First Trust Announces Adjournment of Special Shareholder Meeting for First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF and First Trust Smith Unconstrained Bond ETF

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) announced today that the special shareholder meeting for First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF (“FIXD”) and First Trust Smith Unconstrained Bond ETF (“UCON”) (the “Funds”), series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII (the “Trust”), has been adjourned in order to permit additional solicitation of shareholders. The special shareholder meeting for the Funds will reconvene on Monday, July 14, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Central time at the offices of FTA at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 in Wheaton, Illinois.

The special meeting of shareholders of the Funds has been called to ask shareholders to approve a New Sub-Advisory Agreement on behalf of each Fund, FTA, and Smith Capital Investors, LLC. The shareholder meeting has also been called to ask Shareholders to approve a “manager of managers” structure for the Funds, whereby FTA, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, would be permitted to appoint and replace affiliated and unaffiliated investment sub-advisors and enter into and materially amend investment sub-advisory agreements for the Funds without shareholder approval. There can be no assurance that the necessary percentage of the shareholders of each Fund will vote to approve the New Sub-Advisory Agreement or the “manager of managers” structure.

FTA is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the Fund's investment advisor. FTA and its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP"), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, are privately-held companies that provide a variety of investment services. FTA has collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $255 billion as of April 30, 2025 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts. FTA is the supervisor of the First Trust unit investment trusts, while FTP is the sponsor. FTP is also a distributor of mutual fund shares and exchange-traded fund creation units. FTA and FTP are based in Wheaton, Illinois.

The information presented is not intended to constitute an investment recommendation for, or advice to, any specific person. By providing this information, FTA is not undertaking to give advice in any fiduciary capacity within the meaning of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or any other regulatory framework. Financial professionals are responsible for evaluating investment risks independently and for exercising independent judgment in determining whether investments are appropriate for their clients.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the goals, beliefs, plans or current expectations of FTA and/or Smith Capital and their respective representatives, taking into account the information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to current or historical fact. For example, forward-looking statements include the use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “will” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Funds to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. When evaluating the information included in this press release, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the judgment of FTA and/or Smith Capital and their respective representatives only as of the date hereof. No obligation will be undertaken to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events and circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

Each Fund’s daily closing price and net asset value per share as well as other information can be found at www.ftportfolios.com.

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