dividend reinvestment plans.

7. Purchases or sales of a security on behalf of an Investment Person or Access Person within a discretionary account when ALL investment decisions are made by a person or entity who is UNRELATED to the Investment Person or Access Person and such discretionary account has been approved in advance by the Companies' Compliance Department. A copy of the executed investment management agreement must also be provided to the Companies' Compliance Department. If such discretionary account is not approved by the Companies' Compliance Department the Investment Person or Access Person, as the case may be, is prohibited from maintaining the discretionary account regardless of whether the Investment Person or Access Person is seeking exemption from the Pre-Clearance Requirements of
Section VI.

D. The following accounts shall be exempted from the Approved Broker List Requirements of Section VII:

1. Discretionary accounts where ALL investment decisions are made by a person or entity who is UNRELATED to the Investment Person or Access Person and such discretionary account has been approved in advance by the Companies' Compliance Department. A copy of the executed investment management agreement must also be provided to the Companies' Compliance Department. If such discretionary account is not approved by the Companies' Compliance Department the Investment Person or Access Person, as the case may be, is prohibited from maintaining the discretionary account.

2. Brokerage accounts where the only securities contained in such account are (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States,
(ii) bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, (iii) shares issued by money market funds, and/or (iv) shares issued by open-end investment companies but not Reportable Funds and ETFs.

-8-

3. Brokerage accounts required by law or company policy to be maintained at a broker, dealer or bank not contained on the Approved Broker List; provided, however, all discretionary accounts must comply with the provisions contained in Section VIII.D.1.

IX. REPORTING OF VIOLATIONS AND ANNUAL CERTIFICATION

A. All Supervised Persons must report any violations of this Code of Ethics promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer.

B. Each Company shall provide each Supervised Person with a copy of this Code of Ethics and any amendments and require each Supervised Person to provide the Company with a written acknowledgement of their receipt of the Code of Ethics and any amendment.

C. Within 30 days following the end of each calendar year, each Access Person shall certify to each Company that he or she has received, read and understands this Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto and recognizes that he or she is subject to it and that he or she has complied with the requirements of this Code of Ethics by submitting the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

X. SANCTIONS

Upon discovery of a violation of this Code of Ethics, including either violations of the enumerated provisions, the general principles or the standards of business conduct described herein, the Company may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate, including, inter alia, a fine, letter of censure, suspension or termination of the employment of the violator. In addition, any profits realized on transactions prohibited by this Code of Ethics shall be disgorged.

Amended as of December 31, 2008.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT

I, __________________________________________, hereby acknowledge that I have received, read and understand the Code of Ethics of First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. dated as of December 31, 2008.


Employee Signature Date

-10-

EXHIBIT A

FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.
FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.
ACCESS/INVESTMENT PERSON
SECURITIES HOLDINGS REPORT

Name of Access/Investment Person: ___________________________________

Date: ______________________________________________________

[ ] I hereby certify that as of ______________________, I had a beneficial ownership interest in no securities other than those set forth below.

Issuer        Ticker/CUSIP        Type of Security        # of Shrs/Principal Amount          Market Value
------        ------------        ----------------        --------------------------          ------------

OR

[ ] I hereby certify that as of ______________________, I had a beneficial ownership interest in no securities other than those set forth on the attached brokerage account statements.

OR

[ ] I hereby certify that as of ______________________, I had a beneficial interest in no securities.

As of ________________________, I maintained accounts where securities are held for my direct or indirect benefit at the following brokers, dealers or banks:





I hereby authorize FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. and FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P. to disclose personal and/or account information to third parties in connection with any monitoring requirements pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, NASD Rule 3050, NYSE Rule 407 and/or the FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. and FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P. Code of Ethics.


Signature

EXHIBIT B

FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.
FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.
ACCESS/INVESTMENT PERSON
CODE OF ETHICS CERTIFICATION

I, ___________________________, hereby certify that I have received, read, and understand the FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. AND FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P. Code of Ethics dated December 31, 2008. I recognize that I am subject to this Code of Ethics. Furthermore, I certify that (i) I have complied during the preceding year with the provisions of the Code of Ethics in effect during such time period, (ii) I have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Ethics in effect during such time period, (iii) I will comply with the provisions of the Code of Ethics dated December 31, 2008, as may be amended from time to time, during the next twelve months and (iv) I will disclose or report all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Ethics dated December 31, 2008, as may be amended from time to time, during the next twelve months. Additionally, I hereby authorize FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. and FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P. to disclose personal and/or account information to third parties in connection with any monitoring requirements pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, NASD Rule 3050, NYSE Rule 407 and/or the FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. and FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P. Code of Ethics.


Signature Date

EXHIBIT C

FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.
FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.
APPROVED BROKER LIST

TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT


FIRST TRUST FUNDS

CODE OF ETHICS

I. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES

This Code of Ethics is being adopted by the funds advised by First Trust Advisors L.P. ("FTA") from time to time (each a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds"), in recognition of the fact that each Fund owes a duty at all times to place the interests of its Investors first. In recognition of such duty it is the Funds' policy that the personal securities transactions and other activities of Fund personnel be conducted consistent with this Code of Ethics and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of an individual's position of trust and responsibility that could occur through such activities as "insider trading" or "frontrunning" investment company securities trades. It is also the Funds' policy that Fund personnel should not take inappropriate advantage of their position with respect to a Fund and that such personnel should avoid any situation that might compromise, or call into question, their exercise of fully independent judgment in the interest of Investors in the Funds.

II. DEFINITIONS

For Purposes of this Code of Ethics:

A. "Investor" shall mean any investor in a Fund.

B. "Access Person" shall mean (i) any trustee, officer or employee of the Fund who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of securities for a Fund's portfolio or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales and (ii) any officer of FTA who (a) has access to nonpublic information regarding the purchase or sale of securities for a Fund's portfolio, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of a Fund; or (b) is involved in making securities recommendations to a Fund, or who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic; or (c) in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding, the purchase or sale of securities for a Fund's portfolio or whose functions relate to the making of any such recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales.

C. "Investment Person" shall mean any officer or employee of any Fund who in connection with his or her regular functions or duties makes, participates in or executes decisions regarding the purchase or sale of securities for a Fund's portfolio. Each person designated as an Investment Person is therefore also designated as an Access Person for purposes of this Code of Ethics.


III. PROHIBITED PRACTICES

In furtherance of the policies set forth in Section I above, the following practices shall be prohibited:

A. No Access Person shall purchase any security during the initial public offering of such security.

B. No Access Person shall purchase any security in a private placement transaction unless the purchase has been approved IN WRITING AND IN ADVANCE by the Compliance Coordinator. In considering whether to approve any such transaction, the Compliance Coordinator shall take into account, among other factors, whether the investment opportunity should be reserved for a Fund and its Investors and whether the opportunity is being offered to an individual by virtue of his or her position. Any Access Person who has been authorized to acquire securities in a private placement shall disclose that investment to the Compliance Coordinator before he or she takes part in a subsequent consideration of a Fund's investment in that issuer, and the decision to include securities of such issuer in a Fund shall be subject to independent review by the Compliance Coordinator to a Fund. The Compliance Coordinator shall maintain a written record of any approvals granted under Section III A and B hereof.

C. No Access Person shall purchase or sell any security on the same day that security is bought or sold by a Fund.

D. No Investment Person shall purchase or sell a security within seven days before or after that security is bought or sold by a Fund if such Investments Person knows or should know that such security is being bought or sold by such Fund.

E. No Investment Person shall profit from the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) securities within 30 calendar days. Any profits realized on transactions prohibited by this
Section shall be disgorged.

F. No Investment Person shall serve on the Board of Directors of a publicly traded company absent prior authorization of the Compliance Coordinator upon a determination that board service would be consistent with the interests of a Fund and its Investors and the establishment of appropriate "Chinese wall" procedures by the Compliance Coordinator.

G. Any provision of this Code of Ethics prohibiting any transaction by an Access Person or Investment Person shall prohibit any transaction in which such person has, obtains or disposes of any beneficial ownership interest.

H. No Access Person or Investment Person who has had two violations of this Code of Ethics during the prior 12 month period shall purchase or sell any security unless such purchase or sale has been approved in advance by the Compliance Coordinator.


I. Except with respect to private placement transactions set forth in Section III.B. above, no Access Person or Investment Person shall purchase or sell any security of an issuer with a market capitalization of less than $1 billion unless the security is a Fund as defined in Section I. above or a unit investment trust sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P.

IV. COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

In order to effectuate and monitor the foregoing policies and prohibitions, all Access Persons and Investment Persons shall be required to comply with the following procedures:

A. The securities trading personnel of the Funds shall provide the Compliance Coordinator with a daily summary of all executed orders entered by, on behalf of, or with respect to the Funds.

B. Each Access Person shall direct any brokers, dealers or banks at which he or she maintains securities accounts to provide on a timely basis
(within 30 days of each month end or calendar quarter, as applicable)
duplicate copies of confirmations of all personal securities transactions and periodic statements for all securities accounts to the Compliance Coordinator. The Compliance Coordinator shall date stamp all duplicate copies of personal securities transactions and account statements upon receipt.

C. Upon commencement of employment with a Fund or upon becoming an officer of a Fund, each Access Person shall disclose all personal securities holdings to the Compliance Coordinator both within 10 days after such person becomes an Access Person by and within 30 days of the end of each calendar year by submitting the form attached to this Code of Ethics as Exhibit A, and the information provided must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date such person becomes an Access Person.

D. Within 30 days following the end of each calendar year, each Access Person shall certify to the Funds that he or she has received, read and understands this Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto and recognizes that he or she is subject to it and that he or she has complied with the requirements of this Code of Ethics by submitting the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

E. Any provision of this Code of Ethics requiring an Access Person or Investment Person to report securities transactions or securities positions to the Funds shall require the reporting of any transaction or position, in which such person has, acquires or disposes of any beneficial ownership interest.

F. The requirements of Section IV.B through IV.E shall be deemed to be complied with by any Access Person or Investment Person who complies with substantially similar requirements contained in the First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. Code of Ethics.


G. The requirements of Section III.C., Section III.H. and Sections
IV.B. through IV.E. shall not apply to any of the Independent Trustees of the Funds; provided, however, that if the Independent Trustee knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as an Independent Trustee, should have known during the 15-day period immediately before or after the Independent Trustee's transaction in a security, a Fund purchased or sold the security, or a Fund or its investment adviser considered purchasing or selling the security, the Independent Trustee shall submit a quarterly transaction report in accordance with Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended in the form of Exhibit D.

V. PRE-CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. An Access Person may not purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any security in which the Access Person has (or after such transaction would have) any beneficial ownership interest unless the Access Person obtains prior approval for the transaction from the Compliance Coordinator. Pre-clearance requests must be made on the date of the contemplated transaction, through the use of the pre-trade authorization function contained within FTA's automated pre-clearance system. Pre-clearance requests will be reviewed to determine whether the proposed transaction complies with this Code of Ethics, whether the security is restricted for employees and whether the proposed transaction raises any potential conflicts of interest or other issues. The Compliance Coordinator will communicate to the requesting Access Person its approval or denial of the proposed transaction via the automated pre-clearance system application or via e-mail. Any approval will remain in effect only until the end of the trading day on which the approval was granted. Access Persons must wait for approval before placing the order with their broker.

B. The Compliance Coordinator will maintain an electronic log of all pre-clearance requests and will record the approval or denial of each request contained in the log.

C. The requirements of Section V.A. shall be deemed to be complied with by any Access Person who complies with substantially similar requirements contained in the First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. Code of Ethics.

D. The requirements of Section V. shall not apply to any of the Independent Trustees of the Funds.

VI. APPROVED BROKER LIST

A. With respect to all personal securities transactions, each Access Person shall maintain an account only with a broker, dealer or bank that is on the Funds' approved broker list attached as Exhibit C hereto (the "Approved Broker List"). The Approved Broker List shall be maintained by the Compliance Coordinator and may be amended at any time at the discretion of the Compliance Coordinator.


B. The requirements of Section VI.A. shall be deemed to be complied with by any Access Person who complies with substantially similar requirements contained in the First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. Code of Ethics.

C. The requirements of Section VI. shall not apply to any of the Independent Trustees of the Funds.

VII. EXEMPTIONS

1. The following shall be exempted from the Prohibited Practices of
Section III.C., III.D. and III.H. and the Compliance Procedures and Reporting Requirements set forth in Section IV; provided, however, that transactions included in Section VII.A.5 must be included in the initial and annual holdings reports submitted pursuant to Section IV.C.; and provided further that the names of any and all brokers, dealers or banks with which an Access Person maintains accounts in which ANY SECURITIES ARE HELD for the Access Person's direct or indirect benefit must be disclosed in the initial and annual holdings reports submitted pursuant to Section IV.C.:

A. Direct obligations of the Government of the United States.

B. Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements.

C. Shares issued by money market funds.

D. Shares issued by open-end investment companies other than the Funds and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs").

E. Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan, including dividend reinvestment plans.

2. The following shall be exempted from the Prohibited Practices of
Section III.C., III.D. and III.H., BUT NOT FROM THE COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION IV. ABOVE:

A. The purchase or sale of shares of issuers whose shares are traded on a national or foreign securities exchange and which have a market capitalization of at least $1 billion at the time of the transaction.

B. With respect to the purchase or sale of shares of issuers who have a market capitalization of less than $1 billion, the purchase or sale of shares in a single round-lot transaction of 100 shares, or odd-lot transactions of less than 100 shares, when the aggregate number of shares of such securities purchased or sold on a given day does not exceed 100 shares.


C. Purchases or sales of a security on behalf of an Investment Person or an Access Person within a discretionary account when ALL investment decisions are made by a person or entity who is UNRELATED to the Investment Person or Access Person and such discretionary account has been approved in advance by the Funds' Compliance Coordinator. A copy of the executed investment management agreement must also be provided to the Funds' Compliance Coordinator. If such discretionary account is not approved by the Funds' Compliance Coordinator the Investment Person or Access Person, as the case may be, is prohibited from maintaining the discretionary account regardless of whether the Investment Person or Access Person is seeking exemption from the Prohibited Practices of
Section III.C. and III.D.

D. Purchases or sales of shares of ETFs.

E. Unit investment trusts.

F. Sales of shares of distressed issuers (i.e., imminent bankruptcy) whose shares are traded on a national or foreign securities exchange and which had a market capitalization of at least $1 billion at the time of the acquisition so long as such transaction is approved in advance by the Compliance Coordinator. Such approval may be withheld at the discretion of the Compliance Coordinator.

3. The following shall be exempted from the Pre-Clearance Requirements of
Section V.:

A. Direct obligations of the Government of the United States.

B. Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements.

C. Shares issued by money market funds.

D. Shares issued by open-end investment companies other than the Funds and ETFs.

E. Unit investment trusts.

F. Transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan, including dividend reinvestment plans.

G. Purchases or sales of a security on behalf of an Investment Person or an Access Person within a discretionary account when ALL investment decisions are made by a person or entity who is UNRELATED to the Investment Person or Access Person and such discretionary account has been approved in advance by the Funds' Compliance Coordinator. A copy of the executed investment management agreement must also be provided to the Funds' Compliance Coordinator. If such discretionary account is not approved by the Funds' Compliance Coordinator the Investment Person or Access Person, as the case may be, is prohibited from maintaining the discretionary account regardless of whether the Investment Person or Access Person is seeking exemption from the Prohibited Practices of
Section V.


4. The following shall be exempted from the Approved Broker List Requirements of Section VI.:

A. Discretionary accounts where ALL investment decisions are made by a person or entity who is UNRELATED to the Investment Person or Access Person and such discretionary account has been approved in advance by the Funds' Compliance Coordinator. A copy of the executed investment management agreement must also be provided to the Funds' Compliance Coordinator. If such discretionary account is not approved by the Funds' Compliance Coordinator the Investment Person or Access Person, as the case may be, is prohibited from maintaining the discretionary account.

B. Brokerage accounts where the only securities contained in such account are (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States,
(ii) bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, (iii) shares issued by money market funds, and/or (iv) shares issued by open-end investment companies but not the Funds and ETFs.

C. Brokerage accounts required by law or company policy to be maintained at a broker, dealer or bank not contained on the Approved Broker List; provided, however, all discretionary accounts must comply with the provisions contained in Section VII.D.1.

VI. SANCTIONS

Upon discovery of a violation of this Code of Ethics, including either violations of the enumerated provisions or the general principles provided, the Funds may impose such sanctions as deemed appropriate, including, inter alia, a fine, letter of censure or suspension or termination of the employment of the violator. In addition, any profits realized on transactions prohibited by this Code of Ethics shall be disgorged.

Amended: June 13, 2005
Amended: December 31, 2008
Amended: March 22, 2010


EXHIBIT A

CODE OF ETHICS
ACCESS/INVESTMENT PERSON
SECURITIES HOLDINGS REPORT

Name of Access/Investment Person: ______________________________________________

Date: _______________

[ ] I hereby certify that as of __________________________, I had a beneficial ownership interest in no securities other than those set forth below.

ISSUER # OF SHARES/PRINCIPAL AMOUNT MARKET VALUE

OR

[ ] I hereby certify that as of __________________________, I had a beneficial ownership interest in no securities other than those set forth on the attached brokerage account statements.

OR

[ ] I hereby certify that as of _________________, I had a beneficial interest in no securities.

As of __________________, I maintained accounts where securities are held for my direct or indirect benefit at the following brokers, dealers or banks:






Signature

EXHIBIT B

ACCESS/INVESTMENT PERSON
CODE OF ETHICS CERTIFICATION

I, ____________________, hereby certify that I have received, read, and understand the Code of Ethics for the Funds dated December 31, 2008. I recognized that I am subject to this Code of Ethics. Furthermore, I certify that
(i) I have complied during the preceding year with the provisions of the Code of Ethics in effect during such time period, (ii) I have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Ethics in effect during such time period,
(iii) I will comply with the provisions of the Code of Ethics dated December 31, 2008, as may be amended from time to time, during the next twelve months and
(iv) I will disclose or report all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code of Ethics dated December 31, 2008, as may be amended from time to time, during the next twelve months.

Date: __________________


Signature

EXHIBIT C

APPROVED BROKER LIST

TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR