Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 31, 2024

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Massachusetts	811-22442	27-3072807
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)		Identification No.)

 

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices)

60187 (zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: [phone]

 

_____________________________________________________ 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of class	Trading Symbol	Name of Exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share	FSD	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐  

 

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (“FSD”) is filing herewith a press release issued on May 31, 2024, as Exhibit 99.1. The press release was issued by First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) to announce the results of the joint special meeting of shareholders of each of First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (NYSE: FSD) (“FSD”) and First Trust/abrdn Global Opportunity Income Fund (NYSE: FAM) (“FAM” and collectively with FSD, the “Funds”) held on May 30, 2024. Details regarding the merger are contained in the press release included herein.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated May 31, 2024.

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Dated: May 31, 2024		FIRST TRUST HIGH INCOME LONG/SHORT FUND
	By:	/s/ W. Scott Jardine
	Name	W. Scott Jardine
	Title:	Secretary

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

Exhibit
Number		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated May 31, 2024.

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

SOURCE: First Trust Advisors L.P.

 

First Trust Announces Results of Joint Special Meeting of Shareholders Relating to the Reorganizations of First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund and First Trust/abrdn Global Opportunity Income Fund with and into abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund

 

WHEATON, IL – (BUSINESS WIRE) – May 31, 2024 – First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) announced today the results of the joint special meeting of shareholders of each of First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (NYSE: FSD) (“FSD”) and First Trust/abrdn Global Opportunity Income Fund (NYSE: FAM) (“FAM” and collectively with FSD, the “Funds”) held on May 30, 2024.

 

Shareholders of FSD, a diversified, closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust, have approved the reorganization of FSD with and into abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund (“ACP”), a diversified, closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust. As previously announced, the reorganization was approved by the Board of Trustees of FSD on October 23, 2023. Subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, the reorganization of FSD into ACP is expected to close by the end of July 2024, or as soon as practicable thereafter. No assurance can be given as to the exact closing of the transaction. Upon the completion of the reorganization, which is expected to be tax-free, the assets of FSD will be transferred to, and the liabilities of FSD will be assumed by, ACP. The shareholders of FSD will receive shares of ACP with a value equal to the aggregate net asset value of the shares of FSD held by them.

 

The special meeting of shareholders of FAM has been adjourned in order to permit additional solicitation of shareholders of FAM and to allow shareholders additional time to vote on the reorganization of FAM with and into ACP. The special meeting of shareholders of FAM will reconvene on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 12:30 Central time in the offices of FTA at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois (the “Meeting”).

 

Shareholders of record of FAM as of the close of business on October 23, 2023, are entitled to vote at the Meeting. Whether or not shareholders plan to attend the Meeting, it is important that their shares be represented and voted at the Meeting. Shareholders may vote their shares by one of the methods described in the proxy materials previously mailed to them, which includes a combined proxy statement and prospectus (the “proxy statement”). The proxy statement contains important information regarding the proposed reorganizations and shareholders of FAM are urged to read the proxy statement and accompanying materials carefully. The proxy statement is also available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Common/ContentFileLoader.aspx?ContentGUID=e7273425-e2a9-48b7-bb6d-73153c910a7a and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. If shareholders have any questions regarding the proposals, or need assistance voting, they may call EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at [phone]. The Board of Trustees of FAM believes the reorganization is in the best interests of FAM and recommends that shareholders of FAM vote “FOR” the reorganization.

 

FTA is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the investment advisor of the Fund. 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 $218 billion as of April 30, 2024 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.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited and abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC.

 

Additional Information / Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of the Funds or ACP; nor is this press release intended to solicit a proxy from any shareholder of FAM. The Funds and their trustees and officers, FTA, abrdn and certain of their respective officers and employees, and other persons may be deemed under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the matters described above. Information about the trustees and officers of the Funds, FTA and its officers and employees, and other persons may be found in the proxy statement. An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Funds or ACP, as applicable, before investing.

 

Certain statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are referred to as “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. federal securities laws. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the historical experience of FTA and the funds managed by FTA and its present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. FTA, the Funds and ACP undertake no responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

 

 

_______________________________________

CONTACT: Jeff Margolin – [phone]

_______________________________________

CONTACT: Daniel Lindquist – [phone]

_______________________________________

CONTACT: Chris Fallow – [phone]

___________________________________

SOURCE: First Trust Advisors L.P.

 

 

 

Cover	May 31, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	May 31, 2024
Entity File Number	811-22442
Entity Registrant Name	First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund
Entity Central Index Key	0001494530
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-3072807
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MA
Entity Address, Address Line One	120 East Liberty Drive
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	Wheaton
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60187
City Area Code	630
Local Phone Number	765-8000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	FSD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

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